Custom Itinerary
Leonardo’s Safari Honeymoon
Because of flight routes from Europe to Africa, you have multiple options for your honeymoon. You could fly from Athens to either Addis Ababa, Ethiopia or Istanbul, Turkey for easy access to Kenya, Tanzania, or South Africa. Sao Paolo has direct flights to Addis, Cape Town, and Johannesburg to end your trip.
Any of the options below will have great wildlife, but there will be differences in the species you see most and the cultural experience. If any of these look appealing, I can refine them into a final itinerary.
The classic South African “bush to beach” honeymoon fits most of your criteria for cities, restaurants, and beaches. South Africa has the most vibrant cities in Africa, though you will have good food and culture in the other options. Here’s a sample itinerary.
Cape Town is one of the world’s great food cities, and the nearby Winelands and the town of Franschhoek have excellent wine and farm-to-table cuisine. There are lots of great hotel options here at a range of prices, so I usually wait to see how the rest of the itinerary is working out before settling on one. Spend your days in the cape dining, hiking, at the beach, or exploring unique neighborhoods.
The Greater Kruger area has one of the most well-rounded safaris in the world. Lots of leopards but plenty of lions, elephants, and other wildlife. Fly from Cape Town to Hoedspruit or Skukuza for a short drive to your safari lodge. There are many options depending on your taste:
From the Kruger area, Mozambique is the best beach option. You must fly through Johannesburg to Vilankulos to get to Benguerra Island, which has some of the clearest shallow water I’ve ever seen. Azura is my favorite property for it’s blend of style and local ownership. Sussurro is also a good option on the mainland that has excellent design.
Sample Costs
Kenya is the original safari destination, with easy flights between Nairobi and Addis Ababa. It resembles neighboring Tanzania, but the Great Wildebeest Migration will not be in the Maasai Mara in June. However, there will still be good wildlife and smaller crowds.
Many Kenya itineraries start at an airport hotel for the night before departing on safari the next day. However, there are attractions like David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Nairbi National Park that can occupy a day or two.
The Mara is one of the world’s best-known safari destinations. I usually book private reserves along the park’s border to avoid crowds and maximize the safari experience. It’s fun to start with a romantic tented camp like Mara Expedition Camp to immerse yourself in the wild.
Other options include, House in the Wild which is on a reserve that is further north, but it’s very private and family run. One option that is in the national park is Angama Mara. It will be busier than the others, but it is still off peak season. This camp is best for those who want an epic view or a more contemporary style.
Laikipia Plateau is a high-elevation safari area around Mount Kenya. The wildlife is quite good, but I like to book it second because you will have seen everything in the Mara and can better enjoy the range of activities here. Horseback riding, walking, mountain biking, and helicopters are all great options.
My favorite luxury camp here is Lewa Wilderness. They have massive rooms and plenty of activities, including flights around Mount Kenya and multi-day walking safaris if you’d like a taste of adventure. Lewa House is a good backup if Wilderness is full. If you want more adventurous activities with a little less wildlife, Ol Malo is a really fun lodge on the more arid edge of the plateau. Their helicopter rides are epic.
After you return to Nairobi, you can connect to a flight to the coast for a beach finale. Zanzibar is the traditional choice, and while there are a couple of resorts I like here, it is getting crowded. Nearby Pemba Island, a short connection to Zanzibar, has one of my favorite resorts, The Manta. They have incredible snorkeling and a commitment to supporting the local community. If you want a really off the radar spot near some historic towns, Manda Bay, on Kenya’s Lamu Island is a great choice.
Sample Costs
You can also access Kilimanjaro Airport from Addis Ababa. June is peak migration time, so there is the opportunity to see vast herds of wildebeest. Some lodges may be more expensive or have limited availability, but I don’t want to write it off.
Because of the flight times, you usually stay one or two nights in Arusha to start. Fortunately, there are a lot of nice lodges here. I like Legendary Lodge because it is more intimate and has great food.
Little Chem Chem is a great Lodge that can either start or end the safari. There is plenty of wildlife on this restored landscape, and the specialize in the “slow safari” that includes time in nature and walks with the Maasai. I always send people here instead of Ngorongoro Crater because it is super private.t
I don’t always include this Gibbs Farm because it isn’t a safari stop, but since you mentioned food and culture, I think you will love it. It’s a working farm in Tanzania and makes a unique safari interlude.
The Serengeti merits one or two stops, depending on your desire to see the migration and your budget. The owners of Legendary Lodge operate a couple of more camps that we can build into a circuit and get a discount. Songa Migrational Camp is in a good position in the northern part of the park for the migration. And Mwiba Lodge is a luxury level property in a large private reserve in the southern part of the park away from the migration.
All of the Zanzibar and Pemba Island properties will work for a Tanzania itinerary as well. Lamu would be off the table because of travel times though.