Safari Honeymoons & Bush and Beach

A few nights on safari followed by a few days on a beach is one of the most popular honeymoon plans in Africa. Early game drives and evenings by the fire, then time to rest by the Indian Ocean.

The routes below work well together, with short flights between the bush and the coast. The same trips suit anniversaries and anyone who wants a slower holiday after the safari.

Popular combinations

Kruger or Sabi Sand with Mozambique

Fly from Johannesburg or the Kruger area to Vilanculos, then by boat or light aircraft to the islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago, such as Benguerra.

Serengeti with Zanzibar

A short flight from the Serengeti or Arusha to Zanzibar, with beaches, reef snorkelling and Stone Town.

Masai Mara with Diani Beach or Zanzibar

Fly from the Mara to the Kenyan coast at Diani, or on to Zanzibar.

Okavango Delta with Mauritius or Madagascar

Fly through Johannesburg to Mauritius or Madagascar after a fly-in safari in Botswana.

Victoria Falls with the Quirimbas

The falls and Hwange, then a private island in northern Mozambique.

Phinda with iSimangaliso

Safari and beach in one region of KwaZulu-Natal, with no extra flights.

How to split your nights

Three or four nights on safari and four or five on the beach is a good balance for a 10-day trip. Do the safari first: early mornings are easier at the start, and the beach is a place to rest at the end.

Best time to go

• June to October. The dry season on safari and pleasant, breezy weather on the coast. The best overlap for most routes.
• January to March. Cyclone risk in Mozambique, Mauritius and Madagascar, though storms are not common in any one place. Good for Kenya and Tanzania.
• April and May. The long rains in East Africa and Zanzibar. Many beach lodges close or lower prices.

Romantic touches

Many lodges offer private dinners, a night on a sleep-out deck under the stars, spa treatments or rooms with a plunge pool. Tell us you are on honeymoon when you book, as lodges like to know.

Good to know

• Luggage. Light aircraft usually limit you to 15 to 20 kg in a soft bag, so pack light and leave extra bags at your hub hotel.
• Health. If your route includes a country with yellow fever risk, such as Kenya or Uganda, you may need a certificate to enter the next country. Ask a travel clinic.
• Budget. Island lodges reached by air are often the biggest cost. Mainland beaches are cheaper and still lovely.

Plan the safari part with our guides to South Africa Big 5 safaris, Kenya and Tanzania and Botswana and Victoria Falls.