Romantic Africa
Whether you’re popping the question, love-struck honeymooners, celebrating a milestone anniversary, or just looking for a romantic destination away from it all, Africa is home to some of the most diverse, beautiful destinations and bucket list experiences on the planet.
Africa is made for romance: magnificent sunsets and expansive starry skies, dreamy landscapes, beds draped in white gauzy netting, and outdoor bathtubs overlooking some of the most spectacular wilderness areas in Africa. Whether you’re after white sandy beaches and island heat, big five adventures, or secluded luxury lodges in remote wilderness areas, Africa has it all.
Ibo Island, in Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago, has all the makings of a perfect beach honeymoon, or utterly romantic getaway. The Quirimbas consists of 32 islands nestled in the pristine aqua waters of the warm Indian Ocean, and Ibo Island is particularly magical. The island offers grand architecture, tumbling ruins, fascinating culture, a private idyllic sandbank beach, and the opportunity to island hop by dhow. Ibo’s ‘lost in time’ atmosphere is utterly captivating!
Days here are spent reading on sun-drenched white beaches, sipping cool drinks under swaying palm fronds, and diving and snorkelling in some of the most pristine marine areas in the world. Ibo Island Lodge offers indulgent massages, incredible service, and one of the most atmospheric, luxurious locations in the Quirimbas.
A Mozambique trip also combines well with a few days in South Africa. You can enjoy all the wonders of a big five safari in Kruger or Phinda, or the beauty and buzz of cosmopolitan Cape Town, and then head off to Mozambique for a fix of tropical island bliss.
Spend eight days on Ibo Island.
Beach and big five in South Africa
Phinda Private Game Reserve, in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, is one of the most exclusive and diverse game reserves in Southern Africa. With only a handful of lodges on 23 000 hectares, you’re assured extraordinary and private game viewing experiences. The remote and intimate nature of the lodges at Phinda offer absolute seclusion and tranquility. Love is definitely in the air!
Set within easy reach of the warm Indian Ocean and the iSimangoliso Wetland Park, Phinda is known for its abundance of wildlife, diverse habitats, and wide variety of safari activities. At Phinda you’ll find not only the Big Five, but also the most varied game viewing in South Africa, with an unbelievable seven ecosystems in just one reserve!
You’ll also find extraordinary birding, whale watching, shark cage diving, and some of the best and most exquisite luxury lodges in Southern Africa.
An easy drive from Phinda is the the romantic Oyster Box Hotel, a firm favourite of both South African and international travellers, and a lovely way to end a big five safari holiday.
Perched on the edge of the sea, the Oyster Box fuses old world charm with a superb location, exceptional service, fantastic food, and views and weather to set the heart racing.
This beautiful, elegant hotel is close to many of Durban’s attractions, or you can just kick back and relax around the stunning pool and soak up some sun.
Visit Phinda Private Game Reserve and the Oyster Box.
With its vast and incredible beauty, Namibia’s big sky country is the perfect destination for a loved-up escape. Not only will you find mesmerising landscapes and wonderful wildlife, you’ll also find yourself in places far off the beaten track, and in luxurious, unique and utterly remote lodges.
Our favourite romantic experiences in Namibia include climbing the towering red dunes of Sossusvlei and watching them light up in the magic of sunrise, as well as hot-air ballooning over the magnificent, other-worldly landscape of the NamibRand Reserve. Damaraland offers tranquility in an utterly secluded setting, while the famed Etosha National Park offers the excitement of the big five and some of the best wildlife sightings in world.
Explore Namibia on our Into the Wild lodge safari.
Botswana is one of the top destinations for an intimate and romantic safari, with some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa to boot!
Intimate lodges are the name of the game in Botswana – you’ll find small luxury camps, limited numbers of guests, and private concessions, some on isolated islands. Seclusion and exclusivity is what sets Botswana apart from the lodges in East Africa, with their high tourist volumes.
There’s little more romantic than the floodplains of the Okavango Delta – incredible sunsets, starry night skies, abundant wildlife, and absolute peace and quiet. It’s here you’ll find the space to connect, while watching elephants grazing on the floodplain below your private patio.
The famous Moremi and Chobe offer the chance to see the largest concentration of elephants on the planet, while in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve you’ll find awesome endless skies and a sense of space and distance from the hustle and bustle of every day life.
Attentive staff and incredible customer service is what really sets Botswana apart – from private romantic dinners in secluded locations, to bathtubs strewn with rose petals looking out over the savannah, you’ll find yourself easily falling in love with this magical place.
See the best of Botswana in 13 days.
Download our free e-magazine, containing all the details of the most romantic destinations in Africa
