honeymoons
When it comes to planning your wedding, there is no doubt that the groom gets off lightly. With no cakes, dresses, flowers or chair covers to consider organising the perfect honeymoon is traditionally the groom’s main responsibility.
More often than not the honeymoon is a surprise for the bride, which only adds to the pressure to make sure it lives up to expectations. With inevitable exhaustion following the build-up to the wedding and the emotion of the Big Day it is vital to get the right mix of relaxation, romance and adventure on your honeymoon for the perfect start to your married lives.
To ensure honeymoon harmony, here are 10 practical considerations when planning this once-in-a-lifetime trip:
1. Be different - Two weeks in the Costa del Sol isn’t going to win you many brownie points, this occasion warrants a little more creativity.
2. Currency exchanges rates - In these unprecedented financial times it is extremely important to choose a destination where your spending money doesn’t add up to more than your holiday. Exchanging GBP, USD or EURO to South African Rand will provide you with more than enough spending money at a fraction of the cost compared to other countries.
3. Time difference - Weddings are exhausting and jet lag can be harsh - choose a destination without a huge time difference.
4. Flights - More often than not a honeymoon requires some long haul; if possible choose a destination with overnight flights - you can sleep on the plane and this gives you more time, at less cost, at your destination.
5. Climate - Unless you plan to ski you will usually want blue skies and warm sunshine on your honeymoon; this can severely limit your choices depending on the time of year you travel.
6. His & Hers activities - It can be hard to find the right mix of relaxation, romance, activities and adventure in one place. Quite often combining two locations in a twin-centre honeymoon is the perfect option.
7. Passports & Visas - Remember to check out the passport and visa information carefully. Some destinations require a certain number of blank pages in your passport. Also, it is usually much easier for the bride to travel on her maiden name as getting passports changed before you go can add unnecessary stress.
8. Financial Protection - Now, more so than ever, we hear of more airlines and travel operators going bust. It is vitally important to book from a reputable operator with 100% financial protection.
9. Travel Insurance - Travel insurance is not just for accidents that happen while on holiday, the right insurance can protect you from airline failure and unexpected holiday cancellations. Buy your insurance at the time of booking.
10. Travel Specialists - Avoid the glossy brochures and speak to a specialist that can provide complete peace-of-mind and creates a unique honeymoon fitted to your personal specifications. A true specialist will have personally visited the hotels and locations they are offering; they also have preferential rates so will be more competitive than booking direct. Booking with a specialist saves you time and money and a guarantee that your honeymoon experience lives up to your dreams.
Contact a specialist to plan your dream Honeymoon
We are continually finding that honeymooners are requesting a honeymoon which combines two or more components in it, for example to have an action packed safari and a romantic tropical island beach holiday in one. These holidays, which are termed ‘Twin Centre Holidays,’ are growing in popularity.
If a couple sees their honeymoon as a once in a lifetime holiday to Africa they may want to pack in as many attractions as possible and these attractions may fall across a few regions or across the boundaries of two or three countries. An example of this would be guests who wanted to see Cape Town in South Africa, Victoria Falls in Zambia and experience a safari in Botswana.
South Africa would be the country we would say most of our clients would include in a twin centre holiday. South Africa itself is an extremely popular honeymoon destination, largely because of its incredible weather and scenery but also because it offers some of the most luxurious hotels and game lodges in the world. Unlike other destinations in the world that provide simply one attraction, South Africa is an entirely diverse country offering a range of experiences, a Big 5 luxury safari normally being the highlight. A favourable exchange rate means not only is the safari one of the most reasonably priced in Africa but when you are out in South Africa you can truly spoil yourselves on spa treatments, romantic meals, adventure activities and shopping sprees.
South Africa is can be combined with any number of countries however the most popular for honeymooners are island beach locations such as Mauritius, Mozambique and the Seychelles.
Mauritius is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful paradise islands in the world and for this reason is very popular for weddings and honeymoons. This picturesque island is renowned for the hospitality of the locals, the elegant hotels and spas and some of the world's finest beaches and lagoons. Many hotels and resorts are particularly suited to honeymooners offering discounts and special honeymoon extras.
Mozambique borders South Africa and it offers a very different beach experience from the likes of Mauritius or the Seychelles. Here the lodges are small and intimate offering a rustic luxury, Robinson Crusoe type of experience as opposed to the larger resort style hotels of the other two islands. The beaches are arguably the most untouched of all the beaches on this coast of Africa and it is a dream location for divers or couples looking to really get away from it all.
In many ways the Seychelles represent the absolutely ideal honeymoon destination as it is quite simply one of the most romantic places on earth. The stunning vistas, pure white sand beaches, exotic greenery, turquoise blue seas and spectacular sunsets all create the backdrop for an unforgettable romantic experience. This combined with discreet and exotic island-retreats offering the ultimate in stylish luxury make the Seychelles the perfect honeymoon choice. Many of the hotels have special offers for honeymooners including discounted rates, complimentary champagne in your room, candle lit dinners, spa treatments and sunset cruises.
If you are after an East African Safari, both Mauritius and the Seychelles can be combined with Kenya.
Kenya is arguably the most well known of holiday destinations in Africa. Honeymooners have for years been drawn to its quintessential images of herds of elephants in front of snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro, hot air balloons above the Masai Mara and the proud Masai warriors. It is the land which inspired Karen Blixen's 'Out of Africa', a place of vast plains and abundant wildlife. With every champagne toast at sunset and every action packed game drive, a honeymoon in Kenya is sure to provide lasting memories.
If you don’t want to go as far as field as Mauritius or the Seychelles to combine your Kenyan safari with a beach element, you can enjoy your beach break on the exquisite Kenyan coast beaches or the Tanzanian islands of Zanzibar or Pemba.
A very popular trip is combining a safari in Tanzania with a beach stay in Zanzibar. A safari here is most typically in line with people's vision of a traditional safari, with its huge herds of animals. Tanzania offers such a wide diversity of scenery on safari from the vast flat plains of the Serengeti to the unique volcanic crater at Ngorongoro to the flamingo filled Lake Manyara. Coupled with this memorable safari, what can be more romantic than a stay on Zanzibar with its warm tropical waters and white palm-lined beaches?
There are an abundance of combinations to consider when planning a honeymoon to Africa including some as fun as adding to a safari and beach combination, a gorilla tracking experience in Uganda or Rwanda.
Africa beautifully lends itself to providing a diversity of experiences in one trip. Mahlatini will help and advise you on logistics and the merits of various combinations – there is often the risk of trying to do too much in one trip as well. Whatever you decide to do, the abundance of experiences will certainly provide lasting memories.
Photography Credit: Constance Lemuria in Seychelles, Benguarra Lodge in Mozambique, Cotters 1920's Camp by Cheli and Peacock, Klein's Camp by And Beyond
Contact a specialist about a Twin Centre Holiday
An amazing honeymoon to a range of exotic destinations in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands is more accessible than you might think. Follow our Top 10 tips to ensure your honeymoon is one to remember, for all the right reasons...
1. Research the range of African destinations on offer well in advance of your planned departure dates to make sure you choose a safari or beach holiday that meets your specific requirements. Indulging in a spot of escapism by reading up on your preferred locations and looking at photos is a wonderful way to begin your planning.
2. Make better use of frequent flyer points and airline award programmes that you may have built up over years but never redeemed – putting these to good use may make a long-haul destination more viable than you had previously considered.
3. Visit South Africa. Whether you love or loathe the Football World Cup, the host nation South Africa did a marvellous job in not only organising but providing a fantastic insight into this amazing country... book up fast to avoid the stampede!
4. Play the currency market and take advantage of the favourable exchange rates and value for money in countries such as South Africa & Namibia, which both use the South African Rand; or Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar which trade in US Dollars.
5. For most of us, we save for years to afford this once in a lifetime holiday. For financial peace-of-mind, make sure you only book with a travel company who is properly licensed e.g. ATOL or TTA to ensure you are 100% protected. Also, make sure you have your travel insurance in place before you book your honeymoon as you are generally entitled to a full refund if an unforeseen event prevents you from travelling.
6. Don’t waste precious days of your all-too-short holiday break suffering from jetlag. Fly south to avoid traversing time zones and enjoy your holiday from the moment you land. Any African country is no more than 2 hours ahead.
7. Break out of your usual travel patterns and welcome new destinations for an enriched experience in this once in a lifetime trip. The rewards of travelling to countries such as Mozambique, Namibia or Uganda before tourism develops on a larger scale are manifold.
8. Travel off-peak to secure excellent rates, for the majority of the year peak season differs depending on which country you visit. It may mean you can enjoy a luxury, 5-star experience, previously considered to be out-of-reach. For example, the tropical paradise of Mauritius offers year-round sunshine and fantastic value outside of peak months, especially May and June.
9. Resolve to rely on your memory as much as your camera when travelling – soak in the scenic landscapes, sunshine and unique cultures of the locals. You can call upon these happy memories to help get you through the dreary days back home.
10. And most importantly of all... Only entrust your honeymoon planning to a reliable, expert tour operator who has in-depth knowledge of your chosen destination.
More about Safari and Beach Honeymoons
As we all know your honeymoon is one of the most important holidays you will ever have. In days gone by, most newlyweds were happy with a bit of sun, a good beach and a nice hotel. These days as people marry later in their lives this often means that the couple have more disposal income at hand and may have already done a substantial amount of travelling before they get married.
Increasingly the travel industry is finding that honeymooners are after something unique. While tropical island beaches still come up as a number one choice for honeymoons, holidays with more adventure are now a lot more sought after. Couples are asking for the type of experience that is "once in a lifetime" that no one they know has done before, something that they are share together and have lasting memories of. Safari holidays in Africa can offer all of these things and as much romance you can muster. They can also offer the best of both worlds if you do want to combine your adventure with the more traditional beach holiday.
African Travel Specialists Mahlatini has compiled a list of their Top 10 memorable activities for a honeymoon in Africa.
1. Gorilla Tracking in Uganda or Rwanda – This is the ultimate in adventure and involves a day of tracking the endangered mountain gorillas of Uganda or Rwanda.
2. Swimming in Devil’s Pool off the Victoria Falls - a small lagoon enclosed by rocks where, in the dry season, you can swim and even climb up on the very lip looking down at the crashing waters below!
3. A Hot Air Balloon Safari in Kenya or Tanzania – When people think of Africa this is one of the quintessential images – balloons floating over the vast plains of the Masai Mara and Serengeti.
4. Shark Cage Diving in South Africa – This extremely popular activity, which takes place off the Cape coast, allows you to get within touching distance of Great White Sharks!
5. A Walking Safari in Zambia – while a safari in a game drive vehicle is exciting enough, for those wanting to get really close up and personal to the wildlife of Africa we recommend you try a walking safari which can be done across Africa but most recommended in Zambia.
6. A Mokoro Trail in Botswana – these traditional dugout canoes have been used for centuries by the local fishermen. Imagine spending 3 days gliding through the crystal clear waters of the Okavango Delta in search of wildlife and spending your evenings camping on the islands.
7. Climbing Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – for the really adventurous why not spend your honeymoon climbing Africa's highest mountain. It will take you up to 8 days but image the sense of achievement of reaching the summit!
8. Surfing Sand Dunes in Namibia – The Namib desert houses some of the largest sand dunes on the planet. There is no better way to experience these wonders than to zoom down them head first on a sand board.
9. Diving with Whale Sharks in Mozambique – the unspoilt coral reefs and crystal clear waters of Mozambique are just waiting to be explored in the hope of finding these gentle giants and a host of other marine species including manta rays.
10. White Water Rafting down the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe - Acclaimed as the wildest one-day whitewater run in the World, the Zambezi River is also recognized by rafting and kayaking enthusiasts as one of the top ten paddling rivers on the planet!
Is your budget holding you back from the adventure of a lifetime? Why not consider a honey money scheme where you can ask your friends and family to pay towards your honeymoon or various activities as a wedding present.
Contact a specialist about a Honeymoon Holiday