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Honeymoon to Rwanda & Tanzania
Sarah Reilly, 30th June 2025We had the most magical honeymoon. This was always a bucket list trip and the trip we executed was above and beyond our expectations. We began in Rwanda, where we got to experience the culture, educate ourselves on the history and of course the once-in-a-lifetime experience of gorilla trekking in Volcano National Park. It was awe-inspiring to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, also to see how passionate the Rwandan people are. We then headed to Tanzania for our safari experience. Both the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti offered breathtaking landscapes and incredible wildlife sightings. Every game drive brought new surprises, and the thrill of spotting the Big Five in the wild was unforgettable. The lodges combined luxury with authentic wilderness immersion, making it the perfect blend of comfort and adventure. To finish off our honeymoon, we escaped to the Seychelles which was more than worth the trip. A true tropical paradise with unlimited white powdery beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters. We snorkeled among vibrant coral reefs, enjoyed romantic dinners by the sea, and simply savored the tranquility of this island haven.
Accommodation Visited
Kigali Serena Hotel
“A perfect hotel for an overnight welcome to Rwanda. It was a quick drive from the airport and provided the comfort we needed after a long day of travel. The staff made sure they were available for dinner, although we arrived later than planned. The hotel offered a beautiful breakfast buffet, and a beautiful pool. A great escape from the city.”
The Bishop's House
“We absolutely loved our time at The Bishop’s House — it was one of the most memorable stays of our trip. The staff were outstanding — warm, attentive, and always going the extra mile to make us feel welcome and cared for. From the moment we arrived, we felt completely at ease and well looked after.
The design and décor of the property were beautiful, with thoughtful touches that made the entire place feel both elegant and inviting. Its location within Rwanda was also perfect — peaceful, charming, and ideally situated for gorilla trekking.
One of the true highlights came after our trek: we were greeted back at the property where the team took off our muddy boots, gave us a relaxing foot massage, and later returned the boots completely cleaned. It was such a thoughtful gesture that perfectly captured the level of care and attention to detail the staff consistently showed throughout our stay.
The Bishop’s House truly went above and beyond, and we’re so grateful for the experience. We’d return in a heartbeat and recommend it wholeheartedly.
Eric was an incredible guide and host — we truly can’t recommend him highly enough! From the moment we met him, Eric made us feel completely at ease. He’s a skilled and cautious driver, and we always felt safe and comfortable in his vehicle, no matter the terrain.
Beyond that, Eric was a genuine pleasure to spend time with. He was respectful, warm, and easy to talk to — we had so many great conversations and really appreciated the opportunity to learn about Rwandan culture and everyday life through him. His deep knowledge and friendly personality made our experience even more memorable.
One of the highlights was simply getting to speak with a local who knows the country so well. Eric offered insight that you just can’t get from a guidebook — from cultural nuances to personal stories and perspectives that brought Rwanda to life in a unique and authentic way.
Eric consistently went above and beyond to ensure we were happy, relaxed, and having a great time. He was attentive to our interests and always offered flexible options to tailor the experience to what we wanted.
We absolutely loved our time with Eric and are so grateful for the care and thoughtfulness he brought to every part of our trip. He made our time in Rwanda unforgettable. Would absolutely recommend him to any future travels and if we come back we will request him.”
Lemala Ngorongoro
“We absolutely loved the entire staff at Lemala. The hospitality was some of the best we ever saw. The entire staff was above and beyond friendly and always made us feel comfortable and safe. We really enjoyed our time at Lemala and would highly recommend the camp and all of the staff. This was also our first time meeting members of the Massai community, which was such a special part of the experience. They were incredibly kind, attentive, and welcoming — walking us to and from our camp, preparing warm fires, and keeping us company while we enjoyed cocktails under the stars. It was a genuine pleasure getting to spend time with them and learn a bit about their traditions and way of life. That personal connection made the trip even more meaningful.
We absolutely loved our time with Frank at the Ngorongoro Crater — he made the entire experience exceptional from start to finish.
From the moment he picked us up at the airport, through our unforgettable game drive in the crater, to our return journey, Frank was professional, warm, and reliable. He’s an excellent driver and always made us feel safe and comfortable throughout the trip.
What really stood out was Frank’s deep knowledge and passion for the wildlife. As we explored the crater, he shared fascinating insights about the animals — things we never would have known without him. His expertise truly enriched the entire experience.
Frank was also incredibly flexible and patient, always happy to let us spend as much time as we wanted observing each animal. His friendly nature made it easy to relax and enjoy the journey, and we genuinely appreciated the great conversations we had with him along the way.
We can’t say enough positive things about Frank. He’s a fantastic guide and we would highly recommend him to anyone traveling to the Ngorongoro Crater.”
Simbavati Grumeti
“The lodge, rooms, and entire facilities at Simbavati were absolutely incredible — truly a beautiful and luxurious place to stay. It felt like such a treat to enjoy this level of comfort during our trip. The staff were all warm and attentive, and we especially want to highlight David, our server during the stay. He was an absolute pleasure — friendly, professional, and provided outstanding hospitality. The food and overall dining experience were also top-notch and something we genuinely looked forward to each day.
That said, there were a few aspects of our experience that could be improved. Vehicle availability felt limited and somewhat poorly planned. The lodge only has two vehicles on property, which isn’t ideal given the number of guests and the fact that one vehicle is often used for airport transfers. This put a constraint on scheduling and flexibility.
Our full-day game drive in Serengeti National Park was more chaotic than expected. We ended up losing over two hours of valuable safari time due to logistical issues — including picking up another group after their hot air balloon ride (who weren’t ready when we arrived) and then waiting again for the vehicle to refuel. The fuel situation especially seemed like something that could have been planned for in advance or handled outside guest hours.
We do want to make it clear that our guide Sillas was absolutely amazing — incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and willing to go above and beyond to tailor the drives to our interests. The delays were completely outside of his control, and we really appreciated the time we spent with him.
From our perspective, Simbavati felt more like a relaxing, lodge-focused experience rather than one centered on game drives and excursions. We had made it clear that we were looking for more time out in the bush, so the imbalance between the high-quality accommodation and the logistical issues around game viewing was noticeable.
All in all, we still had a wonderful stay and deeply appreciated the hospitality, but we’d recommend that future guests clarify expectations ahead of time — especially if game drives are a top priority.”
Staff Review
“Jessica was absolutely the reason we decided to book this incredible African honeymoon through Mahlatini. From the very start, she took the time to truly understand everything we wanted to experience — from gorilla trekking in Rwanda to safari adventures in Tanzania and relaxing in the Seychelles. She not only listened but went above and beyond to tailor the entire trip perfectly to our wishes.
What really stood out was her unwavering support throughout the journey. When we faced a flight delay, Jessica was immediately available and stepped in to coordinate alternative activities so we didn’t lose any precious time. Thanks to her dedication, every transition was smooth, and we never felt stressed or stuck.
All our travel arrangements, transfers, and accommodations were seamless — a testament to her meticulous planning and attention to detail. Jessica’s expertise and care truly made this honeymoon unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better travel expert and would recommend her to anyone looking for a stress-free, perfectly curated travel experience.
Thank you, Jessica, for making our dream trip come true!”
