Romantic African Destinations for a Blissful Honeymoon

Arriving in Johannesburg, South Africa all the way from Canada, Chris and Gwen were welcomed by a VIP agent who escorted them through immigration and into the arrivals hall where they met a representative who handed over their Welcome Pack before assisting with check-in for their connecting flight. Upon arrival in Livingstone, Zambia, they were transferred to Royal Chundu Zambezi Island Lodge for three spectacular nights. Day two and three were focused on a tour of Victoria Falls, exploring Livingstone, as well as enjoying a memorable dinner on the Royal Livingstone Express Steam Train – the culinary journey of a lifetime. A restored steam locomotive of polished leather, teak and brass was the setting for their exquisite five-course meal as the train travelled through the Zambezi River Valley, in sight of wild giraffes, zebras and antelope. A curated selection of South African wines was served to perfect complement the gastronomic experience. Daily activities at the lodge included daily sundowner river cruises, fishing excursions, canoeing and the option to join a cultural tour.

The couple then departed Royal Chundu by a scenic 45-minute helicopter flight to Livingstone where they flew to Johannesburg for their connecting flight to Kigali. Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport Chris and Gwen were met by an agent who assisted them with customs and immigration clearance, connecting them with their driver for their transfer to their overnight accommodation – the Kigali Marriott Hotel.

After a light breakfast and check out, they were met by their guide for a Kigali City Tour which included the Memorial Centre and Crafts Centres. After a brief lunch at a local restaurant, the couple were transferred north to the volcanoes region for check-in at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge for an exhilarating three-night stay, close to where they would trek on foot to see the magnificent mountain gorillas. On days six and seven of their journey, an early start was needed to proceed to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for their gorilla and golden monkey tracking experiences. Both days involved a long trek to locate the primates and an hour allocated to spending time observing them, followed by the trek back to base and a return transfer to Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in time for lunch. Each afternoon was dedicated to free time to relax at the lodge and enjoy the lodge activities of the day.

After a late breakfast, day eight began with a drive back to Kigali for their check-in at the boutique hotel, The Retreat, with some time for another short tour of Kigali to visit local markets and craft centres. The balance of the day was free for Chris and Gwen to enjoy their hotel facilities. The Retreat is Kigali’s first entirely eco-friendly, solar-powered resort featuring locally crafted sustainable teak wood furniture, expansive custom-built rooms and bathrooms with indoor and outdoor rain showers.

After a restful sleep and early breakfast, the couple was met and transferred to the airport where they were assisted with customs and immigration clearance for their flight to Nairobi, Kenya. Upon arrival, the pair were transferred to Wilson Airport for their air transfer to Olare Orok Airstrip where a game ranger was waiting to take them on their first game drive to their lodge for a blissful four-night stay. At Mahali Mzuri Chris and Gwen had a front row seat, not just to the migration, but also to the abundant game on site all year round. Wild animals roaming the Kenyan plains include wildebeest, elephants, zebra, lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffe, impala and gazelles, but that’s just for starters. The abundant animal life in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy is quite simply jaw-dropping, and these guests didn’t need to go far to see some unforgettable sights, with one of the biggest draws to the area being the annual ‘Great Migration’, which sees up to one million wildebeest plus hundreds of thousands of zebra, gazelles and other game undertake a journey of roughly 1,600km through Tanzania and Kenya.

After an exceptional tour, Chris and Gwen completed their final morning safari activity, enjoying a hearty breakfast before their transfer to the airstrip for their flight to Wilson Airport and final transfer to Nairobi Airport for their journey back home.