“There is something dreamy about those early mornings on the landrover cuddling up under the blankets, pealing off your layers as the sun rises above the savannahs, the lavish bush breakfasts, the afternoon siestas, the wind in your hair as you spot the Big Five, the romantic candle-lit dinners and then the sheer exhaustion at the end of the day from simply indulging and enjoying the outdoors.”

There is something dreamy about those early mornings on the landrover cuddling up under the blankets, pealing off your layers as the sun rises above the savannahs, the lavish bush breakfasts, the afternoon siestas, the wind in your hair as you spot the Big Five, the romantic candle-lit dinners and then the sheer exhaustion at the end of the day from simply indulging and enjoying the outdoors. The team at Travel Concepts can offer many romantic safari options all over Africa from luxury tented lodges to those with cuisine, spas and wine cellars to match any world class hotel.

In this part 2 of our Hot Honeymoon feature, we look at 2 couples who both had dazzling destination weddings in the Cape Winelands, organised by our sister company Wedding Concepts, but opted for a romantic African safari experience instead of a tropical beach getaway for their honeymoons.

Dee & Joe from Ireland chose to exchange vows in Franschhoek after having been to the valley before on a holiday.  Their stunning winelands celebration was followed by two nights at the 5 star Bay Hotel located on Camps Bay’s golden mile. Heading north, their ocean facing room was replaced with an impressive 23 000 hectares of prime wilderness land in Kwa-Zulu Natal, where they spent 4 nights at the majestic Phinda Private Game Reserve. Twice daily open air safari drives, interpretive bush walks and river cruises at Phinda were followed by 5 further nights at the exclusive Thonga Beach Lodge set on the pristine shores of the Maputuland coast.

Ideally positioned above a secluded bay, Thonga Beach Lodge is nestled into beautiful coastal dune forests with sweeping views of the stunning beach below. The thatched bush suites provide privacy honeymooners come to expect and enjoy and the lodge offers luxurious accommodation and one of the best dive sites in Southern Africa.

To view Dee & Joe’s summer winelands wedding, click here

UK couple Richard and Stephanie got married at La Petite Dauphine in Franschhoek before setting out of their Garden Route Honeymoon. First stop was a 2 night stay at The Bay Lodge in Plettenberg Bay. This barefoot boutique beach lodge has amazing views over the Indian Ocean and contemporary designer touches throughout. Next on the agenda were 3 nights at the lavish Tsala Tree Top Lodge. Tucked away neatly into the forest canopy – these luxurious suites are the epitome of opulent indulgence and romanticism! Here the couple had an elegant suite fit for royalty. Extending into the forest was a private deck for dining al fresco as well as an infinity pool! Stephanie had the following to say after their stay at Tsala,

“Thank you so much to Travel Concepts for your patience and hard work in organising a fabulous honeymoon to follow our wonderful wedding. Our tree house at Tsala afforded us some much needed rest and relaxation. Lying by our private plunge pool with a bottle of wine we had picked up on the wine tour in Franschhoek, we looked back over special memories from what had been the best 2 weeks of our lives!”

The couple then flew from George to Jozi and did a scenic self-drive to Marataba Safari Lodge in the Limpopo Province. It was here that the couple spent 3 nights in one of ten exclusive and luxurious tented suites. Each tented suite has been carefully incorporated into the surrounding bushveld while a canopy of African trees provides vital shade. A permanent flowing river, completes the landscape of mountains, trees and sky – the backdrop to the big 5 game experience and the drama of the bush. A clever combination of stone and canvas create a unique feature for the suites, with an addition modern twist for the interiors.

If your dreaming of an African getaway – whether it be a an idyllic safari honeymoon or simply just to discover this untouched landscape – the team from Travel Concepts can take you there. Our team will ensure that everything is taken care of, right down to the smallest detail . To book your honeymoon or holiday, contact our formidable team, Mandi and Chantal at info@travelconcepts.co.za