How to experience the best African honeymoon on a budget

Wedding planning can be time-consuming and stressful with so many small details to consider and arrangements to make, but planning a honeymoon doesn’t need to be. Newly-weds looking to celebrate their nuptials can design their own Africa honeymoon on a budget with the help of African Budget Safaris (ABS). 

Exploring Africa is one of the best ways to settle into marital bliss. With so many incredible African honeymoon destinations, newlyweds can enjoy a host of romantic getaways, whether it be sipping cocktails at sunset on one of Zanzibar’s spectacular beaches, or cuddling up to your loved one on a dawn game drive around one of Africa’s incredible game reserves.

Romantic safari dinner

An African safari honeymoon promises to be an unforgettable experience and needn’t break the bank.

Best way to do an African honeymoon on a budget

With free help from our travel experts at African Budget Safaris, planning a post-nuptial vacation is effortless and cost-effective. Our team of friendly consultants helps clients create honeymoons on a budget, based on their interests and preferences. With years of experience in designing custom safari packages, couples can confidently hand over their African honeymoon planning to African Budget Safaris (ABS). Let’s unpack how it works…

African honeymoon safari

Couples select their African honeymoon destination and suggest a few points of interest, and the team at ABS will design a private tour that is affordable and customizable. Whatever their preference, our travel consultants regularly work with couples to design their ideal Africa honeymoon itinerary. Let’s explore some exciting travel destinations where married couples can take their first holiday as husband and wife.

Africa honeymoon safari pool

African safari honeymoons in Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park, located in the top right corner of South Africa, consists of nearly two million hectares of pristine bushveld. Wildlife sightings of Africa’s Big 5 - lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo - are a regular occurrence, making this a top destination for animal lovers. 

Greater Kruger safari honeymoon

As one of South Africa’s top tourist destinations, this national park has almost a million visitors passing through its gates each year. In some areas, queues of vehicles line the tarred roads jostling to see whatever animal is nearby. 

For couples looking for an intimate honeymoon safari, this is less than ideal. As such, at ABS we prefer to accommodate honeymooners at one of the more exclusive locations in the Greater Kruger. 

Romantic safari lodge

An intimate & exclusive African safari honeymoon 

Surrounding the Kruger National Park are thousands of hectares of private game reserves. With no fences separating these private reserves from the national park, animals roam freely throughout this region. People, however, do not have the same freedom because only those staying on the private game reserves have access to these areas.  

Greater Kruger honeymoon

What sets these private reserves apart is that they offer an exclusive African safari honeymoon, with intimate accommodations and limited visitors. You and your loved one will experience a private African safari, without other vehicles and visitors obscuring your view of the wildlife. The lodges in the Greater Kruger will take you out on daily game drives, accompanied by an experienced ranger who knows exactly where to go to have the most exciting wildlife encounters. 

Leopard kruger national park

While Kruger itself is mostly tarred, the Greater Kruger is mostly made up of dirt roads that are only accessible by 4x4s. This means you will be immersed in the bush and may even go on an off-road adventure with your personal game ranger. Having someone to guide you in the bush means that you will be able to see so much more wildlife. These rangers know the land like the back of their hands and will bring it to life for you, explaining how the ecosystem works, pointing out things you wouldn’t necessarily notice on your own, and making the landscape come alive with their insider knowledge. 

An affordable honeymoon safari in South Africa

When most people think of a private game reserve, they worry about the price tag that comes with this level of exclusivity. But the Greater Kruger has a number of options for honeymoons on a budget. There are about twenty private reserves in the Greater Kruger offering special experiences for honeymooners. At many lodges, the staff will organize romantic experiences for honeymooners, including things like private dinners in the bush or overnight stays in a secluded hide. 

Honeymoon safari dining

On arrival, you may find flowers and bubbles in your room, adding an extra special touch to your African safari honeymoon. With ABS, we help our clients have an exclusive honeymoon that is also affordable. 

The Kruger has something for everyone and the private game reserves offer full immersion into Africa’s incredible flora and fauna. There are also a number of accommodation options to suit any budget, so honeymooners don’t need to break the bank to enjoy one of Africa’s best safari destinations.

Kruger honeymoon safari

Read about a few of the lodges we include on African honeymoon packages for newlyweds.

For help planning a South Africa honeymoon on a budget, contact us.

An affordable honeymoon in the Okavango Delta

Tourism in the Okavango Delta is known for being exclusive and expensive, and while it certainly is more expensive to go on safari in Botswana compared to South Africa, there are still affordable options available for young lovers. In the last few years, Botswana has become a more affordable honeymoon destination. 

Delta camp honeymoon safari

Botswana hosts the world’s largest inland deltas: a vast inland waterway composed of marsh, land, sand, and water. As a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, the Okavango Delta is one of the most amazing wildlife destinations in the world, a prime location for honeymooners looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. 

What to expect from a honeymoon safari in Botswana's Okavango Delta

This vast inland river delta is a must-see for couples who love photography and African flora and fauna. Every few miles, new landscapes emerge, each one more breathtaking than the last. One need not go to Venice to have a romantic excursion on a boat - this is Africa’s equivalent to the City of Water. Instead of gondolas, newlyweds can cruise down the waterways on traditional canoes called Mokoros, exploring the natural environment at a leisurely pace.

Okavango Delta mokoro trip, Botswana safari honeymoon

Water-based safaris offer up-close encounters with African wildlife as this freshwater system attracts many diverse species. Submerged under the glittering surface are hippos and crocodiles, while elephants splash around in the shallow waters to cool off from the midday sun. Couples can enjoy the wildlife at ground level, or take in the view from above during a helicopter tour or scenic flight. For more adventurous romantics, a walking safari tour with an armed ranger will bring you into close contact with Botswana’s exquisite creatures. 

Scenic Okavango Delta flight, Botswana

Similar to the lodges in the Greater Kruger, Botswana's private hospitality industry is geared up for honeymooners. Couples can enjoy a range of accommodation options, from private glamping to more comfortable luxury lodges in the Delta.

Romantic safari lodge

Simply let the team at ABS know what you prefer, and we will design your Africa safari around your preferences. 

A romantic Zanzibar honeymoon on a budget

Another top African destination for honeymooners is Zanzibar Island. Off the coast of Tanzania, this tranquil yet vibrant island is located in the Indian Ocean and is alive with exotic sights, tastes, and sounds. For couples that love the beach, Zanzibar is the ideal location for post-wedding celebrations.

Zanzibar Africa honeymoon beach

The island is also home to an array of fascinating places to visit, including numerous points of interest in Stone Town, an East African city of great historic and artistic importance. 

Stone Town Zanzibar sunset

At African Budget Safaris, we have helped many couples plan their honeymoon in Zanzibar. The island is considered one of the best places to honeymoon, with its pristine white sands and crystal clear waters. Imagine eating freshly caught seafood, grilled on the beach, as you sip on cocktails with your loved one. 

Romantic Zanzibar dining by Flight Link

Africa honeymoon packages in Zanzibar

Our 6-day honeymoon package begins in Stone Town. After settling into your exclusive hotel suite, you will be treated to a sunset cruise in a traditional Arabian dhow (sailing boat). On the second day, you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Stone Town, taking in the old colonial buildings and bustling markets. This enchanting destination includes a visit to the famous Forodhani Gardens Food Market. Couples can try delectable local dishes, not only at the food market but throughout the island. 

Stone Town Zanzibar honeymoon

After breakfast on day 3, your guide will pick you up from your deluxe suite and take you to a spice plantation outside of the city. A delight for the senses, you will understand why Zanzibar has come to be known as The Spice Island! Your tastebuds will come alive as you experience the flavours of exotic fruits, such as carambola, custard apple, rambutan, and jackfruit. 

Zanzibar Island spice plantation by David Berkowitz

The last leg of your African honeymoon will be spent at an affordable luxury beach resort. Here you will unwind with your loved one, enjoy a dhow trip on the ocean, and even a snorkeling trip to experience the tropical underwater ecosystems.  

Zanzibar beach resort holiday

Let's plan your Africa honeymoon on a budget

We would be delighted to help you plan your post-wedding celebration. Simply tell us what sort of things you’d like to do, where you’d like to visit, and how much time you’d like to spend there and we’ll do the rest.

Romantic honeymoon safari drinks

We’ve had lots of happy honeymooners leave five-star reviews of our FREE travel service! Read a few of them below…

“What a brilliant brilliant trip. My wife and I came to Africa on honeymoon and we left everything in the hands of African Budget Safaris. We were helped every step of the way.” Edward Thomas

“From the beginning of communicating what we hoped to experience on our trip, to being given many options on accommodations, to getting the bookings taken care of African Budget Safaris handled the entire process not only effectively but at what seemed to be a significant price break from other companies we spoke with.” Chris H - USA

“We booked our honeymoon with African Budget Safaris and it was one of the best experiences of our lives. Setting up the trip was very easy, communication was constant and they lived up to every promise. The trip they prepared for us was excellent, beautiful landscapes, plenty of animal sightings, experienced guides and trackers, and the lodge was incredible as well.”  Kalle Bylin

Zanzibar honeymoon beach by Jenn

Click here to get in touch with the team at African Budget Safaris and let us plan your very own Africa honeymoon.