STAR-STRUCK LOVERS A
Romantic Africa
Whether an intimate escape in a luxury safari lodge or a simple picnic on a deserted white-sand beach, Africa can deliver the perfect 'romantic getaway', says Steve Hartridge
frica lit the romantic touch paper for Wills and Kate, who got engaged in the middle of the
Kenyan bush, and now the 'Wedding of the Century' has taken place agents can anticipate a rise in interest in African breaks designed just for two. Aside from the ultimate privacy offered
by a small exclusive lodge, which can tailor personal safaris, romantic bush extras can include deep-sunken baths, private plunge pools, outdoor rock showers, a couples' spa treatment, exclusive dining in the lodge’s wine cellar and an in-room feast prepared by a chef. In Kenya, exclusive to Kuoni, Mara Bushtops oozes romance with its views, luxury accommodation and wildlife-spotting location bordering the Maasai Mara. For those with a proposal in mind, suggest a dawn balloon safari. Mateya Private Game Lodge in South Africa’s exclusive Madikwe Private
Game Reserve has few peers when it comes to providing an exclusive high-end option for a romantic escape. Its five huge ultra-luxury lodges cater for a minimum of 10 guests at a time, who enjoy the very highest standards of personal care and fine dining. Also in South Africa, Garonga Safari Camp is an exclusive 12-bed camp on the edge of the Kruger National Park that promises guests a 'safari for the soul', where romantic bush baths under the stars are the order of the day. Adventurous couples at Garonga can
spend the night in a tree-house deck, in the middle of the bush overlooking the veldt. They are left with a picnic hamper, a drinks box and a radio and are collected in the morning! Or how about a bush wedding, where
the ceremony is held under acacia trees with antelopes and giraffe curiously watching from a distance? At Thanda
Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa, couples are ushered down the aisle by Zulu dancers who then dance in celebration as a minister completes the nuptials. Wedding packages start at around £800 per couple. Yet African romance is not solely about
the aphrodisiacal bush and wildlife combination. Suggest the five-star rail experience, The Blue Train, which runs between Pretoria and Cape Town. Those aboard watch The Karoo and
the Winelands come and go from the privacy of their own luxury carriage. Combine The Blue Train with a stay at a Western Cape wine estate, such as Grand Roche, which conducts weddings in its tiny whitewashed Dutch- gabled church. South Africa’s stunning natural backdrops are perfect for that special
Zulu dancers can help your clients celebrate their wedding at Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
46 May 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
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