56 FEATURE
romantic africa
IT TAKES TWO ROMANTIC AFRICA
With its big landscapes, star-fi lled skies, white-sand beaches, private islands, game lodges and scenic wonders, Africa is the perfect option for romantics, says Steve Hartridge
D
espite its many other seemingly intractable problems, Africa rarely falls short when it comes to delivering a little romantic
magic and experiences made just for two. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in
Casablanca, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in Out of Africa and Greta Scacchi and Charles Dance in White Mischief, to name just three fi lm classics, showed off the continent’s vast and possibility-laden landscapes. But you don’t have to be a Hollywood movie
star to know that a little romance and endless pampering are guaranteed at properties across Africa: from a luxury safari lodge in South Africa to a characterful riad in Morocco to a fi ve-star hotel overlooking the thunderous Victoria Falls which straddles Zambia and Zimbabwe. South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia,
Tanzania and Kenya have been the traditional mainstays for weddings or honeymooners, but increasingly featuring in tour operators’ programmes are ‘emerging destinations’ like Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. And it’s not all about the luxury: whether a picnic
for two on Table Mountain; a glass of Method Cap Classicque Champagne accompanied by a marshmellow and nougat tasting at the House of JC Leroux in Stellenbosch; or a sunset cocktail on an Indian Ocean beach, there’s no end of options to tweak your clients’ romantic taste buds.
However, it is perhaps the African bush that best evokes the true spirit of African romance. Aside from the intimacy and privacy offered
by the upscale lodges, with their just-for-two plunge pools, alfresco showers, private butlers, top-of-the-range cuisine and wines and full body therapies and massage treatments at their spas, there’s something rather special about sharing the experience of a photographic hunt for Africa’s Big Five animals. Evenings, especially, are peculiarly intimate affairs infused with an unusual magic, with the camp boma lit by the gentle fl icker of oil lamps and lanterns, camp staff singing melodic African tunes, the wraparound nocturnal sounds of the bush and the star-spangled canopy of the Southern night sky. And what could be more romantic than being wrapped in a blanket, swopping safari highlights and sipping Amarula night caps around a toasty campfi re? There’s no end of lodges and reserves to choose from. For example, in South Africa Selati Camp, probably the most romantic and secluded of the four camps at Sabi Sabi, is a favourite amongst couples to South Africa. Selati’s eight thatched suites, each with full bathroom en-suite and private alfresco shower, blend seamlessly into the surrounding bush and top-notch cuisine is served on wooden thatched decks built alongside the Msuthlu riverbed.
www.sellinglonghaul.com Also in South Africa, the Sir Richard Branson-
owned Ulusaba Private Game Reserve and Safari Lodge is one of the most luxurious and exclusive game lodges in the world and an ideal choice for honeymooning couples with deep pockets, said Louise Turner, Product Co-Ordinator, Worldwide Product Team, Virgin Holidays. “The camp is located amid the breathtaking landscapes of the Sabi Sands and combines exceptional service with a superb safari experience. For those who like to experience the passing wildlife, the lodge is a great option with tree-house inspired rooms and suites, all with private decks.” Game parks located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape
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