Tanzania: the perfect honeymoon

Looking for the perfect honeymoon? Try Tanzania. You only get married once but how about three honeymoons? Tanzania has it all – mountains, savannah and beach, so don’t rush it. Treat yourself to a three-week honeymoon to make sure you get the most out of this beautiful country. And you’ll forge wonderful memories to last you a lifetime. Three honeymoons? Yep, three. For Honeymoon Adventure Part 1, you’ll face the challenge of Mount Kilimanjaro, the rooftop of Africa. It’s a relationship-building experience that’ll see you cuddling up together with steaming mugs of coffee, gazing at the sun setting in the golden skies, after a hard hike across Kilimanjaro’s four different landscapes.Next, the vast plains of the majestic Serengeti and the stunning wildlife of the Ngorongoro Crater will be etched forever in your memory and, to complete your magical experience, you’ll chill out with a visit to the white sand beaches and azure waters of Tanzania’s Spice Island, Zanzibar. Kilimanjaro – the adventure begins If you thought your wedding day was an adventure, try this! Team up to start your honeymoon with a hike up Kilimanjaro. You’ll both need to be fit as it’s a physical and mental challenge. But more than that, it’ll test you both as individuals and as a team. Your adventure starts at bustling Moshi in the foothills of Kilimanjaro and you’ll be driven through coffee and banana farms to the start of your adventure. There are seven or so routes to choose from but the Machame Route is arguably the most beautiful. This seven-day accompanied hike takes you through different climate zones. Highlights include a scramble up the “Breakfast Wall”, a doable but challenging climb just after a big breakfast (hence the name!) and, of course, the ascent to the peak Uhuru in darkness, your efforts greeted by a 360 degree panorama of the dawn sky, the landscape of Tanzania unfolding before you. Safari time – Mother Nature at her most spectacular Tanzania is justifiably world famous for its diverse wildlife and each of Tanzania’s national parks is special in its own way. One of the jewelsis the Serengeti National Park. For Honeymoon Adventure Part 2, book a safari in the park to explore this eco-system that is beyond words; a buzzing, chirruping and roaring eco-system of animals and birds living their lives across the vast plains. This majestic landscape is a stunning backdrop to one of the world’s most dramatic natural stories – the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra across the savannah. You might choose to stay agile in a mobile camp site or choose from one of the many comfortable lodges. But if you’ve a little extra money to spend then why not splash out on a 5-star stay at one of the high-end lodges? After all, you only honeymoon once (fingers’ crossed!). Try the gorgeous luxury of the Four Seasons Lodge, located right next to a watering hole popular with elephant, zebra and gazelle. Spend the days on private guided walks and the golden dusks sitting out with a glass of wine, as the sun sets as the shadows lengthen and the night birds call. Another gem is the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unflooded volcanic crater in the world. It’s a unique ecosystem that’s packed full of wildlife. It’s not just the Big Five you’re sure to see (and if you’re really lucky, you might spot a rare black rhino): there are jackal, cheetah, gazelle and bat-eared fox, too. The perfect setting for your honeymoon is the &Beyond Crater Lodge, a top-notch piece of heaven perched on the rim of the crater itself. Four-poster bed, roll-top bath, private butler, visiting zebra? No problem, madame. Zanzibar – the big chill For Honeymoon Adventure Part 3, jump on the quick flight to Zanzibar, Tanzania’s spice island fragrant with clove, nutmeg and vanilla. Sip a virgin cocktail on one of the dozens of soft, white sand beaches while you decide when to slip into the turquoise waters to check out the rainbow-hued fish that skip around the corals. But there’s much more to Zanzibar than relaxation – if you’re still feeling bouncy then try kite surfing, or diving in some of richest waters in the world. Cruise by traditional wooden dhow to Pemba Island’s stunning coral reef and vertical dive wall – and maybe meet up with some dolphins, too! Zanzibar’s Stone Town is a coral-hued architectural maze of ancient buildings influenced by Arabian, Indian, African and Portuguese culture, and of course there are the street food markets and colorful, chattering bazaars to investigate. But where to stay? There’s a great choice of resorts and lodges for every price range, but if you want a final splurge before the plane home, how about a night at the crazily beautiful underwater room at The Manta Resort on Pemba? It’s a three-level Swedish-engineered floating lodge, with a roof deck for star gazing (no light pollution here! Ever REALLY seen the Milky Way?) and an underwater room with a 360 degree view of what’s outside. With shoals of fish lazily swimming by, you’ll probably want to watch the view all night. Tanzania’s unique mixture of adventure, wonder and relaxation is a blend idea for the perfect honeymoon. It really has everything to offer and you can do as much or as little as you like. Start married life as you mean to go on – with an adventure infused with romance, discovery and joy. Alfred Michael is Owner & Managing Director at Viva Africa Tours. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.