“You have to understand – there is a romance to Africa. You can see a sunset and believe you have witnessed the hand of God. You watch the slow lope of a lioness and forget to breathe. You marvel at the tripod of a giraffe bent to water. When you are in Africa, you feel primordial, rocked in the cradle of the world.” ― Jodi Picoult
There is a romance to Africa.
You can find it next to a sparkling lake or a sprawling savannah, along one of its great rivers or sugar-white beaches. Part of the magic is that Africa is both exhilarating and calming. A soothing sunset is followed by a frenzied wildlife encounter and capped off with a sublime meal under a banner of stars. It is a wonderfully romantic experience that makes for the perfect lover’s escape.
The choice of exquisite lodges in Africa is immense, but these are our favourites to stay at for a more intimate holiday…
Tswalu Lodge, South Africa
Tswalu Lodge boasts the celebrated Malori sleep-out deck. It is a luxurious hideaway with a king-size bed built on a raised deck in the middle of a magnificent 100,000-hectare 5-star private game reserve. If you look at the table for two in the photo you can get a good sense of the idyllic stillness out there. Oh, and Tswalu’s two Relais & Châteaux lodges ensure that the night out there will be both extremely comfortable and perfectly catered for too.
Mumbo Island, Malawi
Mumbo Island’s fantastic setting in the Lake Malawi National Park, a World Heritage Site and protected marine reserve, is what sets it apart. The island has never been inhabited, so guests really are guaranteed an exclusive experience in an unspoilt setting. Explore the water with your loved one as Mumbo is renowned for its unparalleled scuba diving and superb snorkelling with over 500 species of fish, including the world’s highest collection of cichlids.
Royal Malewane, Thornybush Game Reserve
Royal Malewane impresses on almost every level. The people are extremely welcoming, the cocktails refreshing and the rooms palatial. The luxurious nature of the lodge coupled with some of the best game viewing Africa has to offer ensures that Royal Malewane has established a fantastic reputation. As you might expect from a lodge of this quality, each of the freestanding and private suites has its own dark wooden terrace, thatched gazebo and spillway pool.
Sandibe Safari Lodge, Okavango Delta
Each of the cottages at &Beyond’s Sandibe Safari Lodge opens onto a private viewing deck overlooking the Okavango Delta’s verdant wetlands and its grassy savannah plains. Go for a walk or explore the waterways in a mokoro to see the plethora of wildlife in this pristine World Heritage Site. Back at camp, the twin-bedded Cottages each come with a naughty outdoor shower and a private plunge pool.
Londolozi Private Granite Suites, Sabi Sand
With a level of privacy and luxury that will exceed your most fanciful expectations, the Londolozi Private Granite Suites are the most exclusive suites in an already remarkable portfolio of lodges at Londolozi. The three private suites open directly onto the Sand River with a private plunge pool and enough light, space and exquisite décor to ensure you fall in love with your safari experience here.
Royal Chundu Island Lodge, Victoria Falls Zambia
Zambia’s first Relais & Châteaux property, Royal Chundu offers an unbeatable location on the famed Zambezi River while also promising stellar service and incredible cuisine. The lodge enjoys 20 miles of private waterways ensuring an exclusive experience while also near Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls.
Tintswalo Atlantic, Cape Town
You could sleep in a cardboard box where Tintswalo Atlantic is and you’d be happy. Luckily for you, Tintswalo offers the exact opposite of a cardboard box, with the new refurbishments ensuring the rooms and deck are absolutely top class. Tucked into the mountain on the scenic Chapman’s Peak drive, you can enjoy a sundowner on the deck while whales and dolphins cavort nearby. All this within reach of glorious Cape Town too.
Vumbura Plains, Okavango Delta
Vumbura Plains Camp is a fantastic camp bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in the extreme north of the Okavango Delta. This stylish camp is made up of two separate lodges of seven suites each. The tented suites sit on raised wooden platforms beneath a dense canopy of indigenous trees. Each suite looks out over the watery plains and has an outdoor shower, a sunken lounge, and a private deck with a plunge pool.
If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with us and we’ll put you on your way to your own perfect romantic holiday in Africa.