4 Travel Hacks For a Honeymoon Safari

Planning a wedding can be all-consuming for both the bride and groom. A lifetime of expectations, theirs and that of their families, can place an emotionally and financially draining mountain of pressure on the otherwise happy couple. And the honeymoon! Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience that must be perfect in every way!

So how can you switch from this sense of pressure to something special, something fun? You’re marrying the love of your life, and you want your ceremony and honeymoon to be exceptional. How can all your dreams come true while skipping the stress and the crazy expense?

Well, since neither of these highly significant events will magically appear out of thin air for you to step into and enjoy, you will need to plan–and plan early–if you want these special occasions to go off without a hitch.

Planning will help you avoid the big disappointments like poor accommodations, sub-par meals, canceled flights, or even unfavorable weather to some extent–all of which can seriously detract from the romance and the fun.

And while it’s impossible to predict the future, careful and early planning will increase your chances of having the vacation of your dreams. So here are a few quick hacks you can leverage for your honeymoon safari. We promise these tips will help orient your honeymoon safari in the direction of happily ever after.

Plan Ahead and Get Ready to Compromise

So you and your forever person have long dreamed of an African honeymoon safari. Once you explore what this means to each of you, don’t be surprised if you find some fascinating differences in your honeymoon safari dreams!

Maybe you see yourself hiking up Mt. Kilimanjaro with your beloved by your side. And come to find out, your spouse-to-be has been thinking more along the lines of relaxing poolside at a luxury hotel or on the white-sand beaches of Zanzibar.

The planning process will offer you and your fiance an early introduction to the subtle art of negotiation: a useful skill that will undoubtedly come in handy throughout your married life.

Sit together and discuss the travel dates, honeymoon duration, and dream destinations that will satisfy your work scheduling requirements and expectations. What are the non-negotiables (you’ll want to have only one or two of these!), and where can each of you be flexible?

Consider any special events or occasions that require advance bookings, as they’ll require quick, decisive action. And you’ll need to commit early if you’re hoping to take advantage of reasonable airfares or reserve a special suite in a specific destination. Making the big decisions and booking your must-haves early on will keep the stress down and your confidence and anticipation running high.

And while you can’t expect to agree on everything, as there are bound to be some hiccups, the desire to compromise and work together should be on the table too. After all, the ideal honeymoon fulfills your dreams, their dreams, and the dreams you share.

Set Your Honeymoon Budget Beforehand

A honeymoon vacation is one of those occasions when couples feel entitled to go all out and spare no expense. But we urge you to keep a grip on your plans and on reality! Arriving home and facing financial stress and disorder is not how you want to begin married life.

So deciding on your budget for this trip is a vital hack and a must-do. Since you’ve had a few discussions on what you really want to do while in Africa, your priorities are as clear as they can be before you start looking at numbers.

The truth is a honeymoon safari is not a budget safari. Once you take into account your travel and accommodation needs, game drives, small side trips, treat yourself to a nice dinner for two, and purchase something lovely to take home, you’ll understand that while these things are well worth the expense, they are still expensive!

And, of course, you’ll want to indulge while on your honeymoon in a faraway land–a place you might never expect to see again. But it’s important to keep your heads together. Staying on top of your budget will go a long way in how much you can relax and enjoy your honeymoon. What’s the point of all the bells and whistles if you’re too stressed out to appreciate them?

And you can get creative on ways to help you along with your budget. One idea is to add your honeymoon safari to your wedding registry. Your friends and families will love the chance to gift you something meaningful.

Consider the Best Time of the Year for Your Honeymoon Safari

Traditionally, newlyweds would leave for their honeymoon right after the reception. The happy couple would change into travel clothes, grab their suitcases, and take leave of the festivities amid the fond farewells of all their guests.

But now, with more practical considerations such as juggling work schedules and the rise in destination honeymooning, more and more couples are choosing to time their honeymoon around their favorite activities and their honeymoon destination’s seasonal realities.

So if your wedding is in June and you’re planning a Tanzanian honeymoon safari with a desire to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration, you’ll want to delay your honeymoon for a few months. Late summer is the best time for the dramatic river crossings, or wait another few months until January if you want to be in the southern Serengeti for calving season.

January temperatures run very hot and dry, and you’ll need to plan appropriately. In the dry months, the water sources dwindle, and it will be easier to spot wildlife, including the Big Five, as they all converge on the remaining watering holes.

But in the rainy months, the animals become very difficult to spot as they don’t need to move around much for food and water. The birdwatching may be fantastic, and the lodges will offer big discounts on lodging, but the roads become so muddy many are impassable.

You can trust us on this. Participating in a game drive out in the African bush and seeing the big cats lolling in trees and giraffes gliding by is a guaranteed thrill and worth some schedule shifting. A true highlight of your honeymoon.

Be Adventurous

The African sunrises and sunsets are moments of iconic, unsurpassed beauty. The vistas from mountaintops, the vast savannahs, and the pristine wilderness call to those looking for something beyond rose petals strewn around a honeymoon suite. For unique, awe-inspiring beauty, an African honeymoon safari is a romantic answer to an adventurous, honeymooning couple’s quest.

After all the exhaustive work that went into planning the wedding and the honeymoon, you both deserve a vacation that enlivens and revitalizes. So why not add a little daring to a fun adventure?

Imagine a hot air balloon ride, gliding high over the plains, animals roaming below, and a jaw-dropping view. Or scuba diving off the beach in Zanzibar. Maybe hiking the forests in western Tanzania to walk among the chimps. Imagine a lion walking up and over your jeep. Take it up a notch. When you return home, the chaise lounge will be right where you left it.

Final Thoughts

Of course, you want your honeymoon and the thrill of a lifetime to be perfect for each other. But when making your plans, be careful, and be realistic. There are many ways for your honeymoon safari to exceed your expectations while staying within your budget. Stay a few days less, skip the non-essentials, and space out your planned activities.

And remember that what’s truly important is your time together–and that’s at no extra charge! So give each other the gifts of an adventurous spirit and a great attitude, and decide to enjoy yourselves, come what may.