Luxury Botswana Honeymoon

When asked where in Africa is best to honeymoon, we will nearly always point to Botswana. With its diverse and beautiful biomes, plentiful wildlife, world-class hospitality, and low-volume approach to tourism, Botswana is the perfect destination for new couples looking to relax and enter a space that feels utterly removed from the noise and bustle of the outside world. Enjoy an exclusive safari in Chobe National Park, glide through the channels of the Okavango Delta in your own private mokoro, and experience true freedom together as you explore the Makgadikgadi Pans on horseback. Our experts will help you find luxurious lodges, the most unforgettable experiences, and build the best possible itinerary to ensure your Botswana honeymoon stays with you for the rest of your lives.

Luxury honeymoon experiences in Botswana

One of the best things about Botswana is how distinct and varied its landscapes are, and how many different ways there are to experience them. If you want an authentic safari, then Chobe National Park can provide this in spades, with its massive herds of elephants as well as opportunities to see the other Big Five, along with many other iconic animals. Chobe also stands out as it tends to focus on walking or boat safaris above more traditional game drives, offering a freshly serene perspective of the park.

Similarly, the Moremi and Selinda game reserves, situated further south on the Okavango Delta, have plenty of opportunities for water-based safaris, including on the traditional mokoro boat. Once you have been paddled silently through reed-strewn waterways to see giraffes browsing on hidden islands, you won’t be able to look at a safari jeep in the same way again.

For a very different but equally magical experience, one must head southeast to the dry, flat scenery of the Makgadikgadi Pans. This enormous salt flat, one of the largest in the world, might appear at first to be arid and empty, but closer inspection reveals a landscape alive with stark beauty waiting to be explored. Whether it’s an exhilarating quad bike ride, a gallop across the pans on horseback, or a sunrise hot air balloon flight, your appetite for shared adventure will be thoroughly satisfied. Enjoy a candle-lit bush dinner or sleep out under the innumerable stars of the African sky, and you will know the meaning of wild romance.

Best luxury honeymoon lodges and camps in Botswana

Botswana leads the way in exclusive, luxury hospitality. Most camps are comprised of just a handful of tents and lodges, perfect for couples looking for a secluded escape, and offer beautifully curated comfort. Sitatunga Private Island is a wonderful example of this, situated in an isolated section of the Okavango Delta with breathtaking views of the surrounding wetlands and boasting rustically opulent suites nestled amongst a grove of ebony trees. Zarafa Camp, located further northeast on the edge of the Delta, offers an equally luxurious stay with copper baths and wide decks for enjoying views of the Zibadianja Lagoon at the end of a long day of safari.

For those looking for rugged beauty, Jack’s Camp on the Makgadikgadi Pans is the quintessential safari camp that combines style and luxury. Its striking canvas suites and old-world furnishings will delight and transport any visitor. San Camp is similarly arresting in its aesthetic, with fluttering white tents and open, airy suites, perfect for enjoying the limitless vistas of the surrounding salt flats.

The best time to visit

Botswana is blessed with an ever-changing environment, dominated by the shifting nature of the Okavango Delta and the ebb and flow of dry and wet seasons on the Makgadikgadi Pans. Therefore, you can plan your honeymoon for any time of year and still experience the very best that Botswana has to offer. But what is the best time to visit for you?

The dry season, from May to October, is famously the best time for safari, particularly in the Okavango Delta, when the vegetation is thinner, making animals easier to spot. The weather is warm and dry during the day and crisp at night. May and June in particular are great months to visit, as there are slightly fewer visitors and couples can enjoy safari all the more intimately.

The green season, from November to April, is also a quieter time of year. Whilst animals are somewhat harder to spot, the swelling of the watercourses makes navigating the Delta easier. Furthermore, the new rains bring the Makgadikgadi Pans bursting to life, and animals that had fled over the parched dry months return in great numbers—most notably the thousands of zebras that venture down to feed on the fresh grass and give birth to their young.

Other destinations to couple with Botswana

Sitting right in the middle of Africa, Botswana is perfectly placed to combine with other destinations on the continent and beyond. Johannesburg is only a short flight from Botswana’s airports, making it easy to safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park or Hwange in Zimbabwe as well. Alternatively, you can fly to Mozambique for some beach relaxation after a Botswana safari, or even to the Seychelles, making for the perfect ending to your dream honeymoon.

Why we love Botswana

Botswana is where cazenove+loyd began. We have been coming here and bringing our clients here for over 30 years, and we flatter ourselves that we sit amongst the world’s premier Botswana safari specialists. We have made it our business and our passion to seek out the absolute best lodges and camps, curate the most extraordinary experiences, and create treasured memories for our clients. Let us do the same for you and make your honeymoon last long after you’ve boarded the plane home.

Why book with c+l?

We, at cazenove+loyd, know the best local hosts, insiders and guides who will take you off the beaten path and under the skin of your desired country. You can trust our knowledgeable team of specialists to design the perfect bespoke itinerary for your luxury vacation. Get in touch to speak to an expert and start planning your next adventure now.