Luxury Kenya Honeymoon

Kenya, with its beautifully diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife and welcoming hospitality, is the perfect destination for a luxury safari honeymoon. If you want to see the Big Five in some of Africa’s most well managed game reserves, while staying in the best honeymoon lodges, then relax on immaculate Indian Ocean beaches next to the azure sea, then this jewel of Africa has everything you could want and more.

Why Kenya is perfect for a luxury honeymoon

From Laikipia in the north to the Maasai Mara in the south, Kenya is a land of exquisite vistas, guaranteed to be the setting for honeymoon memories that will last a lifetime. World famous game reserves in the Maasai Mara and the Great Rift Valley are only a one hour flight from Nairobi, whilst a hop over to the blissful resorts of Diani and Watamu on the coast is typically the same. This means couples can indulge in a diverse itinerary without spending too much of their honeymoon travelling in between. You can be feeding giraffes on the outskirts of Nairobi on one day, then spotting lions and elephants on the Maasai Mara the next, and finishing everything off by sunning yourself on the white sands of the Indian Ocean coast.

Best honeymoon destinations in Kenya

It’s a poorly kept secret that Kenya has some of the best safari in Africa. The Maasai Mara is home to the Big Five – lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo – as well as a myriad other recognisable species, from cheetahs and hyenas on the plains to crocodiles and hippos lurking in the Mara River. Time your trip right and you might also get to witness the awe inspiring spectacle of the Great Migration, when up to 1.7 million wildebeest brave the treacherous waters of the Mara to cross into the rich grasslands beyond.

The Great Rift Valley further north is also a great option for honeymoons in the green season, when the rains turn the otherwise arid landscape into a carpet of green and freshwater lakes like Naivasha offer the perfect opportunity for boat safaris to see hippos and flamingos.

Out on the coast you will find some of the best beach resorts in the whole of Africa, like Diani and Watamu, featuring pristine sandy beaches and authentic Kenyan hospitality, perfect for unwinding at the end of a week’s safari. Alternatively, if your taste for adventure isn’t quite sated, scuba and snorkelling in the sapphire waters of the Indian Ocean or a romantic horse ride along the shore will provide plenty of excitement in between your rest and relaxation.

Best honeymoon lodges in Kenya

On top of its obvious natural advantage of being home to stunning reserves in the Maasai Mara and the Great Rift Valley, Kenya has also led the way in the luxury safari experience. Properties like Angama Mara and Elewana Sand River Camp on the Maasai Mara offer comfort along with expertly tailored safari with brilliant guides and personalised activities specifically designed for couples, like private dining and hot air balloon flights over the savannah.

The coast offers equally luxurious places to stay, such as Kinondo Kwetu at Diani which boasts its own exclusive stretch of Galu Beach, a fantastic spa, as well as charmingly distinctive rooms. We suggest booking one of the private thatched beach cottages for couples wanting a truly tranquil escape together. Alternatively, for those wanting to immerse themselves in authentic Swahili culture, a trip up to Lamu in the north will take you to Manda Bay, where the traditional palm thatched lodges and car free surroundings make for a slower paced and intimate option to contrast with the busier resorts of the south.

Best time for a honeymoon in Kenya

Another advantage of honeymooning in Kenya is that it is truly a year round destination. Summer and early autumn is well known to be the best time for classic game drive safari, when the lack of rain draws animals into tighter concentrations around water holes and reduces foliage cover. However, visiting in the green season, from November to April, is just as visually impressive, with greenery carpeting the land and young animals taking their first steps on the savannah. Furthermore, with its equatorial climate and high elevation, Kenya’s rains tend to come in short, sharp afternoon showers that do not last long and certainly don’t get in the way of enjoying the incredible landscape.

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.