We always planned to do our honeymoon some time after the wedding. So after much work and help from Roseann Lovine of Outdoor Travel Adventures/Adventure Honeymoons (www.otadventures.com www.adventure-honeymoons.com), we have reserved our honeymoon in Africa.
We are using airline miles to get down there, so the flights are not the most direct, but hey, it's the journey!
This is our 'trip of a lifetime' and we've been putting it off and saving it for our honeymoon.
We start with 2 nights in London
"London is the largest urban area and the capital of England and the United Kingdom. An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans. Since its settlement, London has been part of many important movements and phenomena throughout history, such as the English Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival. The city's core, the ancient City of London, still retains its limited medieval boundaries; but since at least the 19th century the name "London" has also referred to the whole metropolis which has developed around it."
Then 2 nights at Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia (pictures, map)
"The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) is a waterfall situated in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls are, by some measures, the largest waterfall in the world, as well as being among the most unusual in form, and having arguably the most diverse and easily seen wildlife of any major waterfall site."
Then 3 nights at the Lebala Camp in the Linyanti Wetlands, Botswana (pictures, map)
"Lebala means wide open spaces in Setswana and the scenery is dominated by vast plains with scattered palms and tree clumps backed by wooded savannas.This wild expanse is contrasted with the casual elegance and luxury of the camp itself. Lebala Camp is situated 30 kilometers to the south of Lagoon Camp and fronts onto the Linyanti Wetlands.Open grasslands scattered with Illala Palms stretch to the south and west of Lebala. The perennial and southerly flowing Kwando river disappears into the vast marshes before emerging as the Linyanti river, flowing in a north easterly direction. The triangle formed in Namibia by this direction change is home to the Mamili National Park.The eight spacious tents are unique and were designed by us specifically for this camp. Each one is built on a raised teak deck, laid out with maximum comfort and privacy in mind. The tents have an entrance foyer with a reading and writing area, en-suite bathrooms with Victorian clawfoot bathtubs, "his and hers" washbasins and flush toilets. The bathrooms lead out to a reed enclosed open-air shower with hot and cold running water, powered by LP gas for hot water on demand.Each secluded tent has its own sundeck, and is set back among the trees. The endless vistas from the large windows and decks across the vast plains, make Lebala one of the finest wilderness camps in Africa."
Then 3 nights at the Sandibe Safari in the Okavango Delta, Botswana (pictures, map)
"CC Africa’s Sandibe Safari Lodge is set on a permanent channel of the magnificent Okavango Delta, adjacent to the game-rich Moremi Wildlife Reserve on a 270 square kilometre (104 square mile) private concession.The beautiful thatched lodge nestles between permanent water and grass-swept plains and was built with a commitment to “treading lightly on the earth”. The result is organic architecture that blends seamlessly with one of the most breathtaking landscapes in Africa. Sandibe is surrounded by an abundant array of wildlife and throughout the year, guests are enchanted by the changing moods of the Delta. Through exhilarating game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles and interpretive bush walks, CC Africa’s professional guides share the wonder of this wetland wilderness."
Then 5 nights in Cape Town, South Africa
"Cape Town (Afrikaans: Kaapstad; Xhosa: iKapa) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the metropolitan municipality of the City of Cape Town. It is the provincial capital of the Western Cape, as well as the legislative capital of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many government offices are located. Cape Town is famous for its harbour as well as its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point."
Some things I have learned when putting this trip together:
1) Do your research since the options and prices are too numerous - use sites like www.go2africa.com. Also have a clear understanding of what you want to see, when you want to go, and your budget. These three things are interdependent.
2) Book with a reputable agent - like www.otadventures.com - they have the best deals for packages and can handle local details and logistics better than you. It is almost impossible to do local flights and logistics on your own without relationships with local operators.
3) Book early - things fill up fast and flight, especially when using miles, are very hard to find. 6 months to a year in advance would be best.
Now all we need to do is get our vaccinations in order and start reading up on Cape Town. We will be visiting friends there in Cape Town and hopefully taking a tour of the Wine Country, the Garden Route, and doing some Great White Shark cage diving!
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