1. The African Adventure: andBeyond Phinda Rock Lodge
There’s nothing like an edge of wildness to bring a heightened sense of romance to your honeymoon. And there are few places on earth more exotic than andBeyond Phinda Rock Lounge. Set in the heart of Zululand in South Africa, the luxury lodge is perched on the evocatively named Leopard Rock cliff face, looking down at the teeming plain below. And the usually elusive leopard is the order of the day at Phinda, with signs dominating the walkways warning guests to watch out for the most beautiful of all the big cats.
If you’re not exchanging glances with a leopard, you’ll be watching a herd of elephants play in the mud, a pride of lions snooze or a badly behaved troop of baboons scout for food. And when you’re in need of a bit of sleep and sustenance yourself, few places could be more relaxing than the lodge itself, with its earthy tones, deep comfortable beds and expansive verandahs.
Why It’s Perfect:
Like most game lodges of this calibre, mornings and evenings at Phinda are spent in jeeps looking for wildlife, while days and nights are spent at the camp in the lap of luxury. But for honeymooners, that glamour goes one step further. Instead of your morning game drive, you can embark on a walking tour with your guide that will end in a champagne breakfast for two in a deserted grove. Nothing quite prepares you for the experience of walking in the bush—the sights, sounds and smells seem so much more charged when you’re at eye level with the animals, rather than ensconced in a metal Jeep.
And after all that exquisite tension, a quiet moment alone in the wilderness with your new spouse seems wonderfully necessary. Another exciting option is spending a night in one of the lodge’s treetop beds: Set high in a Marula tree, you’ll be safe from the wildlife and free to fall asleep in each other’s arms, listening to the sounds of the bush.