Honeymoon in South Africa

Located at the southern tip of the African continent, South Africa is blessed with a varied natural landscape as well as a multi-ethnic culture. The Rainbow Nation as it is known is thus a great place to visit if you are looking for a honeymoon destination with a mix of natural, cultural and historic attractions.

Beaches of Cape Town

Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town is famous for its beaches which range from the popular and calm to the windswept and the isolated. Due to the city's unique geography, it is possible to visit several different beaches in the same day, each with a different setting and atmosphere. In fact the waters of the beaches on the False Bay are balmy like the Mediterranean seas while that of the beaches on the Atlantic side can be rather cold because of the influence of the Benguela current. You are looking to spend a quite romantic afternoon with your partner, a good bet would be the Noordohoek Beach which is relatively less crowded and where you can even go horseback riding. On the eastern side the waters of the Boulders Beach are warmer which is why it is a popular spot for swimmers and those seeking to work a tan. However a bonus is the sight of African Penguins which have a colony here. Then again the Strand Beach with miles of golden sand bordering turquoise-blue waters can be an ideal setting for romancing your beloved. The Atlantic coast beaches like the one at Camps Bay are particularly popular with their restaurants, bars and cafes.

Table National Park

Nature lovers are sure to enjoy a trip to the Table National Park during their South Africa honeymoon. Set in the backdrop of the Table Mountain, the national Park is a veritable treasure house of local flora and fauna. Here you can take in the sight of the majestic Table Mountain along with other attractions of the section like the Signal Hill, Lion's Head, Devil's Peak, the Twelve Apostles  which is actually a series of seventeen peaks along the Atlantic seaboard as well as the , and a specially protected area of Orange Kloof. The other popular attraction of the Table National Park is the section comprising of the Cape of Good Hope. Here you can hold your partner’s hand and walk to the southernmost tip of the continent or relax on the lovely beaches on the False Bay.

Live the good life

One of the most-frequented places in Cape Town is the Victoria and Albert Waterfront. Built on top of part of the docks of the Port of Cape Town, this is a great place if you want to indulge in the best of the dining and shopping options at Cape Town. Though crowded most of the times, you can soak in the lively cosmopolitan atmosphere of the waterfront while sipping a latte at a fashionable café or dining at one of the fancier restaurants. And once you have done your shopping, you and your partner can simply gaze at the ships and ferries, entering and leaving the port. If you want to experience a slice of the country’s political history, you can take a ferry from the Nelson Mandela Gateway for Robben Island where the legendary leader for imprisoned for several decades. On a happier note though you can treat your beloved to one of the many cruises which operate from the V&A Waterfront to attractions such as the Hout Bay, Simon's Town and the Cape Fur Seal colonies on
Seal and Duiker Islands.

Pretty as a picture

However South Africa has much more to offer honeymooners apart from Cape Town attractions. When here, don’t miss the rose gardens of Bloemfontein. Even though the city serves as the judicial capital of South Africa, Bloemfontein is better known to tourists for its rose gardens and the annual festival of Roses. The name of the city is in fact the Dutch word for “fountain of Flowers” and this evident in the many parks and gardens which are bursting forth with its lovely blossoms for the greater part of the year. If you are strapped for time, make it a point to visit the best-known of them all, The King’s Park where you can romance your spouse in the midst of blooming rose bushes, of which there are supposed to be four thousand in all.

Northwest Adventure

For couples who are looking for a honeymoon with a greater measure of adventure and outdoor activities, the North West province is a good choice. Here you can live it up at the popular holiday resort of Rustenburg or head straight to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve where you have an excellent chance of spotting the "Big Five" of Africa’s wildlife. In fact Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its kind in the world and forms the base of a national park where rare rock types and structure make it a unique geological feature. History buffs will be fascinated by Mafikeng, and in particular its museum, which has exhibits relating to the Siege of Mafekingthe Barolong people and the Bushmen. The towns of Lichtenburg, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom are also of interest from a historical point of view.

Live it up at the Sun City

The Sun City Resort is the place to be if you are looking for loads of glamour on your honeymoon. With its enormous range of leisure options, you are sure to find something that suits your tastes. You can either head straight for the casino with your brand new spouse or check out The Superbowl, the entertainment centre which hosts rock concerts and beauty pageants, world championship boxing events and banquets. You can even go frolicking at the Valley of the Waves, a fantastic water park, with your partner. Don’t miss Shows like Baletsatsi, which has dancers, gymnasts and circus people, that take place in the 620-seater Sun City theatre in the Sun City Hotel. On the other hand if you and your partner are foodies, at Sun City you can go exploring the many fine restaurants that offer everything from haute cuisine to hamburgers. But then again if you prefer burning calories to consuming them, you can choose from a range of activities like tennis, squash, swimming, golf, mountain biking, horse riding and parasailing or watersports like water-skiing, parasailing and Sunset Cruises at the Resort's Waterworld.