Why choose between adventure and relaxation for your honeymoon when you can have both? A honeymoon should be an unforgettable start to a lifetime together, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by combining the thrill of a Southern African safari with the tranquillity of a private island in the Seychelles. Think days spent tracking wildlife in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, followed by barefoot luxury on powdery-white sand beaches. The two destinations complement each other perfectly, and it’s the contrast that makes it all so special. Offering untamed wilderness, where lions roar and elephants stride unhurriedly across the plains, followed by the serene embrace of the Indian Ocean, where warm turquoise waters stretch to the horizon. It’s the perfect pairing of adventure and indulgence, ideal for newlyweds who are looking for an extraordinary escape.
As the helicopter rose into the air, pointing its nose towards the vast open spaces of the Okavango Delta, the buildings, bars, homes and shacks of Maun got smaller and smaller. Signs of civilisation give way to a patchwork of scrub, bushes, trees and dried-up waterholes. Flying onwards, the landscape changed beneath us. Game trails and animal footpaths appeared, a pod of hippos wallowed in a channel, and a family of elephants stood in the shade of a lone acacia tree. The bright blues and greens of the Okavango unfolded beneath us, a vast green mosaic, dotted with winding waterways, tiny islands and golden grasslands. All too soon the outline of a lodge took shape and as the helicopter descended towards the earth, a vehicle appeared to transport us to luxury.
Overlooking a seasonal lagoon, with a river along one side and surrounded by lush palm islands and vibrant vegetation, Atzaró Okavango is a supremely stylish camp. Eight palatial, tented rooms are connected by raised wooden walkways leading out from the central area. Tents they may be, but this is far from camping. All rooms have air conditioning, fans and voluminous, romantic mosquito nets draped around the beds. Outside on a private deck, there’s a small, shaded area with a plunge pool – vital to cooling off in the heat of the day. The bathrooms have both indoor and outdoor showers and baths, and where one bathtub is lovely, two is pure decadence. If you’re lucky, you might even spot wildlife as you soak in your outdoor tub.
Atzaró Okavango’s luxury doesn’t stop with the bedrooms. The main thatched lodge area has vaulted ceilings and a large open lounge area, with antiques, leather sofas, and wonderful, ornate, traditional fabrics, embellished with embroidery, applique and patchwork. The bar is detailed in wood, velvet and cut glass, and there’s a sunken seating area around an outdoor firepit, with views out over the seasonal lagoon. High tea is served on the observation deck, pre-dinner drinks are sipped at the bar, or in one of the comfortable chairs on the deck, and after dinner, settle in by the firepit to watch the stars glisten overhead while listening to the distant grunts of hippos and the sound of elephants coming to drink. For those looking for something extra, there’s a wine cellar, complete with a sommelier.
As you’d expect from a luxury camp of this type, the range of amenities is many and exceptional. If you fancy a workout, head to the gym, the 20-metre swimming pool, or visit the yoga deck. If you’re looking for some pampering, there’s a wellness spa offering a range of treatments and massages.
Atzaró is a safari lodge after all and as much of your day will be spent seeking out the wildlife of the Delta, location is important. The area that’s been chosen to build the lodge is known for its high concentration of wildlife, making for excellent and exciting viewing opportunities.
One morning, on a drive not ten minutes from camp, we sat silently in the back of the game drive vehicle. Five cheetahs lay camouflaged in the grass before us. They were on the hunt. An unsuspecting warthog couple, with their singular baby, appeared. The cheetahs’ heads swivelled in unison, inspecting the new arrivals. Suddenly there was pandemonium. One cheetah slunk towards the warthogs, clearly eyeing up the piglet for a snack. The other four arose to their feet, spreading out to ambush the family. Breaking into a run, the first cheetah closed in on the baby. We collectively held our breaths. Unbelievably, faced with a charging cheetah, the warthog parents stood their ground, and just as the death of their baby seemed imminent, they charged towards the approaching cat, who skidded to a halt in a cloud of dust, turned tail and ran, pursued by the pair of irate warthogs. The parents soon returned to gather up their baby. Meanwhile, the embarrassed cheetah slunk quietly in the background, surreptitiously reuniting with his brothers.
Excitement-filled morning and afternoon game drives aside, guests at Atzaró can also go on walking safaris (accompanied by an armed guide) or birdwatching trips. Seasonal water levels permitting, there are boat trips and sunset cruises, catch-and-release fishing excursions or the opportunity to enjoy the gentle pace of an afternoon spent in a mokoro (dugout canoe), something that’s an unmissable part of an Okavango experience. It’s worth noting that all these activities are offered on a private basis, so you’ll never have to share vehicles, boats or your space with others.
For the ultra-romantic, there’s the option to head off on a helicopter safari – a wonderful way to see the delta from above. Landing, mid-safari, for a glass of champagne on a tiny remote patch of dry land in the vast Okavango Delta is a memory you’ll treasure forever. Imagine the warm earth underfoot, the scent of wild sage drifting through the air, and a glass full of golden bubbles catching the afternoon light as you toast the wilderness around you. It is a moment suspended in time where adventure, romance and luxury meet in the heart of Southern Africa.
Atzaró Okavango will captivate you with its lavish design, gorgeous views and amazing wildlife experiences. Everywhere you go in this stylish camp, be it sipping a drink from the bar overlooking the lagoon or dipping your toes in your private plunge pool, there’s a sense of relaxed luxury here. For honeymooners, there’s the added bonus of a year-round special offer (excluding festive season) where one partner pays 50 per cent of the accommodation rate. The offer includes a complimentary 30-minute couples massage, private dinner setups, romantic room turndowns and a sparkling wine experience – what better way to get your honeymoon off to the perfect start?
When your safari is over, it’s time to head for the sparkling seas and shimmering sands of the Seychelles, part two of your honeymoon. From Atzaró it’s a short journey by helicopter to Maun, the tiny international airport closest to the Okavango. From there to Mahé, the Seychelles’ main island, there are good flight connections, three times a week on Ethiopian Airlines, making it easy to combine safari and sand, bush and beach, wildlife and waves, for the most perfectly paired honeymoon.
Mother Nature was very generous when it came to the Seychelles. The idyllic archipelago of 115 islands is scattered across the Indian Ocean like a necklace of precious gems. So beautiful is this cluster of islands that early explorers thought they’d stumbled upon the Garden of Eden. Granite boulders rise from powder-soft white sand beaches, where swaying palm trees dance in the golden sunlight. The warm, crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean shimmer in endless shades of turquoise. Emerald-green rainforests blanket the mountains, rolling down to secluded coves where coral reefs teem with vibrant marine life.
After landing at the international airport in Mahé, it was just a short journey – 130 kilometres south – to Platté Island, a tiny emerald speck blissfully isolated in an ocean of blue and home to Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platté Island. A true island paradise, the only sounds to be heard here are the lapping of waves on the shore, the wind rustling through palm trees and the calls of swooping seabirds. For a sublime off-the-beaten-path escape, Platté Island offers a level of luxury and seclusion rarely found elsewhere.
The Waldorf stamp of opulence is everywhere, from the lavish villas to the signature Parisian-inspired Peacock Terrace, where island-roasted coffee and unique tea blends are served. The champagne bar is the spot to head as the sun goes down and there’s a luxurious spa with an impressive menu of therapeutic treatments and restorative wellness programmes. For foodies, there’s everything you could dream of, with restaurant options ranging from seafood to Creolatino food and an incredible fine-dining restaurant with a garden-to-table vegetarian menu.
The 50 suites that dot the perimeter of the island have been carefully set back from the oceanfront, with each one featuring a dramatic fan-shaped roof, in a subtle homage to the hawksbill turtles that nest on the island. From our room, folding glass doors led out to a deck, a private pool and a pathway to the beach. Early in the morning, hundreds of gulls and terns chatted in the palm trees overhanging our room, and on morning walks around the perimeter of the island we spotted baby sharks and stingrays, skimming through the shallow water. Sunset found us sitting on the warm sand, watching strings of seabirds silhouetted against the orange and pink sky, and at nighttime, as we walked barefoot in the sand back to our villa, the blanket of stars twinkling overhead was magical.
There are a host of romantic experiences on offer. Indulge in a floating breakfast in your suite’s plunge pool, choose a romantic beach picnic or perhaps opt for stargazing with a private dinner. Order breakfast in bed or request your very own beach pop-up bar. A highly recommended excursion for honeymooners is a private catamaran trip, either a half or full-day trip, or a two-hour sunset cruise.
There is more to this treasure island than just the resort facilities. For couples wishing to immerse themselves in nature, Platté Island ticks all the boxes. The island itself is a natural paradise. Hundreds of hawksbill turtles nest on the beaches here, in fact, the island has the largest population of nesting turtles in the Seychelles, and at the right time of year, guests can watch as newly hatched turtle babies poke their heads out of the sand and make their manic dash, on tiny flippers, all the way to the water. The island’s house reef is the haunt of stingrays, manta rays and small reef sharks, the underwater seagrass meadows are some of the best preserved in the Indian Ocean, perfect for year-round turtle grazing. There’s a dedicated marine conservation centre on the island, with a full-time marine biologist, whose job it is to monitor and preserve all these natural wonders, and who is always happy to take guests out on sunrise wildlife walks.
After days filled with adventure on safari and tranquil moments on a secluded island, this honeymoon is more than just a getaway, it’s a journey of contrasts, connection and shared discovery. Whether toasting to your future under a canopy of stars in the Okavango Delta or sinking your toes into the warm sand of a private beach in the Seychelles, every moment of this extraordinary honeymoon is the beginning of a lifetime of exploration together.
Crafting the perfect honeymoon is no simple task. Whether one envisions a captivating safari or a serene retreat on a tropical island — or a harmonious blend of both — Mahlatini Luxury Travel has been meticulously designing bespoke travel itineraries across Africa and the Indian Ocean for more than two decades. They possess the expertise to tailor an exquisite honeymoon experience to perfectly align with the unique preferences of each couple. Visit; Mahlatini.com
Images courtesy of Atzaró Okavango and Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platté Island
