Romantic safari getaways

A safari is one of the most romantic trips you can take: early mornings wrapped in a blanket on the game drive, long afternoons by your own plunge pool, and dinner under the stars with the bush going quiet around you. These are the lodges in South Africa that we think do it best for two.

South Africa gives couples more safari choice than almost anywhere. If you want to avoid malaria tablets, look at Madikwe and Pilanesberg in the North West, the Waterberg in Limpopo, the reserves around Addo in the Eastern Cape, and Nambiti in KwaZulu-Natal. All have the Big Five and most are an easy drive or a short flight from Johannesburg, Durban or Gqeberha.

For the classic big-game experience, the private reserves of the Greater Kruger, such as the Sabi Sand, Timbavati and the reserves near Hoedspruit, share unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park. Game viewing there is extraordinary, and the lodges range from simple tented camps to some of the finest in Africa. In Zululand, reserves such as Phinda, Thanda and Manyoni combine the bush with easy access to the beaches of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

When you are choosing, look for the details that make a lodge romantic rather than just comfortable: a private deck or plunge pool, an outdoor shower or bath, a star bed or sleep-out, and private dinners away from the main group. Smaller lodges with a handful of suites tend to feel more intimate than big camps.

As with everything on this site, we do not take bookings. Each listing links straight to the lodge so you can check rates and book direct.