The Last Word Kitara: Why we Chose A Safari for our Honeymoon

 From the Seychelles to the South African bush, this was the adventure part of our honeymoon.

When you think of a honeymoon, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a beautiful beach, turquoise water and somewhere you can completely switch off. And of course, we wanted that too. But we also wanted our honeymoon to feel like an adventure, so after our time island hopping around the Seychelles, we headed to South Africa for a few nights at The Last Word Kitara.

It turned out to be one of the highlights of the whole trip.

With just six suites, The Last Word Kitara has a wonderfully intimate atmosphere. It feels much more like a private bush retreat than a traditional safari lodge, and that small scale makes the whole experience feel incredibly personal. The setting is spectacular, surrounded by the African bush with wildlife never feeling very far away.

The suites are exceptional with veranda and indoor/outdoor showers overlooking a wildlife reserve.

In fact, you don't always have to head out on a game drive to experience the wildlife. There is game viewing from the lodge itself, so even when you're relaxing, there is always the possibility of seeing something unexpected.

And that is exactly what makes a place like this so special.

Of course, we headed out on game drives, but what surprised me most was how much there was to discover beyond simply ticking off the Big Five.

We travelled in September and were incredibly lucky to see so many young animals, including baby rhino, baby hyena and, incredibly, a baby elephant that was just one hour old.

Watching this tiny elephant finding its feet, surrounded by its family, was one of those completely magical moments that you simply cannot plan for. But the wildlife isn't the only thing that makes a safari special.

The knowledge of the safari guides and trackers was incredible. They didn't just point out the animals; they explained the plants, trees, birds, insects and smaller creatures that make up the ecosystem around them.

We started to understand how everything is connected and how each species plays its own part. And who knew that trees could communicate with each other? It turns out there is a whole world happening around you that you might never notice without someone knowledgeable to point it out.

For me, that made the experience much more fascinating than simply going in search of the Big Five.

One of my favourite memories was stopping for a bush coffee during a game drive. We were treated to mocha coffee with Amarula, sitting just metres from where hippos were happily chilling out. 

But these are the moments that stay with you. It wasn't just about what we saw; it was about being completely immersed in the environment.

Safari days can start early, so having somewhere beautiful to relax between game drives is important. Kitara's infinity pool was the perfect place to slow down, take in the surroundings and simply enjoy being in the bush.

There is something rather wonderful about lying beside a pool, looking out across the landscape and knowing that you are surrounded by wildlife. It gives you the opportunity to have the excitement of safari without feeling as though you are constantly on the go.

The food at Kitara was another real highlight of our stay. Everything was fresh and beautifully prepared, using locally sourced ingredients, and there was such a lovely variety to the meals. We had the most incredible private dinner for our honeymoon, which was such a special experience, but some of my favourite moments were actually the more relaxed ones – sitting around the campfire with drinks and a BBQ under the stars.

It was all part of what made the experience feel so special – the food, the setting and those little moments in between the game drives.

For us, combining the Seychelles and South Africa worked brilliantly. The Seychelles gave us the romantic beach escape, beautiful scenery and time to relax. Kitara brought the adventure. One day we were surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the next we were heading out into the African bush looking for wildlife. It gave our honeymoon two completely different personalities, which made the whole trip feel much more memorable.

Would I recommend a safari for a honeymoon? Absolutely. If you're looking for a honeymoon that combines relaxation with adventure, I think a safari and beach combination is hard to beat.

You don't have to choose between lying on a beautiful beach and having an incredible adventure. You can have both. South Africa is not typically twinned with the Seychelles, it works brilliantly with Mauritius and the Seychelles works amazingly with the Masai Mara in Kenya due to direct flights between the two. We were prepared for some overnights in Mahe and Johannesburg to make it work and it was worth it.

For us, The Last Word Kitara was the perfect way to finish our honeymoon. With only six suites, an intimate atmosphere, incredible guides and trackers, unforgettable wildlife encounters and the chance to simply relax beside the infinity pool between game drives, it felt like a very special place to experience our first safari together.

And seeing that tiny, one-hour-old elephant, enjoying a sundown aperitif just metres from the hippos and learning that there is so much more to the bush than the Big Five are memories I'll never forget.

Thinking about a honeymoon with a difference? I can help you create a honeymoon that combines the destinations and experiences that matter most to you, whether that's a luxury beach escape, a safari adventure or, like ours, a little bit of both.