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Are you willing to trade some travel time for
the experience being in a truly remote locale?
Where the reward of a pristine, secluded
destination far outweighs an additional transit
night, or multiple flights on small bush
planes? If you are, then Tanzania has some
hidden gems to offer for your honeymoon; namely
places that are hard to reach, but
oh-so-worth-it! This honeymoon itinerary takes
you to the far reaches of southern and western
Tanzania, where you’ll discover the wilder and
more inaccessible side of this amazing country.
 Welcome
to Tanzania! Your arrival in Dar es Salaam’s
quasi-chaotic airport is smoothed by an
executive arrival service, which is fortunate
because you’ll want to maximize your time
tonight at your first hotel, The Oyster Bay.
Granted, it’s only a transit night, but this
little gem is the perfect place to unwind after
a long flight. Upon arrival, you may wish to
take a pre-dinner nap in your comfy bed, admire
the contemporary African art around the
property, or go for a dip in the pool while
enjoying a gin and tonic. A sumptuous dinner of
lobster, fresh local vegetables and a fine
bottle of wine ensures a great night’s sleep,
free of any jet-lag.
 After
a hearty breakfast, you’ll head back to Dar es
Salaam’s petite domestic airport for your flight
to the Selous Game Reserve. Located in the
extreme southern part of the country, this
reserve is larger than the country of
Switzerland,
and is home
to completely wild and unspoiled bush.
As a
World Heritage Site, you are eager with
anticipation! The park is bisected by the Rufiji River, and also features lakes, hot
springs, woodlands, grassy plains and rocky
outcrops. Your lodge, Beho Beho, is perfectly
sited atop one of these outcrops, providing a
romantic view across the vastness of the Selous.
Beho Beho is the perfect place to begin your
honeymoon safari adventure – the knowledge their
small and personable staff will impart to you
over the next three days will be equaled only by
their warmth and hospitality. While here you’ll
focus on the animals, which you’ll actively
track by Land Rover, on foot, and in some cases
by boat. The Selous is home to about 1/3 of the
world’s wild dog population so you’ll be sure to
catch a glimpse of this incredibly rare species
along with many many others.
 After exploring the Selous to your hearts’
content, you’ll fly north again, this time to a
much smaller reserve, the Tarangire National Park.
Home to the highest concentration of elephants
in Tanzania, this park does have a very high
density of animals in general, which means more
prolific game viewing, including lion, leopard,
cheetah and more than 500 species of birds. It
is also known for its majestic Baobab trees,
which provide an excellent back-drop for
photos. You’ll be welcomed at Oliver’s Camp, in
the extreme southern part of the park, with a
bottle of sparkling wine and warm
congratulations on your recent marriage. The
camp itself features 8 warmly furnished safari
tents, with all the comforts you could want.
Enjoy sundowners at the end of the day, have a
delicious dinner prepared by the gracious staff,
and then fall asleep to the sounds of the bush.
Heaven.
 It’s
now time to go from the excitement of safari to
a most unexpected honeymoon beach – Lupita
Island Lodge, located on a small private island
just off the shores of Lake Tanganyika. In the
far west of the country, this region is hard to
reach, so after Tarangire, you’ll proceed north
to Arusha for an overnight at the lovely Arusha
Coffee Lodge. The next morning, you’ll meet
your pilot for a 3 hour flight to the shores of
this mighty lake for yet another adventure,
albeit more relaxing than those previous.
 This captivating lodge, reached by a short boat
ride from the
landing
strip, sits high above the waters below. It may
be hard to tear yourselves away from the view,
your plunge pool, and the privacy of your suite,
but when you do, you’ll enjoy the full service
spa, excellent food and wine, and an eclectic
and beautiful environment in which to relax.
This definitely feels like a honeymoon! If you
do choose to explore the area, there is an
abundance of things to do – you can opt for a
guided hiking excursion, visit a nearby
traditional fishing village, dive or snorkel in
the crystal clear waters of the lake, work on
your tan at the beach, enjoy a sunset cruise, or
traverse the coastline in kayaks. If you have
the time and the inclination, you can also
travel by private charter to the Mahale
Mountains National Park (30 minute flight) to
observe families of chimpanzees in their natural
habitat.
At the end of a few blissful days on Lake
Tanganyika, you’ll know it’s time to go home,
but you won’t want to leave – have you ever been
this relaxed in your lives? As you head back
north to Arusha and Kilimanjaro for your
international flight, you’ll smile and laugh at
one another as you realize you are already
making plans for a return trip to celebrate your
5th anniversary!
Who will enjoy this trip:
This is a great itinerary for couples who have
already been on safari and are looking for
something different. Adventurers who like
to go as far from civilization as we know it as
possible. People seeking walking safaris
in particular. People who value fine
accommodations but understand the limitations
remote locations present.
Who should avoid this trip:
If you have limited time and need to maximize
travel efficiency. If you prefer a more
typical oceanside beach. If you may feel
as though you might "miss" some of the major
sights by not visiting the northern circuit.
Couples who are uncomfortable being very very
far away from almost anything.
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