Expectations are high when choosing a romantic couple’s getaway for you and your loved one. Only an exceptional experience will cut it, and rightly so! Be it a honeymoon, birthday or simply the chance to get away from it all, an escape to the privacy and tranquility of the bush is one of the best ways to connect with each other. The only distractions will be the endlessly beautiful views and breath-taking wildlife encounters, which are just two things on safari you will never tire of.
An endless love celebrated in classic style
While the idea of the African safari as a hunting expedition has thankfully changed since it began in the 1920s, the authenticity and passion of the original experience is still alive today. And, as the birthplace of the safari, Kenya remains one of the most sought-after destinations on the continent. Home to Africa’s iconic Big 5 animals and part of the route taken annually by over 2.5 million wildebeest, zebras and antelopes, the Maasai Mara is worthy of its status as the Seventh Natural Wonder of the World and as the best romantic couple’s getaway.
Clinking ice-chilled glasses of gin and tonic as the sun sets over the African wilderness is a time-honoured safari tradition. It is a celebration of another blissful day in the bush and, when you are sharing the time with your significant other, it is a toast to love that few couples forget. Because on safari, the moments that leave you speechless are often so different from each. A Kenyan safari is as much about simply relaxing, chatting and looking across the vast plains as it is staring mesmerized as a cheetah strategizes its attack on an unsuspecting impala.
A real romantic couple’s getaway makes you fall deeper in love with each other and head over heels for the place you have hand-picked for your special retreat. There is something so enchanting about the savannah wilderness of the Maasai Mara that it is almost impossible to not leave a little part of your heart behind when you head back home. It is for this reason, that luxury safari camps intertwine the romance of under canvas living with the magic of the wild.
The love language of the wild
While the Maasai Mara doesn’t need anything else to make it romantic, it certainly doesn’t hurt to indulge in pampering spoils that help melt away the stresses of life. ‘Nature therapy’ combined with curated relaxing experiences at your safari camp, compel you to disconnect from the outside world and boost your wellbeing. Taking a digital detox every now and again is a good thing, both for your own health and that of your relationship. Imagine, couple’s spa massages under hands that gently knead away those stubborn knots, followed by private bubble baths at sunset accompanied by champagne and lanternlight. Sounds swoon-worthy, doesn’t it!
Words of affirmation, accepting gifts, acts of service, quality time, and physical touch – these are the famous ‘five languages of love’. Your nearest and dearest will likely be able to point out the way – or perhaps ways – you most naturally give and receive love. If we are talking about showing and giving love, then on safari there would need to be at least one addition to this list. What would an unforgettable holiday be without mouthwateringly good food!
Kenyan safari dining is an entire experience in itself, where the setting is just as important as the meal you’re served. From coffee and snacks on the morning game drive or a surprise full breakfast table set up in the bush, to a lazy lunch in the comfort of your tented suite followed by afternoon tea and sundowner drinks during the day’s final activity, and topped off with dinner under the stars. When on a romantic couple’s getaway, a private table in a secluded location is the ultimate ‘wine and dine’ evening. So, in other words, if done right, you should never go hungry while on a Kenyan safari.
An adventure of the heart
Whether yours was a ‘love at first sight’ kind of experience or a love that grew in passion and depth over time, each brought with it something unique that changed the course of both your lives – adventure! From the butterflies in your stomach on your second date to the first time you took a road trip together, going on adventures is one of the greatest gifts love bestows upon us. With adventure comes excitement to revel in and memories to reminisce about as you grow old together.
A Kenyan safari is packed full of exhilarating moments that, when shared with your special person, take up an extra-special place in your heart. A young wildebeest managing to successfully swim past a crocodile as it makes the dangerous Mara River crossing, a Maasai Warrior leaping what seems impossibly high off the ground, and a secretary bird taking on a snake for its next meal. These are just some of the possibilities of what going on a romantic couple’s getaway to the Maasai Mara is all about.
Going on a safari in Africa might be taking the road less (or never) travelled for you both, which means it is bound to have parts that, at least seem, a little scary. It is often through challenges faced while out in the wilderness and possibly quite far from your comfort zone that make you figure out new things about both yourself and your loved one. Learning and growing together is part of the adventure on safari and in life. And, as a romantic couple’s getaway, a Kenyan safari is a good opportunity in which to share a positively thrilling and life-changing experience together.
For many decades, Kenya has won over the hearts of lovebirds seeking a romantic retreat that balances wildlife encounters with local community visits, the adventure of game drives with the relaxation of being pampered, and authentic tented safari camps that effortlessly incorporate modern luxuries and creature comforts. It still holds firm to this top position in the romance department!
Calvin Cottar is Director and Owner at Cottar’s 1920s Safaris. Cottar’s 1920s Safaris is an award-winning luxury 1920s safari camp and private bush villa located in the famous ‘seventh’ natural wonder of the world, the Maasai Mara in Kenya, and owned and managed by the oldest established and continuing safari family in Africa.
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