“Love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage,” Sinatra crooned. Not precisely a present alternative, however the music does drift to thoughts when requested in regards to the deserves of a bush-n-beach trip—as a result of that’s one slam-dunk mixture. Spending time in Africa’s primordial wilderness areas is all the time an eye-opener, from the ethereal sight of a valley filigreed in spider webs made seen by daybreak’s dew to watching a leopard cuff a hyena as her cub scrambles up a tree, or pied kingfishers diving into reed-fringed swimming pools deep with hippos. You always remember your first safari, and for those who’ve booked in the precise place, it’s unlikely to be the final. That stated, the day by day regime—from predawn wake-up calls to postprandial fireplace chats—will be tiring. So following it up with a powder-soft seaside—the lapping of a heat Indian ocean appearing as your night lullaby—is a fairly excellent ending. But the place on this vast continent would you land? Here are a few of our favourite safari-and-beach journey concepts that mix one of the best of each.
Grumeti Serengeti, Tanzania | Mnemba Island Zanzibar, Tanzania
Bush
Grumeti, in Tanzania’s western Serengeti, is archetypal Africa: savannah plains with flat-topped acacias underneath huge blue skies—all the time beautiful, all the time secluded, no matter whenever you go to within the migration cycle. It’s additionally the place you’ll discover Singita Sabora Tented Camp, arguably essentially the most opulent and romantic tented camp in Africa, and simply mixed with Singita Sasakwa Lodge. A game-drive distance away, Sasakwa is perched on a hillock with expansive views; a stunning distinction with Sabora, and Singita’s mycelium-style service means the staff right here already know whether or not you like glowing or nonetheless, cheese or dessert, sauvignon or chardonnay.
Beach
Just three clicks off the northeastern coast of fast-developing Zanzibar, Mnemba is lengthy feted essentially the most romantic seaside lodge in East Africa, and an enormous overhaul in 2024 has solely cemented this. Its 12 “bandas”—all-natural cocoons privately positioned within the casuarina forest’s cool depths; tiny duiker antelopes foraging as you make your method alongside non-public pathways to a startlingly white seaside—are arduous to go away. And with fashionable conveniences, fabulous snacks, and a butler at your service, you actually don’t have to.
Connectivity: Coastal Air provide a straightforward journey from Grumeti airstrip to Stone Town airport; you’ll probably cease to choose up passengers however there’s no disembarking, and will get there in three hours. From right here andBeyond will likely be ready to whisk you throughout to the north-east coast—a 1.5-hour drive on the most adopted by a fast 10-minute boat journey.
More price contemplating: Completely overhauled in 2022, andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti provides the form of lodging and repair one expects from this class-act outfit, and mixing it with extra of their Tanzania or Kenya camps (all nice) can provide important financial savings. And regulate Laba Grumeti Art Lodge. A recent-chic tackle the tented camp, stuffed with modern artworks by 10 African artists, classic Land Rovers tailored to run on diesel, ethanol and electrical, elevated views, and no scarcity of contemporary conveniences, it opens September 2025. Pair this with Pongwe Beach Lodge, a perennial Zanzibar favourite, with its prime place overlooking a lush garden-beach cove, one of the best on Zanzibar’s east coast. Or head north to Matemwe, the place the rustic-romantic Zanzibar Sunrise contains 14 barefoot-chic-Crusoe-castaway bungalows, constructed proper on the seaside.
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia | Nose Be Archipelago, Madagascar
Bush
Named after the broad expanse of water that flows alongside its southern boundary, underneath pillowed clouds and crepuscular skies, South Luangwa National Park provides nice recreation viewing (Zambia’s largest populations of lions; one of many highest leopard densities in Africa) alongside beautiful landscapes, negligible customer numbers, and one of many continent’s greatest strolling experiences. It’s a real immersion in untrammeled wilderness, strolling between any of Time + Tide’s camps—every solely two to 4 hours aside, whereas baggage is transferred by highway. Do decide to spend a minimum of one night time sleeping underneath the celebs.
Beach
Combining one of the best of the Indian ocean—floating above a kaleidoscope of fish; swimming with turtles—with fascinating wildlife within the verdant forests (lemurs; chameleons; boa constrictors!), the Nose Be archipelago provides ‘bush and beach’ in a single, and is comparatively undeveloped and completely unmarred by tourism. Lucky then, to discover probably the most particular lodges on the continent: Time + Tide’s Tsara Komba on Nosy Komba, a forested mountain-island only a quick boat journey from Nosy Be. Comprising eight timber cocoons, thatched roofs peeking out the lushly landscaped hillside overlooking a crescent of sand, the glittering ocean backdropped by the inexperienced hills of the mainland, the water heat, and calm—it’s merely idyllic.