Recommend June 2014 - (Page 35)

Opposite page: A perfect honeymoon spot at Victoria Falls River Lodge in Zimbabwe. Below: Couples can opt for a ﬂoating dinner on the Zambezi River on African Safari Company's tour of the area. victoria falls For couples who have dreamed of visiting Victoria Falls for their honeymoon, here are two options you'll deﬁnitely want to recommend. Victoria Falls River Lodge, set in Zimbabwe's Zambezi National Park, is built on the banks of the Zambezi River and close enough to Victoria Falls, it is said, to see the spray of the "smoke that thunders." Here, couples can delight in their newfound life together in one of 10 luxury tents, each of whose location has been carefully chosen for its unique views of the river and for the surrounding trees that provide the utmost of privacy. The honeymoon accommodation of choice is the King Luxury Superior Suites, with their own plunge pool and Matepe poles for an outdoor shower, and honeymooners can sit back on their private deck and spot one of the 415 bird species recorded in the 150,000-acre park, or better yet, get pampered with an in-room massage. Rates are $470 pp sharing, and include transfer to/from Victoria Falls Airport, all meals, local beverages, optional daily transfer from camp to Victoria Falls town, a tour of the Falls (exc. entry fee), two game activities (game drive and river cruise), high tea, birdwatching on Kandahar Island, and access to the Tree Hide, overlooking a waterhole. Honeymooners will love Victoria Falls River Lodge's "tree-hugging" surprise: When honeymooners arrive, an indigenous sapling from the area (mahogany, levoa, acacia, etc...) is ready for the couple to plant together. As the tree takes root, so does the couple's life together. The property keeps a database of the trees and e-mails the honeymooners with updates as their tree progresses. victoriafallsriverlodge.com Victoria Falls is also on the menu-this time in Zambia-in African Safari Company's 9-day Best of Zambia itinerary, an intimate, off-the-beatenpath safari that's inclusive of unique bush accommodations including a private cottage with plunge pool at Victoria Falls and a brand-new luxury lodge in South Luangwa. Couples will get to enjoy day and night game drives as well as canoe safaris, boat trips and exploring afoot. On-request departures are offered during the dry season between April 15 and Oct. 31. The pp dbl rate is $6,436 to $9,282 plus $1,126 pp for light aircraft ﬂights. Accommodations are out of this world such as at the Tongabezi Lodge, located on the banks of the Zambezi River just upstream of Victoria Falls and where each accommodation is beautifully styled with furniture and embellishments from all over Africa; the Chiawa Camp, also on the banks of the Zambezi River, under a grove of evergreen mahogany trees, but in Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park; and the 6-villa Chinzombo Camp, each villa with its own private pool, and set within 60 acres of private land with Luangwa River frontage. Needless to say, the views from all of these lodges and along the way are mind-blowing-what a way to start a life together as a married couple. africansafarico.com ● -Carla Hunt contributed to this article. TONGABEZI turquoise seas crisscrossed by local dhows plying their trade, sunny days and a blanket of stars across the night sky. Romance never looked so good. Here, couples can while away the days with snorkeling excursions, get pampered during traditional African spa treatments, plunge into private pools, dine on culinary feasts prepared by their private chefs, go islandhopping, whale watching or scuba diving, and do nothing at all because when one is in paradise, it's nice to sit back and take in the grandeur of one's surroundings. All the villas are magniﬁcent, but tell clients to opt for the Luxury Beach Villas, which are steps from the beach-and isn't that what they are here for?-with a private plunge pool, outdoor his/hers showers, Mozambican butler-host service, private undercover deck with daybed and dining facilities, and a poolside sundeck. All newlyweds staying at Azura Benguerra Island will receive complimentary ½-hour couple's spa treatment of their choice (subject to availability, cannot be exchanged for another activity/treatment); bottle of chilled sparkling wine in villa on arrival; private dinner and special honeymoon turndown on one evening; sunset dhow cruise; Land Rover Red Dune Community Island Drive; and room upgrade on arrival if available. Prices ranges from villa and season from $550 to $895 pp per night for beach, luxury beach, or inﬁnity beach villas. azura-retreats.com/benguerra Archived related articles (available on recommend.com/magazine/ issue-archive): Zimbabwe: Southern Africa's Comeback Kid (November 2013) june 2014 35 http://www.victoriafallsriverlodge.com http://www.azura-retreats.com/benguerra http://www.africansafarico.com http://www.recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive):

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend June 2014

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: Seattle’s The Edgewater Rocks
Tour Talk: Apple Leisure Group
Caribbean Weddings: Choices, Romance & More Choices
Honeymoon Havens for all Sorts of Lovebirds
Nuptials at Sea
Wild Honeymoons!
Latin America for Lovers
Colombia Travel Guide
A Fairy Tale Honeymoon
All-Inclusive Powerhouses
Iberostar Playa Mita
Let’s Get Hitched!
Romantic Retreats
Unforgettable Honeymoons a World Away

Recommend June 2014