Libbit (née Forde, August 4) and Simon Osborne
Dates August 10-23, 2010
We flew into Dar es Salaam, then took a transfer flight to Pangani for three relaxing days on the beach eating delicious seafood at The Tides Lodge. Next, we took a flight to the Selous Game Reserve for four nights on safari at The Retreat Selous. The stay included breakfast and dinner taken out in the bush and morning and evening game drives. We were the only two people in our camp! Finally, we flew to Zanzibar and spent five nights at Mchanga Beach Resort (days included a walking tour of Stone Town and spice farm visit) before flying home.
Stayed The Tides Lodge, Pagani; The Retreat Selous, Selous Game Reserve; Mchanga Beach Resort, Zanzibar
Most memorable moment Safari tales of man-eating lions and sundowners with our guide round the campfire, followed by dinner for two within 20 yards of grazing, honking hippos, all under the African stars
Organiser Rainbow Tours (www.rainbowtours.co.uk)
Rosie (née Barclay, September 15) and George Whitefield
Dates September 11-29, 2010
We flew to Nairobi, Kenya, and arrived at Shompole in time to have breakfast looking out onto mountains, plains and Lake Natron in the distance. For the next couple of days, we walked or drove around the reserve-a highlight was watching hundreds of flamingos on Lake Natron at
sunset. And so on to the Masai Mara for the end of the wildebeest migration. We stayed in a tented camp (Offbeat Mara) ideally located to see the game, and were lucky enough to see a river crossing.
After four days of safari, it was time for the beach-Mozambique to be precise. As we flew into Vamizi Island, the view below us was of turquoise water and white sand. A few days in paradise. Then it was back to Britain and the friendly Royal Arran Hotel on Arran. It eased us back into reality gently-a wonderful way to end our honeymoon
Stayed Shompole Lodge, Kenya; Offbeat Mara Camp, Masai Mara; Oyster Bay Lodge, Humansdorp
(for a stop-off); Vamizi Lodge, Mozambique; the Royal Arran Hotel, Scotland (www.royalarran.co.uk)
Most memorable moment Watching hundreds of animals complete a river crossing in the Masai Mara or landing on Vamizi Island
Organiser Original Travel (www.originaltravel.co.uk).We organised Arran independently
Margaux (née Robinson, October 6) and Harry Manners
Dates October 12-22, 2010
We flew to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and then took a transfer flight to the Selous Game Reserve in the south of the country. We spent four nights at the Selous Safari Camp, then travelled to the KonoKono beach resort, Zanzibar for some lazy days. It proved to be the perfect place to relax and recharge the batteries after all the excitement of wedding planning
Stayed Selous Safari Camp (www.selous.com) and KonoKono in Zan-zibar (www.konokonozanzibar.com)
Most memorable moment Having a shower with a giraffe peering over the wall
Organiser Tanzania Odyssey (www.tanzaniaodyssey.com)
Amelia (née Marling-Roberts, December 1) and James Milne
Dates November 28-December 13, 2010
We started in the Ellerman House hotel in Cape Town, which retains the feel of a country house, with a grand piano in the drawing room and its own art collection on the walls. Its setting in front of the sea and the quiet pool meant we didn’t need to venture out, but we did take a trip around Table Mountain and tried a few of the other bays for dinner-including Camps Bay and the V&A Waterfront. Then it was on to Franschhoek, via the Terroir at Kleine Zalza, a restaurant in a winery in Stellenbosch. Franschhoek really is gastronomic and Bacchanalian heaven. Wine tastings and a long lunch at La Petite Ferme were particular delights. We then flew on to Mala Mala in the Sabi Sands for a safari. The lodge overlooked the river and we saw the Big Five in one drive-no mean feat. Finally, we went to an island off Mozambique, where our personal butler laid a table for dinner on the moonlit beach outside our casita
Stayed Ellerman House, Bantry Bay, Cape Town; The Last Word Fransch-hoek Hotel, Franschhoek; Rattrays on Mala Mala Game Reserve, Kruger National Park; Benguerra Lodge, Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
Most memorable moments A long lunch at La Petite Ferme in Franschhoek, watching a leopard eat its kill from only a few yards away, and sundowners on the beach on an island in Mozambique
Organiser Outposts (www.outposts.co.uk)
** This article features as some of the specially commissioned editorial for our commemorative Royal Wedding Issue which is due out on Wednesday April 20. Do not miss it.
