This couple spent their honeymoon on a luxury safari in Tanzania - here's what it was like
Morgan and David chose to spend two weeks in Tanzania in September for their honeymoon.
The couple are both active travelers and were looking for a "once in a lifetime trip." They wanted something that was luxurious.
And since the trip to Tanzania requires about 24 hours of travel time — they made the trip from New York — Morgan and David wanted to be able to take enough time off to make it worthwhile. Their flights from JFK, as well as the smaller flights they took within Tanzania cost $6,400 in total.
The couple spent six days on safari and six days in Zanzibar.
For the safari portion of their trip, Morgan and David stayed in three different properties in the Singita Grumeti reserve, which is located next to the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania.
The private 350,000-acre reserve was created in 1994.
The couple spent two nights at each of the three properties they stayed at. Morgan said that all three properties were very different from one another.
The first property they stayed at was the Singita Sasakwa Lodge. Morgan said the lodge sat high above the planes and provided incredible vistas. A night at the lodge costs $3,800.
Here's what the view looked like at night after sunset.
The inside of the lodge was also impressive.
With fancy common areas.
And a fully stocked bar.
The second property Morgan and David stayed at was the Singita Faru Faru Lodge. A night at the lodge costs $2,700.
The lodge sat along a small river.
The rooms featured huge sliding windows that opened completely with the press of a button. "You could just sit with your legs out the window, and you're just sitting watching the baboons and giraffes drinking by the water," Morgan said.
The last property the couple stayed at was the Singita Sabora Tented Camp. A night at the camp cost $2,700.
Morgan compared this property to the movie "Out of Africa." These aren't your average camping tents.
"You're right on the plain; there are zebras just coming up when you're eating breakfast or reading a book," Morgan explained.
Morgan and David were lucky enough to see many different animals throughout their trip.
They saw four out of Africa's big five.
The big five includes the lion, the leopard, the elephant, the white rhinoceros, and the buffalo.
The white rhinoceros was the only one of the big five that the couple didn't see, but according to Morgan, the species is extremely endangered, so there aren't many left. They did however see a cheetah and her baby, a species that can be hard to spot.
Besides the bigger animals, the couple also saw plenty of beautiful birds.
Morgan said that the safari guides were crucial in spotting and point out animals.
She says that people with an untrained eye wouldn't see a fraction of the animals that the guides point out. "The guide is just amazing." "They can hear things and have a ridiculous eye for this stuff."
There were two game drives that went out every day: one in the morning that left at 6 am and came back around 10 am, and another that left at 4:30 pm and came back after sunset.
Morgan said the sunsets were amazing.
One of the couple's favorite memories of the trip was stopping to watch the sunset with cocktails, wine, and snacks.
We were out on this huge hill watching the sun setting, drinking gin and tonics, and all of a sudden 200 elephants just start making their way down the hill," Morgan remembered. "It's just surreal.
Morgan also recalled sitting in the jeep for close to two hours, watching a "battle scene" unfold between zebras, water buffalo, and lions.
We were watching what happens in nature as if we weren't even there," Morgan said. "You really get to see what the hierarchy of the plains is like.
It wasn't just during their safaris that Morgan and David felt isolated in nature. Morgan said that their whole six day stay was "extremely personal and private."
When you're in your room you have a huge amount of space to yourself; you can't hear anyone else, you can't see anyone else, so it's really just you and nature," Morgan explained. "It's incredible to feel that isolated but waited on.
For the majority of safaris they went on, it was just Morgan and David and a guide.
There were only a couple occasions towards the end of their stay that Morgan and David were accompanied by another couple during their safari.
Along with the service and the privacy, Morgan and David really enjoyed the food throughout their trip.
Morgan said that food plays a large role on the trips she and David take, and there was no shortage of amazing food on this trip.
Each property had its own style, but everything was very fresh," Morgan said. "It was on par with the food you would find at any nice hotel.
Since the couple took their honeymoon in September, the weather was hot during the day — Morgan remembered temperatures reaching close to the 90s — but it cooled off dramatically at night and in the mornings.
Morgan said the she never felt uncomfortable during the day though, since they were usually in the shade either in the vehicle or at the resort.
Morgan and David's luggage was lost traveling both to and from Tanzania. The resort staff made sure their bags were returned within 36 hours, but Morgan recommends traveling only with hand luggage.
She said that packing lightly is a good idea, especially because the resorts are casual. "People come to dinner in their safari clothes; you don't feel like you need to get all dolled up," Morgan said.
And even though the resorts sit directly on the plains, giving guests the chance to get up close and personal with animals, Morgan said that she and David never felt unsafe.
During the night, guests are always accompanied by an armed guide when they leave their rooms. Morgan described the guides as "phenomenal," and said that they've had extensive training.
While on safari, Morgan said that guests are taught from day one what not to do, such as stand up in the vehicle.
She said that the animals are used to seeing vehicles and don't view them as a threat, but that the minute they see a body rise from the vehicle they'll either run away or attack.
All in all, Morgan said that among all the trips she's taken for pleasure and business, this trip was the best. "This was hands down the most incredible thing we've ever done; I’ve never stayed in places this beautiful before."
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