Fall in love for ever with weddings in wonderful locations, says Jenny Morris
Like this and want more details? Click here to download and save as a PDF.
Getting married is an adventure in itself, but wild weddings in Africa don’t have to be all about safari – even if some couples might prefer guests from the animal kingdom to some of their extended family.
From tying the knot on horseback in the wilderness of South Africa, to a once-in-a-lifetime wedding photo in front of Victoria Falls, Africa’s incredible natural landscapes offer wedding destinations with a unique twist.
Zambia
A wedding march is all very well, but getting married with the sound of ‘the smoke that thunders’, aka Victoria Falls, in the background ticks all the boxes for those seeking a ceremony at a truly iconic location.
Tongabezi Lodge offers wedding packages on Livingstone Island in the middle of the Zambezi River – said to be the place where Dr David Livingstone first spotted the thundering falls – which can hold an intimate wedding party for up to 18 people. The bride can make more of an entrance by arriving at the lodge by boat, while the wedding music can even be enhanced by a choir of local children.
Book it: Visions of Africa offers a wedding package from £2,675 per person, with the ceremony taking place on Livingstone Island. The package includes four nights’ accommodation with meals, drinks and inclusive activities, transfers to Livingstone Island, all paperwork, marriage certificate, the Tongabezi African choir, wedding meal, sparkling wine, flowers and a private dinner on a floating pontoon.
The lodge activities include sunset boat trips on the Zambezi, guided canoeing and fishing, and a game drive in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park ($20 park fees extra).
visionsofafrica.co.uk
01444 225640
Kenya
This East African destination has had its problems of late, but they don’t make the safari plains of the Masai Mara and other game reserves, or the beautiful beaches of its Indian Ocean coastline any less inviting.
For those still nervous of travelling to the Kenyan coast, there is also the option of the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. Couples can tie the knot on either leg of their safari-beach combination – whether on the golden sands of resorts such as Turtle Bay Beach Club near Watamu, or in the wilds of a safari lodge such as Loisaba in the Laikipia plains. The latter even offers the extra romance of a ‘starbed’, a chance for couples to spend their wedding night under the stars in the 61,000-acre site.
As for the ceremony itself, couples are married atop a hill, with Samburu warriors on hand, before enjoying a champagne sundowner and bush dinner with the wedding party.
Book it: Somak offers wedding packages from £4,690 per couple, including internal transport, three nights at Loisaba, two nights in Nairobi, a wedding planner and the ceremony. The rates include all fees, a special lunch, sundowners or dinner in the bush, cake, flowers, two bottles of sparkling wine and a gift for the bride and groom.
somak.com
020 8869 4640
Malawi
“Don’t be surprised if some of the village turn up – they love a good wedding!” So warns the website of luxury resort Kaya Mawa to any prospective couples thinking of tying the knot there – a good indication of its character-filled wedding ceremonies.
Set on the paradise island of Likoma in Lake Malawi, on the edge of its border with Mozambique, Kaya Mawa suits couples seeking a warm African welcome at a lesser-known destination.
And despite the island location, there are numerous options for the ceremony. Weddings can be held in the small church with a local choir, at various locations on the island’s beaches, or even in a cathedral with a capacity of 1,000 people – though clients might balk at the thought of flying that many of their friends and family out.
Book it: Expert Africa offers a six-night wedding package from £2,596 per person, including flights with South African Airways from Heathrow to Lilongwe, four nights’ accommodation in one of Kaya Mawa’s standard rooms, meals, return flight transfers between Lilongwe airport and Likoma Island, the pastor’s fees, local choir, flowers, registry fee and community donation.
expertafrica.com
020 8232 9777
The Gambia
For couples tempted by an African adventure but lacking the funds or time for a safari-style ceremony, The Gambia is an excellent alternative, only a six-hour flight away and with no jet lag-inducing time difference.
Coco Ocean Resort & Spa offers the classic beachfront setting, with several tiers leading down towards an idyllic stretch of beach on the Atlantic Ocean, while along the coastline in Fajara, Ngala Lodge is set in a former colonial mansion with tropical gardens providing another stunning wedding location. Couples are encouraged to try the penthouse suite with its private terrace and skylight for an extra-special wedding night. Six new luxury suites, three of which have a private plunge pool, will be added in November.
Book it: The Gambia Experience offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at Ngala Lodge from £1,085 per person. Wedding packages start at £250 per couple plus £455 registration fee.
http://www.gambia.co.uk
0845 330 2066
South Africa
Happy couples on the lookout for an iconic destination will find plenty of choice in South Africa, from weddings in the Winelands to safari ceremonies at the Virgin Limited Edition Private Game Reserve at Ulusaba.
And for those who love the idea of riding off into the sunset with their new spouse, look no further than Camp Davidson in the Waterberg, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in north Limpopo province. Couples can pick a wedding venue in the surrounding riding country, with previous ceremonies taking place on horseback or on top of a rocky outcrop.
Book it: 2by2 Holidays offers a horseback wedding from £3,295 per person, which includes South African Airways flights from Heathrow, five nights’ all-inclusive at Camp Davidson and two nights on safari in Madikwe Game Reserve. The wedding includes legal fees, a small bouquet or buttonhole, wedding cake and sparkling wine.
2by2holidays.co.uk
01582 766122
The Red Tape
Residency rules
Getting there in time is essential, even when there’s no church involved, as residency requirements and time to process certificates can vary.
Zambia: no minimum residency; fast-track wedding certificate can be processed in 24 hours at extra cost.
Kenya: four days’ residency before ceremony.
Malawi: no minimum residency; must notify district commissioner 21 days before marriage is to take place (most lodges will do this for the client).
The Gambia: three days’ residency before ceremony.
South Africa: no minimum residency; three days to process certificate.
Documents
These should be sent well in advance and confirmed with individual destinations. At a minimum, couples will need copies of birth certificates, passports, an affidavit from each party signed by a solicitor confirming eligibility of marriage, and divorce and death certificates if either party is divorced or widowed.
Some countries also require an ‘application for marriage’ form, or a letter from the couple authorising the hotel or lodge to complete the ‘notification for marriage’ form on their behalf.
Same-sex marriage
Is legal in South Africa, but illegal in other destinations mentioned.
