The word “honeymoon” originally comes from the Babylonians, where custom decreed that the bride’s father would supply the groom with a month’s (“moon’s’’) worth of mead (a honey-based ale). Luckily my bride and I managed to escape for our honeymoon without too much mead consumed and we made our way up the North Coast to Bonamanzi Game Reserve, just three hours north of Durban.
Bonamanzi means “Look, water” in Zulu, and the viewing deck certainly offers beautiful views over the waterhole. Bonamanzi is a 4 000 hectare privately owned reserve which has been going for a number of years.
It’s got a wide range of buck and smaller mammals, and it’s also built up a great reputation as a birders’ paradise, with many species of birds to challenge the avid bird-watcher. This natural heritage site is very well positioned as it is close to Hluhluwe game reserve, and it has St Lucia and Cape Vidal 100km to the south and Sodwana with its diving 100km to the north.
In my mind a honeymoon needs two key elements: great food and a peaceful setting. Bonamanzi undoubtedly has both. The kitchen does a truly amazing job. Buffet breakfasts, lunches on the viewing deck surrounded by nothing but jacanas dancing over the lily pads, followed by four-course dinners (five if you include the wine) by the fire all left us feeling like royalty.
The peaceful part of an ideal honeymoon is also not lacking at Bonamanzi. After the excitement of the wedding we were in urgent need of a good old-fashioned slothful holiday. Mornings were spent on peaceful walks and picnics in the park, while afternoons were spent snoozing at the pool. Sunsets on the viewing deck are a must-do, and desserts around the bonfire and under the stars a great way to round off a day.
It doesn’t have to be all laziness, though. Guests are welcome to drive or even walk through sections of the park (it has no serious predators). The trails take you past many scenic views, with many hides overlooking waterholes.
There are also guided walks, game drives and boat cruises. During the busier seasons, there are bush braais at the outdoor lapa, and if the kids are too energetic, there is also a nearby crocodile farm (that last could be read in two ways, I’ll leave the interpretation to you, dear reader).
For those after the Big Five, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is about 20 minutes away. We made a day of it and entered the park early at the Memorial Gate. We spent the morning searching the northern part of the reserve for game (rather unsuccessfully, although we managed to tick elephant and buffalo off the list), with lunch at the beautiful Hilltop restaurant with its panoramic views.
It’s also worth mentioning that Bonamanzi specialises in hosting weddings. Couples can exchange their vows on an island under the African sky overlooking a magnificent waterhole or on a river cruise on the mighty Hluhluwe River. To give the wedding an Out of Africa theme, the reception could be held in the Ndlovu venue with the biggest free-hanging thatch rooftop in the southern hemisphere and a capacity of up to 350 guests, or a romantic candlelit bush-braai wedding reception.
The ancient sand forest sets the wonderful background for a fairy-tale wedding. The park can host up to 165 guests with accommodation ranging from the three-star chalets to the private luxury camp (don’t forget there are also self-catering tree houses and tree lodges as well as a campsite). Please see the website www.bonamanzi.co.za for updated prices.
Revealing anything more would simply spoil the holiday. So I’ll simply sign off with a simple list of dos and don’ts. Do pack a camera, binoculars and warm clothes for the colder winter evenings. Equally important, make sure you don’t pack any of those holiday spoilers, such as cellphones, work documents or anything which will disturb the peaceful bliss that is Bonamanzi. - The Mercury