Honeymoon Spotlight: South Africa

South Africa, located at the southern tip of Africa, is a multiethnic society with 11 official languages which contains the largest communities of European, Asian, and racially mixed ancestry in Africa. With three recognized capitals, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Cape Town, South Africa has a generally temperate climate due in part to being surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides and by its varied topography and oceanic influence. It has hot and dry summers which provide a great atmosphere for outdoor activities. Winters in South Africa occur between June and August so you have warm sunshine if you're getting married in the later half of the year. What to do: From skydiving or bungee jumping to riding an ostrich, South Africa has a plethora of activities to choose from. Visit the Gold reef city amusement park or the Montecasino in Johannesburg. If you like nature, the Jo'burg zoo, the Lion park, and the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa might interest you. If the arts are more your thing, the National Library of South Africa, Kruger House Museum and the Centurion Theatre can be found in Pretoria. Cape Town has the country's best beaches, waddle with the penguins at the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony, have brunch at Camps Bay Beach, the St Tropez of South Africa, wine tasting in the Fairview Wine Estate and enjoy a thrilling Jazz scene. Go surfing or snorkeling in the waters of South Beach, located on the Durban Golden Mile or just suntan on Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth. Where to stay: The Twelve Apostles hotel and spa: In Cape Town, this Dutch-style hotel has the ocean at your 'doorstep' and the Twelve Apostles Range as a backdrop.The all-white landmark has pastel rooms with contemporary interiors that have rose petals on room floors and lit candles in the bathrooms for guests. The spa has glass-enclosed thatched gazebos and treatment rooms that resemble white crystal grottoes. Order oysters at Azure Restaurant, and dine on the terrace overlooking the ocean. Safari Lodges at Phinda Private game reserve: For a place immersed in nature, this hotel tucked away on South Africa's spectacular and unspoilt northern KwaZulu-Natal coastline, incorporates the most contemporary services into exquisite natural beauty. From the gorgeous Zen chalets of Forest Lodge to the romantic Vlei Lodge, you can experience all the comforts in the wilderness where zebras, impalas, and wildebeests roam. Six different lodges, ranging in design from avant-garde to pueblo-influenced, are set on a cliff face, in a dry sand forest, or by an extinct volcano. Some have high-gloss wood floors, rich fabrics, and crimson Zulu artifacts. Dishes incorporating sirloin, flatbread, and figs are amazing and served by candlelight in a stone-and-reed boma. Travel Requirements: A valid acceptable passport, visa and yellow fever certificates. Please note that a visa doesn't guarantee you entry into South Africa, it allows you to proceed to any entry port where a temporary residence permit will replace your visa, if you meet all basic requirements. This permit indicates how long you can stay. Apply at the South Africa Visa Application Centre 3rd Floor, 16 Billings Way Oregun Industrial Area Ikeja, Lagos Or: No. 38, Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, Nigeria How to get there: Arik Air, Air Nigeria and South African airways offer direct flights to Johannesburg. British Airways flies to Johannesburg via London, Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways via Nairobi, Egyptair via Cairo, Lufthansa via Frankfurt, Air France via Paris, Virgin Air via London and Emirates via Dubai. South African Airways, British Airways, South African Express, Mango and Airlink offer cheap flights within the country so you can move from one town to the other with ease. Photo Credits: The 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa

Written by Sugar Weddings