Top 5 Places in Africa to Get Engaged (Romantic Africa Locations)

The emotions your loved one feels when you ask them such a defining and important question – ‘Will you marry me?’ – can be overwhelming to the point of tears, laughter and weak knees, exactly the sort of emotions that are worthy of an utterly romantic setting.

Africa has always supported a strong romantic tradition, from chilled cocktails served beside a river bank bathed in the majestic colours of sunset, to crystal and silverware laid out for a private dinner under the stars, to a 4-poster bed draped in mosquito netting and dressed in the purest luxury bed linen. Romantic Africa is the serenade of a nightjar singing softly in the darkness and the balance of thrills and tranquility you experience on safari.

We think this continent is simply made for unforgettable marriage proposals! Here are our Top 6 places in Africa to pop the question:

A romantic island escape in the Quirimbas: Medjumbe Private Island off Mozambique.

1 Private Island

1. Barefoot Luxury on a Private Island

The tiny islands and atolls that dot Africa’s coastline like so many idylic little Edens are tailor-made for the dreamiest, most romantic proposals. Africa’s private islands are found in the warm waters of the coast of the spice island of Zanzibar and the exotic islands of Seychelles, in the middle of remote Lake Malawi, and clustered in pristine archipelagos off Mozambique’s north coast.

A private island vacation is probably one of the best places to pop the question – you could be horseback riding along a deserted beach, dining on fresh seafood as the sun spills over the ocean or clinking champagne glasses while the warm ocean laps your toes. You’ll fall in love all over again!

Barefoot luxury in paradise: Mnemba Private Island near Zanzibar.

North Island villas offer privacy, luxury & endless views in the Seychelles.

2 A Natural Wonder

2. On Top of a Natural Wonder

One of the World’s 7 Natural Wonders, Table Mountain is the beautiful backdrop of Africa's gourmet capital, the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. The views from the top are spectacular - a panorama that takes in the Atlantic Ocean, the Cape Winelands, the dramatic folds of the Twelve Apostles mountain range and the bustling City Bowl... it is a view overlooking the tip of Africa.

For an truly romantic proposal, head up the revolving cable car with a gourmet picnic basket and a bottle or two of the Cape’s best sparkling wines... we predict tears of joy as you toast 'making it official'!

The Belmond Mount Nelson in the warm embrace of Table Mountain is made for old-school romance.

Pop the question at the top of a Natural Wonder: Table Mountain!

Another rather spectacular natural wonder quite far away from Cape Town is just as striking, yet so very different. The Ngorongoro Crater is an ancient caldera that supports a huge number of large game, antelope and predators, and is considered home to one of the densest lion populations in the world. Amid all that natural beauty, we think it's also a perfect spot to pop the question!

3 Smoke that Thunders

3. Overlooking the Smoke that Thunders

Much like witnessing the sheer potency of a roaring lion at twilight, visiting Victoria Falls is a pinnacle experience on a Southern Africa safari. It’s a destination with so much history and old-world glamour surrounding truly majestic natural beauty, whether you experience it from a riverside terrace sipping a gin & tonic, or from the heights of a spray-strewn microlight flight. It is gift-wrapped luxury and adrenalin-fueled adventure in one spectacular package.

Suffice to say, it’s a great place to pop the question, whether you choose a private boat cruise on the Zambezi River, or overlook the thundering falls in the midst of a flurry of rainbows. Victoria Falls is the perfect conclusion to a romantic safari in Botswana or South Africa, and a suitably dramatic setting for a proposal.

A scene set for romance: a secret Victoria Falls location.

Declare your intentions on the Zambezi River at Sindabezi Island Camp.

Overlooking a majestic display of nature: romance at Victoria Falls.

4 Above the Savannah

4. Flying Above the Savannah in a Hot-Air Balloon

Imagine looking down at East Africa’s vast open plains as you drift silently over herds of delicate gazelle and elegant giraffe… a hot-air balloon safari is on many a traveller's bucket list with good reason, and it makes a perfect setting for a life-changing proposal.

One of the best places to get airborne is over the Serengeti and Masai Mara eco-system – a vast network of grasslands, migratory paths and wild rivers – a place largely untouched by man and time. For a thrilling proposal get down on one knee in a hot-air balloon floating above the timeless savannah.

Airborne above the Serengeti or Masai Mara eco-systems in a hot-air balloon.

Camping at Serengeti Under Canvas.

Luxury in the Mara at Bateleur Camp.

5 Into the Wilds

5. Into the Wilds and Beyond

For many travellers a vacation is all about leaving the daily grind far behind to explore new landscapes and savour new flavours. A truly off-the-beaten track setting is quite unforgettable for a marriage proposal – whether it is in the remote Busanga Plains of Kafue National Park in Zambia, deep in the heart of the Kalahari Desert or exploring the papyrus-lined waterways of the Okavango Delta.

A wilderness escape is the perfect antidote to our endless schedules and stressful city lifestyles. In addition to buckets of tranquility, the best thing about Africa’s remote spaces is the lavish comforts waiting for you there. From walking safaris to game drives, river boating and canoeing, exploring a wild landscape with the one you love sets a very romantic scene for the ultimate proposal.

Africa's wild places offer tranquility & comfort in equal measure: Ngala Tented Camp in the Timbavati.

Morrocan chic at Sasaab Camp.

In the Linyanti at Zarafa Camp.

Popping the question ought to be one of the most romantic moments of your life, so it's definitely worth getting an African Safari Expert on board to help you plan the details. And Africa will keep on thrilling you for years to come! It is the perfect destination to celebrate a wedding or share a special anniversary together. So, begin your love affair with Africa with an unforgettable proposal...

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