A Surprise Marriage Proposal on Safari Bowls Us Over
Romantics, watch this video!
A Surprise Proposal on Safari We Shot as It Happened.
Elaine and I were visiting Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge deep in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. It’s a magical place, run by a Tsonga (tribal) community on whose ancestral land the lodge is built (more about that below, or here ). But a surprise safari marriage proposal made it even more so.
As you’ll see in the video, we were bowling along in our jeep, having a great time being confronted by elephants and seeing all kinds of other amazing sights. We shared the jeep with two other charming couples – one English, one Spanish.
The Safari Sundowner Surprise.
It’s traditional when you’re on safari to stop at sundown in an open area where the Rangers feel it’s safe to get off the vehicle and have a drink while enjoying the sunset. That usually means a wide open plain so that predators can be seen approaching. (This is not something you would do after dark).
So after a great safari drive, our guide picked a spot, broke out the great drinks and snacks they always serve and we strode out on the plain to stretch our legs. I was shooting video of the sunset when behind me I heard Steve Curran, the English guy, turn to his partner Katy Harfleet and declare that this seemed like the right time and place, especially because it was his birthday. Next thing you know, he’s on his knees proposing to Katy, with a magnificent sunset blazing in the background and elephants trumpeting their approval!
It doesn’t get much cooler than that. As it happened, my camera was rolling, so with their permission, here’s the video of the event, including the animals we saw beforehand.
To cap it off, the camp Manager threw an impromptu party for Steve and Katy that night, at which all the staff (including the Manager) danced and sang traditional tribal praise songs to celebrate their engagement. The video is dark and rough, but we think you’ll get the spirit.
More About Hoyo Hoyo
Hoyo Hoyo is one of the few private lodge concessions right inside the massive Kruger National Park (which is larger than Massachusetts). This means you get the privacy and exclusive game viewing of an upscale safari lodge right inside the huge herds and different ecosystems with the National Park. The jeeps are open vehicles and you can follow animals off road in the concession territory.
As a self-drive visitor in the Kruger National park, wonderful (and cheap) though that is, you can’t go off-road or have an open vehicle. And compared to other famous national parks in Africa, such as Serengeti in Tanzania where you are confined to closed vehicles and to the roads, it’s more satisfying because there’s nothing like an open vehicle to feel up close and personal with the animals. (Unless you go on horseback, which you can see us doing in the video below this story. But we digress.)
Hoyo Hoyo costs much less than the more luxurious lodges in private game reserves. This is a combination we highly recommend for an all-around excellent safari experience. You can book directly at Hoyohoyo.com or at booking.com.
Want More Romantic Ideas?
Check out our blog on Horseback Safaris or see the video below. How about a bit of European magic? Here’s a romantic hotspot we visited recently. And be sure to visit our Bucket Lists page for much more.
