If you've ever dreamed of getting married half-way across the world, the travel experts at the Adventure Company say honeymoons as well as weddings can be arranged in various parts of Africa. Park East has arranged for honeymooners to stay at such romantic spots as Peponi’s Hotel and the Kiwayu Safari Village, located on the Indian Ocean near Lamu, Kenya; the Mnemba Island Club of Zanzibar; the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, and beautiful hotels and lodges in South Africa. One couple who was married last year at the legendary Mt. Kenya Safari Club, commented: "The place we chose for our ceremony was in the bush, by a river. The spot was shaded by Yellow Fever trees….Our arrival was greeted by the rhythmic pounding of a dozen Chuka drummers, the traditional ‘keepers’ of nearby Mt. Kenya.
"They sounded three beats - boom, boom, boom - then shouted ‘Karibu’ - welcome - in unison until we reached our seat at the end of the red carpet. A choir of young men and women, arranged in rows, sand delicately in Swahili once the drumming ceased and before the vow-making , ring-exchanging and paper-signing started. It was near sunset. We both felt a thorough and surprising sense of calm.
"The manager of the Mt. Kenya Safari Club….stood beside the district officer and said something nice about our parents, who certainly had us in their thoughts on our wedding day, halfway around the world.
"We slipped rings on each other’s fingers: yellow Maasai beads were a suitable substitute for gold. We approached the desk and signed our marriage certificate. We stood up for the district officer’s advice dispensed in perfect English: respect your partner. No polygamy. Enjoy the day. You may kiss the bride.
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