South Africa - Singita Private Game Reserve

The African bush has its unique beauty all through the year. Spring and summer (October to April) bring very warm days, with stunning sunsets that are just perfect for romantic dinners under the African sky. Autumn and winter (May to September) bring warm days and crisp evenings, though this merely serves to add to the romance, as couples can take a dip in their heated plunge pools and relax with a glass of South Africa's finest Cap Classic around their fireplace. Weddings are held year-round. A Methodist minister conducts the ceremony, and will contact the couple to discuss the relevant documentation well in advance of the big day. As the minister has to make a 300 km (190 miles) round trip from White River, there is a fee of R1,500 (£120) for his service, plus an additional R850 (£70) if couples have a late afternoon ceremony, as he has to stay overnight at the lodge. Once at Singita, the minister in South Africa. The ceremony is simple, and a copy of the service can be sent to the couple in advance; changes such as personalized vows and readings may be made only with the minister's consent.

Ebony Lodge and Boulders Lodge both have room for 18 guests, and friends and family are greeted with open arms, though children under 10 are not allowed unless either lodge is block-booked by the wedding party. Luxuriating in the shade of gnarled knobthorn and jackalberry trees above the Sand River, Ebony Lodge seems to bathe in a cool silence that is both intoxicating to the senses and anathema to stress. Waking up each morning to the sight of the great savannah plain, viewed in all its glory from the privacy of your deck, is simply breathtaking.

In the decor of the lodge, beadwork and the rich colours of the African savannah add a vibrant sense of the local culture, mingling with pieces from the colonial era and new ochre furnishings. Boulders Lodge, meanwhile, is a monumental construction of stone, timber and thatch anchored to the rocky geology of the Sand River Valley. The elemental curves and contemporary African style of the suites are highlighted with touches of fresh blues and greens, and the encounter between sophistication and wilderness, between the narrow horizons of everyday life and the awe-inspiring soul of Africa, can leave none of the reserve's visitors untouched - least of all those about to marry.

Wedding ceremonies are usually held on the extensive wooden decks beneath the ancient ebony trees. This lovely area overlooks the Sand River, where hippo and crocodile can be heard grunting their territorial calls. The birdsong, and especially the calls of the fish eagle and purple-crested louries, also add a uniquely African background note to the exchanging of vows, while the antics of the lodge's resident vervet monkey often add a touch of humour. The bride walks down the wooden staircase to meet her waiting groom on the lower deck, which can seat up to 50 guests. As she does so, a choir of local women in traditional African dress sing songs of happiness and praise in the local Shangaan language, as well as when the ceremony is over. With their colourful wraps, headdresses and beaded chains, they make an eye-catching addition to the proceedings.

The wedding reception can take any form the couple desires, from an à la carte dinner in a crystal-set dining suite to a lower deck dinner overlooking the Sand River, with the jackelberry tree lit up with lanterns. Singita's executive chef, Gary Coetzee, has worked in the food capitals of the globe, and combines the best of Western cuisine with the superb flavours of Africa. Alternatively, a boma or bush dinner under the African moon, with the warmth of the boma fire and the singing of the Shangaan choir, makes a more informal and authentically African experience. Wedding dishes can include the traditional bobotie, a Cape Malay dish of gently curried ground beef topped with baked custard. for more adventurous palates, there are esoteric delicacies such as fillet of ostrich with a cinnamon expresso jus. In addition, Singita allegedly has the best bush cellar in Africa, buried deep in the cool rock below Boulders with more than 12,000 bottles of South African and international wines. As for the wedding cake, Singita offers a traditional English fruitcake with white icing or a sponge cake.

So remote is the location that wedding arrangements need to be carefully orchestrated in advance, a fresh flowers need to be transported and the nearest hairdresser is 150 km (95 miles) away. Female staff at the lodge are usually very happy to assist the bride to be with a basic hairdo. A photographer should also be booked well ahead: wonderful wedding shots can be taken out the the bush, usually accompanied by sundowner champagne and Canapés.

Before and after the ceremony, couples can pamper themselves in the Bush Spa, which takes a holistic approach to indulging both body and mind. Most treatments are available for couples together, either in their suite or out on the spa decks, where they are lulled by the birdsong and the rustling of the wind through the ebony trees. A Body Bliss treatment detoxifies the skin with a crystal rub and Buchu gel pack, while legs are massaged with Cape camomile-infused creams. Any remaining tension is eased away with an African head and back massage. Alternatively, a Big Five Therapy involves two therapists and begins with a cleansing crystal rub and moisturizing body wrap during which you receive a scalp massage and reflexology. Couples can have this treatment in the privacy of their suite, completed by a sensuous milk bath for two. Most brides opt for manicures to show off their wedding ring to its best effect, and here the manicure includes a jojoba bead hand scrub followed by a nourishing clay mask and hand massage. Even the gyms at Boulders and Ebony are spectacular, with their own steam rooms and the chance to enjoy the wide-open spaces of the African bush through floor-to-ceiling glass walls as you work out.

A special honeymoon treat can be arrange one evening, usually after a game drive. Newlyweds arrive back to find their suite lit up with candles, soft African music playing, a hot bubble bath in their Victorian-style tub, surrounded by scattered petals, and Champagne on ice. Soft slippers and cosy dressing gowns are placed near by. A romantic candlelit dinner is served out on their private deck in the moonlight in summer, or around their fireplace in winter. But honeymoons at Singita are also about the safari experience. There are number of ways to view the wildlife. Couples can take it easy and simply gaze at the game from the viewing decks, with their unparalleled panorama. Alternatively, they can reserve sole use of a Land-Rover to make the experience more intimate, and take a daytime game drive to spot the 'Big Five' - elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo - so called not because of their size, but because they are most dangerous of all African animals to hunt. There are also the 'Little Five' - buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, ant lion and rhino beetle. Evening expeditions into the bush, with fiery skies as the backdrop to rare and timid nocturnal creatures, are even more romantic. For the fearless, guided bush walks are also available. Those in search of more honeymoon adventure and luxury can take the short flight up to the sister property, Singita Lebombo, which was named Hotel of the Year in 2004 in the prestigious UK Tatler Travel Awards. Situated on an exclusive 15,000 hectare private concession on the remote eastern boundary of the Kruger National Park, it has the highest concentration of wildlife in the entire park. The lodge itself is an architectural, design and conservation feat at the cutting edge of eco-tourism and is constructed almost entirely of bleached wood and glass.

It's no coincidence that Singita means 'the miracle' in the local language. Couples choosing to tie the knot here are sure to feel the warmth of the Africa spirit. To add to their strong memories and those all-important wedding photographs, couples can visit the Singita boutique to buy each other a keepsake, such as a solid silver cuff in imitation of crocodile skin. A little bid of Africa to take home as man and wife.

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GO
All year round.

CEREMONIES
Methodist.

PRE-WEDDING RESIDENCY
None required.