Is a safari safe for gay and lesbian couples?

Yes, for most couples and in most of the places people go on safari. Private reserves and well-run lodges host same-sex couples all the time, and in South Africa your relationship is protected by the constitution. The catch is that the law varies a lot across the continent, so where you go matters as much as which lodge you choose. We plan around that from the first conversation, so it never becomes something you have to manage on the ground.

In short

• South Africa is the easiest place to start. The constitution protects against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, and same-sex couples can marry.
• Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius and Rwanda do not criminalise same-sex relationships, and Namibia's courts are moving the same way.
• In Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, laws against same-sex relationships are still in place. Couples do travel there, with more thought given to routing and discretion.
• Uganda has some of the strictest laws on the continent. For gorillas, we suggest Rwanda instead.
• Inside a good private reserve, a same-sex couple is simply a couple. The planning is about everything around the lodge.

Is South Africa safe for gay and lesbian travellers?

South Africa is the most straightforward safari country on the continent for LGBTQ+ travellers. Its constitution was the first in the world to prohibit unfair discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, as the Constitutional Court sets out, and same-sex marriage is legal. That legal footing shapes how the tourism industry behaves, from city hotels to the private reserves.

Cape Town has an open, relaxed scene and is an easy place to start or finish a trip. We have written about why Cape Town suits LGBTQ+ visitors in more detail. The Winelands feel much the same.

The private reserves of the Greater Kruger and Madikwe work with guests from all over the world, and the service culture is built around discretion and personal attention. The one caveat is that attitudes in some rural and more traditional communities can be more conservative than the law. The parts of the country most visitors see are easy-going, and we plan with that in mind.

What is it like at a safari lodge as a same-sex couple?

At the lodges we use, it is unremarkable, which is exactly how it should be. The questions people ask us are practical ones, and most of them have simple answers.

Rooms are the first. We confirm a double bed with the lodge in advance, so there is no awkward moment at check-in and nobody has made up two singles on the assumption that you are friends travelling together.

Game drives are the second. At many lodges you share a vehicle with other guests, usually a handful of people. Most of the time that is part of the fun. If you would rather keep the vehicle to yourselves, a private vehicle can usually be arranged at extra cost, and we will tell you where that is worth it.

Dinner is the third. Some lodges seat guests together on certain nights. If you prefer your own table, the lodge will set one. We ask for it in advance so you never have to.

The rest is people. The guides, trackers, butlers and hosts at the lodges we work with are professionals who look after couples of every kind. We only recommend lodges we know personally and would send our own friends to.

Which safari countries feel easiest for LGBTQ+ travellers?

The law and the day-to-day experience are not always the same thing, but the law is where we start. Here is how we think about the main safari countries.

Where it feels easiest

South Africa, for the reasons above. It is also the simplest country to combine a safari with Cape Town and the Winelands in one trip. Our South Africa safari guide covers the regions.

Where it is straightforward

In Botswana, the courts struck down the old laws against same-sex relationships and the decision was upheld on appeal. Mozambique removed its old laws when it rewrote its penal code, and the Supreme Court of Mauritius did the same, which makes it an easy beach stay after a safari. Rwanda has never criminalised same-sex relationships. Namibia's courts have also moved in this direction. Attitudes in these countries can still be conservative outside the lodges, so the same common sense applies as anywhere.

Where we plan with more care

Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe still have laws against same-sex relationships. Same-sex couples do travel to all four, including for the Great Migration and Victoria Falls, and the lodges we use there are private and used to international guests. What changes is time outside the lodge. We keep time in towns short and use private transfers where we can. Before you go, we talk you through what to expect.

Where we suggest an alternative

Uganda tightened its laws sharply and now also criminalises what it calls the promotion of homosexuality. We do not think that is a risk worth taking for a holiday. Rwanda offers gorilla trekking without that law hanging over the trip.

Laws change, sometimes quickly. Before you travel, check the UK government's travel advice for LGBT travellers or your own government's equivalent for each country on your route. We check it too, every time we plan.

Do you need to be discreet on safari?

Inside the lodge, no. Be yourselves. Sundowners on a riverbank, dinner by the fire, an outdoor shower built for two, the back row of the vehicle while a leopard comes down a marula tree. That part of the trip is yours.

Outside it, it depends on the country. In South Africa, you can behave as you would at home in the places most visitors go. In the countries where we plan with more care, we suggest keeping affection for the lodge and being more reserved in towns and at airports. Many safari lodges are reached by light aircraft landing on an airstrip in or near the reserve, so time spent in public places is often shorter than people expect.

None of this should feel like hiding. It is the same judgement any experienced traveller uses in an unfamiliar place, and we would rather tell you plainly than leave you guessing.

How do we plan LGBTQ+ safaris?

We start with a conversation about who is travelling and what you want from the trip. Then we choose the country and the route with your relationship in mind from the start.

With your permission, we tell each lodge in advance that you are travelling as a couple, so the room and the welcome are right from the moment you arrive. If there is anything you should know about a particular country, we tell you before you book. We stay in touch the whole way while you travel.

You can read more about how we plan LGBTQ+ safaris, including the trips couples ask us for most.

Frequently asked questions about safaris for gay and lesbian couples

Is South Africa gay-friendly?

Yes. South Africa's constitution protects against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, and same-sex marriage is legal. Cape Town and the private safari reserves are both relaxed and welcoming.

Is it safe for a lesbian couple to go on safari?

Yes, with sensible planning. Inside private reserves and good lodges, a lesbian couple is treated like any other couple. The main thing is choosing the right country and keeping time in towns short where the law is less friendly. We plan that for you.

Can same-sex couples share a bed at safari lodges?

Yes. We confirm a double bed with each lodge in advance, so there is no confusion at check-in.

Which African safari countries are easiest for LGBTQ+ travellers?

South Africa is the easiest. Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius and Rwanda do not criminalise same-sex relationships. Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe still have laws against them, so we plan more carefully there, and we suggest Rwanda rather than Uganda for gorillas.

Can we go gorilla trekking as a gay couple?

Yes. We recommend Rwanda, which has never criminalised same-sex relationships and offers gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Do we need to tell the lodge we are a same-sex couple?

It is up to you, but we recommend it. When we tell the lodge in advance, the room is set up correctly and the welcome is right from the start.

If you are weighing up where to go, tell us what you are imagining. We will tell you honestly which countries suit you and why.