Africa is the birthplace of humankind, and let this be the birth of where your romance begins. We invite you to confirm your love for each other in some of Africa’s most idyllic and romantic safari bush wedding hideaways. Swear your love in front of an imposing gathering of Maasai men, women and warriors dressed in their most delicate beadwork, carrying spears. Or celebrate your nuptials with a simple ceremony set out in the middle of an African plain or with one of our finest Relais and Châteaux safari camps as your backdrop.
Instead of having your guests pile up gold-wrapped gift boxes with toasters and wine decanters, tell your friends you want to buy a rhino’s freedom or solar lanterns for a local community. Imagine making your marriage a symbol of how you live your lives together, unselfishly, about experiences rather than things, about giving rather than taking and making the world better…
We arrange safari weddings in all of our Kenya and Botswana safari camps. Many a celebrity couple have elected to sneak off with a dozen or so close friends for a private and authentic African wedding. While many couples opt to do a once-in-a-lifetime ceremony with us while obtaining a marriage license in their home country, those wanting to ensure a legal marriage while on safari should review the Marriage Requirements at the links below.
Botswana Requirements
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS
To enable foreigners to register a marriage in Botswana, they need to apply for and obtain a Special License from the District Commissioner in order for them to have a wedding in the ‘bush’.
To apply for a Special License, the couple which intend to get married, must provide complete and clear copies of the following documentation before travel:
- Valid passports-copies with minimum of a 6-month validity;
- Birth certificates-copies;
- Full residential address of both partners;
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage from their respective countries in the case of single persons (bachelor and spinster);
- Death certificate and former marriage certificate (if relevant) in the case of a widowed person;
- Divorce decree absolute in the case of a divorced person;
- Return air ticket for the couple; and
- The couple must be physically present before the Registrar of Marriages when the application for the Special License is made. Guests should plan to stay in Maun for up to 2 days for all arrangements to be confirmed. The processing of requests takes place from Monday to Friday except Public Holidays during which is the period of time the registrar of marriages needs to prepare and issue the Special License.
- Once the Special License is issued by the District Commissioner, the couple may they celebrate their wedding in the ‘bush’ with a commissioner, pastor or priest.
- Details of occupation for both partners;
- Father’s name, full address and occupation;
- Affidavit stating that neither person wishing to get married has been married previously. This must be prepared in your country of residence prior to arrival.
- All documentation must be officially translated into English and accompanied by original copies.
- Dutch couples must first apply to the Dutch Council for clearance to wed.
The couple must bring original copies of the above to Botswana in order to ensure the successful processing of the license.
Kenya Requirements
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS
To enable foreigners to register a marriage in Kenya, you need to apply for and obtain a certificate or a license from the Registrar of Marriages in order for them to have a wedding in the ‘bush’. Guests should plan to stay in Nairobi for up to 4 days for all arrangements to be confirmed. The processing of requests takes place from Monday to Friday except Public Holidays.
To apply for a Special License the couple which intend to get married must provide complete and clear copies of the following documentation before travel:
- Valid passports-copies with minimum of a 6-month validity;
- Birth certificates-copies;
- Full residential address of both partners;
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage from their respective countries in the case of single persons (bachelor and spinster);
- Death certificate and former marriage certificate (if relevant) in the case of a widowed person;
- Divorce decree absolute in the case of a divorced person;
- Return air ticket for the couple; and
- The couple must be physically present before the Registrar of Marriages when the application for the Special License is made. They must remain in the country for the next 4 days which is the period of time the registrar of marriages needs to prepare and issue the Special License.
- Once the Special License is issued by the Registrar of Marriages, the couple may they celebrate their wedding in the ‘bush’ with a commissioner, pastor or priest.
- Details of occupation for both partners;
- Father’s name, full address and occupation;
- Separate Statutory Declaration sworn at a Solicitor/Notary Publics office, stating separately that each of the guests are single and free to marry. Each certificate should bear the Solicitors stamp and signature. This must be prepared in your country of residence prior to arrival.
- All documentation must be officially translated into English and accompanied by original copies.
- Dutch couples must first apply to the Dutch Council for clearance to wed.
- 2 x Colour photographs of each person
The couple must bring original copies of the above to Kenya in order to ensure the successful processing of the license.
