Lush scenery, intoxicating views, palate-pleasing favors — it turns out coffee-growing areas have everything you want to experience on your dream honeymoon.
Tanzania
Arabica beans account for 70 percent of coffee grown around the world and is also Tanzania’s top coffee crop. It’s produced in the north of the country, specifically in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and near the city of Arusha, the jumping-off point for many safaris and tours, as well as in the southwest near Mbeya and the Matengo Highlands. (Robusta, which makes up the other 30 percent, comes mainly from the Kagera region in the northwest.) More than 90 percent of the country’s coffee harvest is produced by small-batch farmers, and typically takes place between July and December.
Where to stay: Part of the boutique-chic Elewana collection of lodges, camps and hotels, Arusha Coffee Lodge is tucked into one of Tanzania’s largest coffee estates, just outside Arusha. The 30 free standing bungalows were built amongst the coffee trees, some in bloom with fragrant white flowers. The rest of the grounds include a swimming pool and a historic main house with a popular restaurant and bar. Honeymooners are treated to a complimentary pound of estate-grown coffee as a departure gift. Room rates start at $193 per person.
Photo courtesy of Elewana Collection
What to do: The hotel’s bean-to-cup tour ($30 per person) is a 90-minute introduction to the working coffee fields around the plantation and the growers, with an up-close look at their roasting and brewing techniques — followed by a tasting, of course. Not far away, in the village of Uru Mlawi near Mount Kilimanjaro, the Kahawa Shambani-Africa initiative helps farmers from three coffee plantations supplement their income by hosting visitors. Here, you’ll tour the growers’ co-op to learn about their history, fair trade practices and the picking/ grinding/roasting process. Meals with local families can also be arranged.
