Branching Out: Connect With Each Other (and Your Destination) by Staying in a Tent or Treehouse

“Is it by any chance your honeymoon?” Lindsay asked as we walked down the path to our tent.

“No,” I laughingly replied. “We’ve been married for 16 years. The honeymoon is long over.”

“I ask because we put you in our honeymoon tent,” she said with a smile.

This brought a smile to our faces as well. Everything about this luxury tent at The Hide, a safari camp located in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, was perfect. The outdoor bathtub. The view from our patio. The seed pods neatly adorning our fresh towels.

After spending four days in Victoria Falls without our luggage, wearing the same clothes day after day, I was on the verge of a meltdown. I was tired of washing my socks and underwear out in the sink every night. But just before leaving Vic Falls we finally got our luggage. I skeptically thought we would never see our stuff again, but the people of Zimbabwe are honest, hardworking people. The staff at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge went out of their way to locate our luggage at the local airport and made arrangements for us to pick it up on the way to Hwange.

During our two-hour drive, our shuttle driver told us more about the culture of the country and the struggles of some of the locals. I was humbled as we drove by shacks with thatched roofs and floors made from a mixture of manure and dirt. Women walked for miles along the road carrying five-gallon buckets of water back to their village, smiling all the way. And here I was complaining about washing my socks out in a sink with running water. A small boy ran into the bushes when one of his cows strayed in front of our vehicle—afraid of getting beaten. By the time we arrived in Hwange, I had a new perspective and a better attitude. We said goodbye to our shuttle driver and hello to our safari guide, David.

David was a jovial fourth-generation Zimbabwean. His love of the land was apparent. We stopped for lunch at a pan in the park, where we dined with the zebras. That morning, we’d had breakfast with the lions at the Lion Encounter in Vic Falls. Little did we know that evening we’d be eating with the elephants—thanks in large part to David. Despite the fact that we lived in completely different worlds, we immediately connected. He had three children too, similar in age to ours. His understanding of the stresses of raising three young children and still finding time to nurture the spousal relationship transcended continents and cultures.

Zebras in Hwange National Park — Zebras reflection in a pan at Hwange National Park.

And that was how we ended up in the honeymoon tent. He told the staff at The Hide that we were on a romantic getaway and they did the rest. That evening they prepared a candlelight dinner for us. Instead of dining with us as they normally would, they made themselves scarce. We sat on the patio eating a delicious gourmet meal as elephants strolled by a mere ten feet away. It was one of the most surreal moments I have ever experienced—and even more romantic than eating crepes in a cliché café in Paris during a long layover on our way to Africa.

Dinner at The Hide — The table setting at The Hide.

That was just one of the things that made our stay at The Hide so amazing. The staff seemed to know exactly what we needed even before we knew it. They even recommended an adventurous night sleeping in their treehouse dubbed The Dove’s Nest. Watching the sky turn from bright blue to blazing orange as we sat on the deck of the treehouse was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. And being awoken in the middle of the night by seed pods noisily hitting the roof as an elephant pushed on the 300-year-old tree is something we will never forget.

The Dove's Nest at The Hide — My husband standing at the top of the stairs at The Dove’s Nest.

View from the lower deck of The Dove's Nest — The view from the lower deck of The Dove’s Nest.

Sunset in Zimbabwe — A stunning sunset in Zimbabwe.

Milestone Celebration

Fast forward four years. My husband and I were trying to figure out how to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We tossed around different ideas and discussed the pros and cons of each, but nothing really wowed us. Then I stumbled upon a resort in Belize (thanks, Facebook!) where our whole family could sleep in … a treehouse! That was all it took. My husband’s eyes lit up at with a child-like excitement that I had not seen in years with the prospect of once again staying in a treehouse, and this time sharing the experience with our three children.

Our deluxe treehouse at Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort was nothing like The Dove’s Nest at The Hide. Instead of wide, sweeping views of the African bush, dry from winter, our treehouse at Hamansi was surrounded by tropical vegetation, lush and green from the recent rains. It had air conditioning and glass windows rather than canvas gauze windows. But it was an unforgettable adventure nonetheless.

Our Deluxe Treehouse at Hamanasi Resort.

The staff at Hamanasi was every bit as accommodating. When our 8-year-old daughter stopped eating her ceviche because she found out it had lobster in it, our server, Lily, brought her a bowl of Cheerios so she wouldn’t go hungry that night. They watched the weather for us and adjusted our excursion schedule accordingly while we relaxed in beachside hammocks. They made every aspect of our stay so perfect that it felt like home.

Beach at Hamanasi Resort — A relaxing day on the beach at Hamanasi Resort.

Seven days flew by, and our goodbyes were wistful. Our family reconnected as we disconnected in our WiFi-free treehouse at Hamanasi. We had fallen in love with the beauty of both the landscape and people of Belize. Whether we were at the resort, hiking in the rainforest or touring the neighboring village of Hopkins, everyone greeted us with smiles and treated us like family.

Something for Everyone

You don’t have to travel abroad to experience the magic of staying in a treehouse. Branch out (pun intended!) on your next vacation and stay in a treehouse. There are several here in the United States—each with its own unique personality. For some family fun, check out Out’n’About Treehouse Treesort in Cave Junction, Oregon. If it’s adults only and a little romance and relaxation you’re looking for, you might consider Post Ranch Inn in California’s Big Sur. TreeHouse Point in Fall City, Washington is ideal for weddings and private events.