Tag: african safari

Lemala Ndutu & Mara: Migration Madness

Posted on by James

If there was one reason to safari in East Africa, it’s the great migration. Well north of a million wildebeest and zebra follow the rains as they move between the great grassland ecosystems of the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti on a continuous loop.

Since the migration is seasonal and highly concentrated at different times of the year, knowing when and where to go is crucial if you are to fully appreciate one of the natural world’s great wildlife shows.

One authentic mobile tented camp, but in two locations, Lemala Ndutu & Lemala Mara moves north and south with the seasons to ensure guests enjoy ringside seats to the spectacle of the magnificent wildebeest migration year-round. Both camps are set up in sublime locations offering a high-quality safari experience with excellent guiding.

Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp is in the Ndutu region of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area near the border of the Southern Serengeti.
This area is classic savannah, characterized by flat grassy plains, and the camp is in one of the finest locations in Ndutu to see the migration between December and March. Tens of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle usually arrive in December to graze on the newly-watered, highly nutritious short grass plains, and then by February, the main calving season takes place. Predators – especially the big cats – are highly concentrated in the Ndutu area in these months, and take full advantage of the birthing season to snap up easy meals among the newborn wildebeest.
With nine tents, Lemala Ndutu is perched on the edge of a permanent marsh and acts as the ultimate amphitheatre to capture the boundless drama that accompanies the migration.

The twelve tents of Lemala Mara Tented Camp travel north between June and October to set up under large Euclea trees in one of the best game viewing areas of the Northern Serengeti. The exact location varies from year to year. Sometimes the camp set up camp close to the Mara River, but are always far enough away to remain discreet and not interrupt wildlife behaviour as the wildebeest mass along the steep banks during their frantic crossings on their way north to the Maasai Mara.
Here, in this immense remote wilderness, guests can enjoy fabulous landscapes and terrific game viewing with almost no crowds. Resident wildlife numbers are always high, but nothing compared to the dramatic scenes during the migration as tens of thousands of animals gather to then plunge into the crocodile-infested river.

Lemala Mara & Ndutu is a mobile tented camp offering an authentic bush experience, but the tents are spacious and each is furnished with two queen-size beds and all the little luxuries and amenities that make them wonderfully comfortable. After an evening game drive, your tent attendant ensures your safari shower is filled with hot water to wash away the dust of the African savannah.
Delicious meals are prepared fresh, and for those who want to go on extended full-day game drives, great picnic breakfasts and lunches are available. The communal areas have separate lounge and dining areas and are beautifully decorated with leather sofas, chandeliers, side cabinets, rugs, chests and a bar. In the evening, guests can gather around the campfire to enjoy pre-dinner drinks and canapes and share their safari stories of the day.

Lemala Ndutu & Mara is a superb option for those who want to be in awae of the great migration, and want the feel of an old school authentic safari.
The canvas tents of the camp make you feel so much more a part of the ecosystem, rather than removed from it when you return from your game drive.

Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com to find out more about the great migration and the best way to experience it…

White Pearl: an Idyllic Mozambique Beach Getaway

Posted on by James

While it’s the more famous Indian Ocean islands like the Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius that have traditionally stolen the limelight, it is the white sand beaches along Mozambique’s southern coast that are shooting to prominence in the international travel space.
Long revered by South African vacationers as the perfect beach getaway, Mozambique has caught the attention of the overseas market, and offers a bit of something for everyone craving a getaway by the sea.
Whether it’s surfing, scuba diving or simply lounging on the white sand that you’re after, there is something for you, and White Pearl at Ponta Mamoli offers the perfect space in which to immerse yourself into the best of what this magical country has to offer.

Built in 2011, White Pearl is best described as laid-back beachside chic.
Set on stilts and nestled in the lush vegetation of the coastal dunes, the resort is tucked away in a sheltered bay, mere metres from the warm, azure waters of the Indian Ocean.
The beaches here are untouched, and the waters offshore abound with life. Coral reefs play host to a stunning array of tropical marine life, and dolphins are regularly viewed from the deck of the lodge. During the Humpback whale migration from July to November, it is almost impossible to look seawards without seeing at least one of these behemoths of the deep breaching in a spectacular display.

The resort itself features 22 luxurious suites which have been sensitively designed to take advantage of their beautiful natural setting. Subtly blending into their bush surroundings, the chalets all feature magnificent views of the ocean, whose lapping waves serve as a constant background accompaniment.
Your very own plunge cool provides a wonderful place to cool off and rinse the salt of the ocean away before heading down to a sumptuous dinner, much of it delicious seafood, sustainably sourced of course.
Your personal butler will take care of your every need, and if you need to feel even more relaxed than you are pretty much guaranteed to be at White Pearl, massage therapists are standing by to offer massages as well as a variety of other spa treatments.

For those looking for an eco-adventure, the Maputo Special Reserve is only a short distance away, and morning excursions to this magnificent park will give one a broader exposure to and understanding of the unique bush-beach habitat merging to be found in the area. The elephants that populate the park may also put in an appearance, as experienced rangers know the spots they frequent at different times of the year.

Mozambique offers a superb beach holiday option, particularly for those who want to add it to the tail end of a safari. With major safari destinations being so close in South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, the beach-bush combo is the perfect getaway for a family, and more particularly a honeymoon couple.

Get in touch to find out more about White Pearl, or other amazing beach holiday getaways…

Sable Alley: Lagoon Wildlife Viewing at its Finest

Posted on by James

Bordering the Moremi and Chobe National Parks – two of Botswana’s most famous – one finds the 440 000 acre Khwai Private Wildlife Reserve; one of the country’s best-kept secrets, and an area brimming with life. Elephant, lion, leopard, wild dog and cheetah abound here, as well as one of Africa’s most spectacular antelope species, the sable.

Adjoining the Okavango Delta, the Reserve was established to create a meaningful bridge between the tourism industry and local villagers, ensuring significant economic income for local communities, first world environmentally-sensitive practices and a superb safari experience. And one of the best safari experiences to be had in the area is to be found at the Natural Selections Camp, Sable Alley.

Opened in 2017, Sable is a stunningly appointed tented camp on the game filled Khwai floodplains, which in the eco-conscious world of travel, ticks all the boxes in being as sustainable as it is sophisticated.
Sable Camp features twelve spacious canvas tents; 9 twins, a honeymoon tent and two family tents. All come with a mini indoor seating area, writing desk, and some lovely Afro-chic décor. Uninterrupted views of the wildlife-rich lagoon are waiting from you beyond your screen door. At the back, you’ll find two basins, and indoor shower and a flush loo. And if you fancy washing off the dust from the day in the great outdoors, no problem – there’s an outdoor shower from which you might watch a herd of elephants walk by, just beyond your deck.

Just like the bedrooms, the communal areas are designed around the spectacular vistas, with the idea of maintaining that immersed-in-nature feeling. Watch the comings and goings at the lagoon from the bar, G&T in hand, from the outdoor fire pit, or from a comfortable sofa in the lounge.
When the sun sets, dinner is served either in the indoor dining area, or alfresco on the deck, accompanied by twinkling stars and the nocturnal sounds of Africa. The camp has also added a swimming pool and sun deck, both unique spots from which to watch the hippo pods emerge from the lagoon, or simply for some chill-out time during the warmer hours of the day.

The lagoon is a favourite drinking spot for elephant and buffalo, and with hippos aplenty right in front of camp, the big game quite literally comes to you at Sable. But as much as there is that goes on right on your doorstep, game drives are a must, as Khwai offers one of Africa’s greatest and most exclusive safari experiences. The big cats feature prominently here, as a well as a myriad of other species, and the lack of other camps in the area means an exclusive game-viewing experience.

The feeling of space is one of the modern world’s hardest to come by luxuries, but at Sable you’ll find all the space you need. Reconnect by disconnecting with the trappings of the fast-paced western lives that so many of us experience, and leave a small piece of your heart in the African bush…

Iconic Africa are currently offering some unbeatable rates to Sable Alley (and other Natural Selection camps in Botswana), so don’t hesitate to get in touch to start planning your safari…