Tag: luxury travel

Bisate Lodge – Volcanoes, Gorillas, and the Luxury of Doing It Properly

Posted on by James

There are certain places that don’t feel like a destination so much as a pilgrimage. Bisate Lodge is one of them.

Perched on the edge of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Bisate looks out across misty slopes and ancient forest — the kind of landscape that makes you lower your voice without realising you’ve done it. It’s dramatic, moody, and intensely beautiful, and the lodge leans into that atmosphere with a sense of theatre and purpose.

The design is striking: thatched, nest-like villas tucked into the hillside, each one offering sweeping views of the volcanic peaks. It feels both futuristic and rooted — as if it belongs to another era, but also exactly here. Inside, everything is warm and tactile: rich textures, thoughtful details, and a sense of comfort that feels earned rather than flashy.

But Bisate isn’t only about aesthetics. It’s about intention.

This is luxury with a backbone — a lodge built with conservation at its core, deeply tied to reforestation and community impact. You feel it in the way the team speaks about the land, in the pride behind the experience, and in the sense that your presence here contributes to something that lasts beyond your stay.

And then there are the gorillas.

There is no truly adequate way to describe the moment you first see a mountain gorilla in the wild. It is humbling, electric, and oddly intimate — like being allowed into a world that has no need for you, yet tolerates your awe. The trek itself is part of the story: early mornings, boots and rain jackets, breath in your chest as you climb into the forest, and then… that moment.

Back at Bisate, the luxury lies in how well it holds you afterwards. A hot shower. A drink by the fire. A meal that feels restorative. It gives you space to process what you’ve just experienced, without rushing you into the next thing.

Bisate is for travellers who want their safari to mean something — not in a heavy, preachy way, but in a way that feels real. It’s extraordinary, not because it tries to impress you, but because it quietly does.

A mother and child, Titus Group, Bisate Lodge, Wilderness Safari, Rwanda

Iconic Africa Wins Again: Best Bespoke Luxury African Safari Specialists 2026

Posted on by James

There are some things in life you don’t really chase. Not because they aren’t worth having, but because you know that if you do the work properly — quietly, consistently, obsessively — they tend to arrive on their own.

Awards are a bit like that.

So when Iconic Africa was named “Best Bespoke Luxury African Safari Specialists 2026” in LuxLife’s Annual Travel Awards, we didn’t immediately pop champagne and start practicing acceptance speeches in the mirror. We did what any travel-obsessed team would do: we smiled, took a breath, and then got back to building itineraries.

Because that’s the point.

This award isn’t just a pat on the back for having good taste in lodges (although, let’s be honest, that certainly helps). It’s recognition of something more meaningful: the art of getting it right for each guest, every single time. Not “right” in the sense of ticking boxes, but right in the way that matters — the right rhythm, the right feeling, the right level of adventure, the right amount of quiet.

At Iconic Africa, bespoke isn’t a buzzword. It’s a responsibility.

It’s knowing that two travellers can visit the same destination and walk away with completely different versions of Africa — one filled with big cat drama and early mornings, the other shaped by slow afternoons, beautiful food, and long, golden hours of nothing much at all. And it’s our job to build the safari that fits the person, not the trend.

After 11 years of crafting luxury journeys across the continent, we’ve learned that the real magic isn’t in the “wow moments” (although Africa has plenty of those). The magic is in the seamlessness — the way a trip feels effortless, even when it’s crossing borders, changing landscapes, and juggling flights that don’t always behave.

With teams based in both South Africa and the United States, we’re able to offer the best of both worlds: local expertise and global support, paired with an obsessive attention to detail and a love for the places we sell.

But perhaps what we’re proudest of is this: our guests come back. They return with friends, with family, with stories. That kind of loyalty can’t be bought, and it can’t be faked — it’s earned through trust, service, and the simple act of caring.

So yes, we’re honoured. And we’re grateful.

And then we’ll do what we always do: keep building the kind of safaris that feel like they were made for you — because they were.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge – Where the Serengeti Wears a Silk Jacket

Posted on by James

Some safari camps feel like they belong to the wilderness. Singita Sasakwa feels like the wilderness decided it deserved a manor house.

Set high on the Sasakwa Hill in Singita Grumeti, this is the Serengeti with its collar pressed, its shoes polished, and its Martini served at exactly the right temperature. But don’t let the elegance fool you — you’re still in one of Africa’s wildest theatres, and the action below is anything but refined.

From the moment you arrive, Sasakwa has a certain old-world confidence. The architecture nods to grand estates and colonial-era romance, but without the stiffness. It’s expansive, warm, and quietly indulgent: long verandas, wide views, and interiors that invite you to sprawl rather than perch. The infinity pool looks out over plains that seem to go on forever, and if you’ve ever wanted to watch a storm roll across the Serengeti while wrapped in luxury, this is the place to do it.

And then there’s the safari.

Singita Grumeti is private, which means the experience has a freedom to it that’s increasingly rare. No traffic jams of vehicles. No radio chatter chaos. Just your guide, your curiosity, and a landscape that reveals itself at its own pace. One moment you’re tracking lions through grass that looks like it’s been brushed into place; the next you’re watching a leopard melt into the shadows of a riverine thicket as if it was never there at all.

If you time it right, you also have the Great Migration in your orbit — the kind of spectacle that makes you realise nature is capable of excess. Thousands of wildebeest, zebra, dust, noise, urgency. And then, later, back at Sasakwa, everything slows again. A bath with a view. A drink on the lawn. A dinner that feels like a private event, even when it’s simply your own table under the stars.

Sasakwa is for travellers who love the romance of safari, but also appreciate the finer things: space, service, and the luxury of feeling entirely unhurried. It’s the Serengeti, yes — but it’s the Serengeti dressed for the occasion.

Nyamatusi Camp: Where Mana Pools Casts Its Spell

Posted on by James

Certain landscapes feel like they’ve drifted out of a dream, and Mana Pools is one of them — a place where blue-washed woodlands melt into slow water, where elephants stand on hind legs to reach ana pods, and where light behaves in ways photographers still can’t adequately explain. Nyamatusi Camp sits in the heart of this enchantment, offering front-row seats to one of Africa’s most atmospheric wildernesses.

Set along a remote curve of the Zambezi River, Nyamatusi’s tented suites are luxurious in a way that never breaks the spell of the environment. Interiors are warm, rich and tactile — brass, canvas, leather — but always with the river in view, always with the forest whispering just beyond the deck. This is the kind of camp where wildlife walks through your field of vision rather than being something you go out to find.

Activities lean into Mana’s slow, immersive energy. Walking safaris take you through cathedral-like woodlands where every shaft of light feels choreographed. It’s not unusual to round a grove and find an elephant calmly feeding at arm’s length, acknowledging you with the faintest ear-flick before returning to its breakfast. Canoeing is equally magical — drifting between hippo channels, listening to water lap against the bow, watching the shoreline shift like an unfolding watercolor.

Game drives capture Mana at its most instinctively wild: painted wolves trotting along riverbeds, lions dozing in delicate shade, nyala moving like brushstrokes through the trees. Yet the mood here is never rushed. The forest encourages softness, attentiveness, breathing room.

Evenings are all glow — lanterns, campfire sparks, the quiet hum of the river. It’s the kind of place where guests become loyalists, and loyalists become evangelists.

Nyamatusi doesn’t just show you Mana Pools. It lets the place seep into your bones.

Jao Camp: Let the Water Teach You to Slow Down

Posted on by James

Most safaris begin with a map: roads, tracks, loops and river crossings. Jao Camp begins with a different philosophy — let the water decide. The Okavango Delta is famously unpredictable, rising and receding at its own whim, turning woodlands into lagoons and plains into mirror-smooth channels. Jao doesn’t fight this; it reveres it. And guests very quickly learn to do the same.

From the moment you arrive, elevated walkways signal the shift in perspective. You move through palm islands at tree-crown level, brushing past birdlife that seems only mildly surprised by your presence. Suites are generous to the point of indulgence — private decks, plunge pools, gauzy interiors that glow softly in Delta light — but nothing feels showy. Everything serves one quiet purpose: to invite you to unwind.

The rhythm here is governed entirely by water. When the flood is high, mokoro excursions become poetry in motion — a silent glide past lilies, reed frogs, jacanas stepping delicately across floating leaves. Boat outings open up the wider channels, sometimes revealing elephants swimming in slow motion, or a fish eagle perched in just the right shaft of light. When the waters pull back, game drives explore floodplains now etched with fresh tracks: lions, leopards, wild dogs, and the occasional sable giving you a regal once-over.

One of Jao’s most underrated luxuries is its sense of spaciousness — not in size, but in tempo. There’s permission here to move slowly. To linger in the hide while storm clouds bruise the horizon. To surrender to an afternoon spa treatment because thunder murmuring across the water feels like the day’s natural metronome. To enjoy dinner on the deck by lantern-light, listening to lechwe splashing distantly in the shallows.

Some camps help you see wildlife. Jao helps you feel the Delta. And in doing so, it becomes less a safari destination and more a gentle recalibration — a reminder that life is richer when you let nature set the pace.

Saseka Tented Camp: Where Light Learns to Behave

Posted on by James

Some lodges borrow from the bush. Saseka seems to collaborate with it.

Sitting on the banks of the Monwana River in Thornybush, Saseka is one of those rare camps where architecture stops being a backdrop and starts participating in the safari itself. The tents — if one can call them tents without stretching the definition to its upper limit — are floating canopies of patterned shade, soft fabric, and impossibly photogenic angles. It’s as if someone stitched together dappled sunlight and suspended it overhead.

Step inside and you’re met with a design language that’s both bold and quiet. Monochrome palettes soften into warm wood textures; sculptural furniture curves in the same rhythms as the surrounding bushwillows. Your suite feels less like a room and more like a mood — one that shifts subtly throughout the day as the Klaserie light moves across the floor.

But for all its glamour, Saseka doesn’t forget where it is. Just beyond the glass, nyalas graze with the casual entitlement of animals who know they were here first. Elephants drift along the riverbed, pausing occasionally to give you a glance that feels mildly evaluative. The wilderness is close, unavoidable, and deeply grounding.

Game drives around Thornybush offer the classic Lowveld cast: lions on the prowl, leopards draped over the branches they pretend they chose purely for functionality, and rhinos that seem carved from the earth itself. The guiding teams weave expertise with ease — the kind of quiet professionalism that makes sightings feel earned rather than orchestrated.

Evenings at Saseka are a small study in atmosphere. Lantern-lit pathways, the hum of insects, dinner served beneath a sky that feels too generous with its stars. And, of course, that unmistakable sense of being wrapped in design without ever feeling removed from the wild.

Saseka is safari reimagined — an ode to clean lines, good light, and the gentle art of letting the wilderness take centre stage while still offering you a front-row seat.

   

Ngala Tented Camp: Where Silence Has a Shape

Posted on by James

Some camps arrive with a flourish. Ngala Tented Camp doesn’t need to. Tucked beneath a line of ancient river trees along the banks of the Timbavati, it feels less like a lodge and more like something the landscape has been guarding for years — revealed only when you’re ready to notice it.

Ngala has always existed in that sweet spot between wild and minimalist. Canvas suites open directly onto the riverbed, where the daily cast of elephants, nyalas, and the occasional leopard drift past with the nonchalance of residents who pay no attention to human check-in times. The tents themselves are masterclasses in understatement: soft palettes, clean lines, and textures that let the wilderness do most of the talking.

And that’s Ngala’s quiet superpower — it knows when not to speak.

This is a camp that rewards the unhurried. Early mornings begin with the soft groan of branches stretching in the cool air, followed by coffee strong enough to stand up on its own. On game drive, the Timbavati reveals its subtler layers: the flick of a white tail through the thickets, a fresh drag mark across the sand, the unmistakable rasp of a leopard calling from somewhere just beyond the bend. The guides here have a knack for making the bush feel like a story unfolding rather than a checklist being ticked.

Afternoons stretch out in that dreamy, in-between way the Lowveld specialises in. You can sit on your deck and watch the river exhale as the heat deepens, or laze in the pool listening to the wind rehearsing through the jackalberries. Here, even doing nothing feels purposeful.

Evenings are lantern-lit and low tempo. Dinner might be under the fever trees or beside the water’s edge, each setting a reminder that Ngala’s real gift is the way it frames simplicity as luxury. No theatrics, no noise — just a deep, resonant sense of place.

Where some lodges make you feel pampered, Ngala makes you feel restored. The kind of refreshed that comes not from being entertained, but from being allowed to simply exist in a landscape that’s been doing fine for millennia without interruptions.

Ngala Tented Camp is safari distilled — quiet, thoughtful, and all the more powerful because of it.

What Would It Take for a Safari Lodge to Earn a Michelin Key?

Posted on by James

Until now, Michelin has mostly told us where to eat, not where to sleep. But that’s changing. The famed guide has unfurled a new rating system for hotels and lodges — the Michelin Key — a sibling to the coveted Michelin Star, and a new yardstick for excellence in stays.

It’s an intriguing idea for the safari world, where barefoot luxury and wilderness don’t always fit neatly into the same tick-box criteria. How do you score a night filled with lion calls against a night filled with thread counts?

Michelin’s inspectors look for five things: architecture and design, consistency of service, personality, value for money, and connection to place. It’s that last one that feels most relevant to safari lodges. Connection to place is the heartbeat of the experience — the sense that the land, the wildlife, and the people aren’t just backdrops, but protagonists in the story.

By those standards, Africa already has its share of Michelin-worthy contenders. The design brilliance of Singita Sabora, the restraint and intimacy of Mara Nyika, the wild purity of Busanga Plains, and the playful luxury of Ulusaba all whisper the same thing: this is excellence defined by soul, not excess.

Of course, no one’s likely to find an inspector with a clipboard crouched beside a termite mound anytime soon. The Michelin Key isn’t just about imported standards — it’s about recognising that the best stays, like the best meals, create something intangible. A mood. A memory. A moment that lingers.

So, what would it take for a safari lodge to earn a Michelin Key? Probably the same things that make the bush unforgettable in the first place: an architecture that listens to its surroundings, service that anticipates without intruding, and a sense of belonging so strong it feels as though the land itself has checked you in.

If that’s the benchmark, Africa’s already set the table. Michelin just needs to find a way to reach it.

Tswalu Kalahari: The Luxury of Isolation

Posted on by James

There’s a point somewhere between Upington and eternity where the Kalahari opens up and you start to feel very small. That’s usually the moment you realise you’re getting close to Tswalu.

South Africa’s largest privately protected reserve has never really played by anyone else’s rules. While other lodges might measure their worth in thread count or wine lists, Tswalu deals in something far rarer — space. Here, luxury isn’t about what’s added, but what’s absent: crowds, noise, clutter, deadlines. The silence is a currency all its own.

The new Loapi Camp, Tswalu’s most recent addition, continues this philosophy of elegant restraint — a collection of glass-fronted safari homes scattered like mirages across the dunes. Everything is deliberate yet unforced: natural materials, clean lines, textures that echo the desert itself. It’s architecture designed to defer to the landscape, not dominate it.

But what sets Tswalu apart isn’t just the design — it’s the depth of experience. Tracking pangolins under starlight with researchers. Following a coalition of cheetahs through the ochre grass. Sharing a breakfast of Kalahari truffles and poached eggs while the horizon hums with heat. The encounters here feel less like safaris and more like quiet collaborations with the wild.

Condé Nast’s readers regularly place Tswalu among Africa’s finest, yet its real brilliance is how little it seems to care about that. This is a place that hums to its own frequency — one of patience, purpose, and deep respect.

In a year when Michelin Keys and global accolades are reshaping how we define excellence, Tswalu stands as a gentle reminder: true luxury isn’t found in perfection, but in perspective. It’s the feeling of being utterly alone, yet completely connected — to the land, to the moment, to something far older than both.

Ulusaba: Safari, With a Wink

Posted on by James

Most luxury lodges lean on hushed tones and reverence for the wilderness. Ulusaba, Richard Branson’s private slice of the Sabi Sand, does all that — but it also has a twinkle in its eye. It’s safari, yes, but safari that knows how to have a little fun.

The property is split between three lodges: Rock Lodge, perched high on a koppie with views that stretch forever, and Safari Lodge, tucked into the riverine forest where rope bridges link treehouse-style rooms. And then there’s the newest kid on the block: Cliff Lodge; just two ultra-private suites carved into the rock, perfect for families or friends who want the whole “this is OUR patch of Africa” feeling. Private pools, epic decks, and views so good you might forget to go on game drive (don’t worry, the rangers will remind you).
All three come with the sort of playful details Branson is famous for — think surprise champagne stops in the bush and the kind of storytelling that turns an ordinary sundowner into a small event.

Wildlife here is the main draw, of course. Ulusaba sits in the heart of the Sabi Sand, one of the best places on Earth to see leopards. Lions, rhinos, buffalo, and elephants make daily appearances, but it’s the frequency and intimacy of big cat sightings that has made this region legendary. The rangers and trackers here are sharp, and they know how to read the land with the kind of confidence that comes only from decades of experience.

Yet what sets Ulusaba apart is its refusal to take itself too seriously. The service is seamless, but never stiff. Staff banter with guests as though you’re part of the family, and evenings often end with laughter rising into the night alongside the distant roar of a lion. If other lodges are symphonies, Ulusaba is more like jazz: polished, but with a streak of improvisation that keeps it fresh.

For all its playfulness, the lodge doesn’t skimp on indulgence. Rock Lodge has a wine cellar and spa treatments with sweeping views. Safari Lodge offers shaded pools and private decks perfect for doing absolutely nothing. And when the day’s game drive is done, you can expect a dinner that balances serious culinary flair with a sense of occasion.

Ulusaba is proof that luxury can be lighthearted. That you can sip fine wine and watch the sunset, but also laugh when the resident vervet monkeys make a grab for your toast at breakfast. Because the best safaris aren’t just about what you see — they’re about how it all makes you feel. And Ulusaba makes you feel alive, in on the joke, and right at home.

Singita Sabora: Serengeti Theatre

Posted on by James

Some places you check into. Others, you quite literally arrive. Singita Sabora is firmly in the latter camp. It doesn’t just sit in the Serengeti; it unfurls across it, like a lavish set design waiting for the curtain to rise.

Set in the private Grumeti Reserve, Sabora has all the cinematic grandeur you’d expect from Singita, but with a modern twist. Think sweeping canvas tents — though “tent” feels like a disservice when your suite has Persian rugs, curated antiques, and a four-poster bed that could comfortably accommodate a small wildebeest herd. Out front, the Serengeti plains stretch until they dissolve into a mirage. At night, the soundtrack is equal parts hyena cackles and the fizz of your G&T.

Where Sabora really excels is in its balance of indulgence and immersion. One minute you’re lounging in a leather campaign chair, thumbing through a design book you didn’t know you needed in your life. The next, you’re out on game drive, watching a cheetah test the limits of physics as it streaks across the golden grass. The lodge sits right on the migratory route, so if you time it right, you can sip your morning coffee as a column of wildebeest trundles by — a reminder that in this theatre, the extras number in the thousands.

Meals here are another performance. Candlelit dinners on the deck blur into starlit skies. The menu is a masterclass in contradiction: refined yet rooted, locally inspired yet globally polished. Even the wine cellar, improbably stocked with South Africa’s finest vintages, feels like a nod to the fact that luxury in the bush isn’t just about where you are, but how well you’re looked after while you’re there.

And yet, amidst all the design flourishes and high-thread-count whispers, Sabora manages not to lose its sense of place. Step outside your suite and you’re reminded quickly that this is still big wilderness. Giraffes drift like apparitions between acacias, lions call at dusk, and the Serengeti light — that ever-changing, golden wash — steals the show at every hour.

Sabora is proof that you can have it both ways: the romance of classic safari and the thrill of contemporary design. Here, the Serengeti isn’t just a backdrop. It’s the main character, and you, for a few days, are written into the script.

Know Thy Camera: Why Valuable Seconds Count in Wildlife Photography

Posted on by James

The difference between the greatest wildlife photographers and those just getting started isn’t actually that much, when it comes to actual time taken to snap a shot.
In terms of the number of seconds between spotting an opportunity, lifting one’s eye to the viewfinder, dialling in your settings an pushing the shutter button, the complete rookie might take just a few seconds longer – ten at the most – but the difference in image quality is – for the most part – utterly remarkable.

So how do the pros make those few seconds count so drastically in their favour?

The main thing to remember is that you’re dealing with wildlife. “Wild” being the operative word. With no control over an animal’s movements, when a moment passes it’s likely gone forever.
There are therefore two main factors at play here:

  1. Anticipation

  2. Dialling in your settings. Quickly.

Let’s talk about the first one briefly.

As obvious as it may sound, understanding wildlife behaviour is of primary importance in wildlife photography, for the simple reason that predicting what is likely to. happen next cand and often will set you up to both be in the right position for a shot and to have everything ready on your camera, from lens choice to settings.
Realising that a lion yawning in the soft evening light means that he will likely yawn again soon and then get moving will inform you as to what shutter speed, aperture and ISO you should be using.
Being new in the game however means you will be relying heavily on your safari guide for this information, so make sure you are asking questions and looking for prompts as to what is probably going to happen next, and you can switch to part2: Dialling in Your Settings.

Although some sort of base level ISO and shutter speed will be adequate for at least capturing a memory of a scene (which modern cameras can often do a decent job with on Auto mode), the more control you are taking when it comes to settings selection the better, as you will necessarily be able to increase image quality and start to look for the photos you want to capture in terms of your own interpretation of a scene.

Believe me, the few seconds it takes to bring your camera down, look for the button you want to be pressing, pressing it, scrolling through the menu for the desired setting then bringing the camera up again to eye level, composing the shot and then snapping it, will more often than not result in the scene you originally saw or envisioned having already changed, and you will find yourself behind the 8-ball.

This is where the pros have the upper-hand; they have spent so much time adjusting settings at speed, in the field, without removing their eye from the view-finder, that a 2-second tweak with the thumb and forefinger dials can completely change what mode and settings they’re shooting on, and have them fully prepared to nail the shot.
As with so many things in life that demand mastery, the muscle memory is what sets them apart here.

Don’t get disheartened though.

The good news in the early days of anyone’s wildlife photography journey is that although the learning curve is steep at first, but you can attain a decent level quickly:

Once you hit the plateau stage, it takes hours in the field and thousands of photos. to start seeing real change, but that initial period of increasing competence can very much be fast-tracked by just knowing your camera.

You shouldn’t have to be fiddling around trying to work out how to change the shutter speed when the leopard is about to launch up the tree. It should just happen.
Sun suddenly disappeared behind some dark clouds? Low light? Raise your ISO immediately! One push of a button, quick scroll, done.

Looking at the menu above, things might seem complicated, but trust me; a few basic concepts and you’re set.
Yes you will have to take time to come to terms with what’s what, but knowing how to change settings is what’s going to make the difference.

When in a photographic situation, a good guide might tell you something like “Make sure your aperture is wide open and your ISO is at about 1600. That should get you a decent shutter speed”. It’s then up to you to get those settings set up. As a sighting unfolds, he or she might be issuing updates on the fly; “Ok the sun’s gone down.. I’d double your ISO now. Use a beanbag to keep the camera steady. Make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/320”. Or something like that.

You don’t even have to be too comfortable with what all the terms mean or how they relate to each other; as long as you can respond to a verbal instruction from your guide, you’ll at least be able to get the shot.

Sitting for half an hour before you come on safari to make sure you know what each button on the camera does, how to access menus and which dials to spin for what result will go a long way towards relieving frustration when actually out in the field, believe us!

For those interested in private photographic tutelage on safari through a specialist photographic guide, get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com.

We know where the best photographic lodges are to be found, so if you are looking for any photographic advice pre-, during- or even post-safari, don’t hesitate to reach out.

What Lens to Take on Safari?

Posted on by James

The old adage of “The best camera to have is the one you have with you” will always stand true on safari, and the same can be said for lenses.
Most scenes and/or sightings can be reimagined to make your lens work for you, from an 8mm fish-eye to an 800mm zoom.

Ok that might be stretching it a little, as a proper wide-angle won’t get you that nice close up of a bird from forty metres away, nor will you be able to encompass a whole pride of lions next to your vehicle in one photo with a mega-zoom, but if you do happen to find yourself seemingly limited by your lens choice, simply zoom out (figuratively), and start to imagine what’s in front of you in a new way.

The solution of course is simply to have a selection of lenses with you, and move between them as the situation dictates, but multiple lenses can start getting expensive and heavy, not to mention dust-filled if you are constantly switching them out. Multiple camera bodies take care of this latter problem, but again you start encountering extra weight and expense.

What we want to do here is give a brief run through of some of the most commonly used lenses on safari, what they’re good for, and which parts of Africa you should be sure to pack them for.

WIDE ANGLE

These lenses are essentially wider than 35mm. They can be fixed or zoom lenses. The 16-35mm range is a popular one.
Wide-angle are severely underrated in the safari world. The tendency for most safari-goers is to want to zoom in close. This can be great if you’re after detail, or trying to isolate a single subject, but just because you can zoom, doesn’t mean you should. More often than not, by zooming in too much you are excluding critical elements of the photographic story. Wide angle lenses allow you to capture an entire scene, not just one single element of it.
Landscapes, big herds of elephants, room interiors… these are a few things you might want a wide-angle for. Astrophotography is pretty much impossible without a wide-angle, and they can be very effective in exaggerating the scale of something (see the elephant photo below).

Wider is often better, and since these lenses are quite compact more often than not, they won’t take up too much room in your camera bag.

Best Destinations for Wide-Angle: Namibia, Cape Town

MEDIUM ZOOM

Between 50mm and 300mm is generally your sweet spot if yu want a lens to tick as many boxes as possible. Wide enough to capture a landscape is an animal is far enough away from you, but with enough zoom to really be able to isolate a subject if its proximity allows for it. The 70-200mm f2.8 lens is the mainstay of wildlife photographers around the world, and Canon, Nikon and Sony all make one.

The f2.8 aperture is wide enough to be able to carry on shooting in low light conditions (eg. dawn and dusk), and in areas where the wildlife is habituated to vehicles and can therefore come quite close, any more zoom just feels excessive.

Best Destinations for Medium Zoom: Sabi Sands, Lower Zambezi, Gorilla Trekking

FIXED TELEPHOTO

Starting from 300mm, things start to get interesting. Your zoom is starting to pack a real punch, and fixed zoom lenses generally allow for wider apertures, which ultimately means better low-light performance, higher shutter speeds and fewer missed shots. The 400mm f2.8 in particular is an incredible lens.
The image quality tends to be superb, but since the focal length is fixed, you can sometimes feel a bit constrained. This is when a bit of creativity can be necessary.

With 500mm, 600mm and 800mm you are dealing with seriously bulky lenses, They can take amazing photos – portraits of a lions face from a good distance, crisp shots of tiny birds that make them look larger than life – but the lack of mobility can be a hindrance. Some sort of support in the form of a bean bag or Wimberley arm is needed when shooting from a vehicle, or a tripod if you are on foot.

Best Destinations for Fixed Telephoto: Serengeti, Maasai Mara, any bird-focused photography trip.

There is no right or wrong in your lens selection.
Certain lenses might be the only way to capture specific images, but sightings need not be restricted to those specific images; it’s ultimately up to your imagination how you choose to represent a sighting.

Be sure to get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com if you need any sort of photographic advice for your African safari.

Cape Town’s Culinary Delights

Posted on by James

It came as no surprise to us that the readers of Condé Naste Traveller voted for Cape Town as the Best City for Food in the World.

We have long felt confident that the culinary offerings from this most magnificent of destinations right down near Africa’s southern end would measure up to anywhere else on the globe, through an unbeatable combination of pure quality, variety and location, location, location!

From the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean in summer to a warm fireside in the Franschoek Valley when there’s snow on the mountains in the depths of winter, the sheer range of overall experiences here mean you could try something new 365 days a year and never run out of options.

There’s certainly far more to Cape Town than its dining opportunities, but at Iconic Africa we certainly feel that a visit to this Iconic destination should certainly feature as much variety as possible when it comes to mealtimes, so that end we’ve picked four of our favourites:

Wine Farm Luncheon:

With close to 600 wine farms within 100km of South Africa’s Mother City, you’re spoiled for choice right from the get go.
Thankfully you barely have to go even ten kilometres to be right in amongst some of the best that the country has to offer, with the Constantia area – only about a 20 minute drive from the City centre – featuring many of the vineyards that have become household names; Constantia Glen, Groot Constantia and Steenberg to name a few.
Moving east towards Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the choices only multiply, and you can sip on a Pinot Noir from Starke-Conde vineyards in Jonkershoek Valley whilst feeling like you might be in a remote hamlet in the Swiss Alps.

For those on a day-trip from Cape Town, we recommend enjoying a lunch out in the Stellenbosch/Franschhoek winelands so as allow enough time for the drive home.

Seaside Dining Overlooking the Atlantic

Again; spoilt for choice.

From fresh oysters at Tintswalo Atlantic to the incredible menu at The Nines in a high-rise in Sea Point, the view out over the ocean from anywhere along Cape Town’s Atlantic seaboard will immediately elevate your enjoyment of your meal by 15%.
Whether it’s humpback whales breaching in Springtime or simply an impressive cargo ship approaching the port, there’s always some sort of drama to be seen out on the sea.

Pizzas in Town

Whether it’s Italian, Thai, Asian Fusion, traditional South African or of course seafood, there’s something for you in Cape Town.
There has been a recent surge in boutique pizza houses, with three that immediately come to mind as our front-runners; Pizza Shed in Bree Street, Lievita near the Waterfront and Novo in Little Mowbray.
All three feature the latest pizza trend in South Africa; puffy-crusted Neapolitan-style variety, with easily identifiable leopard-spot blisters. The original flavours and combinations of toppings at all three restaurants are superb (the pepperoni and hot honey at Pizza Shed is one of our favourites!), and when we are in town we’re always torn between which spot to choose if it’s pizza we feel like!

Anywhere in Nature

The beauty of Cape Town is you never feel too far from being in the wild.
Whether you’re on top of Table Mountain or settling down to a beach picnic within a kilometre of the CBD, you will still feel removed from the hustle and bustle normally associated with a major city.

Cape Farmhouse Beer Garden is just a stone’s throw from Cape Point Nature Reserve. The restaurant at the Upper Cable Station will feed you after either a hike up Platteklip Gorge or a stunning Cablecar ride. Or African Lynx tours – who we make use of for many of our clients – will provide a sumptuous spread wherever you happen to be spending the day out and about.
Dining outside is the real way to enjoy the Cape Town culinary experience – weather dependent of course – and we’ll try to ensure that all of our guests get to enjoy something of Cape Town’s majesty during at least one of their meals.

There are literally thousands – thousands – of dining options for Cape Town visitors, so the choice can be overwhelming. Small local restaurants compete with the more established household names, and we like to think we know about both.
So if you’re booking with us and travelling to Cape Town, let us know what type of cuisine interests you the most, and we’ll take care of the rest…

 

Mpala Jena: Zambezi Luxury

Posted on by James

When you combine the feel of a Mozambican beach side lodge with a classic safari camp, and throw in Africa’s mightiest waterfall just downstream, that’s Mpala Jena.

Part of the Great Plains portfolio, Mpala Jena is the epitome of Victoria Falls luxury accommodation and is an intimate safari lodge positioned along the beautiful tree-laden banks of the Zambezi River.

Zambezi National Park, in which the lodge is nestled, is little known, despite its proximity to the world famous Victoria Falls. Split off from the Victoria Falls National Park in 1979, the 56,000 hectares of pristine wilderness and wildlife habitat has been a National Park in its own right ever since.

It is home to a wide range of wildlife that can be enjoyed on safari drives, seen from the Zambezi River when on a boat cruise or the unique Dhow, walking trails or even while sipping cocktails from the camp’s swing chairs. Higher concentrations of buffalo and elephants are typical from June to October. There are more lions per km² here than in any other park in Zimbabwe.

In August 2025, two new, 3-bedroom Mpala Jena Private Villas will open. These two unique villas will be located five kilometres upstream from the current Mpala Jena.

the location of both camps allows easy access to Victoria Falls town by an exciting 40-minute boat or road transfer. Mpala Jena also offers guided tours of the Victoria Falls.

The sand floor in the main camp’s bar area and the adjacent swimming pool set the scene for guests to kick off their shoes and relax after their morning safari drive or river cruise. The pool lounge makes you feel that you are right on the river. Mpala Jena is highly sought after for those wanting the best Victoria Falls luxury accommodation.

Guests have a choice of three large double or twin bed configuration suites, plus two 2-bedroom family suites; are all under sand-coloured, flowing canvas, with canopy ceilings and open (yet netted) views of the river frontage.

Each suite has a shaded, private veranda area and en-suite bathroom facilities, including an indoor shower, separate loo, and double basins. The highlight of the suites is the outdoor bathrooms with a beautiful bathtub and outdoor shower. Decking in front of the tent leads to views of the Zambezi River’s calming and peaceful flowing waters.

Mpala Jena has a strong sustainability ethos. It is powered entirely by a solar plant and battery. Building materials and design elements were specified and sourced with a clear vision of minimising embodied energy and transportation miles.

Although there are plenty of fantastic accommodation options in and around Victoria Falls town itself, it can be nice to escape to somewhere a bit more sheltered, that moves at its own pace, away from the hustle closer to the falls.
The barefoot luxury of Mpala Jena ticks this box perfectly, where safari and rest combine into a magical sense of contentment.