Tag: luxury

Night Drives: What to Expect

Posted on by James

A lot goes on after dark.

But sometimes there’s nothing.

The reality of a night drive is that there are so many variables that go into one, it’s almost impossible to prepare guests for what they will be like or what they will probably see. It’s dependant on area, length of drive, type of spotlight, whether it’s a national park or private reserve, the season, the phase of the moon, etc, etc….

Night drives can be epic. And sometimes they’re not.

Ask the right questions of your guide beforehand so your expectations can be managed, but here are a few things to remember:

Night Drives are about the search

Just being out after dark in the African wilderness is a treat. The Milky Way above you (dependent on cloud cover) and the calls of the nightbirds and crickets mean you’re already enjoying a special experience. If you encounter something, so much the better, but it’s a bonus, not something you should necessarily expect.
Some areas tend to be more productive than others in the matter of small creatures, so make sure you are well informed before setting out.

It’s often better to start with an animal

Just driving round hoping to bump into something can be unproductive.
Your field of view is dramatically reduced from the daytime when you have 360 degrees of lighting, to the night when you have the headlights of the vehicle and the spotlight. Granted, these do provide some advantages like enabling you to spot the eye-shine of some nocturnal creatures, but you certainly can’t see as much, and may drive round for a couple of hours and encounter nothing.
In Private reserves where off-roading is allowed, it’s often better to sit with a leopard or lion as darkness begins to settle, and as they get moving into the night, you follow and see what they get up to.
The phrase “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” probably wasn’t coined on safari, but it was never more appropriate…

Photography is going to be tricky

On a night drive, it’s usually better to put the camera away.
Unless you have really great gear and know exactly how to adjust your settings to adjust for very low light and the likely single beam of the spotlight, chances are you will be hacking around with your camera, getting frustrated while you try to work out why the shutter speed is so low and you’re getting such blurry images.
Far better to put the camera down and just enjoy…

There may be bugs in summer

The rainy season and its warmth and moisture can create conditions in which an insect or two might come buzzing along. Termites fly our of their mounds to start new colonies and dung beetles fly by on their merry way, navigating by the stars. You might get a bump or even a winged termite down the shirt. Nothing will happen, trust us! A small fright, maybe, but that’s the extent of it. Go out there knowing that there might be a close encounter of the tiny, winged, six-legged variety, and you’ll be fine.

Night drives are a wonderful extension of your safari experience. But just like in the daytime version, there are many things outside of the guide’s control, so go out there with a sense of adventure, a sense of humour, and the simple excitement of what you might encounter, and we guarantee you’ll get the most out of the experience…

3 Rules for Wildlife Photography Composition

Posted on by James

Wildlife photography can be tricky.
Animals are just that – wild – and don’t always do what you expect. Branches get in your way and if the light goes, it goes. No studio dimmer switch is going to change that.

But by simply sticking to a couple of composition principles you can make sure that at least most of your shots from your safari are usable, even if they aren’t award winning.

Here are three to bear in mind.

1. Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is an effective way to frame the elements in your scene so that the final image is more visually captivating. Like most other so-called “rules,” it’s not really a rule at all — more of a guideline.

But if you stick to it with wildlife, more often than not it will leave you with a photograph that’s mor pleasing to the eye.

Put very simply, you want your subject either moving or looking from one third of the photo into the remaining two thirds. If it’s looking left, place it on the right looking into the left hand two thirds of the picture. If it’s looking right, place it on the left, looking into the right hand two thirds.

Have a look at this elephant picture:

The elephant closer tot he camera (the subject) has its head (which is the main point of interest) roughly a third of the way into the frame, moving into the further two thirds. You always want an animal moving or looking into space, and not butting up against the edge of the frame. If we divide the image up into thirds using vertical lines, we get the following:

You can see how it’s not an exact science, but by using these approximate measurements, we get an image that tells more of a story.

The same proportions were used in the following image of a wild dog, but this time, both vertical and horizontal thirds were used:

The four points where the horizontal and vertical gridlines intersect are known as power points, and the more you can place the main subjec tof your image on one of these power points, the ro visually appealing it will be.

2. Central Framing With Symmetry

When an animal is looking straight at you, especially in close up/portrait, go for the central placement:

The rule of thirds doesn’t necessarily apply here as the straight-on image creates a connection and intensity.
Remember, these are guidelines, not rules. If we refer back to the wild dog image above, it’s also looking straight at the camera yet it was placed off to one side. This was mainly to compensate for the body being visible out to the right.

Because the lion in the above image has an even balance of mane on both sides, the symmetrical central framing works.

3. Use Foreground to Create Depth

Photography is ultimately about storytelling, and by simply having a foreground element in frame (which doesn’t have to be in focus), one can give far more context to an image.
Take a look at the following two photographs:

Both were taken to deliberately have people in frame in the foreground, which shows us that the animal/s is/are being viewed in a game drive setting.
There is far more story than a simple picture of two elephants or a leopard walking.

In wildlife photography as in many things, rules are there to be broken, but by keeping the above concepts in mind when on your next safari, we’ll be willing to bet that the percentage of your shots that you really like will be significantly higher.

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com for more photography tips and tricks…

San Camp: Kalahari Skies

Posted on by James

Billowing white tents on the edge of the endless Makgadikgadi Pans. Desert palms cast their shade here, and you are surrounded by a thousand acres of shimmering, nothingness.
San Camp, a quintessentially romantic, seven-bedroom camp on the edge of the Nwetwe Pan in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi, is something straight out of Arabian Nights. The allure lies in the minimalism here, both within the camp itself and in the broader desert horizons.

Meerkats emerge from their desert burrows, if you’re lucky an Aardvark might emerge at sunset, and you’ll see red hartebeest, springbok and gemsbok scurrying between them. But San Camp isn’t just about wildlife-watching – it’s about the atmosphere and the ethereal surroundings. Disappear into a remote world, a million miles from glowing screens and fruit-themed devices, where the 360-degree panoramas are so vast, you can see the curvature of the earth.

The enormous salt pans are like something off the moon. They are the home of a host of unique desert animals which are for the most part completely different to those encountered to the north-west in the Okavango.Combining the two areas into a single itinerary is highly recommended.
Species to tick include the famed black-maned Kalahari lion as well as cheetah, plains game like wildebeest and zebra, elephant and brown hyaena almost exclusive to this region. The bird list here is extensive and highly localised within the habitat, and of course your trip would not be complete without an immersive interaction with one of the habituated troops meerkats that have delighted guests for years.

The safari experience here is truly remarkable. The stark setting is complemented by the minimalist camp design, and the ever-present Kalahari silence creates an ambience of peace.
The main canvas covered central area is open and wonderfully unencumbered by clutter, inviting you into a stylish dining room where delicious food makes sure you are never hungry.
Dark mahogany furniture and Persian carpets complement each other well and the bedouin feel simply adds to the elegance and romanticism…

The name of the game here is adventure.
Walk with the San Bushmen or go horse-riding across the plains. Take quad bikes out onto the salt flats or charter a helicopter down to see the ethereal and ancient Kubu Island, one of the most remarkable places on earth…
Wildlife aside, this is a safari experience like no other.

If you want to find out more about this incredible destination, and how best to include it into an itinerary, get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start a safari conversation…

Best Malaria-Free Safaris

Posted on by James
The risks of malaria are lower than they’ve ever been for safari travellers, what with the advancements in prophylactics, the ubiquity of mosquito repellants, mosquito nets and other preventative measures. The fact that it is still out there however, can be a deterrent for some travellers, especially pregnant women or families with young children.
Thankfully, there are some wonderful options for safari in malaria-free areas where the game viewing is plentiful, the accommodation is luxurious, and the safari experience is as good as you’ll find it anywhere on the continent.
Here are four of our favourite malaria-free destinations:

Kwandwe Game Reserve

Eastern Cape, South Africa

Renowned for quality guiding, authentic and diverse experiences, and the thousands of animals and wildlife that call the reserve home, Kwandwe offers a range of meaningful activities and accommodation options to create lifelong memories.

With only 26 rooms spread across the succulent-studded landscape, Kwandwe has one of the highest land-to-guest ratios in South Africa. With both intimate, tranquil lodges and exclusive-use villas, there’s an option to suit families, couples, groups of friends and solo travellers.

Couples can enjoy the tranquility that Great Fish River Lodge and Ecca Lodge offer, where stand-alone suites are privately located away from each other as well as central guest areas.

Families of up to four will love the flexibility that a Family Suite at Ecca Lodge offers, complete with a private safari vehicle.

Kwandwe’s three sole-use safari villas – Fort House, Uplands Homestead and Melton Manor – are ideal for families or small groups of friends looking to enjoy an entirely intimate and exclusive safari experience.

Tswalu Private Reserve

Northern Cape, South Africa

Tswalu is the largest private reserve in South Africa, covering 1200 square kilometres (over 460 square miles). Located on the edge of the southern Kalahari, this vast and remote reserve is a destination in itself, offering the only safari of its kind in an ecologically significant and unique landscape rich in biodiversity.  Their luxury safari camps provide the backdrop to privately guided encounters with diverse wildlife in one of Africa’s last remaining semi-arid wildernesses.

Tswalu’s story is one of restoration, regeneration and hope. Protecting biodiversity and securing habitat for wildlife to thrive has been at the core of this ambitious conservation project for over 25 years. Our mission has always been to restore the Kalahari to itself. Every night a guest spends with them helps to offset the cost of conservation in a privately protected area while positively impacting those who call the Kalahari home.

Madikwe Private Game Reserve

Norhtern Cape, South Africa

Situated on the border with Botswana close to the Kalahari Desert, Madikwe Game Reserve is the fifth-largest game reserve in South Africa. As one of the lesser-known reserves, this hidden gem is regarded as one of the best conservation areas in Africa and offers visitors a Big 5 safari experience over 750km².

Roughly a 4.5 hours drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, Madikwe offers a number of luxurious lodges as well as community lodges in a malaria- free zone.

The Big 5 are represented in the reserve and you are likely to spot lion, leopard, elephant, rhino or buffalo. During your visit you will also have the rare privilege of possibly seeing highly endangered African wild dog.

In 1994, a small group of six wild dogs were introduced into Madikwe. This founding group has seen a challenging time with rabies outbreaks, territorial clashes and encounters with lions.

Despite the odds, Madikwe now has a thriving wild dog population with three hunting packs roaming the area. They are somewhat accustomed to safari vehicles, offering spectacular photographic opportunities. Madikwe Game Reserve’s conservation efforts to protect the ‘painted dog’ are in place to help conserve this majestic species.

Marataba

Limpopo Province, South Africa

Prepare to be enriched by the sweeping Waterberg Mountain vistas and impressive wildlife diversity, including the Big Five with special sightings of rhino, our signature species.

Maratab’s two luxury lodges cater to both soulful explorations and active family safaris. With game drives, bush walks and a water safari, you’ll get closer to nature than ever before, and our people will take care of your every need.

Game drives, in open safari vehicles, head out each day at sunrise and again in the late afternoon to find Marakele’s many fascinating animals. Get within close range of Africa’s most impressive species, with some surprise stops along the way.

If you have a love for nature, history and culture, you’ll feel right at home at Marataba. Our special retreat lies within a private section of the Marakele Contractual National Park – meaning ‘Place of Sanctuary’ in the local Setswana language – which protects abundant wildlife, San rock art and Iron Age sites. The park itself falls within the greater UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and is the only savannah biosphere in the world. You’re literally staying in a piece of profound natural and historical importance – we told you it was special!

This is just a small insight into some of our favourite malaria-free destinations, but there are plenty more to choose from, and not just in South Africa.

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com if you are looking for a malaria-free safari, as we can tailor-make the perfect itinerary for you.

Daunara Safari Special

Posted on by James

Pay for 3 nights, stay for 4.

That’s a good deal no matter where you’re talking about, but in the Okavango Delta, it sounds almost too good to be true.

Daunara Safari Camp, one of the newest offerings in the Delta, is running this incredible special for 2025, but with enquiries already starting to flood in, we would advise not to wait if a trip to Botswana’s own version of Eden is something you’d be interested in.

This lovely camp is in the south-east of the Delta, a short scenic helicopter flight from Maun, which is a pioneering safari town in the north of Botswana on the edge of the Thamalakane River.
The Camp is perched on the edge of a permanent water body, perfectly situated for days full of adventure and activity or for you to take time to escape from the world and reconnect with life as it ought to be lived.

At Daunara, your days are tailor-made, from the staff’s heartfelt hospitality to the camp’s thoughtful design, your stay is a constant adventure in nature with walking, fishing, game drives, community visits, mekoro (plural of mokoro – the traditional dugout canoe of the Okavango) and so much more. All in your own time at your own pace, with guides who immerse you in the heart of the Delta experience.

They want you to experience a welcome so warm in a home so comfortable that you don’t want to leave. And it works!

The camp comprises five spacious tented suites, each offering panoramic views of the wild. The layout, dictated by the positioning of prominent trees, allows for both privacy and shared communal experiences, with three standalone suites and two interconnected family suites.

A raised wooden walkway, mirroring the winding Delta waterways, connects the tents, ensuring guests remain immersed in the natural environment as they move about the camp. The central camp area includes a family-friendly house kitchen, an intimate sitting room, a fully stocked bar, and a stand-alone wine cellar, alongside outdoor spaces like shaded verandas, a sunken firepit, and a  lap pool.

Other noteworthy features include a state-of-the-art gym and a massage tent overlooking a second waterhole often frequented by huge zebra herds.

The boma, a modern reinterpretation of a traditional African outdoor gathering space, is a standout feature consisting of three interconnected separate circular forms for dining, lounging, and outdoor cooking, all centered around an enormous fire bowl. This playful yet functional design offers a unique guest experience.

For those looking to attach something out of the ordinary and extra special to their trip, a visit to Elephant Havens, a nearby elephant orphanage, is a must.
The orphanage has a herd of young calves that have been rescued from the wild, and in the fully immersive experience, guests get to help the caretakers feed the little ones as well as give them milk during their twice-daily walks out in the bush.

It’s a unique and magical way to get up close to these magical creatures!

Owner-run, Danaura provides the attention to detail that Iconic Africa looks for in the high-end camps we like to send our guests to, and with this current special running, there’s not better time for a visit.

Get hold of one of our agents through info@iconicafrica.com to start planning your trip…

GweGwe Beach Lodge: the Wildest Coast

Posted on by James

If your idea of paradise involves unspoiled landscapes, pristine coastlines, and a symphony of nature’s wonders, then pack your bags and set your compass to GweGwe Beach Lodge in the Mkambati Nature Reserve. A hidden gem along South Africa’s Wild Coast, this is where luxury and adventure merge into an amazing fusion of beach activities and opulent lodge. There are not many places in the world you can watch wildlife on land and offshore at the same time.

You’ll feel miles from civilisation, yet have comforts like as wood-burning fires and South Africa’s top wines waiting after a day of epic adventures like paddleboarding to hidden waterfalls and rock scrambling through gorges.

The main lounge has floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and a roaring fire illuminates a huge mural representing a timeline of the area from the last hundred millenia. The ambient sound is the constant wash of waves on the shoreline. Whales breach out in the bay and dolphins explore close to the backline of the breakers. Guests gather for an evening under the stars as the sun dips slowly down in the west.

GweGwe Lodge is the ultimate combination of wilderness and luxury. Activities are almost endless: swim, hike, cycle, snorkel, kayak, SUP, spa, hot tub, game watch. It will be almost impossible to fit it all in during your stay.

Nine spacious rooms all have front-row views of the ocean. Rooms are so close to the water you can feel the mist of waves as you sit reading in your hammock. At low tide, one can walk a few hundred feet down to the tide pools.

The reed-like ceiling, sea foam green and turquoise bedding, and rammed earth-inspired walls channel a chic beach retreat. The shower heads in both the indoor and outdoor shower areas provide a truly luxurious shower. Rooms one and two are closest to the main lodge and access to the beach, but the others aren’t farther than a 10-minute walk from the pristine sands.

 

The lodge has an impressive wine cellar exclusively devoted to local vineyards. Meals are wonderfully varied; one lunch might be a picnic of grilled chicken wraps and beef skewers, the nexxt a buffet of  mini grilled sliders, roasted pumpkin and avocado salad, and pizzas cooked in the wood-fired pizza oven (a hit with kids). Teatime is full of delicacies but more often than not you’ll find yourself out on some adventure or another. Dinners on outdoor tables facing the ocean are superb (weather permitting). Rooms are well stocked with drinks and snacks, and it’s a simple matter to get a bottle of wine sent down..

Mkambati is an unspoiled natural wonderland of diverse ecosystems ranging from coastal forests and grasslands to mangroves. It’s found in the heart of the Maputaland-Pondoland region, one of South Africa’s three biodiversity hotspots. Because there is no dangerous game in the reserve, guests can hike, trail run or mountain bike without a guide and spot zebra or eland grazing. The reserve fronts a marine protected area world-renowned for its sardine run each June and July, and the surrounding beaches are riddled with tidal pools full of weird and fascinating sea creatures. The waterfalls are some of the most dramatic on the planet – some of them flow right into the sea – and adventurous guests can explore them up close via a kayak or paddleboard.

The ecosystem is so tailor-made for exploration that jumping in a vehicle is almost the last thing guests will want to do.
The excellent guides are wonderful at encouraging all manner of activities that involve self-locomotion, like kayaking, snorkelling or nature walks, and for those who seek a bit of additional fitness after or between activities, there is a fantastic gym on site.

For couples, those who seek adventure or families with kids who like to roam, GweGwe Beach Lodge is absolutely ideal.

This stretch of coastline that is as untamed as it is beautiful; between the dramatic cliffs, tumbling waterfalls, pockets of dense swamp forest and crystal-clear waters, there’s so much to see and do that at the end of each day you will be fast asleep within seconds of your head hitting the pillow, lulled to sleep by the soft wash of the Indian Ocean.

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com to find out more, and especially how to combine GweGwe Lodge with your broader safari itinerary…

Photography Tips & Tricks: Make Your Photos Come Alive

Posted on by James

Patience is a virtue, and especially when it comes to wildlife photography.

But it can be far simpler than waiting hours for a lion pride to get up and go hunting, or a leopard leaping up into a tree. It can be as easy as just waiting a few moments for the appropriate head tilt, or for a cloud to move away from the sun. What can add immeasurable value to a photo of an animal – particularly a close-up – is eye-glint. That little sparkle in the eye of a predator can change what would be an otherwise mundane photo into one that leaps off the screen at you (I still find it weird saying “off the screen” instead of ‘off the page”…aaah the digital age).

Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing some more useful tips like this to incorporate in your wildlife photography, but today we’ll simply be concentrating on eye-glint.

Have a look at the following two cheetah photos…

Cheetah Cubs

In the above photo, I absolutely love the position the sleeping cheetah has taken on its sibling’s forelegs. As cheetah photos go, it’s relatively unique, yet looking at it in the context of this post, I’m very aware that something is lost because of the lack of sparkle in the awake cheetah’s eyes. Cheetahs in general are tough to photograph with good eye-sparkle; their extended brows over their eyes which reduce glare, also hinder photographers trying to catch that elusive glint. The sun needs to be low, the cheetah needs to be looking up, or even a flash needs to be employed.
The photo below is nothing special as far as cheetah photos go (it’s actually of one of the same siblings in the picture above), but the right eye has a sparkle in it, so – for me at least – it is immediately more appealing. The photo was taken just before sunset, so the low light made it much easier to capture the eye-glint.

Cheetah Termite Mound

Exactly the same thing applies in the two elephant photos below. The top photo for me is far more appealing. I prefer the colour scheme in the second, and the isolation of the eye in the focal plane, but it doesn’t have the glint in it, so it’s missing that extra something.

A close-up of an Elephant’s Eye - Eye glint. Tick.

Elephant Eye Jt - No real eye-glint. Not good.

No real eye-glint. Not good.

Leopards and lions are far easier subjects in which to capture that elusive sparkle. Both species look up regularly. Lions scan the skies to follow vultures flying (as do leopards to a lesser extent), and leopards look up into the trees they are thinking of climbing.
All it takes is a bit of patience and ideally a basic understanding of animal behaviour, and you will recognise the moment when it comes.

Professional wildlife photographers will discard photos without eye-glint immediately, almost every time. I’m talking mainly about close-ups here, or at least medium-shots. Obviously one can’t hope for eye-glint in an entire herd of impalas.

Just sit tight; don’t be tempted to push the shutter button because the lion has its head up. Wait a few seconds or minutes, and it will invariably raise its eyes above the horizontal.

That’s your chance.

Singita Kilima – the Hill of Plenty

Posted on by James

This exceptional exclusive-use property is uniquely situated on Sasakwa Hill in the 350,000 acre Grumeti Reserve, in Northern Tanzania. Grumeti is known for exceptional game viewing and is part of the ancient footpaths of the annual wildebeest migration.

The reserve was created by the Tanzanian government in 1994 in order to protect the path of the annual wildebeest migration and the indigenous biodiversity of this vast and important ecosystem.

In 2002, the Grumeti Community and Wildlife Conservation Fund (now known as the Grumeti Fund), a not-for-profit organisation, was granted the right to manage and conserve these 350,000 acres, for the benefit of Tanzania, Africa and the world. Four years later, Singita took over the management of the property to enhance low impact, luxury tourism.

With a surplus of big cats year-round, elephant and buffalo herds, and of course the spectacle of a million wildebeest moving through the area during June-September, the Grumeti Region provides some of the best game viewing in Tanzania.

Now with Singita Kilima added to the already stunning Singita portfolio in the region, one is spoiled for choice…

Offering meticulous service and effortless luxury, Kilima is ideal for shared experiences among groups of friends or extended family gatherings. Game drives in your own private vehicle and personalised wilderness adventures add moments of anticipation and exhilaration to the soft and steady pace of your day.

Kilima offers seclusion and privacy. Here, easing into tranquility and lightness-of-being comes naturally.

When not out on game drives or bush walks, guests can unwind in the various living spaces, watch movies in the media room, enjoy a wellness treatment or stay active in the fitness space.

Mealtimes are a relaxed affair, there are well-stocked ‘bar-delis’ with fresh and healthy snacks on offer throughout the day. Wine-tastings offer the opportunity to discover a fantastic selection of wines and your personal chef will provide delicious meals on request – with ingredients sourced locally and often with a definitive East African flair.

Each tailormade exploration with your personal Field Guide celebrates the freedom to spend unfiltered time in wide-open spaces and while no two Singita game drives are ever the same, you are bound to be enchanted by vivid encounters with Africa’s most iconic wildlife – which flourish and thrive through the tireless efforts of Singita’s non-profit conservation Funds & Trusts.

Embrace the quiet pace of an ancient landscape, far from the noise of the modern world.

An infinity swimming pool anchors the spacious outdoor areas, complimented by private heated pools in two of the suites. A range of wellness experiences are designed to align guests with the restorative power of nature, fostering a sense of harmony with the extraordinary landscape surrounding them.

The property accommodates a maximum of ten people in five suites that vary in décor, size and colour palette. A mix of indoor and outdoor areas create an easy sense of comfort while every aspect of the property celebrates the views of the magnificent grasslands below.

If you are interested in exploring this part of Africa, where the horizons seem infinite and you feel as if you are truly living the quintessential safari experience, get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your Serengeti adventure…

Hinkwenu for Thanksgiving

Posted on by Terri

Hinkwenu!

Thanksgiving is all about Hinkwenu: togetherness. The togetherness we feel around a table while sharing a meal, around the campfire, around the living room, around each other. We are grateful for Hinkwenu, particularly at this time of year when we remember our blessings, friendships, and good fortune.

In the United States, we give thanks around the dinner table with a hearty meal complete with family favourites – turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. We share in the spirit of gratitude for family, good health, and fall harvest, not forgetting that many countries have their own version of Thanksgiving celebrations.

England celebrates a bountiful harvest with music and food festivals in the fall months. Joaquim Nabuco brought US traditions to Brazil in 1940s, establishing the day with a carnival, church services, and parades. Canada gives thanks on the second Monday in October by hosting a traditional feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce. In Mid-Autumn Festival in China, a three-day celebration includes a feast with mooncakes, dragon dancing, and lantern lighting. Korean Thanksgivings involve a three-day holiday during which people visit their ancestral hometowns to prepare a traditional rice cake –  songpyeon – to celebrate.

This year, I think of the many aspects of Africa that bless me with each visit: the unrestricted wildlife, vast savannas, lush rainforests, dramatic mountains, arid deserts, and pristine beaches. The warm weather. The sense of community – Ubuntu – permeates through the continent. The delicious cuisine: chakalaka, Moroccan stew, koki corn, and pilau. The sense of freedom. The deep connection to the land and vistas.

With a heart filled with gratitude, I extend to you the opportunity to express your appreciation for the iconic nature of Africa. As many Thanksgiving celebrations extend past the table and onto acts of charity, sharing time with family and friends, congenial sporting events, and decorating the mantle with pomegranates, leafy boughs, and spiced oranges, my Thanksgiving celebration includes contributing to the place where I feel most connected – the place I think of as home.

And, I invite you to do the same: your philanthropy to Iconic Africa’s Foundation demonstrates a genuine commitment to the conservation of Africa’s breathtaking wilderness and the people who care for it and live amongst it. Your travel with Iconic Africa assures wilderness conservation and the alleviation of poverty on the continent: protect rhinos, conserve lions and their habitats, create green energy, support ecological research and widespread education, as well as development in rural communities.

November presents a time to express generosity of spirit. We invite you to extend the kind of gratitude that making lasting, positive change to a unique part of our world.

Celebrate Hinkwenu.

Celebrate Africa.

Shipwreck Lodge: Unfettered Wilderness

Posted on by James

The Skeleton Coast National Park is officially the least visited of all of Namibia’s parks. If it is true, unadulterated wilderness you ejoy, then this is the place to find it.
Shipwreck Lodge is located in the Skeleton Coast Central Concession Area, a critically important piece of land for protecting vulnerable wildlife species. The lodge is a joint venture between Natural Selection and local Namibian companies Trip Travel and Journeys Namibia, as well as the local communities that border the park. The future of African conservation lies firmly in fostering community involvement, and Shipwreck Lodge epitomises such an approach.

Uniquely designed around the enigmatic shipwrecks that line the coast, there’s nowhere on the continent quite like Shipwreck Lodge, which is certainly Iconic Africa’s pick of top lodge from which to explore this part of the world.
In fact, there’s nowhere on the continent quite like the Skeleton Coast. It’s a raw, rugged and impossibly remote slice of African wilderness, where towering dunes and wind-swept plains roll as far as the eye can see, buffeted by the icy Atlantic ocean.

But there’s much more to the area than just the isolation factor. Go on game drive in search of desert-dwelling fauna like oryx, springbok, desert-adapted lion and elephants; discover the enchanting desert flora (succulents and lichens); sit atop the dunes as the sun sinks below the horizon; spend the day beach-combing for whale bones and debris from centuries of shipwrecks; and marvel at the geologically-remarkable Clay Castles. This is truly a unique environment!

The words ‘eerie’ and ‘mysterious’ are often bandied around when it comes to describing Africa’s most interesting locations, but the Skeleton Coast has to be one place that truly deserves the metaphors. Shrouded in mist, the jaw-droppingly beautiful National Park begins at the Ugab River and runs roughly 500 kilometres up the Atlantic Coast to the Kunene River, which forms the border between Namibia and Angola for a few hundred kilometres inland.. Described by the San Bushmen as ‘the Land God Made in Anger’, the beaches are strewn with bleached whale bones and the wrecks of over a thousand ships, and the interior is an uninhabited desert of rolling, endless sand. But it’s magical and hauntingly picturesque, and, in our books, that makes it an absolute must-see.

Shipwreck Lodge itself is located in an unrivalled spot in the Skeleton Coast Central Concession Area, a piece of land between the Hoarusib and Hoanib rivers. The lodge is within the Skeleton Coast National Park and roughly 45 kilometres from Mowe Bay. The area contains irreplaceable and vulnerable wildlife habitat for species of the highest conservation importance, including elephant and the elusive brown hyena. Importantly, it also hosts the only other viable lion population in Namibia outside of Etosha National Park.

The Skeleton Coast is an area known primarily for its extraordinary landscapes and wide open vistas. Wildlife is not densely populated in this arid environment, so when do you spot something, it’s that much more special. Giraffes, mountain zebras, brown hyenas… creatures that just seem to belong and some that seem totally incongruous with this part of the world. Plants and insects survive from the moisture of the cold fog that drifts inland from the ocean, and the ocean itself is brimming with life. The nutrient-rich Atlantic supports a huge population of Cape fur seals, whose colonies dot the shoreline. Birdlife here features a number of special endemics, so make sure your binoculars are packed…

The lodge itself features ten rooms; 8 as twins or doubles and two family rooms. Each features an en suite bathrooms with indoor showers, and hairdryers are available on request. Charging facilities, a laundry service, and all the mod cons one would expect from a quality operation are found here, including wifi in the main area.

The Skeleton Coast stays relatively cool throughout the year, governed by the cool temperatures of the Atlantic, more specifically the Benguela current that comes sweeping up the coast from Antarctica, but venture away from the coast and temperatures can change just like that, going from freezing to boiling in a very short space of time. Always pack a jersey when heading on an excursion!

If you enjoy solitude, deep relaxation and the complete absence of time pressure, then Shipwreck Lodge is the place for you. The lunar landscapes will leave you both breathless and enchanted, and when it comes time to leave, it’ll feel like you’ve been there for both a day and two weeks.

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com to find out more about this unique destination, and the Skeleton Coast in general…

Iconic Africa Wins Another Award

Posted on by James

We’re thrilled to announce that Iconic Africa has won yet another honour in the annual LUXLife Travel Awards, this year being announced as the 

Best Global Boutique Safari Business 2024

LUXLlife focuses on a range of topics within the luxury lifestyle industry, and with their circulation extending to almost 100 000 readers, we are incredibly excited to have achieved such recognition within this space.

The combination of the words “Global” and  “Boutique” are what we enjoyed most about the award; we feels the almost paradoxical combination sums us up accurately. We have guests who travel from all over the world to visit Africa in all her magnificence, yet we have remained a small company, not looking to expand too much, keeping true to our roots as

 

To quote their website:

“The LUXLife awards celebrate the tradition of acknowledging unparalleled achievements and exceptional creativity in the realm of luxury. These distinguished awards are their way of honouring the leaders and pioneers who redefine excellence within our industry. This section is dedicated to those who inspire with their visionary contributions and consistently set higher standards of sophistication and elegance.”

The travel and tourism industry has long been a vital part of the world economy, contributing significantly to employment, market development, and cultural exchange. Despite the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector has now fully recovered, bolstered by strong consumer demand, emerging technology and trends, and an eagerness to return to exploring the world. The World Travel & Tourism Council expected 2025 to be a record-breaking year, with the market’s global economic contribution set to hit an all-time high of over $11 trillion!

There are a variety of trends that are boosting performance and rapidly reshaping the travel and tourism space; more and more travellers are choosing eco-friendly options, along with lodges that dhow a genuine commitment to social upliftment and environmental consciousness.

Moreover, the blending of business and leisure travel continues to rise, with more professionals extending work trips to enjoy personal time at their destination. Digital transformation is also playing a crucial role, as innovations like contactless check-ins and AI-powered travel recommendations enhance the convenience and personalization of travel. Additionally, wellness tourism remains a strong growth area, with more travellers looking to focus on mental and physical well-being.

Iconic Africa will keep striving to remain at the forefront of the industry.

Our small team of highly experienced agents all know the continent intimately, and continue to research new destinations, experiences and trends. We want every guest’s visit to our shores to be life-changing.

Get hold of us on info@iconicafrica.com to start planning your own bucket list safari…

 

Beach after Bush

Posted on by James

An authentic African safari is one of the most thrilling experiences you can ever have.

Those whom the bug has bitten find themselves returning time and time again to revisit that sense of excitement, the tranquility of an Okavango sunrise, the thrill of a lion stalk or the sheer rawness of nature as ten thousand wildebeest come pouring over the Mara River in their desperate need to reach the other shore.
Safari can also simply be about getting in touch with yourself and family once more. No receiving message on drive, no police sirens in the distance, just you and the peace of the bush; birdsong, the soft trilling of cicadas and the whisper of the wind in the golden grass.

Yet in order to take full advantage of the environment and prime viewing conditions, early wake-ups are the norm, with a pre-dawn coffee on deck the order of the day as you wipe the sleep from your eyes and prepare to head out into the gloom, just before the sun peeks over the horizon.
A good few days of these early mornings, combined with some late nights around the fire and some excellent bottles of South Africa’s finest red wine, and you may well find yourself needing a holiday after your holiday. And that is where the beach comes in.

There are literally thousands of kilometres of pristine coastline from Cape Town up to Kenya, with golden sands, whales breaching, turtles laying eggs, and often miles and miles of emptiness stretching before you, with only the warm, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean lapping against your feet.

If its genuine relaxation you are after on your holiday, look no further. The resorts and beach lodges we love will have you wanting for nothing. Pina coladas on call, boat excursions to remote sand bars, and snorkelling in the clearest water imaginable as the warm sun gently tans you.
An Indian Ocean getaway is – at least for us – the perfect ay to wind down after a safari. You won’t have anyone waking you up before it’s light, you make your own schedule, and you can be as indulgent as you like.

Our Top 3 choices for beach destinations would be:

Plettenberg Bay

It’s a no-brainer for us, with “Plett’” as South Africans call it, just having been nominated for World’s Leading Beach Destination.
The shores of this wonderful seaside town can get quite busy during the Christmas period when a lot of SA residents move into their summer homes, but for 90% of the year it is a wonderfully quiet town, with so much to do within such a short distance.
Explore the Robberg Peninsula or go hiking in the Knysna Forest. Take a canoe up the Keurbooms River in search of Knysna Turacos (even leopards have been sighted here) or look for pansy shells on some of the more remote beaches in the area.

Plett has it all, and with a convenient airport nearby (a major one at George or a local one practically in town), access is very easy.

Vilanculos & Surrounds

A short flight from Johannesburg will have you on the beach in Mozambique’s Vilanculos sipping a strawberry daquiri before lunchtime.
Flying in over the extensive sandbars, gazing down through the azure waters, is a landing you won’t be forgetting in a hurry.

Vilanculos is essentially the gateway to a multitude of incredible lodges – some on the mainland and some out on the islands – like Sussurro, Azura and Kisawa. All will leave you speechless at their simple charm and opulence, and all will have you immediately wanting to extend your stay.

The lodges around Vilnaculos are as close to paradise as you can find…

Maputaland, South Africa

One of South Africa’s last great stretches of untouched coastline, made up almost entirely of pristine beaches, and home to a vast array of land based and marine wildlife, Maputaland is the far northern section of South Africa, just south of the Mozambican border.

With a wonderful array of destinations like Black Rock Bay, Tonga Beach Lodge and Mabibi to choose from, as well as being in close proximity to wonderful game viewing areas like Phinda and iSiMangaliso Wetland Reserve, Maputaland is a region packed full of exciting options

If you want to tag on a relaxing beach option to your safari, get hold of us through info@iconciafrica.com com, and let’s see what stretch of coastline tickles your fancy the most…

Azura Benguerra: White Sand Paradise

Posted on by James

The exceptional Azura resort rests on the idyllic shoreline of Benguerra Island. Built entirely by hand by the local community, Azura offers 18 splendid villas set amidst indigenous gardens only steps away from the beach. Each villa features a beautiful ensuite bathroom with an alfresco shower, a dressing area, a huge comfy bed, a private plunge pool, a beachside sala, a sundeck and day beds.

Guests are assigned a dedicated Mozambican host, who will attend to their every need for the duration of their stay. Dining is a delectable affair, with a superb seafood menu. Meals can be savoured in the restaurant, on the beach or at a picnic in a romantic and secluded spot. Azura houses a decadent and luxurious spa, as well as a water sports centre that offers adventures such as scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, big game fishing and kayaking. Island drives and cultural excursions can also be arranged.

Compact villas offer the perfect balance of stylish comfort and elegant simplicity. Comfortable indoor lounge and living spaces flow into an outdoor seating and dining area with secluded beachside frontage.

Submerge into your private plunge pool that mirrors the colours of the ocean, or enjoy some R&R on the large, undercover deck with a daybed. All beach villas have a separate sundeck, as well as a private beach sala for seaside relaxation.

Hop aboard a traditional dhow, a wooden vessel with a triangular sail, used for fishing by the island’s locals. A welcoming local skipper will collect you from your casita or cabana in the late afternoon, embarking on an unforgettable cruise around the azure bay. The sailing adventure presents the Island and its surrounding waters in a unique light and thus offers excellent photographic opportunities of the wide horizon, the calm waters and the glowing horizon.

Watch the sun set over the islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago as you drift along the calm water, guided by ocean breezes. Witness the cerulean sky rapidly change colour, embracing hues of rose and violet spread over an amber canvas. Marvel at the illuminated water, dancing with gold shimmers, as it welcomes the sun’s descent beneath the distant horizon. The scene plays out beautifully and the ocean swallows the golden orb into its infinite depths. Travel back to the shore, accompanied by the quiet swoosh of the dhow’s sail, lost in the kaleidoscope of an African sunset.

Feel as though you have the island all to yourself as you indulge in a decadent picnic set in one of the most secluded sites on the Bazaruto Archipelago. Revel in magnificent sea views from the sand spit that daringly juts out into the ocean and lounge on the peak of soaring sand dunes, romantically set up for an idyllic picnic. Delight in fare that is sure to tantalise your taste buds with a vast assortment of hors d’oeuvres, appetisers and local delicacies.

Choose from South Point Bazaruto or North Point Benguerra, gently evoking feelings of being a castaway on a dreamy deserted island. Kick up your heels and lounge on satiny sands with 360 degree views of the ocean vista and the frolicking dolphins below. Relish a languid afternoon picnic in exquisite natural surroundings. South Point Bazaruto is an ideal spot to relax after thrilling dives or on a meandering sunset cruise. The North Point Benguerra Castaway Picnic will have you reclining on a sandy spit with unparalleled views of a wild, frothing ocean with short waves on one side and a calm bay with mirror-like waters on the other. Explore the clean coastline over miles, treasure hunt for rippled seashells, encounter the almost translucent ghost crab and marvel at the ebony and candy floss coloured wings of the elegant flamingo. Soak in the temperate, aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean, brilliantly illuminated by the warmth of the African sun.

Snorkelling at Two-Mile Reef will suit every guest, regardless of age and expertise. The boat ride out to the reef can be bumpy as the outgoing and incoming tides converge in the channel between Bazaruto and Benguerra Island. Two-Mile Reef is a flat-topped barrier reef renowned for its brilliant snorkelling. Highlights include a variety of hard and soft corals and many schools of reef and pelagic fish passing through. On the boat trip you may be lucky enough to spot playful dolphins and the elusive, endangered dugong.  Under the water you may encounter harmless reef sharks and slumberous turtles that effortlessly glide past with their wise eyes. Embrace the unspoilt beauty of the reef and the kaleidoscopic colours of the tropical fish that move in droves along the exposed coral. Two-Mile Reef is faultless in its beauty, guaranteeing an unforgettable outing, and is ideal for those who want to confidently explore the Indian Ocean’s shallower coral reefs. Your snorkelling excursion goes out at low tide, so is determined by the timing of the sea.

Azura Benguerra is truly the perfect way to wind down at the end of your African sojourn.

Safaris are incredible, but a few days of the early wake-ups for morning drives and some late evenings around the fire sipping delicious red wine can leave one in need of some proper down time, and that’s where the tropical paradise of the Mozambican islands comes in…

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com to find out about rates and availability at Azura Benguerra or others like it…

Marataba Special Still Running

Posted on by James

Marakele means “place of sanctuary” in the local Setswana language, and that is exactly what you feel like you are entering when you arrive at Marataba Private Reserve, which forms part of the greater Marakele National Park.

Marataba itself is 21 000ha of mixed thornveld and open woodland, flanked to the east and south by the utterly spectacular Waterberg mountains, which gather every last drop of golden light as the sun starts to sink and reflect it back over an environment brimming with wildlife.

Lion roars reverberate up the valleys from the plains below, whilst from the rocky crags the guttural rasp of a leopard is regularly heard through the hours of darkness. It is in this magnificent setting that the stunning Marataba Mountain Lodge part of the NJ More collection.

Not only is Mountain Lodge one of our favourite South African safari destinations, but it is currently on special at the unbelievable rate of R4995 pppn sharing. This offer is open until the end of September 2024, so do NOT wait to enquire…

Mountain lodge, tucked away in a rocky valley close to the escarpment features only 5 eco-suites. Mountain Lodge is completely solar, so as well as feeling a wonderful sense of isolation in such an intimate setting, guests can be happy in the knowledge that their stay is having the least possible impact on the environment.

For honeymooners and those who want ultimate tranquility and time to themselves, wishing to feel a complete sense of isolation, Mountain lodge should be your pick.

At no time at either camp will you feel anything but fully immersed in the wilderness. The subtle colour tones and layout of every aspect of both lodges has been carefully thought out, designed to feel like a simple extension of the African bush whilst retaining every element of luxury.

Marataba is only a few hours drive from Johannesburg, or easily accessible via a 45 minute charter flight. The area is malaria-free, so if you are travelling with small kids or have even the slightest concerns about malaria (which is extremely rare in South Africa), look no further than Marataba as your destination of choice.

Enquire now if you want to be able to visit Mountain Lodge at an absolute steal. Be sure not to miss out…

Mail us at info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s get the safari ball rolling…

Daunara Safari Camp: Experiential Okavango

Posted on by James

Exclusive-use is becoming more and more the thing to do in bush circles. Your very own camp in which you determine the activities, the timetable, the meal times, and everything you would do if you owned a home in the bush.

Daunara Safari Camp, one of the newest lodges in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, epitomises everything that is good about the exclusive-use option, and so much more.

Conceptualised by legendary safari guide Matt Copham, and designed and built over a two-year period, Daunara has finally opened its doors, and is redefining what “experiential” means in the broader safari context.

Set on a palm-fringed island adjoining a hippo pool in the South-east of the Delta, Daunara enjoys easy helicopter access from Maun, which is the transfer method most guests opt for. FOr the more adventurous there is a two hour road transfer available as well.

The design of the camp is elegant, contemporary, and sophisticated – distinctly African in its roots. With hand-crafted finishes in timber and canvas, it’s a home, designed with care, boasting a team who deliver sincere and charming service, deeply proud of their Botswana heritage.

Five stand-alone classic, spacious and beautifully appointed tented suites all overlook the delta, two of which are interconnected with a shared sitting room. Elepphants are pretty much daily visitors to the pool in front of the camp, and lechwe, zebras, impalas and cavorting wildebeest abound in the floodplains.
The whole camp is connected via raised wooden walkways, allowing safe movement through the day. All the tented suites are fully air-conditioned in both the bedroom and the bathroom.

Food is clean and uncomplicated with distinct flavours that celebrate the fresh produce we can get from our community garden, itself an amazing initiative based at nearby Daunara Village (from which the camp gets its name). The days and menus are unscripted, for you to enjoy meals at your own pace. Meals are paired with the finest South African wines we have personally selected.

In between game drives and exciting adventure activities, you can find time for a quick workout at the gym or a relaxing massage in our dedicated massage pavilion.

The family suite features two luxury tented suites connected by shared sitting and dining areas. Ideal for parents with younger children or close family who need to be closer together. The second room converts easily into a twin or a king-size bed.

 

Envisioned by a man with over 30 years in the safari business, Daunara is truly one of the most flexible and innovative camps we’ve encountered. Visits to the local elephant orphanage, tracking lions, helicopter flights to go tiger fishing or to nip across to the San cultural heritage site of the Tsodilo hills… all this and more is possible out of Daunara; it simply goes way beyond your standard safari offering.

With all the buzz being generated around it, availability is being snapped up at a rapid rate, so if your own home-away-from-home in in the Okavango Delta appeals to you, get in touch, and let’s start planning your tailor-made safari…