Tag: safari moments

Little Kulala: Where Silence Learns to Shine

Posted on by James

There are landscapes that feel sculpted. And then there are landscapes like Namibia’s Sossusvlei, where the earth seems to have spent a few million years deciding on the perfect curve of a dune before finally signing its name in sand. It’s here, on a private reserve bordering the iconic Namib-Naukluft, that you’ll find Little Kulala — a lodge so seamlessly woven into its surroundings that it feels less built and more exhaled by the desert itself.

Little Kulala is a study in understatement. Its suites are soft, pale, and impossibly serene — all timber, linen, and clean geometry. They’re the kind of spaces where even time seems to walk more quietly, padding across the floor in bare feet. Private plunge pools shimmer in the heat, rooftop starbeds invite late-night sky worship, and every window frames a view that looks suspiciously like a carefully composed photograph.

But the real magic, as always in Namibia, happens outside the walls.

Mornings begin with air cool enough to make your coffee feel philosophical. The journey into the dunes is a slow unfurling: pastel light, long shadows, oryx silhouettes gliding across the horizon like punctuation marks in an unfinished poem. Climb Big Daddy or Dune 45 if you want a challenge; wander the fossilised trees of Dead Vlei if you want perspective. Either way, the desert has a knack for reminding you how vast the world is — and how refreshing it can be to feel wonderfully small.

Wildlife here is subtle by design. A brown hyena’s tracks etch the sand. A springbok drifts through a mirage haze. A lone ostrich appears exactly where you didn’t expect it, then pretends it meant to be there all along. It’s not a place of abundance; it’s a place of presence.

Back at Little Kulala, afternoons melt into golden silence. Perhaps you retreat to your deck with a book you barely open. Perhaps you sink into your pool while the desert rearranges its colours one degree at a time. Evenings bring lanternlight, deep tranquillity, and stars that seem to multiply just to show off.

Little Kulala is luxury distilled — minimalism with meaning, privacy without pretence, and landscapes so unfiltered they feel almost spiritual. It’s not a place you visit so much as a place that quietly rewrites the rhythm inside you.

Grootbos: Where the Secret Garden Goes Global

Posted on by James

Recognition tends to find those who aren’t chasing it. So it feels fitting that Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, a property defined by restraint and regeneration rather than self-promotion, has just been named 5th in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for South Africa’s Top 15 Resorts.

Tucked between mountain and sea near Gansbaai, Grootbos has always felt slightly out of category — too wild to be a vineyard retreat, too elegant to be called an eco-lodge. It’s its own species entirely: a place where the word luxury is defined less by opulence and more by intention.

The reserve protects over 2,500 hectares of fynbos, one of the world’s most biodiverse floral kingdoms, and its story has always been as much about what grows outside the rooms as what’s inside them. Suites open onto views where the ocean feels stitched to the sky; the air carries the faint honey scent of proteas; and the architecture — all glass, timber, and understatement — feels designed not to compete, but to frame.

Condé Nast readers have long rewarded beauty, but here they’ve also rewarded purpose. Grootbos runs on solar energy, champions community development through its foundation, and supports local conservation and research projects that ripple well beyond the reserve’s borders. Every stay helps sustain that mission — which might be the most modern definition of luxury we have.

At a time when the world’s finest lodges are being recognised by Michelin, by Condé Nast, by whoever next holds a clipboard of merit, Grootbos’s achievement feels especially resonant. Because what it really celebrates is balance: design and wildness, comfort and conscience, people and place.

To walk through a field of blooming fynbos at dawn, then return to a breakfast plated like fine art, is to understand exactly why Grootbos stands among the best. It’s not just about where you stay — it’s about what stays with you.

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.

Busanga Plains: Where Luxury Tiptoes Into the Wild

Posted on by James

If Singita Sabora feels like theatre, Busanga Plains is closer to unscripted documentary — no retakes, no stage lighting, just the raw pulse of the African wilderness.

Deep in Zambia’s Kafue National Park, the camp sits in the middle of a seasonally flooded grassland so vast it makes the horizon feel like a rumour. For much of the year, these plains are inaccessible. When the waters retreat, they reveal one of Africa’s most dramatic safari arenas: red lechwe bounding through the shallows, herds of puku grazing in golden light, and lions that have learned to hunt where most cats would hesitate to get their paws wet.

Busanga Plains Camp itself doesn’t try to outshine the setting. It couldn’t, and it doesn’t need to. The lodge is deliberately small, with just a handful of tented suites raised on wooden decks. You’ll find comfortable beds, hot showers, and lantern-lit dinners — but don’t expect chandeliers or wine cellars. Here, the luxury is space. Silence. The sense that you’ve stumbled into Africa before the world got crowded.

Game drives roll out across the plains like expeditions. Some mornings are about elephants and buffalo drifting through the mist. Others deliver the famous Busanga lion prides, often lounging on termite mounds like they own the place (which they do). If you’re lucky, you might spot a cheetah carving a line through the long grass, or watch crowned cranes rising in a flurry of wings as the sun sets.

Evenings back at camp are their own reward. Sitting by the fire, the vastness pressing in from all sides, you become acutely aware of just how remote you are. No highway hum, no faint glow of a distant town. Just stars — millions of them — and the steady chorus of the marsh.

Busanga isn’t safari with trimmings; it’s safari distilled. It’s for travellers who crave the edge of adventure but still appreciate a crisp linen sheet at the end of the day. The kind of place that makes you feel small, in the best possible way.

Mara Nyika: a Camp That Whispers Rather Than Shouts

Posted on by James

Some lodges announce themselves before you’ve even unzipped your bag. Brass fittings, oversized chandeliers, the kind of bath you could launch a canoe in. Mara Nyika is not one of those lodges.

Perched lightly among the flat-topped acacias of the Naboisho Conservancy, Nyika doesn’t so much dominate the landscape as blend into it, like a well-worn canvas jacket. You could walk past its guest tents without even realising you were skirting one of Kenya’s most refined safari outposts. And that’s very much the point.

Naboisho itself is part of the magic: a vast conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve, but with far fewer vehicles, more privacy, and a fierce dedication to conservation. Lions patrol the savanna here with the same swagger you’ll see inside the Reserve proper, while cheetahs, giraffes, and elephants all make daily cameos. The difference is that you’re unlikely to be sharing the sighting with a convoy of Land Cruisers.

Mara Nyika leans into this ethos of understatement. The camp’s design is all flowing canvas, polished wood, and gentle curves that feel more like an extension of the trees than an intrusion. Step inside your suite and you’ll find the kind of detail that makes luxury feel effortless: a desk positioned to catch the morning light, copper accents that glow at dusk, a bathtub with a view that doesn’t require explanation.

But perhaps the greatest luxury is what you don’t see. No rush, no crowds, no clutter. Just space — for animals to roam, and for you to think, breathe, and reset. Evenings here are less about theatrical fanfare and more about quiet conversations around the fire, punctuated by a distant hyena call or the shuffle of elephant feet through the grass.

For those who like their safaris with a little narrative arc, Nyika also serves as a gateway. It connects seamlessly with Great Plains’ other Mara properties, so you can trace your own journey across the ecosystem, following the migration if the timing’s right.

Still, you may find yourself reluctant to move on. Mara Nyika is one of those rare places where the definition of luxury isn’t excess, but restraint. Where the whisper carries further than the shout.

 

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.

Kruger Untamed: Private Walking Freedom

Posted on by James

To have the freedom to explore South Africa’s most iconic national park, outside of normal operating hours and on foot if walking safaris are your thing, is a luxury almost without price.
Kruger Untamed is about more than just a safari – it’s a profound reconnection with the wild. In their camps, nature is not curated or controlled but encountered on its own terms. They exist to preserve the art of true exploration, honour the wisdom of indigenous trackers, and offer an unfiltered experience that leaves no trace on the land but a lasting impact on those who walk it.

With just 15 comfortably appointed safari tents each, Satara Plains Camp and Tshokwane River Camp both hark back to the golden age of safari, with nods to the early bush camps of old, touching the earth lightly and leaving no trace behind when camps close at the end of the season. So well do Kruger Untamed manage their impact that they have received not one but seven 100% scores in their environmental impact audits, a first in the history of the Kruger National Park.
Perfect for those seeking authentic wilderness experiences, the camps can be expanded to 30 tents each to accommodate groups and special events on an exclusive use basis in the heart of one of the world’s most prolific wildlife destinations.

Kruger Untamed offers the chance to connect with the soul of Kruger, redefining the meaning of remote in secret sanctuaries where untouched landscapes beckon and wild Africa awaits, far from the madding crowds and bustle of life in the concrete jungles of our towns and cities. Through expertly guided game drives, walking safaris and wilderness experiences, and the magic of sleeping under canvas with the lions roar in the night a constant reminder of your setting in the wilds, their safaris will change the way you view the world and open your mind to the importance of protecting the last precious wilderness areas and the incredible wild fauna and flora that call them home.

In an enviable location near the iconic Tshokwane picnic spot in the heart of the Kruger National Park’s central region, easily accessible via Skukuza, Tshokwane River Camp is set on the seasonal Ripape River which is dry during the winter months. The game viewing in this area is outstanding all year round, with a wealth of antelope drawing in Kruger’s rapacious predators, including lion, cheetah, leopard, painted wolves (African wild dog) and spotted hyena.

Kruger Untamed has a rich legacy, founded in the traditions and culture of the Shangaan people who have a deep and intimate relationship with the wilderness that is the Kruger National Park and the surrounding private game reserves that together make up the Greater Kruger region.

Master trackers and incredible guides with a wealth of knowledge and generational wisdom handed down over the ages, the Shangaan are inspirational and at Kruger Untamed they honour the phenomenal impact they have had on the eco-tourism world, and the role they play as ambassadors for the Kruger wilderness.

The majority of the staff come from the local communities around the Kruger and are happy to share their culture and the stories of their past with our guests. Indeed, it’s the people who make Kruger Untamed what it is and who have brought their dream of offering unique, authentic safari experiences in one of the world’s most sought after wildlife destinations to life.

If unfettered access to one of the Kruger National Park’s most game rich areas is what you seek, get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start the conversation…

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.

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.

 

 

Angama Amboseli: Elephant Heaven

Posted on by James

With Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest peak – serving as its backdrop, Angama Amboseli creates an intimate and laid-back atmosphere in the heart of Kenya’s first community-owned conservancy; Kimana. Set within a forest of fever trees, Angama boasts some of the best guides in the region, as well as exclusive traversing rights on this private reserve – where some of Africa’s last super tuskers roam; elephants with tusks so large they drag along the ground as they walk.
This is truly Africa at its most quintessentially majestic.

With only ten Guest Suites in this private wildlife conservancy, Angama Amboseli is truly a respite from the world, and Amboseli National Park is only a 45-minute drive from the lodge to the gate, and is home to over 400 bird species and an array of wildlife.

Another contemporary take on African design with nods to the giants of this landscape — including concrete mixed with elephant dung for the unique exterior texture — each of the ten Suites is a mix of canvas, concrete and stone accented by woven rattan and grass, all in earthy, neutral colours. Each suite is orientated so that Kilimanjaro can be seen from nearly every corner — from the bed to the shower — while floor-to-ceiling screened doors are all that lies between you and the mountain.

The main Guest Area offers flexible indoor-outdoor dining with a baraza to wind down the days by the fire, telling stories with a drink in hand or marshmallows for roasting. The nearby Studios house a Safari Shop, Games Room, Art Gallery, Weaving Studio and a Photographic Studio, perfect for capturing Amboseli’s iconic scenes.

Kimana Sanctuary is the first community conservancy established in Kenya, and is owned by 844 Maasai family members. Thanks to its perennial water availability (fed by the snows of Kilimanjaro itself), the Sanctuary boasts the greatest habitat diversity and wildlife density in the area, with scores of eland, reedbuck, warthogs in their hundreds, as well with giraffe, zebra and wildebeest. Big cats are also regularly encountered.

Elephants are the real stars here as large breeding herds move in procession through the Sanctuary. There’s also a good chance you’ll see one of the famed Super Tuskers — elephants whose tusks weigh more than 100lbs each. Some of the last remaining Tuskers in Africa love to feed on the lush vegetation around the lodge.

Derived from the Maasai word for ‘salty dust’, Amboseli National Park is just a 45-minute drive from the lodge which guests can enjoy as a half- or full-day excursion with a picnic lunch at a private Angama spot. This is one of the best places in Africa to see huge herds of elephants marching single file across dusty pans or having a bath in the dry lake beds. In the savanna and woodlands, you may spot lion or cheetah, while in the wetlands, hippo, flamingo and an array of other local wildlife can be encountered.

Wake up to the sun illuminating Kili and after an early breakfast, depart for a full-day safari in Amboseli National Park. As you leave, visit the ‘pinch point’ — the smallest segment of a critical wildlife corridor.  Spend the day exploring the Park’s famous marshlands and dry lake bed looking for Super Tuskers. After a picnic lunch at a private Angama site, return to the lodge in time for a visit to the Studios. Dinner is served on the private patio of your Guest Suite as the moon rises slowly over Kili.

Your Butler gently wakes you with coffee before first light to catch your sunrise hot-air balloon flight. Float along with Kili, admiring the views below before touching down for a champagne breakfast. A much-needed siesta and lunch are followed by an afternoon with our conservation partner, Big Life Foundation — visit HQ for control room and camera-trap monitoring or go out with ranger patrols and canine tracking units. Enjoy your final evening sharing stories over a delicious dinner in the Guest Area.

Access to this magnificent lodge is very straightforward; there are daily scheduled flights with Safarilink landing at Kimana Airfield in the Sanctuary, as well as Amboseli National Park, about a 1h drive. Private charters are always welcome at the Sanctuary’s airfield, whether to or from the Mara or Nairobi.

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com to find out more about this unique safari which combines Africa’s giants; it’s highest mountain and its largest inhabitants, the elephants.

 

 

Chitabe Reimagined

Posted on by James

For almost thirty years, Wilderness Chitabe has earned a reputation as one of the Okavango Delta’s most incredible safari destinations. Set on a wildlife-rich peninsula in the eastern sector of this tranquil eden, its diverse landscapes and patchwork of habitats draw an unparalleled abundance of game year-round. But beyond the remarkable sightings, Chitabe is a place where guests feel at home – a camp shaped by a team whose deep-rooted connection creates a rare and timeless magic.
And now, with a fresh, sustainable design, rebuilt Chitabe remains true to its roots while embracing the future.

Chitabe’s impressive mix of micro-ecosystems makes it one of Botswana’s most rewarding wildlife destinations. The convergence of the Gomoti and Santantadibe channels create almost an island, which supports a rich, year-round game viewing paradise. Here, prides of lions, packs of wild dogs, and the Okavango’s most consistent and viewable cheetah population hunt the plains. There have also been no fewer than 50 leopards recorded at Chitabe.

The Chitabe guest suites offer a blend of comfort and design, perfectly suited to the temperature swings of the Delta (summer can get very hot, winter nights can see the temperature drop to sub-zero).
Crafted to enhance the experience, the suites feature insulated canvas walls and roofs, creating an environment that maintains a light, airy feel. Spacious high ceilings, large insect-proof mesh openings, and private shaded decks open to horizon-wide views of the Delta.

The eight spacious luxury safari-style tents at are built on elevated wooden decks amongst the stunning trees of the Okavango.
Each tent has en-suite facilities that include an indoor and outdoor shower, mosquito nets, standing fans and double sliding doors opening to the shady deck with comfortable seating – a perfect breakfast nook from which to soak up the bush.
Elevated walkways connect the tents to the central camp facilities made up of a thatched raised dining and lounge area leading onto open decking with views across the waterways and floodplains. There is an evening campfire, a small curio shop and a plunge pool providing a cool sanctuary for those warm hours. Or nestle yourself in the library with a view and read a little more about the wildlife and natural history of the area; although the staff, rangers and trackers of Chitabe Camp would be more than happy to tell you all about as well.

Supreme opulence and some of the most consistent wild dog viewing in the Okavango (the local pack dens on the concession almost every year) have ensured a high level of repeat business at Chitabe. Guests fall in love and don’t want to go anywhere else.

If this sounds like the place for you, get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your Okavango itinerary…

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…