Tag: wilderness

Iconic Africa’s Favourite Escapes #2

Posted on by James

As a continuation of the Bucket List series we began last month, Iconic Africa Sales Consultant Danni Mcfarlane gives us a list of some of her top destinations for a trip to Africa, as well as a few little extra gems that rank highly in her books…

La Petite Ferme

As someone who appreciates good wine and food, I can wholeheartedly say that La Petite Ferme holds a special place in my heart. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warm, smiling faces. The food overall was stunning, the cake of the day was to die for, and the wine was superb.

The estate is set on a vineyard with stunning views, offering an authentic experience of Franschhoek. They also harvest a variety of grapes, which produce a great selection of wines.

This is the perfect place to unwind after a long flight to South Africa snd before commencing your safari, or to finish up your trip after the early morning game drive wake-ups have you requiring some proper down-time…

Cape Grace

I believe that Cape Grace has one of the best locations in the Waterfront. It also offers a range of accommodation options to accommodate most budgets, and all their rooms are luxurious. The hotel also has a boutique feel which I love.

I wanted to include a Cape Town experience in my itinerary, and the Cape Grace was my top choice for the area. It is right in the beating heart of South Africa’s Mother City, and is the perfect place from which to launch adventures of the greater area…

Saseka Tented Camp

This is a camp I have visited on numerous occasions, and a place I will visit at the drop of a hat again.

Not only have I experienced some of my best sightings at Saseka, but the rooms are unique and absolutely stunning, and the cuisine is out of this world.

Without questions, this is my best property in the Greater Kruger…

Azura Benguerra Island

Last but not lease, Azura.

I have so many beautiful memories of Mozambique from my childhood. We spent most of our Christmas holidays in Mozambique, soaking up the sun and eating some of the best seafood I have ever tasted.

A holiday to Southern Africa is not complete without a few days of relaxation on the beaches of Mozambique. Warm water, white sand and sea life everywhere… this is true tropical island paradise…

To add, the three additional properties that I would like to include are available below:

Lion Sands Tinga Lodge

I chose this lodge for one of the most epic sightings I have ever experienced in the Kruger. This is where I witnessed one massive crocodile take down a ‘dagga boy’ (an old buffalo bull). This memory will stay with me for a long time to come, and the deciding factor for adding this to my top three destinations…

Wilderness Jao

I have included Wilderness Jao as this camp is on my bucket list for Botswana! Stunning lodge design meets superb game viewing in the heart of the Okavango Delta…

Dulini Leadwood

I love the boutique feel of Dulini, especially Leadwood. I have chosen this camp for its beautiful and intimate setting, the design of the camp, and attention to detail in every aspect of what they do. Plus it sits in leopard heaven…!

Linkwasha: Place of Elephants (and More!)

Posted on by James

If you want to be simply blown away by a seemingly endless procession of elephants, Linkwasha in the dry season is for you.

Literally thousands of the world’s largest land mammal are in constant movement to and from the waterholes of Zimbabwe’s Hwange national park as the last rains become a distant memory and water resources become limited. Evenings see them move into the real forests to feed in comfort, but as the sun rises and temperatures rise, it’s back to the water they go

Drinking, wallowing, mud-bathing… you name it; it’s all on display here. And just when you think there couldn’t possible be more elephants around, yet more herds emerge from the bush to join their counterparts.

Hwange is a land of waterholes. With no permanent water sources available apart from the odd natural spring (although these one or two are widely separated), something had to be done to keep animals in the National Park, so a system of pumped waterholes was established by the national parks authority, which are maintained to this day.

The permanent water that they provide help anchor the large herds within the park’s boundaries and help mitigate against the inevitable human-wildlife conflict that would occur should elephants in particular start moving further afield to find a drink. 

This interconnected system of waterholes ensures that the game-viewing in Hwange National Park is exceptional, particularly in the dry season.

In the park’s south east is the exclusive Wilderness Concession, upon which four camps sit; Linkwasha, Davison’s Makololo Plains and Little Makololo.

All are amazing, all come with an attending waterhole out front and all are almost certain to provide an incredible experience.

    

Linkwasha, the most south-eastern of the camps, is the high-end offering. Offering slightly larger rooms and some amenities that aren’t found elsewhere, Linkwasha also lies closer to Ngamo Plains, the easternmost section of the park that offers unbeatable photographic opportunities, particularly for the big cats. The resident Ngamo pride is a mainstay of predator viewing down here, and cheetahs put in a regular appearance. And of course the waterholes attract the elephants!

The camp itself features nine deluxe tents, all widely spaced and facing outwards onto an open plain to maximise the wildlife viewing. Aiconditioning units keep the interiors nice and cool during the heat of the day, but during cooler times of the year one can lounge on your couch or deck with the screen doors open, enjoying the traipsing of the local fauna to and from the camp’s waterhole.

Just as one returns from morning game drive is when the first elephants are starting to move towards the water. The underground viewing hide at the water’s edge provides an amazing spot for close-up, low-angle photographs of everything from elephants to baboons to martial eagles that come to quench their thirst. Equipped with beanbags, comfy stools and it’s own refrigerator, it’s a wonderful option to consider instead of a game drive for an afternoon – you are almost sure to get visitors, and unique shots you wouldn’t have been able to get otherwise.

Hwange is not just about the dry season however. Well-drained Kalahari sands mean the area is navigable during the wetter summer. Migrant birds are everywhere, the bush is teeming with new life, and the verdant greens brought on by the rains indicate a world in full bloom!

All areas of the exclusive Wilderness concession are accessible from all the Wilderness camps, as well as parts of the park beyond the concession itself, so you won’t lack for options of places to explore.

Hwange is one of Zimbabwe’s flagship national parks, and it is a reputation richly deserved. 

Be sure to get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com to find out more about the camp options in this unique and flourishing ecosystem…

Iconic Africa’ Team Bucket Lists: Jess Craig

Posted on by James

Jess Craig recently joined the Iconic Africa sales team. Her love of the bush started when she was tiny, and she has been visiting the South African Lowveld since before she could walk. A career in hospitality in some of the finest lodges in Southern Africa have made her a true connoisseur of the guest experience, so when she handpicks a lodge for our clients, they can be sure it’s something pretty special.

Here are a few of her favourites…

Each of these 3 properties has a piece of my heart.  Apart from being incredible in terms of the experiences they offer and their magnificent locations, they have all played a significant role in the journey and direction of my life.

Phinda Forest Lodge

It is here that I met the love of my life. While working as the Hospitality Manager at Phinda Forest Lodge, my husband walked into my life and it has been one of my greatest gifts. The Sand Forest will forever be the guardian of my greatest love story.

Dulini Moya

Dulini was the catalyst that sparked my career in hospitality.  It was the first safari lodge I ever worked at, and it was certainly not the last.  It led to 12 years of managing some of the most beautiful and unique camps throughout South Africa. I will be eternally grateful to Dulini Moya for igniting this passion in me.

Londolozi Founders Camp

On the afternoon of my 27th birthday, while working at Founders Camp, I was mistakenly left out in the wild. It was this extraordinary experience that enticed me to become a safari guide: one of the most rewarding decisions of my career.

My 3 bucket-list properties that I hope to visit some day:

Pel’s Post

For my unwavering love of elephants and Baobab Trees.

Tswalu Tarkuni

With my family – for endless horizons, aardvarks, ochre sand, star-studded skies and family togetherness

Wilderness Damaraland

For untamed wilderness, desert elephants by moonlight and ancient geology…

Monwana Game Lodge: Experience Exceptional

Posted on by James

The More Family Collection has long been associated with outstanding safari experiences.

Their lodges, boutique hotels and private residences are found in Southern Africa’s best leisure destinations, and combine to offer you the classic Southern African experience, with the More Family Collection’s signature ‘golden thread’ running through them.

Monwana Game Lodge in Thornybush Nature Reserve embodies the spirit of homecoming, and encourages a deep connection to nature.

Thornybush is part of the Greater Kruger National Park, and is unfenced from the 20 000 square kilometre wilderness.

The 14 000ha although concession upon which the lodge is found is literally teeming with wildlife. Elephants parade past the lodge’s waterhole, leopards rasp from the riverbed at night, and from the deck of your suite or the comfort of the main lodge area, you can watch the best of Africa passing by throughout the day.

Four spacious suites accommodate two guests each, and all offer beautiful views from their private shaded decks. Birdwatch from the comfort of a lounger whilst the sun is high, or cool off in your plunge pool (which is heated to beat the coldest months of winter).
Underfloor heating within the rooms themselves and heated towel rails take the edge of the crispness of winter, and the high quality of linen, dressing gowns and towels will leave you feeling exquisitely pampered.

In addition to the four suites, two family suites which can accommodate up to five guests are available. These are ideal for families with older children (reserve policy stipulates a minimum age of ten), as the secondary bedroom features twin beds, and an extra one can easily be added.

The Private safari vehicle that comes with each family suite ensures that your bush adventures flow with your own rhythm. Come back later if needs be or head out earlier in the afternoon to maximise your bush time…
It’ll just be you on board, so spend as long as you want admiring all of nature’s aspects, without the pressure of fitting in with the needs of others.

In an industry already flush with exceptional safari experiences, Monwana is truly special. You will instantly feel at home there, and there are few places that will have you getting that in touch with nature that quickly.

Email us on info@iconicafrica.com to find out more about this wonderful destination, and let’s start planning YOUR safari…

4 Reasons to Get Off the Beaten Track

Posted on by James

Africa’s photographic safari scene is by now well-established.

Areas like Kenya’s Maasai Mara or South Africa’s Sabi Sands have over 60 years of experience in crafting the ideal safari for their guests, making subtle tweaks depending on their visitors’ nationality, ages, preferences, safari history etc., and you are bound to get an absolutely mind-blowing, world-class nature immersion as a result. 

Yet over the last decade or so, a few off-the-beaten track gems have started popping up on our radar (read about a few of them here), and knowing what we do about how much incredibly positive feedback some of our travellers have sent us about their stays in such lodges, we thought we’d fill you in on a few reasons why it’s sometimes the smaller, hidden-away places that really set your soul on fire.

Here then, are four very good reasons why the lesser known spots should sit high on your next-want-to-visit lists:

  1. Lower Vehicle Density

The established places are where everyone wants to go. Sure, there’s a reason – usually that the game viewing is exceptional – but hand in hand with that you will sometimes find things like vehicle pressure, blaring radios and evidence of man starting to intrude into what should essentially be a wilderness experience. 

By looking slightly further afield to the lesser well known areas, you stand a much greater chance of enjoying sightings to yourself, enjoying them for far longer, and getting a sense of exclusivity that you didn’t pay a premium for.

Which brings us to Point #2:

 2. Lower Costs

Safari can be expensive, there’s no denying it, particularly in the luxury lodges in the high-impact game-viewing areas. 

Yet if one chooses carefully, you can often see just as much without breaking the bank to have to do so.
There are plenty of game reserves in Africa – like Ruaha National Park in Tanzania or Nxai Pan in Botswana – that can provide world-class wildlife sightings, yet because they have tended to fly under the radar, don’t charge as much as their better known cousins nearby.

 3. Variety

One will often find that the more established wildlife destinations have a formula that works. And this is all to the well and good. However, by going further afield, you are likely to encounter experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. The truly nuanced safari and adventure destinations differentiate themselves in a myriad of ways; by involving you in the uniqueness of the local culture; by giving a completely different take on what sundowner drinks should involve; boat cruises on a lake where you can cast a line to try out tiger fishing… anything is possible when you try somewhere unique…

4. Thrill of Discovery

You will likely have a fair idea of what to expect in the more documented wildlife areas of Africa. You will likely have seen pictures or seen a documentary feature or two.

Yet the secret parks feel like just that a lot of the time; well-kept secrets. Dry river beds fringed with palm trees and endless baobab forests covering rolling hills as far as the eye can see… you can find these and so much more just when you least expect them, by venturing a bit more into the unknown… You won’t have friends or family telling you exactly what it will be like based on their own experiences, instead you get to be the explorer, to break the new ground of all your contemporaries.

Don’t just book somewhere random, that’s definitely not what we’re saying.

But if you do want to truly feel that adventurous spirit, almost as if you are the first person to venture into a place, then do a bit of research (or ask us), see where the reviews say is brilliant but not a lot of people know about, and go…

Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com to start planning YOUR adventurous safari…

Glorious Wallowing in Victoria Falls

Posted on by James

The Wallow Lodge is found in a private game reserve, peacefully nestled in the heart of the Victoria Falls National Park.

The tented camp is set along the banks of the Masuwe River, surrounded by 4,500 acres of wilderness that stretch into the horizon, where a cloud of mist from Mosi-oa-Tunya (the local name for the Victoria Falls, meaning The Smoke That Thunders) commands the skyline.

The falls themselves are a short twenty-minute transfer from the lodge, giving guests the freedom to tailor-make their experience and find a balance between the exclusivity of the bush and the excitement of Africa’s Adventure Capital.

The Wallow Lodge embodies the authentic essence of tented accommodation, reimagined from a luxury safari perspective. Panoramic views of the Masuwe River form the backdrop of the main area, seamlessly incorporating the gentle rhythm of nature into large, open-space interiors. The furniture is earthy and sophisticated, brought to life with splashes of colour. The effect is captivating yet calming and epitomises the inherent unpredictability of Africa.

Sixteen suites are thoughtfully placed to capture the best views of the riverbed below and its surrounding wilderness. The imaginative use of canvas evokes a classic safari atmosphere, accentuated by all the modern creature comforts. Each room is raised beneath the shade of ancient riverine trees, and from this elevated vantage point, guests can enjoy uninterrupted views of the river from their private balcony. The décor and attention to detail strike a perfect balance between contemporary, homely touches without detracting from the surrounding bush.

The imaginative use of canvas preserves the romance of yesteryear with a classic safari atmosphere, accentuated luxurious finishing touches. Each room has an ensuite bedroom, private sitting room and viewing deck with an outdoor shower overlooking the untouched woodland savannah, creating the perfect sanctuary for guests during their stay.

There is a touch of ‘bush bohemia’ in the vibrant chitenge cushion covers, ensuring an authentic translation of local culture in the decorative theme. The attention to detail strikes a perfect balance between contemporary, homely touches without detracting from the surrounding wilderness.

The Wallow Lodge is a retreat to the simplicity and authenticity of safari life with a modern freshness about it. The beautiful open space and wild surroundings will capture a piece of you and never let go.

The Victoria Falls themselves are one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

On your guided walking tour of the falls, you will have the opportunity to discover the many facets of the magnificent Victoria Falls. Explore the rainforest while learning about the history of the Falls, its geological significance and its flora and fauna.

You’ll have the opportunity to soak up the beautiful vistas, lush surroundings, impressive gorge, and the spray of the Falls.

The Wallow Lodge is owned and operated by Wild Horizons, the largest eco-tourism operator in Victoria Falls. Behind every Wild Horizons venture is a purpose aimed at creating an enriching travel experience for their guests while conserving Africa’s wildernesses and wildlife for the local communities and future generations. Their team works tirelessly to preserve and protect the environment in every dimension of their business, sharing ecotourism’s benefits with the communities that they work alongside.

All Wild Horizons lodges are uniquely and thoughtfully designed to have their own character, but the golden thread tying them together can be seen in the signature style that emphasizes sustainability and space.

The Wild Horizons Environmental Officer monitors soil erosion and vegetation at all our properties, rehabilitating areas with indigenous trees from our nursery and eradicating harmful alien plant species. Annually, the company bring over 1000 children to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust where the kids learn about conservation, wildlife and sustainability. With the revenue generated from tourism, Wild Horizons invests in conservation and provide support for organisations like Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit and the Wildlife Trust.

When you travel with Wild Horizons, know that a portion of the profits pays the school fees for local children, support Old Age homes, clinics and initiatives that empower the local people.

For more information about The Wallow, Victoria Falls or Zimbabwe in general, get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning YOUR Africa trip…

Cheetah Plains: Eco-Excellence

Posted on by James

Home of the exclusive-use luxury safari experience in South Africa’s most celebrated wildlife area, the Sabi Sand Reserve, Cheetah Plains is the epitome of a sophisticated, innovative eco-luxury safari experience for the modern age, indulging you in a refined, personalised and private sustainable safari experience of a lifetime.

Set in the north-east corner of the reserve, close to the border of the enormous Kruger National Park (there are no fences to restrict the free flow of wildlife), Cheetah plains enjoys access to the densest leopard population yet recorded in Africa. Numbering up to 12 animals per 100 square kilometres, this is literally the best place on earth to view these magnificent cats.

Each exquisitely appointed Cheetah Plains villa accommodates up to eight guests and boasts a formal lounge, living and dining room areas, expansive swimming pool deck, entertainment lounge, wine gallery, curated art collection, chef’s kitchen and four sumptuous private guest bush suites.

A complete hospitality team consisting of an accomplished host, culinary team, spa therapist as well as expert field guide and tracker team are dedicated to your villa for the duration of your stay. Together, this talented group of professionals deliver a luxury safari experience of the highest standard, tailored to your individual preferences.

 

For the most immersive safari experience, guests are invited to embark on guided, interpretive bush walks. Accompanied by certified and experienced walking-trails field guide, the opportunity to explore certain parts of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve on foot is one not to be missed.

The duration of walks are easily customised to your requirements, taking number of guests, fitness levels, ages, weather conditions and your preferred game drive schedules into account. There is no more tangible way than this to surround yourself with nature.

Cheetah Plains welcomes families and children of all ages. Their highly qualified field guides and trackers are eager to share their bush lore with young, inquisitive minds. Bush bumbles (game drives of age-appropriate duration) and interpretive walks in their indigenous gardens facilitate a child’s connection with Africa’s wilderness and love of nature.

Cheetah Plains are one of the front runners in an industry that is constantly refining the most eco-friendly practices possible. With their increasing use of electric vehicles to conduct game drives, a shift to solar and a focus on reducing their footprint across all lodge operations, Cheetah Plains are set to remain on the cutting edge of what it means to be a world-class, non-impactful lodge…

Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com to find out more and to start planning your safari…

 

Jao: Awestruck in the Okavango

Posted on by James

In the heart of the Okavango, on a remote island, Jao invites you to discover one of the richest experiences Botswana has to offer.

Where Earth meets river meets wetland, lies Jao. Surrounded by riverine forests and open floodplains teeming with game, Jao is the archetypal Okavango Delta camp, and a lush haven for wildlife. Boat in when the waters rise or travel by game drive vehicle when summer warms the land. At Jao, the endlessly dynamic waters provide a continuous element of surprise and all manner of experiences to explore this Botswana paradise.

Jao is a sculptural marvel of natural and recycled materials, of steel, wood, and glass, of towering, spacious interiors that embrace the light, the bush. Feel your senses come alive at this quintessentially Delta safari camp.

Striking design elements impress at every turn. Marvel at the gallery and museum, relax in the library, or simply just be in Jao’s elaborate main area, surrounded by the trees and bird song of the Delta. Choose between five expansive safari suites or two sublime villas with private plunge pools and their own private butlers, chefs, guides, and vehicles. The perfect Okavango hideaway.

The food experience at Jao is a journey in itself. To reduce their foodprint, strengthen their ties with the community, and create a healthier, more harmonious environment for all of us, the camp uses locally grown ingredients in traditional recipes. Feel indulged as you discover Botswana at its best through touch, smell, and taste.

At Jao you are invited into a world where nature and architecture merge seamlessly. Built into the tall trees, the unique bird’s nest-styled pool gazebo on the edge of the water provides the perfect place to rest. The extravagant wine cellar calls for a pre-dinner drink, while the award-winning spa with gym alongside, beckons you to experience the highest standards of safari luxury.

Keep your ears open for a hundred different bird calls. Spy a tiny painted reed frog, or elephants padding silently past camp. Follow lions across the floodplains. You’ll soon discover why the staff work tirelessly to protect the unique ecosystem of the Okavango Delta. Jao is a place dedicated to the conservation of the waters and the dry land, and the plants, birds, and wildlife that call Botswana home.

If this sounds like paradise to you, or you would like to know about more options within the amazing Okavango ecosystem, mail us on info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your safari…

Hoanib Skeleton Coast: the Desert Elephants

Posted on by James

It is truly astounding to see the world’s biggest land animal trundling its sedate way across a seemingly endless gravel plain, not a drop of water in sight, and with only the haze of rocky mountains rising up in the distance.
There is almost nowhere in the world where you can witness such a seemingly incongruous presence of wildlife.

Yet the desert elephants of north Namibia have become specialised denizens of this harsh yet spectacular environment. They know where the hidden springs in the mountains are. They eat only sparingly from the big trees that occur in the ephemeral riverbeds, never pushing one over (they know that should they do, that tree will not be able tor provide food next year), and this wisdom is passed down from generation to generation.

The Kaokaveld – the name given to this north-west corner of one of earth’s most sparsely inhabited countries – is at first glance barren and lifeless, but look a little closer and you will discover a myriad of inhabitants, all of which have evolved over millenia to make this rocky desert their home.
It is truly one of the most fascinating ecosystems in the world, and the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is one of the best places from which to experience it.

Set alongside the Hoanib river, which forms the boundary of the Kaokaveld to the north and Damaraland to the south, the lodge is perfectly positioned to enjoy the best of both ecosystems.

Eight pale olive, generously appointed, tented suites peak like whitecaps on an ocean of sand. Totally solar-powered, their open design and colour palette reflect the surrounding desert, keeping the interiors startlingly cool. A unique experience beckons for the intrepid traveller seeking chic luxury in a startlingly rugged and isolated, ancient landscape.

Yet this remote part of the world is by no means just about the desert elephants, even though they are the star attraction.

Giraffes wander between the hills, obtaining moisture from the few leaves they eat off the scrubby vegetation. Brown Hyenas – cousins of the more well-known spotted variety – scavenge for delicacies like ostrich eggs, or prey on seals down on the skeleton coast, and even lions are seen, walking many many miles each day in search of prey like the stately oryx or the springboks which come and go, following the sparse grazing.

This a place where space and isolation are the true magic ingredients. Seldom will you have ever felt a silence more profound, or felt as awed by a landscape so vast and ancient. It seems paradoxical yet there is a friendliness to the desert here that makes you feel at home in the harshest of environments.

The Kaokaveld is not about the volume of wildlife you will see; that is for elsewhere. Instead it is about a deep dive into a fascinating ecosystem, to which some of Africa’s most iconic fauna have managed to adapt despite the odds.

It is about space, and time, and stillness. It’s about starlight.
And of course it’s about the elephants.

Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com to find out more about this remarkable corner of our planet, and let’s start planning your safari…

The Best Places to View Elephants in Africa

Posted on by James

Although Elephants are prevalent in many of the more famous game reserves across Africa, they are seldom the reason to visit a specific park or area. The spotlight is generally reserved for the big cats or some other nuanced factor like a rare species or specific behaviour that occurs there.
A lot of the time, as spectacular as they are, the presence of elephants can almost get taken for granted by visitors to Africa, and the viewing of them seen as a guaranteed byproduct of a safari.
Yet there is a tremendous amount of variability in elephant populations across the continent. In some areas they are scarce and nervous of vehicles, in others they are massively overpopulated, sometimes their presence is seasonal, and they are hardly to be found during certain months of the year…

If it is elephants that you want to see, it is imperative that you know where the best places are, and what to expect once you are there.

Here a few of our favourite places to view elephants in Africa…

MANA POOLS

As unique an elephant experience as you’ll get, if you visit between June and October. The local elephant population congregates along the Zambezi River to take advantage of the availability of water at the height of the dry season, and to feed on the pods of the Ana Trees that fall to the ground during this time of year.

The true magic of Mana Pools lies in the freedom guests have to go on foot whenever they wish (although the uninitiated should only do so when accompanied by a professional guide). Mana Pools is the only National Park that allows its visitors to alight from their vehicles and approach wildlife whilst walking.

As a result, the local animals have grown used to seeing humans on foot, and as long as respectful distances are maintained, accept people’s presence. 

Being 40 metres from a large African Elephant bull when on foot is just as if not more exciting than having one brush right past your safari vehicle.

With amazing accommodation options on some of the more exclusive concessions on the east and west sides of the park, as well as a couple right in the heart of it, Mana Pools is there to explore…

AMBOSELI, KENYA

The true Giants of Africa live here. Famous super tuskers like Craig and Tim – old bulls carrying some of the biggest ivory in Africa – call this ecosystem their home, and what could be more iconic than an enormous elephant bull with a backdrop of Africa’s tallest mountain, Kilimanjaro?

There are few images that are as quintessentially Africa as this.

Photo Credit: Jeff Wendorff

Between the Amboseli and neighbouring Tsavo ecosystems there are a number of super tuskers (elephants classified as carrying tusks of over 100 pounds) with even more so-called emerging tuskers – younger individuals who are on track to carry enormous ivory – so one’s chances of seeing a truly spectacular elephant are high.

Alongside the rest of the resident wildlife like lions, cheetahs and a whole assortment of the weird and wonderful, the Amboseli and Tsavo regions provide some of the best elephant viewing on the continent.

SABI SAND, SOUTH AFRICA

Plenty of relaxed elephants, plenty of lodge options.. The Sabi Sands is one of Africa’s best places to view wildlife. Known particularly for its leopards – the reserve boasts the densest population yet recorded in Africa – this is one place where elephants almost are a by-product of looking for big cats.
Non-impactful viewing practices over the last fifty years have resulted in local wildlife populations that are completely relaxed in the presence of a vehicle, and close-up sightings of elephants are commonplace. Being completely surrounded by a herd is not at all unlikely, and an experience like this will quite simply take your breath away.

With a wide variety of accommodation options catering for a range of budgets and needs, the Sabi Sands is an excellent place in which to get cloe to elephants, and at the same time enjoy some of the most spectacular wildlife viewing on the planet…

NAMIBIA

Namibia is one of the most unique places you can see elephants, and one small population in particular.

In the far north-western corner of Namibia lie the Kaokaveld and Damaraland regions, which are home to the fabled desert elephants. These animals have adapted to survive in the harshest environment, sometimes walking round trips of 70km in their search for water.

The lunar landscape is the last place one would normally expect to view elephants, and it is the setting itself that makes sightings that much more spectacular.
There are a few isolated yet luxurious camps tucked discreetly away in this desert wilderness, the guides of which know exactly where to find the herds at different times of year, so despite the elephants being few in number and the wilderness so vast, encountering them is still a likelihood.

Ultimately, elephant viewing in Africa is as diverse as the continent itself, and our feeling is that it almost doesn’t count as a safari unless elephants are part of it. Almost…

Get hold of our safari consultants through info@iconicafrica.com to start planning your elephant safari…

Tuludi Camp: the Luxury of Space

Posted on by James

Tuludi Camp is the perfect base from which to explore one of the most productive areas of the eastern Okavango Delta. Set in the renowned Khwai Private Concession, and overlooking a stunning Delta landscape – rippling floodplains fringed by ancient riparian forest – the camp sits next to a permanent waterhole that is frequented by elephants in particular, and the local big cat population are regular visitors.

Tuludi is one of the newest luxury camps in the World Heritage Site that is the Okavango Delta, with tree-house style rooms – each with its own private plunge pool – shaded by magnificent leadwood trees. Those who like to wile away the warm afternoons with a book will love the treehouse library.
The seasonal changes to the area result in either floodplains, lily-covered lagoons and the spectacular Khwai river, depending on what time of the year you visit, and what type of safari you would like to experience.

Twice-daily 4×4 game drives take you on excursions into the wilderness, expertly choreographed by local Setswana guides. You also have the chance to take to the water by motorboat or mokoro and gain a different insight into the Okavango’s ecology, although these activities are dependent on the Delta’s water levels.
And since the camp lies in a privately-run reserve, you can also choose to go on guided bush walks – a must for keen birders and photographers, and those who want to discover the minutiae of the environment.

Built in partnership with the local community and contributing to the social upliftment of the surrounding areas, Tuludi is a small camp comprised of only seven luxurious suites.
Each is extremely spacious and elevated for stunning views; you will not just have an indoor and outdoor bathroom but a private plunge pool and a station at which you can charge phones and batteries.
The intimate feel of the camp lends itself perfectly to  couples and honeymooners, but Tuludi also welcomes families with children aged six and over. Privately guided vehicles are available and one of the suites is slightly larger, sleeping a family of four more than comfortably.

Enjoying the advantage of both water and land habitats, Tuludi Camp is open all year round. Water levels are highest during the dry winter period – May to September – when the annual inundation of the Okavango is in full spate, and so offers the best time to explore by boat as well to see impressive concentrations of wildlife. The summer rains trigger an explosion of greenery and many animals such as impala and warthog give birth – good for predator activity – and the birding is at its peak with the migrant visitors all down to take advantage of an abundance of food.

With over 200 000 hectares of pristine wilderness to explore, at Tuludi you will find an exclusive oasis that you’ll be delighted to return to after a day soaking in all the extraordinary ecosystem has to offer…

Where to View Leopards in 2023

Posted on by James

In many ways, the leopard represents the African continent best.

Whilst the regal lion may hold the title of King of the Beasts, and the elephant’s great size render it the most impressive African mammal, it is the enigmatic nature of the leopard, and the mystery that surrounds it, that most adds to its allure as an animal to see on safari, and captures the essence of the African continent most effectively.

In large portions of Africa – and particularly in areas where human wildlife conflict has been a factor over the years – leopards can be hard to find. They are there, but remain invisible. Although they occupy almost every habitat from the mountains just outside Cape Town to the open deserts of the Sahara way to the north, for the most part they are unobserved creatures of the night.

Yet in a few wildlife reserves, leopards are eminently viewable. The big cats there have long realised that the game viewing vehicles do not represent a threat to them, and so allow them and the guests they contain into their daily lives.
Although there is no such thing as a guaranteed sighting, these are a few places that will give you your best chance of viewing leopards in the wild:

Sabi Sand Reserve, South Africa

Long-viewed as the epicentre of wildlife viewing in Southern Africa, a recent camera-trap survey by the Panthera Organisation firmly established this iconic reserve as containing the densest leopard population yet recorded on the African continent.
With a high availability of natural prey species and perfect habitat in which to hunt and raise cubs, the area boasts leopard numbers that around 12 per hundred square kilometres in the centre of the park.


A number of world-class lodges like Londolozi, Singita and Mala Mala have decades of experience showing guests the wonders of the area, and in particular the leopards. Experienced rangers are well versed in the habits and territorial movements of the resident individuals, and so it is in the Sabi Sands that we feel you have THE best chance of viewing leopards in the wild.

South Luangwa, Zambia

Although not as lauded as other contemporary reserves, the South Luangwa National Park has in fact been providing phenomenal game viewing for years. With the Luangwa River delivering a much-needed source of water during the dry season, the area is able to sustain healthy general game populations, and it is these antelope species  – particularly puku and impala – that the local leopard population favours.

Riparian vegetation along the river and its many tributaries provides the perfect habitat for the leopards to slink through, and large evergreen trees provide safe refuges in which to hoist kills to keep them out of reach of hyenas.

Serengeti, Tanzania

Whilst better known for boasting the largest populations of lions and cheetahs in Africa, the Serengeti/Masai Mara ecosystem in East Africa has no shortage of leopards. Although sightings won’t be quite as regular as in other reserves, it is the setting here that creates the appeal around leopard viewing.


Wide open spaces, unimpeded Acacia woodland; wherever you see a leopard – and in particular photograph it – you are likely to get the sense of space that the greater habitat brings. Vistas like you can’t believe, with the seemingly endless plains of Africa stretched out around you. If you happen to be there during the migration, you will also have the background accompaniment of a million snorting wildebeest throughout the day.
Leopard or no leopard though, the East African grasslands are a wildlife experience like no other.

Laikipia, Kenya

Our final recommended leopard-viewing destination is not what one would normally expect to be included in a list like this.
In fact until recently, it wasn’t really on the international radar as a place to see these beautiful cats.
But over the last couple of years, one or two leopards in particular in a small area called Laikipia in central Kenya, have captured the broader imagination of the safari community.
These are the mythical black leopards.

Photographer: Will Burard-Lucas

A rare recessive gene that codes for an excess of melanin – a dark pigment – results in an animal that is much darker than a normal individual. This is the black panther of legend. Black panthers can be any big cat from the Panthera genus – although they are essentially either leopards or jaguars – and contrary to popular belief they are not all black. One can still see the rosettes in their coats if you look closely.
A few individuals have been born recently in the Laikipia district, and although most of them are skittish and very hard to find, one or two individuals that inhabit the area near Laikipia Wilderness Camp have become accustomed to the presence of game drive vehicles, and spectacular photos like the above one by Will Burrard-Lucas are now possible.

Even without the viewing of this most special of leopards, Laikipia is a spectacular area to safari with its high number of unique species.

Leopards capture the idea of safari beautifully. They are on many safari-goers’ bucket lists, but many visitors to Africa entertain little hope of actually seeing them.

If they are an animal which you really to want to see though, we have a number of lodges we recommend highly to give you your best chance.

Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your safari…

 

Saseka: Jewel in the Thornybush Crown

Posted on by James

Saseka Tented Camp is currently running a flash SADC sale not to be missed! 

Location, location, location!

The go-to phrase of any knowledgable real-estate developer. Where something is built is just as important as the building itself.
Fortunately, in the case of the Thornybush collection of lodges, they have Location taken care of!

The Thornybush Private Game Reserve is set in Big 5 Heaven in South Africa’s Lowveld, adjacent to the Kruger National Park. The northern reaches of the Drakensberg mountains lie to the west and are silhouetted at sunset each evening, and all around you the bush is teeming with wildlife.
Saseka Tented Camp – which the Thornybush Collection themselves feel is like the jewel in their crown – is perched overlooking a picturesque riverbed, underneath the shade of ancient riparian trees that for decades have provided refuge for an untold number of animals from the hot African sun for decades.

Saseka is the local word for “beautiful”, and a more appropriate name could not have been chose for this elegantly laid out camp that merges perfectly with the contours of the surrounding bush and the dappled light cast upon it.
Nine luxurious tented suites with stylish interiors, sweeping decks, private pools and uninterrupted views of the seasonal Monwana riverbed provide luxurious oases where guests can savour the joys of the wilderness in comfort.

The wildlife experience of the Thornybush Reserve is one of the best in Africa. Multiple lion prides call this part of the world their home, the resident leopards slink through the undergrowth and are encountered regularly. Elephants march sedately along the riverbed below the camp and birdsong is a constant ambience during the day, whether you are lounging on deck or out on safari.

With the unbeatable SADC special running until mid-December, this is the time to be getting there.

Get in touch with justin@iconicafrica.com or terri@iconicafrica.com for rates and availability, and let’s start planning your safari…

Kanga Camp: the Home of the Armchair Safari

Posted on by James

Most safari lodges have you feeling like you should be out and about, exploring the area, wondering what might be going on around the next bend in the road.
But Kanga Camp, set on a private concession in Mana Pools National Park of Zimbabwe, offers such prolific wildlife viewing from the comfort of an armchair on the camp deck, the only place you’ll feel you need to go is to the charging station to replace your camera battery.

Kanga is a seasonal camp, open between the months of April and November. The wet season when it is closed features surface water everywhere, which means animals aren’t drawn to the Kanga Pan itself, which during the dry months is essentially the only standing water for miles in any direction.
Elephants in particular are an almost constant procession to the valuable drinking water of the pan (the Zambezi River itself is almost 20 kilometres away), and there are few places on earth that you will be able to get as close to these magnificent creatures, at eye level.

Kanga Pan is a photographer’s paradise in particular. The unique, close-up angles you can get of all manner of wildlife coming down to drink at all hours of the day means that both that long lens and wide-angle will get their fair share of use. Meal-times are regularly punctuated by the rumble of breeding elephant herds only a few feet away, and the nocturnal roar of the local lion coalitions forms the most authentic African serenade you can have.

In line with African Bush Camp’s sustainability approach, the camp is solar-powered. It comprises six tents all raised on individual wooden platforms for an elevated view over the Pan and surrounding bush. The Meru-styled tents are elegantly styled, featuring floor-to-ceiling mesh windows that allow for refreshing air flow and make you feel completely immersed in nature, whilst keeping out any bugs that may be buzzing around (although there are very few to be found during the dry season).

All tents are replete with fans, en-suite bathroom, flushing toilet, outdoor shower, hot running water and a secluded veranda. Kanga also has a family tent which boasts a wraparound terrace facing the pan with private seating and dining areas. Children over seven years old are welcome at the camp, although waling safaris are restricted to kids over the age of 16. The camp plunge pool offers respite from the heat during the warm days at the beginning and end of the season.

It’s not all about out the Pan itself though. Experienced rangers take insightful game drives to explore the wider park, including trips down to the Zambezi River itself, which offers a completely different experience to the inland terrain around Kanga. The Ana tree forests of the Zambezi floodplain and the multitude of wildlife it attracts will leave you speechless.

All in all, Kanga offers the same dedication to hospitality that we’ve come to expect from the African Bush Camps portfolio. It is as comfortable as you could wish, the experience is unique, and in the context of a wildlife destination, especially in an area like Mana Pools, there isn’t a much higher accolade than that.

Tanda Tula Plains Camp: True Magic in the Timbavati

Posted on by James

“Tanda Tula” means to enjoy the quiet, and if there is a place where serenity lives, Tanda Tula Plains Camp is it.

With spectacular views of the northern reaches of the Drakensberg Mountains to the west, a spectacular open grassland in front of the camp, and wildlife in constant attendance, this is a place where you can disconnect from the rush of modern living and reconnect with yourself and loved ones.

The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is one of a contiguous series of wildlife areas that lie up against the western border of the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s – and indeed one of the world’s – most iconic. The lack of fences between the reserves allows for the free movement of wildlife, and the extended protected area is roughly 6 million hectares in size – larger than some small European countries!

Tanda Tula Safari Camp was previously the centrepiece of the Tanda Tula experience, but with an upgrade in progress to create a more ecologically sensitive camp with a lighter footprint in the wake of 2020 and 2021, Plains Camp has now arisen as the new hottest camp in the area.
With 6 luxury suites for up to 12 guests and 2 family suites which sleep 4 each, air-conditioners and fans in each room, as well as private plunge pools, the camp is well equipped to handle any weather conditions in any season.

Some of the Timbavati’s most experienced guides are based here, who are well versed in the natural history of the area, its cultural significance, wildlife photography, and pretty much anything related to the bush.

The best safari camps have a family feel to them, and Tanda Tula Plains Camp falls firmly into this category. As soon as you arrive you feel as if you are returning to a place that is completely familiar, whether you’ve actually been here or not. The welcoming smiles and warm demeanour of all who work here will make you incredibly sad to leave when that time eventually rolls around.

The Tanda Tula family has a passion for wildlife conservation, for the community of which they are a part, and for creating magical experiences. And a magical experience is what Tanda Tula is.

Game Drives are filled with some of the best wildlife in Southern Africa, and close encounters with the Big 5 almost come standard.

Plains Camp is about so much more than just the wildlife. It’s a true example of a lodge that has got it right. It is a place that understands that safari is about people – both guests and staff -just as much as it is about wildlife.

We are currently running specials to this wonderful little corner of Africa, so get in touch to find out more…