Tag: wilderness

Lolebezi: Wild, Remote, Luxurious

Posted on by James

The Zambezi is one of Africa’s largest and most iconic rivers.

Originating in the highlands of Zambia, it sweeps out to the west into Angola, then back south through Zambia before forming the border between Namibia as it turns to the east, then the border with Zimbabwe, and eventually crossing into Mozambique where it continues its path to the Indian Ocean.

Wildlife is to be found all along its almost 3000km length, but one section in particular is a verdant paradise; the 150km downstream from the Chirundu border post between Zambia and Zimbabwe. This is part of the Lower Zambezi Valley, and it is here that you will find some of the most spectacular wildlife viewing in one of the most spectacular areas in Africa.
It is here that you find Lolebezi Camp, in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park.

Lolebezi is the latest offering in the African Bush Camps portfolio, and is one of the most special. An exclusive kilometre of Zambezi River frontage has guests waking up to one of the continent’s great waterways within a few metres of the deck of their rooms, more often than not with an elephant or two in attendance, and at the very least the local pod of hippos. The river teems with life here, especially in the dry season (July – October), when the inland pans evaporate and animals have to flock to the riverbank to drink.

Elephant herds congregate under the Ana trees to eat the fallen pods, impalas and baboons feed together, both acting as sentries for each other, and where there is a multitude of herbivores, the predators are never far away.
Leopards and lions abound here, and the openness in of the area towards the end of the dry season in particular makes the sightings of these big cats more common.

Large packs of the endangered African Wild Dog have made their home in the park, one of the few areas that provides the space that these enigmatic animals require to operate effectively in the huge home ranges they need, whilst simultaneously allowing for a large enough population to establish itself that ensures healthy genetic flow.

The camp itself is paradise.

Sunsets like no other as the sky and the river itself are bathed in golden, red and purple hues. Fish eagles calling from the trees above and the chatter of monkeys from the tree tops serves as constant reminders that you are not separated from nature here; you are immersed in it.

The contemporary design of Lolebezi seamlessly blends modest elegance with a simplicity that can only be found in the African bush. Designed for both family and romantic escapes, Lolebezi has four superior suites and two double family units. The lodge is fully airconditioned, with a private plunge pool and thatched Sala on the river.

The eco-conscious traveller should look no further, as the camp is powered by an off-the-grid solar farm, and the water supply and wastewater are managed to ensure that no pollution enters the river. Everything is done to minimise the human footprint on the land.

 

Lolebezi is a family friendly lodge, welcoming children of all ages (with the restriction of children over the age of 16 being able to join walking safaris and canoeing).
The small number of suites assures an intimate experience, whether you are travelling as a couple or in a slightly larger group.

The main dining area of Lolebezi is designed out of old railway sleepers, harking back to the long-forgotten days of exploration and giving it a distinctly adventurous atmosphere. The all-day café and pizza bar ensure that you won’t be going hungry whilst on safari here. If you’d rather opt for a more secluded dining experience, you can eat in your own dining room or take advantage of the river-pods for picnics.

Lolebezi is truly a special place. The combination of its immersion in one of Africa’s greatest wildlife areas as well as its superb accommodation and attention to detail make it one of the best offerings in the region.
A short flight from Lusaka (Zambia’s capital) will set you down at the airstrip just two kilometres from camp, and only a short game drive down the road you will be on the banks of the Zambezi, sipping a G&T while taking in the river and its accompanying escarpment in all their glory.

Get in touch to find out more…

Mombo: Place of Plenty

Posted on by James

Mombo Camp has long held a reputation as being the place to view wildlife in Botswana.
The Mombo concession is located just below where the Okavango River splits into three primary channels, and supports a diversity of game hard to find anywhere else in Africa. When the water levels of the Okavango rise during winter floods, many animals move to find dry land on the 1000 square kilometre Chief’s Island. Mombo Camp is nestled in the northern tip of the island.

The far-reaching floodplains and diversity of habitats invite a number of different prey species in abundance, drawn in particular by the fertility of the area and the high-quality grazing and browsing that results.

And where there is prey, you find the predators.

Mombo Camp underwent a refurbishment in 2018, although the lodge was careful to use much of the same material and not expand their footprint at all so as to minimise impact on the environment in which they find themselves. Beautifully constructed walkways weave through the riparian vegetation to link the guest suites with the large main area, which features beautifully furnished areas to lounge in as well as a well-stocked library of reference works and novels.
The bar, open throughout the day, is well-stocked and just the place to enjoy a cool gin and tonic whilst gazing out over the lush floodplain. The fireplace adjacent to the main indoor dining area is a welcome addition during the winter months when temperatures can drop quickly after dark.

Eight spacious suites, all constructed out of wood and canvas, afford sweeping views over an open floodplain that teems with wildlife. Elephants graze in front of your deck, lechwe saunter parts displaying impressive horns, and a slinking leopard is likely not far away.
Each suite offers a sitting room; separate bedroom and bathroom; indoor and outdoor showers; elegant copper bathtub; and outdoor private sala with a double day bed, sunken couch, plunge pool, and wrap-around veranda, all immersing you deeper into the bush and the wonders of Mombo’s private traversing area.

An elephant grazes in front of a Mombo villa, Mombo, Botswana
Lounge and paths, Mombo, Botswana
View across the interleading, interlinking suite, Mombo, Botswana

The high nutrient density of the soil around Mombo results in a wildlife experience that is truly like no other. Wild dogs, lions, cheetahs, leopards… it is possible to see all over the course of a single morning’s game drive.
The guiding standard at Mombo is particularly high, and a long history of sensitive approaches to game viewing has ensured that the wildlife is completely relaxed around the Land Cruisers.

If you would like to find out more about this incredible destination, don’t hesitate to get in touch so we can start planning your safari…

The New Vumbura Plains

Posted on by James

Vumbura Plains was already one of the jewels in the Wilderness Safaris crown in Botswana, but with its recent refurbishment, it is better than it ever was before.

Lying towards the northern fringes of the Okavango Delta – a world heritage site – Vumbura Plains camp is perfectly situated to take full advantage of the seasonal changes that take place within this unique ecosystem. During the annual inundation when floodwaters arrive from the Angolan highlands, the camp almost feels like it is floating on water. The melapo – the local name for the annually flooded grasslands – lies right up against the camp, and offers visitors a spectacular vista right off the deck of their rooms. Otters cavort in the shallow water and elephants are frequent passers-by, wading through in search of lush aquatic plants.

The refurbished Vumbura Plains features 14 luxuriously appointed guest suites, each with elegant sleeping quarters, indoor and outdoor showers and a broad outdoor living area complete with a private plunge pool. The new-look design of the camp was carefully imagined to create an authentic Okavango experience, with local craftspeople brought on board to help create the finished product.

The nestling of guest chalets under beautiful overhanging trees, the stilted projection out over the floodwaters and the space between rooms gives visitors a wonderful sense of intimacy and immersion into nature. Birds flit between branches outside your window, waterbuck graze within touching distance of the camp walkway, and hippos snort from the pools right in front of you. The truth is that one barely has to venture beyond camp to get a complete game-viewing experience.

But it is beyond camp that you must go to truly experience the wonder of this area. Game drives will reveal the true splendour of this corner of the Okavango. Wildlife is so prolific that within a very short while you start to feel like you are traversing eden. A different wonderment seemingly lies in wait around every corner.

Lions forge across shallow channels, regal sable antelope hug the fringes of the floodplains and an enigmatic leopard is not an uncommon sight lounging in the boughs of one of the larger evergreen trees. There are few places on the planet that display such a constant abundance of life.

And for those who want to experience something different, Vumbura Plains has multiple exciting activity options. A hot air ballon flight in the still morning air is an utterly serene way to experience the Delta; you can drift in total silence above a cavorting elephant herd and they will never know you are there.
A helicopter flip is another aerial option. Although slightly louder than a balloon ride, you cover far more ground and can almost feel overwhelmed with how much you can come across from the air.

When the floodwaters are up different boating activities are on offer. Motorboats get you exploring the waterways extensively, while a traditional mokoro ride offers a more sedate way tog et to grips with the annual flooding.

The old Vumbura Plains was nothing short of spectacular, both from a lodge and a game-viewing angle.
Now, after the refurb, we find ourselves running out of superlatives to describe the place pretty quickly…

Get in touch with us if this sounds like the kind of place you’d like to visit…

 

Life Changing Gorilla Encounters

Posted on by James

For many, the film Gorillas in the Mist sits in the fantasy bracket of what is actually possible in terms of wildlife encounters in the modern world.
It just seems too surreal that encountering the most majestic of the world’s great apes in the flesh would be an actual possibility. Yet Wilderness Safari’s Bisate Lodge in Rwanda was constructed to craft this exact experience for its guests.

Perched on the slopes of an extinct volcano in the Virunga Range, the lodge looks out over an incredible view of two more volcanoes, Bisoke and Karisimbi, whose days of eruptions have long been consigned to the pages of history. The former of the two rises above where Diane Fossey herself situated her research centre (the name of the centre, “Karisoke” came from combining the two names).
The coming of morning reveals the tendrils of mist made so famous in Fossey’s book, weaving their sinuous way through the treetops before eventually being burnt off by the African sun. Exotic birds flit through the camp and announce the arrival of the day, and you know it’s time to head up into the mountains on your gorilla trek.

Family gorilla troops are known to the rangers and their whereabouts tracked, meaning that encounters are close to a sure thing, although the distance required to hike each day might vary considerably based on the gorillas’ movements. Due to the gorillas’ susceptibility to human diseases, the time allowed for encounters is limited to an hour per day, but the intensity of the experience is such that these 60 minutes can feel like you’ve fitted a lifetime into them!
Infants play around barely an arm’s length from you, whilst adults move slowly by, feeding as they go. If you are lucky the dominant silverback might be in attendance; imagine looking into the eyes of a 150kg ape at only two metres distance.
The intimacy of these gorilla encounters is what blows peoples’ minds. When you look at them, you know they are looking back at you for the same reasons. There are hidden depths behind their eyes; you can tell that they are working you out just as surely as you are working them out.

While Gorilla trekking is the star attraction of Bisate lodge, it is certainly not the only reason to visit. The nearby Volcanoes National Park offers multiple other adventures: golden monkey trekking; the Fossey hike or even scaling Mount Bisoke itself.
On the property of the lodge itself, explore nature trails where local and unique bird species proliferate and where recent camera trap footage even recorded a discreet visit by a silverback! Get involved in Bisate’s reforestation project by planting a tree, thus helping to lure wildlife back to the area. Or follow the hum rising from the local villages below, and integrate into the community whose lives are so integral to the lodge.

With fewer than 1000 mountain gorillas left in the wild, there are very few places where one can have such a moving, potentially life-altering experience as this. Being on foot with an animal that is so similar yet so different to us is utterly profound, and one is left pondering one’s place in the grand scheme of things long after the adrenalin of the encounter has worn off.

If this sounds like the experience you are after, get hold of our sales team now at info@iconicafrica.com.

There are some unbeatable specials currently running, so don’t wait to get in touch…

Travel Restrictions Almost Completely Lifted

Posted on by James

We’ll keep it brief here, but the news is all good!

A few weeks ago Botswana scrapped the required PCR test for incoming visitors if they are vaccinated.

Only last week the government of Namibia declared that the country no longer needed to wear masks in public.

And the latest on the South African front, effective as of today, is that PCR tests are also no longer necessary for visitors who have been vaccinated, masks will no longer be mandatory in outdoor public places, and with an expected 80% of the population having some form of immunity due to a combination of vaccinations and previous infection, South Africa now stands at a “watershed moment as it enters the next phase of managing the pandemic.” according to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Safari bookings are already reflecting the ever-loosening travel restrictions across the globe. Most of the lodges we deal with report that should things continue as they have been, 2022 will be their busiest year on record. This is excellent for them and for the industry as a whole (although it does make getting a new booking tricky, as this year is made up of a combination of deferred and new bookings, so availability is becoming more and more limited).

The message we are hearing on a continually increasing scale is that the end is in sight. Yes, the new normal will probably never revert back to the way it was. Yes, the after-effects will take a while to settle down fully, but we can confidently state that this is the first time we are truly, truly optimistic about the African travel situation in the coming year.
Up until now it has been a mish-mash of very different approaches from different countries, but each week we are seeing the best safari destinations more and more in line with each other under their respective country’s policies, and travel is suddenly almost as easy as it was before March 2020!

We know we’ve been disappointed before, and the last two years have certainly taught us to take no situation for granted, but with a wave of overwhelming optimism sweeping through the industry, we can firmly state, THIS IS IT! Time to TRAVEL!!

 

Abu Camp: Delta Bliss

Posted on by James

Well over 150 000 hectares of traversing suggests a fantastic wildlife experience.

The Abu concession in the south-western sector of the Okavango Delta is as wild as it is vast. Lala palms sit arrayed as sentinels on every horizon and seemingly endless floodplains stretch out from every small island.

This is a land of change, as is most of the Okavango. The contradiction lies in the rainy season being the time when the floodwaters are at their lowest ebb, whilst the winter months – the peak dry season – coincide with the flood. This is because the rains that fall in the Angolan highlands – the same rains that cause the greening up of northern Botswana – take months to accumulate and trickle and flow down the length of the Okavango River to spill out into its almost infinite channels and waterways.

Abu Camp lies in the perfect position to experience and appreciate this change.

The lagoon in front of the camp is a singular water-source in the summer. Isolated and with extensive flat land around it, it serves as a safe haven for grazers especially, who can see danger coming for hundreds of metres in each direction. Fast forward to May, and the flood waters have arrived, causing the lagoon to overflow and push right up to the deck of the lodge. The former pasture land is now well underwater, and life changes – for both the wildlife and guests at Abu.

Flood time means water activities. Traditional mokoro canoe excursions or speedboat trips through the waterways feature prominently in the Abu excursions during the winter months, as wildlife is forced to seek higher ground and wade across channels in order to move between grazing grounds.
Lions forge their way across extensive flooded ground, and elephants are regularly encountered fording deeper water.
And then things start to change as the rains disappear and day after day of clear skies add nothing further to the water levels. Abu Camp bears witness once again to open grasses and space, whilst only a small amount of water remains in the deeper channels.

The rains return and the bush becomes lush once more, and the game spreads out into floodplains which until only a few short weeks ago were impassable.

Abu Camp is situated to take full advantage of the changing of the seasons. With only six rooms, it operates as one of Wilderness Safaris’ premier camps, and does not in any way fall short of the expectations. The sense that you are alone in the wilderness – which with 180 000 hectares you pretty much are – is one that never really leaves you.

Leopards are a more than regular sighting here. Wild Dogs – although one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores – are often seen, and buffaloes, elephants and the local lion population provide more than their fair share of incredible viewing.

Abu Camp is certainly among our favourite camps in the Delta.

Different times of year however, mean completely different experiences for the visitor, so be sure to get hold of us to let us know exactly what you are hoping for in your safari, and we’ll be able to help…

 

King’s Pool: Lagoon Luxury

Posted on by James

The river systems of northern Botswana blend into each other with a seamlessness that makes it quite hard to remember which one you’re actually on at times.

The Kwando crosses Namibia’s Caprivi strip to form the western boundary of the “dip”, and then further east the Chobe flows slowly north-east to merge with the mighty Zambezi near Kazangula.

In between them lies the Linyanti, a beautiful winding serpent that flows so gently that you aren’t absolutely sure that it is even flowing. Technically, the Chobe and the Linyanti are the same river, just on different sides of the Linyanti Swamp, and the Kwando is also simply an upstream section of the two. It is their slow meander that lends the overall feel to the area; an extensive river system on which one finds one of the most beautifully appointed of the Wilderness Safari portfolio; King’s Pool Camp.

King’s Pool lies on the northern edge of the Savuti concession, as do a few other well-known lodges in the Wilderness Safaris portfolio, namely Duma Tau, Savuti Lodge and Linyanti Tented Camp.

King’s Pool itself is situated on a quiet lagoon, where the resident fish eagles call throughout the day and the honking of hippos is a constant background noise from sunset to sunrise.

At no point during your stay here will you feel removed from your natural surroundings. Quite the opposite in fact.

Banded mongooses emerge from their sleeping places under the wooden walkways to forage during the day, and the resident warthog population can often be seen snuffling past. Red Lechwe abound on the flood plains, and if you are very lucky, the retiring sitatunga might be glimpsed moving its way through the reedbeds.

King’s Pool is part of an extensive and unfenced ecosystem. Although the Linyanti river acts as a natural international barrier between Botswana and Namibia, no passports are required for the wildlife that calls this place home, and a constant back and forth of elephants in particular, as well as the big cats, results in a wilderness area that is completely self-regulating. The territorial calls of the resident male lions initiate a response from their counterparts over the river, and if any of them feel the inclination to cross over to continue the argument face-to-face, there is nothing to stop them doing so.

The camp’s eight guest rooms are everything you could ask for in safari accommodation; spacious, comfortable, full amenities, an outside shower looking onto a pristine ecosystem with most likely a hippopotamus or two only a very short stone’s throw from your deck, lounging below in the lagoon. You truly feel as if you are in your own private bush home.

The rooms are positioned along the lagoon, on either side of the main guest area, which is where meals are served, the pool is to be found, and a curio shop is conveniently placed for you to indulge in some chic safari purchases, or simply some locally made trinkets to take back home as gifts.
Maps and stunning wildlife photography adorn the walls, and a library of reference and photographic books complement the overall feel of homeliness.

King’s Pool is completely solar powered, and is a typical example of Wilderness Safaris’ ongoing efforts to maintain as low-impact a presence as possible.

Whether it’s birding you’re after, wildlife action, an afternoon boat cruise on the Linyanti River, or you just want to relax on your deck with your shoes off, your feet up, and a cold glass of gin and tonic in hand, King’s Pool is one of the most idyllic lodges you could choose.

Marataba: Luxury on Plain and Mountain

Posted on by James

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

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

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

Marataba Safari Lodge Suite Deck


Safari lodge is the larger of the two with 15 luxury tented suites (11 two-sleeper and 4 family suites), whilst Mountain lodge, tucked away in a rocky valley close to the escarpment, is something entirely different, featuring only 5 eco-suites. Mountain lodge is completely solar, so as well as feeling a wonderful sense of isolation in such an intimate setting, guests can be happy in the knowledge that their stay is having the least possible impact on the environment.

Marataba Trails Lodge Waterberg Dining

The offerings are both spectacular however, and it is simply a case of what type of escape you are after. For honeymooners and those who want ultimate tranquility and time to themselves, wishing to feel a complete sense of isolation, Mountain lodge should be your pick.

Marataba Trails Lodge Luxury Safari Africa Waterberg

Marataba Safari Lodge Iconic Africa
For families or those who want to enjoy a a slightly more social vibe in the evenings, seated around a roaring fire, Safari lodge, down on the plains and within a stone’s throw of the serene Matlabas River, would be our recommendation.

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

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

Marataba Safari Lodge River Cruise

Iconic Africa is still running holiday season specials, so enquire now if you want to take advantage of these limited-time offers. Lodges are getting exponentially busier as tourism returns and postponed visits start coming into effect, so be sure not to miss out…

 

Zambia: The Next Big Thing in Safari

Posted on by James

Although boasting a long history of safari, Zambia has somehow managed to fly under the radar for most, with its cousin Zimbabwe just to the south, and the East African and gorilla safari scenes to the north-east generally taking home all the plaudits.
Recently though, with more and more focus being on exploratory travel, and hardened African visitors looking for a slightly different experience in the bush, the spotlight on Zambia has been shining ever brighter.

Victoria Falls has of course always received the attention it deserves, but is the slightly more remote destinations that are starting to come into their own, and the world-class wildlife viewing, combined with far lower vehicle densities than other countries, make Zambia something special.

The South Luangwa National Park in the east of the country is one of the better known reserves. With one of the highest leopard densities in Africa, open woodland perfect for photography and the Luangwa River itself with its uncountable hippos and crocs, this park is not one to be missed.
Visitors have a wide variety of safari options in Luangwa, from old school walking safaris to the more contemporary game drives in open vehicles, and a selection of camps scattered throughout the almost 10 000 square kilometre reserve provides a whole spectrum of experiences.

A quaint evening setting at Time and Tide’s Nsolo Camp
The open woodlands in South Luangwa are simply jaw-dropping.

Further south and west in the Kafue National Park one finds Busanga Bush Camp, a seasonal camp set on the edge of an enormous floodplain. Here the views stretch to the horizon, and with such limited human presence in the area, the visitor gets a sense of true remoteness. Cheetahs and lions are the apex predators, and the open grasslands provide the perfect habitats for them to pursue the plentiful wildebeest.
The unique habitat and open terrain is a photographer’s dream.

A lechwe at dawn on the Busanga Plains.

Even further west, almost as far as one can go in Zambia, is one of its least well known reserves, but one of its most exciting; Liuwa Plain. First protected in 1880 by King Lewanika of the Lozi people, the reserve is one of the oldest in Africa, and now, Time and Tide’s King Lewanika Camp sits as the only permanent camp in the park, ands therefore one of Zambia’s most exclusive.

Liuwa Plain is all about seasonality,  and the game viewing reflects this, focusing on the wildebeest calving towards the end of the year after the herds have moved south in the reserve, and continuing right the way through to the next winter at which point the herds retreat back north again.

King Lewanika Camp is about expansive African skies…
The seasonal wildebeest herds on the move across Liuwa Plain.

The Zambian wildlife havens are truly untouched, and the country’s lower profile on the international tourist radar has aided this significantly. However, the sheer diversity of landscapes, the wide selection of luxury camps and the feeling of being in true wilderness should put this astonishing country firmly on the bucket list of any ardent safari lover.

Get hold of us to find out more or to start booking your Zambian safari…

Our Iconic Africa

Posted on by James

Africa has been waiting for you all this time. And so have we…

The wildebeest are still spreading in their hundreds of thousands over the sea of grass that is Tanzania’s Serengeti and the leopards are still lounging on the marula branches of the Sabi Sand Reserve in South Africa.
Wild Africa is essentially unchanged.

And most spectacular of all is that these bucket list trips are more accessible than ever.

The last year and a half has been an interesting time in all of our lives, and while we can’t predict the future, what we do know is that the latest news on the African travel front has all been good.
Travel restrictions to multiple countries all over Africa have been lifted, and the continent that birthed mankind is opening up once again to the blank canvas of imagination.

We’re big fans of the clouds-with-silver-linings approach, and the beautiful lesson we’ve taken out of the last year is the recognition of our fundamental human need for experiences. The urge to be spontaneous and free. And above all, a deep desire we all have to understand our humanity through a wild reconnection with ourselves and with each other.

If that connection is something you are looking for, we can help you find it.

Come and rediscover your true wild self…

Africa is Opening More and More

Posted on by James

It’s certainly been a rough year-and-a-half for the travel fundis, and for the industry as a whole. Confined at home for months, then confined to your home country, and even eighteen months in, many of you have been told that a mandatory two-week quarantine period will be enforced as soon as you return home from your overseas sojourn. Not appealing, we know!


But the light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter and brighter, as seemingly each week another country in Africa opens up for travel. Most of the more prominent safari destinations have fallen off international red lists, regulations are easing all over the world, vaccinations have been rolled out, and although things certainly aren’t fully back to normal, there is an air of normalcy in the air that is making us more excited than we’ve been for a long time to fully welcome international visitors to African shores once more.

Kenya was recently struck off the international red list, visitors from the UK no longer have to quarantine upon their return from South Africa, and Rwanda and its gorillas is easier to visit than it has been for a long, long time. We’ve stated it before, but want to repeat that there literally is no better time to satisfy your travel cravings than right now. Many safari operators are offering insane discounts, popular areas are still quiet, and the strict covid guidelines that have made many people reluctant to venture overseas are enforced so efficiently that being out in the wilds on safari is actually pretty much the safest place to be right now, if any lingering doubts about Covid still remain.

We currently have many guests travelling with us, and without an exception the feedback has been the wonderful tranquility, the soothing of the soul by being back in the wild after so long, and the exclusive feel of almost every lodge given the current reduced occupancies. It’s a bit of an internal dilemma; wishing for business to return to how it it was as soon as possible, but also relishing in the quiet times that are currently greeting every visitor to the bush.

If you want to experience world class game viewing, relax on a beach in a Mozambiquan archipelago, or enjoy the sights and sounds of South Africa’s Mother City Cape Town, don’t wait! The light at the end of the tunnel is certainly approaching, but for the traveller that light is likely to be accompanied by higher occupancies and back-to-normal prices.

Incredible value in safari has never been easier to come by than now.

Get in touch…

A Camp All to Yourself: the New Normal of Luxury Safari

Posted on by James

Humans can be funny creatures. No matter how exquisite the experience, we still ask ourselves “how could this be just that tiny bit better?”.
Often when it comes to idyllic destinations, we find ourselves wishing that it was just us there; either our family or only the group of friends we are travelling with. A whole camp all to ourselves, somewhere in the African wilderness.
Given that the capacity of bush camps is regularly 20 or so guests though, this is a tough order, as the majority of travelling groups aren’t as big as that.

However, recent developments in the safari industry have seen a marked move towards the development of smaller, exclusive-use camps, and given that the trends are leaning more and more towards longer stays, these homes-in-the-bush are coming into greater and greater demand.

Your own private ranger and game drive vehicle, your own chef, the freedom to decide on your own timetable… imagine the ultimate flexibility in the ultimate luxury, with the ultimate wildlife viewing experience right on your doorstep.

We’ve picked a few of our favourite exclusive-use camps for you to ponder on…

Singita Castleton

Feel like a game of lawn tennis whilst elephants lumber slowly past and a herd of wildebeest grazes peacefully in the distance? Then Singita Castleton is for you.


A conversion of the Bailes family homestead (the Singita founders) in the year 2000, Castleton Camp is positioned on a sprawling open hillside overlooking a pristine waterhole. Many are the lion sightings from the open lawns in front of the main area, and the central positioning of the camp within the greater reserve means that all sections and habitats are equally accessible.


Sip a gin and tonic on the edge of the expansive pool during the warmth of the African midday, or enjoy a glass of fine wine under the stars around the fire, where everything is forgotten and the conversations are just those between you and the people you have chosen to travel with.
Singita Castleton is truly a special place.

Londolozi Pioneer Camp

Since the 70s Londolozi has been the blueprint African Safari destination. THE place to view leopards, the lodge is set in the Sabi Sand Reserve, and boasts 5 magnificent camps strung out along the Sand River, all operating independently of one another.


The western-most camp, Pioneer, although not specifically classified as an exclusive-use camp, generally has its three stunning suites hired out by travelling groups or families, and its separation from the rest of the Londolozi Camps is such that you truly feel as if you are miles from anyone else. The spacious rooms all have uninterrupted views over the Sand River, and breeding herds of elephants are almost a constant feature in front of the camp decks.

The beauty of Pioneer Camp is that one still has access to the rest of the Londolozi Camps, so a trip to the Healing House, the Boutique Living Shop or children’s involvement in the Cubs’ Den program are all easily facilitated.

Pioneer Camp normally takes six guests in its three suites, but for visiting families the rooms can be tweaked to easily accommodate more family members, and capacity can be pushed to 12.

Royal Malewane Africa House

Royal Malewane’s reputation precedes it as one of the ultimate African Safaris. Sought out by celebrities aplenty, their experienced guiding team and prolific game viewing are already world-renowned.

 

Now add in the recent addition to their portfolio of the Africa House, an exclusive-use villa that sleeps up to twelve guests, and you have the perfect destination for a large family getaway.
Africa House is a totally self-contained bush paradise where you can relax in the most opulent and easy-going style. Although designed to suit families and close-knit travelling groups, each of the six air-conditioned rooms has its own private deck and outdoor shower, and magnificent views of the surrounding bush.

Angama Safari Camp

Tucked away at the base of the Oloololo Escarpment (although officially the site is mobile and able to change locations) and a few kilometres south of the main Angama Mara Camp, the Safari Camp, which sleeps up to 8 guests, is perfectly placed to avoid the busier sections of the reserve, and is far enough away from other camps to be able to enjoy the first part of game drive hours without any other vehicles near.

The camp is tented, and having just a wall of canvas between you and the African bush makes for a wonderfully immersive experience, with the evening song of the nightjars and the roar of the lions making sure your stay feels like a true connection to the primal part of yourself.
The light footprint of the Safari Camp is exemplary, and this is a place where you genuinely feel as though you are leaving the world behind.

The above four camps are by no means the only ones in our extensive list, they are just a few of our favourites.
In a travel climate in which Covid fears are steadily dissipating but many are still nervous about mingling with other guests, exclusive-use camps have seen a dramatic rise in popularity.
Given their very nature however, the timing of a booking is more important than ever, so get in touch with us if this sounds like the kind of safari stay that you’d be interested in…

Kicheche Safari Camps: Hidden Gems in a Huge Landscape

Posted on by James

Kenya’s Maasai Mara ecosystem is subdivided into a number of areas; the Mara Triangle in the west which forms the edge of the grasslands where it rises up into the Oloololo escarpment, the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which has its own private camps and is where public vehicles can access too, and on the norther edge, a number of conservancies, which operate in conjunction with local communities and traditional pastoralists.

All sections are unfenced and open to each other, allowing free movement of wildlife.

Although not receiving as much press as the sectors to the south, the northern conservancies boast just as spectacular game viewing, if not more so, as well as operating with far fewer vehicles in a sighting. And it is in these areas, prolific with wildlife, that you find the Kicheche camps.

Valley Camp in the Naboisho conservancy is tucked discreetly away in acacia woodland on a hillside, and it is not uncommon to see 20 different cheetahs in a week’s stay here. In the west, Kicheche Mara Camp is in the Mara North conservancy, where world-famous Leopard Gorge is to be found and where so many iconic wildlife documentaries have been filmed.
And in the middle sits Kicheche Bush Camp, set back in the tree-line alongside an expansive grassy plain. This is the lurking ground of the leopard Fig, who featured prominently in the National Geographic Documentary “Jade Eyed Leopard”.

All three camps are small enough to retain that sense of intimacy with guests, in which you don’t feel like a number, but part of things. Valley and Bush Camp have only six tents each, while Mara Camp is only slightly bigger with eight.
Many of the guides have been with Kicheche for well over a decade, and their experience shows in their intimate knowledge of the area. This is especially true when it comes to photography, and Kicheche is ultimately a photographer’s dream. Open skylines, an abundance of wildlife, lion numbers like you wouldn’t believe… combine this with the specially adapted Kicheche photographic vehicles and guides who understand everything from backlighting to depth of field, and you couldn’t ask for anything more, except maybe a memory card or two, as yours are sure to fill up given the prolific number of photographic opportunities.

Kicheche gets it right in the “feeling”; that intangible sense that you are somewhere that you ought to be. That synergy of all the smaller details that can seem so formulaic on paper yet is so difficult to achieve in reality. It’s the staff, the accommodation, the wildlife, the setting. It’s all of them yet none of them.
It’s an ever-elusive element that very few destinations produce, yet Kicheche have, through their own secret formula, got it right…

 

 

 

Angama Mara: Endless Horizons Over Africa

Posted on by James

There are few places on the African continent that are so picturesque, let alone iconic, but the picnic site at Angama Mara overlooking the Masai Mara grasslands has to be top of the list.

Imagine gazing down over somewhere in the region of a million herbivores, from the very same spot that Robert Redford and Meryl Streep picnicked in Out of Africa; hot air balloons floating in the still Kenyan air beneath you, swallows swooping all around, and the stillness of the magnificent continent stretched out to the hazy horizon.
As fancifully romantic as this sounds, it really is an experience you can live. Angama Mara offers intimate picnics for two at the little koppie (rocky outcrop) next to their southern camp, right where Out of Africa was filmed, or at least that scene from it.

But it is far more than a simple picnic that has guests travelling from all over the world to this stunning camp, perched literally on the rim of Africa. The wildlife, the staff, the views that take one’s breath away… take your pick of any one of multiple reasons that have made Angama the award-winning camp that it is today.

The first time you walk out on to the deck of the main lodge will be a moment you won’t forget in a hurry. You truly feel as if you are gazing out over the rest of the world.
Perched up on top of the Oolololo Escarpment, Angama Mara sits above the Mara Triangle, an incredibly wildlife-rich area best known for the wildebeest crossings that take place there every year as the migrating herds thunder across the Mara River, braving crocodiles, often raging water levels, and often marauding lion prides waiting on the riverbank.
Yet it’s not only about the migration: year round the wildlife viewing is stunning, with black rhino, elephant, leopards, cheetahs and many more being constant features of the terrain, even when the wildebeest herds (that get funnelled into the triangle by the steep walls of the escarpment itself) have turned back south.

Photography plays a key role in the safari experience at Angama, and their dedicated photographic studio is at the core of their media offerings.
Guests can learn the fundamentals of photography, hire a private photographic guide, and even print their own photographs on canvas as a special memento to take home. Few destinations in Africa lend themselves so well to wildlife photography as the Masai Mara and its sweeping plains.

The Angama experience is ultimately as well-rounded as one can find, with activities ranging from traditional game drives to balloon flights to cultural immersions. This is a place where the true meaning of safari can be understood, in the very place where the word originated.

To stand on Angama’s deck and gaze out over endless horizons is to gaze out at limitless, beautiful possibility…

 

The Leopards of Londolozi

Posted on by James

It’s been over 40 years since Londolozi first viewed the original Mother Leopard, a young female who for some reason was more relaxed around the Land rovers than her predecessors or conspecifics on the reserve at the time.

For the next decade, Londolozi co-founder and Tracker Elmon Mhlongo would follow her life, watching as she raised no fewer than 9 litters of cubs to independence; a feat that has not been recorded in a leopardess since.

Londolozi offers the perfect leopard habitat…

The early years at Londolozi did not feature leopards as part of the standard viewing on a game drive. Conflict with man over the course of the previous half-century had made them skittish, wary, and extremely distrustful of anything unnatural in their environment, which included vehicles and people on foot.
Tracks in the sand, the remains of a kill stashed high in a tree or even a fleeting glimpse in the spotlight after dark were all the evidence the early visitors to Londolozi had of this elusive predator.

A female leopard comes scurrying down from the canopy of a marula tree.

Yet when the Mother Leopard arrived and allowed people into her secret world, all that changed. Her cubs grew up recognising that a Land Rover parked at a respectful distance was neither a threat nor a food source, and their cubs in turn did the same. From that first female came generations and a subsequent dynasty of habituated leopards, which quickly put Londolozi on the map as the place to view them; a reputation it continues to enjoy to this day.

A male leopard stares right back into the camera while drinking…

Not only does Londolozi currently sit in the heart of the densest leopard population yet recorded in Africa, with the bulk of the cats completely ignoring the presence of the game drive vehicles, but the rangers and trackers – many of whom have lived and worked on the land for decades – have an intimate knowledge of most of the individuals.
Life-histories, relatedness, matrilines, territories… it has all been recorded in one of the most closely documented records of a leopard population known on the African continent.

A leopard cub peers cautiously out from behind a tree as its mother moves away from it.

Although there is no such thing as a guarantee in the African bush, Londolozi is as near as can be going to provide leopard viewing the likes of which you’ve never experienced before. The almost supernatural skill of the Londolozi trackers and rangers is almost certain to give you front row seats to what has to be some of the greatest wildlife sightings on earth, with the enigmatic leopard more than likely taking centre stage.
It’s an experience that has guests returning year after year to follow the lives of these magnificent cats, and one that is certain to redefine the way you view the symbiosis between man and wild…