Embarking on a safari is usually an experience most people may choose to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime. However, it’s precisely because safaris are such a big production that it’s always a good idea to indulge.
There really isn’t a general fee for luxury safaris due to the varying locations, but a lot of time, the services rendered are very similar. This often includes everything from top-of-the-range off-road vehicles, hot-air ballooning, glamorous camping or ‘glampimg‘, fly-in safaris and contemporary gourmet dining to a naturalist, and a driver. The entire experience is enriched by a fusion of cultural, historical and environmental influences.
It is easy to splurge on these safaris, especially on lodging. You can stay at luxury camps for over $1,000 a night per person. From the dusty tents of explorers to exquisite eco-conscious lodges – the African safari has come a long way in the past hundred years without losing any of its romance and adventure. There are hundreds of safaris in Africa, already open and ready to receive tourists this summer with a few highlighted below:
Lemala Mpingo Ridge is one of the newest luxury tented camp in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park. The camp only recently opened its doors to the public on the 1st of July 2018 and it is the second luxury camp in the Lemala collection, after Kuria Hills Lodge in the Serengeti to be developed in Tanzania. The tents feature en-suite bathrooms, private decks, sunken outside lounges that convert to afternoon siesta beds, while a private outside bathtub and outdoor shower provide the much-needed relaxation required after a day out on safari.
Londolozi Private Granite Suites, located in South Africa, offers an exclusive African safari experience. It delivers complete luxury and exclusivity in the Sabi Sands, one of Kruger’s finest private concessions. Just three separately suites overlook the granite rocks of Sabi River. The camp is designed to emphasize volume, light and privacy, with large doors and windows opening out onto the river below, allowing the outdoors to merge with the elegant interiors. Bird watching is excellent in the area, as well as the star-gazing after dinner. If you just want to spend some time relaxing at the camp, you can enjoy massages, yoga classes, or cool off in your own private plunge pool.
The Swahili word ‘angama’ means ‘to be suspended in mid-air’ and it is a fitting name for your accommodation: each tent seems to hang on the edge of the Rift Valley, ensuring views that seem to go on forever. Perched on what seems like the very edge of the Great Rift Valley, views from Angama Mara are simply spell-binding. The well conceptualized inside-outside living areas are separated by 11 m / 33ft floor-to-ceiling windows, and are adorned with exquisite handcrafted and designer furniture pieces that capture a minimal and contemporary Maasai-inspired space. As a guest of Angama Mara, you can re-enact your own once-in-a-lifetime picnic there, whether to propose or toast a honeymoon and the start of a new life together.
Set on a private game reserve on the Zimbabwean side of the Falls, you can enjoy total tranquility, beautiful scenery and good game viewing, while still having access to exciting adventure activities at Victoria Falls, which is about an hour’s drive away. Matetsi River Lodge incorporates a wood, copper and red-gold theme in homage to the country’s mining history, as well as vibrant splashes of blue that draw in views of the Zambezi. The reserve spans an impressive 50 000 hectares and has nine miles (15 kilometres) of private Zambezi River frontage, with the lodge itself stretching right along the river’s banks. Matetsi is ideal for travelers seeking a refined and exclusive Victoria Falls vacation, and because it has two large interconnecting suites, it is also perfect for family getaways.
Vumbura Plains has the ultimate location for a safari in the Okavango Delta, as you can experience both land- and water-based game viewing throughout the year. This lavish safari camp is bathed in calming neutral tones with a refreshing pop of blue and green to match the surrounding floodplains. It is also shaded by a thick canopy of trees and raised on wooden platforms, offering splendid views of the lush Delta terrain. The camp is divided into Vumbura North and Vumbura South, and while the north camp is slightly more geared towards families or groups travelling together, the Southern Camp is suited to couples on honeymoon. Guests at either of the two 7-roomed satellite camps can enjoy land- and water-based activities in an unfenced private concession.
It is essential to note that although you can create your own safari itinerary, it’s usually best to book with a tour operator as they know all the options better than anyone and their expertise and advice is all you need to make your vacation even more memorable.
