With a host of new and unique luxury lodges and hotels, a greater number of internal flights, and offerings that range from safari excursions to secluded beach retreats, it’s safe to say we're excited to launch our Africa 2018/19 portfolio.
Trending: Namibia
We predict exciting things for Namibia this season - with spectacular, untouched and vast landscapes, the destination is not only aesthetically breath taking, but is also one of the best places in Africa to see the world's fastest animal, the cheetah. Etosha National Park and Okonjima are must-sees as is The Skeleton Coast - an eerie landscape littered with shipwrecks and whale bones but home to a large number of seabirds, seals and desert adapted animals. Top tip: book a year in advance to ensure that you get to stay in your preferred lodge.
Primates in your midst
Having opened this summer, Bisate Lodge promises to be the premier camp in Rwanda and, accommodating a maximum of twelve guests in six forest villas, it is certain to be the most exclusive. Situated in close proximity to Volcanoes National Park, it is the perfect base from which to begin your gorilla trek; we recommend booking far in advance, as the numbers of daily trekking permits are limited.
We are also thrilled to bring the Primate Lodge in Uganda to our portfolio. Having recently emerged from a complete renovation, the camp is located at the entrance of Kibale Forest National Park, making it ideal for guests who are planning an unforgettable chimp trek. The lodge also offers the Habituation Experience, allowing you to spend an entire day with these fascinating creatures, observing everything from their early morning antics to their bedtime rituals.
Stargazing
Located amid a rocky kopje on a hillside overlooking a permanent waterhole, the Elewana Loisaba Star Beds in Kenya are new to our portfolio this year. Allow a team of traditional Samburu and Laikipiak Masai warriors to welcome you; wait eagerly for a night time experience like no other - your handcrafted four-poster bed will be rolled out from under the thatched roof to enable you to sleep out under the vast and brilliantly bright stars.
Off the beaten track
King Lewanika Lodge is the latest addition to Norman Carr Safaris' portfolio and the only permanent camp to be located in the heart of Zambia's Liuwa Plain National Park. Home to the second largest wildebeest migration in Africa, this camp is great for avid wildlife photographers and those seeking a safari without the crowds. Boating and canoeing excursions are also available when water levels permit.
Safari by design
Ideal for families and groups, booking a private house or villa at a safari lodge is the ultimate in privacy and exclusivity. With its own private deck and large pool, we recommend the newly opened and outstanding villa at Makanyi Private Game Lodge in South Africa - go at your own pace and dictate the terms of your safari with a private vehicle and a designated guide for the duration of your stay.
Sky high
The Lower Zambezi is set to become the best connected National
Park in Zambia, with Proflight's announcement of a Livingstone -
Lower Zambezi schedule between 15 June - 15 October 2018 (flights
from Mfuwe launched earlier this year).
It's also worth noting that Kenyan Airways flies three times a
week from Nairobi to Cape Town via Livingstone, which makes
combining three world famous destinations - the Masai Mara,
Victoria Falls and Cape Town - easier than ever before.
Great for families
andBeyond's WILDChild programme, designed especially for
children visiting their safari lodges and camps in Africa, is
filled with fun, interactive activities that offer opportunities to
learn and discover new experiences and cultures. Deeply rooted in
the love for the African bush, it not only creates a series of
unforgettable moments for the whole family but forges strong bonds
between young guests, the planet and its people. Expeditions may
involve activities such as tracking and fishing, making traditional
bows and arrows, beading, crafting and painting, as well as fun in
the lodge, garden or kitchen.
The children's activities available at each of andBeyond's lodges
attempt to tie in with that particular environment, as well as the
local heritage of the region. For example, at andBeyond Sossusvlei
Desert Lodge in Namibia youngsters may experience
stargazing, whilst in Botswana's andBeyond Xudum
Okavango Delta Lodge adventures may include
fishing expeditions and making necklaces with the Delta's beautiful
water lilies.
> Play video |
Product Manager Vanessa reveals her highlights