Many say there is no better way to enjoy nature than on a safari. Seeing the magnificent ‘big 5’ in their wild inhabitants with the breath-taking scenery that surrounds, should be enough to whet anyone’s appetite to venture on a safari.
Luxury safari resorts now add to the glory of many of these resorts, ensuring you receive second-to-none service with food and beverages to match, while accommodation is usually in-keeping being rustic but 5 star, ensuring you don’t lose that ‘safari feel.’
Here’s our favourite luxury safari’s that we are sure you’ll want to book as quick as fast as a big cat runs…
Editor’s Pick!
XIGERA CAMP
This brand new experience in Okavango Delta, Botswana, has been described as “the Versailles of the African bush.”
The completely rebuilt Xigera (pronounced “kee-jera”) is a bold new safari lodge set in the heart of the Okavango Delta on the aptly named Paradise Island. Opened at the end of 2020, it is surrounded by deep channels and lush vegetation within a remote area of the productive Moremi Game Reserve.
For much of the year, this magnificent area epitomises the permanently flooded areas of the Okavango Delta, with palm-filled islands, riverine forests, interwoven channels and expansive floodplains. With just 12 suites showcasing the finest southern African artisans, Xigera has been innovatively designed to protect its pristine environment; it is 100% solar-powered, with a dedicated focus on sustainability and eliminating single-use plastics.
Every spacious suite is fully air-conditioned and designed up to the highest standard.
Xigera Camp has always been famous for its fantastic wildlife.
This new development has caused great excitement as the camp is set to be in amongst the highest level of luxury Botswana has to offer, with a light environmental footprint. The small intimate 12 bed tented camp will be the ultimate in exclusivity and luxury, as well as still feeling wild and remote.
TULUDI STAR SUITE
The brand new star gazing suite in Okavango, Botswana.If you’ve been forever dreaming of an iconic Okavango Delta experience, then end your search with Tuludi. The camp is located in the Khwai Private Reserve, over 200,000 hectares of pristine wilderness, and the landscape is fit for a fairy tale: floodplains stretch as far as the eye can see and the glistening waterways and emerald forests attract all the stars of the safari show.
Tuludi Lodge is on the 800-square mile Khwai Private Reserve, harkens back to a more traditional safari; all comforts are provided in the airy, high-pitched tented rooms (even plunge pools), but the public spaces are intimate and the focus is on the exceptional wildlife: dense, varied, and including even the elusive wild dogs, which often hunt under the decks of the dining area.
For booking information on the above, Tuludi Lodge and Xigera Camp, please visit: www.theluxurysafaricompany.com
Audley Travel’s Africa specialists recommend a tailor-made luxury safari to Zambia. The itinerary includes four nights in each of South Luangwa National Park and the Lower Zambezi National Park. As well as safari drives, clients will enjoy walking safaris in South Luangwa and have the option to stay in Chinzombo, the site of the first camp in the South Luangwa. The game in the national park is mainly found near the river, with herds of elephant and buffalo on the banks and hundreds of hippos leaving their pools at dusk to graze. Impala and puku are common and the beautiful Thornicroft’s giraffe can be seen in the forests. Cookson’s wildebeest, Crawshay’s zebra, waterbuck, bushbuck, grysbok and oribi are also found and predator sightings include lion, spotted hyena and leopards.
In Lower Zambezi, safari drives will be complemented with boat and canoe safaris. Wildlife here along the national park’s floodplains, grasslands and tall forests includes impala, kudu, eland, waterbuck, zebra and wildebeest. Elephant are often seen swimming the Zambezi River to feed on the grassy islands where buffalo also graze. Predators include leopard, large prides of lion and packs of wild dog.
An 11 day trip Luxurious Luangwa & Lower Zambezi tour costs from £10,475 per person (based on two travelling) and includes international and domestic flights, transfers, safari excursions and accommodation on a full board basis. For more information please visit www.audleytravel.com/zambia or call 01993 838505.