You already knew that deluxe safari options were popular with luxury clients. But the news that Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton on safari in Kenya has reignited consumer interest in the romance of Africa’s opulent wilderness camps.
Whether clients want an opportunity to pop the question, or just to splash out on a memorable holiday, these five options should tempt them to book.
1. Classy Kenya
Kenya’s mega-popularity can lead to crowding, but canny travellers can see the country at its best and avoid the crowds by heading for the private conservancies on the north side of the Masai Mara.
Access is restricted to guests staying at the lodges, so there are tens of thousands of hectares of land with very few tourist beds – unlike the national reserve, where tourist minibuses can be as plentiful as any other big game.
Luxury operator Bridge & Wickers has just started selling Africa, and head of programme Judith De Witt recommends the Olare Orok Conservancy, which is run with minimal impact on the wildlife and in partnership with the Maasai.
The six octagonal tented rooms of the Mara Plains Camp are set into the tree line along the Ntiakatek River, and guests can see the plains from their king-sized bed. De Witt recommends twinning this with a stay at Ol Donyo Lodge, the only property on the Mbirikani Masai Group Ranch that sits on the borders of Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks.
The location offers spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro and is in the path of the traditional route of the Great Migration. The range of activities on offer is vast, from horseback safaris and tracking with bloodhounds to ‘star-bed’ rooftop sleep-outs and Maasai cultural visits – as well as traditional game drives.
Sample product: Bridge & Wickers offers four nights at Mara Plains Camp and three nights at Ol Donyo Lodge on a full-board basis including activities from £3,150. Includes international flights on Kenya Airways, internal Safarilink flights, conservancy fees and drinks. bridgeandwickers.co.uk, 020 7483 6555
2. Seclusion in the Selous
For larger groups who want privacy and exclusivity, suggest the Selous Private Camp in Tanzania. Adjoining the Selous Safari Camp itself, this new area is out of sight of the main camp, and can accommodate up to 12 guests.
Six tents with thatched roofs sit on raised platforms along the lakeside, giving maximum privacy and wonderful views. Guests will have exclusive use of safari boats, vehicles and walking guides, a private dining and lounge area and a separate pool. They will be waited on by their own staff, and have a private butler who will cater to every whim.
Situated within an open palm forest on the shores of Lake Nzerakera, the camp is in one of the most prolific areas for game in the Selous Game Reserve. This huge, remote area is relatively untouched by tourism, and is home to herds of elephants, crocodiles, hippos and even the elusive Tanzanian wild dog.
Sample product: Rainbow Tours at W&O Travel is offering the exclusive use of Selous Private Camp for five days from £2,400 per person based on eight sharing. Valid until March 2011, the price includes British Airways flights from Heathrow, four nights’ full-board accommodation, daily game drives, a walking safari, boat safari, one night’s bed and breakfast at The Retreat in Dar Es Salaam and internal air transfers. Children aged 12 years and over are welcome. rainbowtours.co.uk, 020 7226 1004
3. Romance in Botswana
Lovebirds might like to combine three of Wilderness Safaris’ most sumptuous camps to create the ultimate Botswana trip. Why not arrange for private game drives so they don’t have to share their special moments with strangers?
Kings Pool Lagoon in the Linyanti Reserve is so named after Scandinavian royalty camped out on its banks – the monarch would have had a much more comfortable time staying in Kings Pool Camp.
The area is known for its vast elephant population, which guests can watch coming to drink in the lagoon from two hides, one of which is hidden underground with the water at eye level, so the animals’ large feet and trunks are within touching distance. The nine tents all have private lounges and plunge pools.
At Vumbura Plains Camp, clients will feel like they’re floating over the plains of the Okavango Delta, as each room is raised on a wooden deck and is open on three sides, with billowing curtains separating the bedroom, lounge and bathroom areas.
Little Mombo Camp sits on Mombo Island in the Moremi Game Reserve, and has just three luxurious rooms built under a shady canopy, overlooking the surrounding floodplains where guests can spot big game, including lion, leopard and cheetah.
Sample product: Ultimate Safaris and Islands offers three nights each at all three camps from £9,950 including exclusive private safari vehicle and a guide, all meals, drinks, activities and laundry, BA flights from London to Johannesburg and flights onward to Maun with Air Botswana. ultimatesafarisandislands.com, 020 7589 8800
4. Diversity in South Africa
South Africa is perfect for those who like just a sprinkling of wildlife alongside their other holiday activities. The country’s diversity is reflected in the new itinerary from Bales Worldwide, a luxury retreat combining city, gastronomy and safari.
After three nights in stunning Cape Town, where they can explore the Victoria and Alfred waterfront, Table Mountain and Robben Island, they transfer to the gastronomic village of Franschhoek for wonderful wines and delicious cuisine.
Then it’s time for three days of safari at Shumbalala Game Lodge, situated in the heart of the Thornybush Reserve that adjoins the Greater Kruger National Park. There are just four luxury suites, and if clients get bored with game drives and walks they can go on elephant or horseback safaris, or get up close and personal with cheetahs at the Hoedspruit Cheetah project.
Sample product: Bales Worldwide offers a 10-day luxury itinerary from £3,395 per person for departures between January and November 2011, including flights, private transfers, daily game drives with a guide in a shared vehicle, most meals and first-class accommodation based on two people sharing. balesworldwide.com, 0845 057 1819
5. Sustainable luxury in Malawi
Adventurous travellers with a conscience will love the new Tongole Wilderness Lodge. This eco tourism venture is set to open in March in the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, one of Malawi’s least known and largest protected areas. It’s totally unspoilt, with a rich diversity of big game and more than 280 species of birds in a unique landscape.
The lodge has been hand-built by the local workforce to a luxurious finish, with thatched suites, large sunken baths and raised wooden decks overlooking the Bua River. Profits will be used to help fund local education, health and conservation projects.
Guests can take game drives and guided walks, and go canoeing and fishing. They can fly-camp too. This involves pitching camp in the bush and sleeping out in the open with only a mosquito net between them and the African sky.
Sample product: Rainbow Tours at W&O Travel offers a seven-night itinerary from £2,980, including international flights via Johannesburg, meet-and-greet at Lilongwe airport, return transfers (three hours each way) to Nkhotakhota, and seven nights’ accommodation on a full-board basis including activities at Tongole Wilderness Lodge. rainbowtours.co.uk, 020 7226 1004
