An African Wildlife Odyssey

Overview

Views of the Virunga Massif will have you spellbound here, as this cosy lodge sits within the foothills of some of Rwanda’s highest mountains. With just six stone cottages, each with bright airy decor that complements the natural surroundings, this lodge is an intimate place to hide away between adventures in the surrounding jungles. 

Whether it’s gorilla trekking or golden monkey tracking, or perhaps a cultural visit to nearby villages, your days here will always be enthralling. Return to the lodge and you can opt for a soothing massage to repair aching muscles after long hikes, or relax in the comfort of your cottage by the warming fire. If you prefer to stay put, you can wander the beautiful gardens and see endemic Rwandan birdlife within the lodge’s grounds.

With low-impact food on the agenda, you’ll dine on fine food made with vegetables from the lodge’s own gardens. Expect traditional Rwandan meals with sweet potato and plantain at its heart, each with its own modern twist invented by the creative chefs. And you’ll rest easy at night knowing this lodge is a community-owned endeavour, empowering locals to engage with the country’s popular gorilla tourism industry.

Overview

Utterly unique in its design, six sumptuous forest villas are luxurious while retaining environmental principles and reflecting the culture of the surrounding country. Each has a generous yet intimate combination of bedroom, reception space and bathroom, heated by a central fireplace and a private deck looking out to Mount Bisoke.

The spherical stone and thatch architecture, said to be inspired by the Royal Palace of traditional monarchs, continues through to the communal areas such as the dining room, bar and spa, detailed with a variety of woven materials, local crafts and more modern touches.

Wilderness Bisate is a short drive to the national park’s headquarters, from where gorilla treks depart daily, and you can also embark upon forest hikes to see rare Golden Monkeys and other wildlife. Visit the site of Dian Fossey’s research camp and grave, meet the community on guided village walks, plant a tree as part of the Wilderness Bisate’s reforestation project or perhaps tag along with the chef to the local market to buy ingredients for dinner.

Overview

The lodge sits atop a 2,300-metre hilltop with panoramas of the ‘twin lakes’ of Ruhondo and Bulera and the string of Virunga volcanoes laid out in front of you.

Discover ten elegant hand built guest bandas facing either the Virunga Volcanoes or beautiful twin lakes (Four deluxe and six standard rooms) set across the property’s beautiful terraced gardens, affording each a share of the superb views and a good helping of privacy too. En suite bathrooms and running solar hot water allow you to enjoy luxurious comfort with always a minimal environmental impact too. Paved pathways converge on the property’s main lodge for dining, massages, the curio shop, bar and lounge, and all with stunning views.

Apart from the truly personable level of luxury and staff hospitality here at Virunga the lodge also excels in a wonderfully diverse and extensive menu of daily activities and local cultural excursions.

Overview

The much anticipated Kwitonda Lodge opened in August 2019, and is Singita’s first foray into Rwanda, bringing with it their celebrated philosophy of sustainable luxury.

Located in a prized 178-acre parcel of lush meadows and wetlands right on the edge of Volcanoes National Park with magnificent views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes, there are eight suites and a four-bedroom villa, Kataza House. Architects and interior designers are selecting locally sourced and produced materials while the local community has been engaged in building using traditional techniques. A light footprint is central to the project, embodying the gentleness and humility of the great silverback from which the lodge takes its name. Singita has a long-term approach to conservation, and part of the plan is to plant thousands of trees around the lodge.

As well as treks into the park to spend time with the gorillas, for which the Kwitonda Lodge is ideally located, you will be able explore the montane forests of Nyungwe National Park, see the rare Golden Monkey and visit the local community. Guests will also have the chance to expand the gorillas’ habitat by helping out with the lodge’s tree planting and habitat restoration project. And, with Tanzania’s Serengeti just a short hop across Lake Victoria to the east, Kwitonda Lodge brings the opportunity for a ‘Singita only’ safari experience combining gorillas and the astounding Grumeti Reserve.

Overview

Low and wide amid the leaves of its very own tea plantation surrounded by ancient rainforest, Nyungwe House’s modern architecture is a wonderful contrast to its verdant setting.

There are 22 rooms and suites split between six wooden villas, with vast windows and private decks opening up into the forest. There are open fireplaces in each and every room and suite, with interiors and artwork inspired by the nature and traditions of Rwanda.

The main lodge building is home to lounge areas, bar and dining space where you can enjoy sun-rise breakfast (or, for late risers, all day à la carte brunches in your room) and mouth-watering, organic, garden-to-plate menus at dinner, with lunches usually enjoyed while out exploring.

Nyungwe Forest, an ancient place of majestic mahoganies, giant ferns and delicate orchids, is renowned for its wide diversity of animal species and the lodge has a variety of treks available for those wishing to see chimpanzees, white colobus, grey-cheeked, golden and rare Mangabey monkeys. You can also take to the heights of the nearby canopy walk, ride mountain bikes, take a day trip to the waters of Lake Kivu or immerse yourself in the local culture on a range of tailored experiences that will give you an insight into crafts, cuisine and more.

Overview

The interiors are spacious with comfortable beds and each tent enjoys river views from the veranda. The rear of the tent leads to a tented bathroom with a flush toilet, a sink and a safari shower.

A team of safari chefs prepare fresh and tasty home-style meals for guests during their stay. Meals are enjoyed out on game drives, by the water’s edge under the shade of an African Pepper tree or by candlelight in the open mess tent higher up the bank.

The area plays host not only to an extraordinary concentration and diversity of wildlife but also to one of mother nature’s greatest spectacles: the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra across the Serengeti/Mara eco system. Even when the migration is not here, there is plenty of resident game to ensure that even in low season it is still one of the finest wildlife locations in Africa.

Rekero’s bush guides are widely recognised to be among the best in East Africa. They undergo a long period of professional training beyond the learning of guiding skills to fully understand the complexity and demands of delivering quality service at the very highest level. Game drives in the park are all done in the company of these experts who can also share their culture in this extraordinary setting.

Overview

Private. Absolutely yours. Right on the river. This superb camp offers you the chance to be completely and entirely alone on the bend of the river that attracts some phenomenal game.

For a minimum of four guests up to 16, you will be looked after by the best guides and trackers to make the most of your experience here in this famous Kenyan reserve. Listen to the sounds of the bush from your canvas tents and wait for the game to come to you. Your hosts will give you their undivided attention and the dining experiences are superb.

With access to the big five on your doorstep, you can enjoy three game drives a day to maximise your viewing opportunities. Even if you stay here when the migration are down in Tanzania, you will still have a huge host of excellent game to see including the big five.

If you feel like the vehicles and drives are a bit much, you could always opt to do a guided bush walk instead and see the smaller details of the African bush than can often get overlooked while sitting perched up high on a cruise. See the tracks of the beasts who roam this wilderness and feel humbled by the experience.

Overview

Towering high on the Rift Valley’s Oloololo Escarpment with direct and private access to the Mara Triangle, this lodge’s name was inspired by the Swahili word for ‘suspended in mid-air’. It’s not only its location that makes it stand out, but also its commitment to education, health and conservation in the region.

Each of the 30 luxury tented suites echo the traditional Maasai culture with splashes of red and tartan print throughout, coupled with minimalist design, so as not to disrupt the dramatic, 180° panoramic views. Soak up your surroundings with provided binoculars from the comfort of your own room, equipped with 10 metre wide, floor-to-ceiling glass windows or on the private wooden decks that hang above the Mara below.

The Pavilion, which sits between the two campsites, is the perfect place to unwind after a day on safari. Catch the sun setting over the reserve with a drink at the cosy pit fire. Other luxury amenities include a fitness centre, swimming pool and art studio where you can meet local Maasai women, and watch their talented craft-making.

Angama Mara also includes Angama Safari Camp which operates seasonally, between July and the end of September. This luxury tented camp accommodates eight guests in four stunning ensuite tents (doubles or twins). The exclusive, private camp is positioned in a small forest, south west of the Mara Triangle and with views looking onto the plains and the heart of the mega herds of the Great Migration.

Overview

Set just a short walk away from the falls themselves on the banks of the Zambezi, one can admire the coil of steam and spray rising from the falls on the horizon.

The 173 rooms and suites are set in well manicured gardens along the banks of the river. This is one of just a few hotels from which the falls can be accessed on foot, making it ideal for those who want to be as close as possible. The hotel has been built in a colonial style, harking back to the days of it’s namesake, with grand dining and lounge areas as well as a large outdoor pool and riverside deck.

Overview

You’ll find the Island Lodge in prime position on the exclusive Katombora Island, protected by the Katombora rapids. A Relais & Châteaux property, and sister to the River Lodge, the Island Lodge offers guests a tranquil, luxurious, and exclusive getaway.

Royal Chundu properties support a selection of positive impact initiatives including Pack for a Purpose, a foundation school and a seed project.

The lodge divides itself between four, spacious and magnificent villas, providing guests with the utmost privacy during their stay. Each villa sleeps between four to six people and features private decks and spacious rooms, surrounded by the island’s unique baobabs and two thousand year old Jackalberry trees.

Visit the intimate boma area for outdoor evening meals or the dining room for indoor occasions. There’s also an infinity pool, spa facilities, and two lounges for you to enjoy during your stay.

Overview

Set on the banks of the Zambezi in a secluded spot upstream from Victoria Falls, Tongabezi delivers luxury and tranquility in equal measure.

The five cottages and seven open-fronted houses that make up the camp have bags of personality and character. Some come with private wooden decks and plunge pools overlooking the river, others open-air clawfoot tubs inviting romantic evenings under the stars. The garden house, with a protected lawn and plunge pool, provides total privacy. Attention to detail is evident in everything from the elegantly canopied beds to carefully chosen artwork.

This is one of the most romantic places to stay in the area, the atmosphere inviting and hidden spots for relaxation plentiful. The lodge makes the most of its location away from the falls, providing a welcome haven after a day marvelling at the Zambezi’s majesty. The welcome is exceptional – and the team friendly and warm.

Overview

Organic and hand-woven, private and intimate, Sandibe is an architecturally unique hideaway deep in the mighty Delta. Dressed in shades of copper and wood, the lodge’s grand and high interiors open out to even grander views, with spacious decks offering a spectacular spot to drink in the resident wildlife.

Emerging among riverside trees in a private concession come the eight elegant suites, each exuding a sense of laid-back luxury. Filled with giant king-sized beds, outdoor showers and sparkling private plunge pools, they provide the perfect comfort after a day of spotting the Big Five on exhilarating game drives.

An alfresco banquet of Pan-African cuisine is then cooked up by expert chefs, while the relaxed but attentive butlers ensure you enjoy an entirely seamless stay.

Overview

One of the most unforgettable safari experiences in Botswana, this is the area where Dereck and Beverly Joubert have spent years filming and photographing the amazing lions and buffalo that inhabit this part of the Delta. What makes the lions of this area so special, is their tendency to hunt during the daylight hours for the buffalo, meaning that you have a much greater chance of seeing the hunt (and the kill) in action that in other areas. This makes for dramatic, exciting game viewing when you are lucky enough to witness these amazing creatures in action.

This is a private 77,000 acre private reserve, helping to protect and conserve the amazing wildlife of the area. The lodge itself has just 6 comfortable tents with a maximum of 12 guests. The tents are comfortable and cosy, decorated with brass fittings and period pieces, harking back to the style from the 1920’s. Photos of the Joubert’s work adorn the walls of the lounge and bar area, where guests are encouraged to mingle and exchange stories of the day’s viewing.

Overview

Botswana’s mesmerizing Okavango Delta is now brighter than ever with the newly transformed (as of 2022) Vumbura Plains. Nestled in a large private concession of 60,000 hectares in the far north of the Delta, the camp is enveloped in some of the most incredible landscapes, home to some of the best wildlife encounters in the area.

Inside, the camp celebrates its sense of place and culture, with design elements that pay homage to its wonderful setting with patterns, textures and colours bringing nature inside. Rooms at the lodge are amongst the biggest in the delta, all open plan, with a sunken seating area, private shaded deck and swimming pool outside as well as indoor and outdoor showers. There is an amazing sense of space here, in keeping with the wide-open plains that the rooms face onto. The rooms are open on three sides (with netting) giving a feeling of being closer to the nature and wildlife whilst still remaining is absolute comfort.

The local connections continue throughout the camp experience.The menu celebrates seasonal produce sourced directly from local farmers, suppliers and artisans.

Activities here are a mixture of game drives and water activities which will vary according to the level of the water and the time of the year. You will find day and night drives, walks and mekoro (dugout canoes) activities, with hot-air ballooning – from April to September each year – as well as scenic helicopter flights, making Vumbura an exclusive destination for the discerning adventure-seeker.

Overview

One of the most famous camps in all of Africa, Wilderness Mombo rightly deserves its reputation due to its remarkable game viewing experiences coupled with the service and luxury of the camp.

Rebuilt in 2018, the camp is made up of nine spacious and elegantly appointed tents, each built on a raised platform giving fantastic views across the plains. To reduce the environmental impact, most of the original material was used in the rebuild. Set in a thicket of giant mangosteen and fig trees, the eight suites boast sweeping views out over the floodplain which attracts a large number of animals. Each suite has a sitting room, bedroom, bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower, plunge pool and wrap-around veranda. Enjoy watching the passing wildlife and panoramic sunsets from your ‘sala’.

Head to the main communal area where you’ll find a small library and a plunge pool to relax in during the afternoons. Enjoy delicious meals in the dining area that overlooks the plains.

The camp is committed to conservation, with much of the power provided by a solar farm and donations made to preservation projects for each guest.

Overview

Ellerman House is a class act throughout. It feels very much like your own home but with top class service befitting a five-star hotel. Perched in one of the most spectacular and privileged settings in Cape Town overlooking Bantry Bay, it is the epitome of comfort and class with a relaxed, elegant style. Decoration is colonial, with a nod to the contemporary and recently refurbished to provide thoroughly modern comforts.

Where Ellerman House excels above others is the excellent house staff, who in these grand surrounds create such a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Taking a (complimentary) evening cocktail from the lounge and strolling out onto the peaceful gardens overlooking the sea for sunset is the perfect end to a day in Cape Town as one feels both special and relaxing.

There are just 11 rooms, two suites and two private contemporary villas. Communal areas include a spacious lounge, large garden area (with outdoor pool) and a huge spa. There is an open kitchen you are invited to visit, a pantry that you can raid as well as the complimentary evening cocktails.

A particular feature of the property is its private art collection. This is simply outstanding, one of the best in South Africa with works from African masters inside the main building and then, underneath is a contemporary gallery. For anyone interested in art this will add an extra element to their stay.

Guests are also able to book Sleep Rooms at Ellerman House. A concept created by wellness expert Harry Jameson, each of the 13 rooms at the property can be converted into wellness rooms specially designed to optimise both sleep and recovery.

Overview

Whether you live in an Apartment in a city or a 4 bedroom House, More Quarters can give you that ‘home from home’ feel while still being immersed in the cultural centre of Cape Town. Nestled in a residential suburb away from the main tourist bustle, the Kloof Street area is often referred to as the heart of Cape Town by the locals. Enjoy the privacy and homely feel of your own apartment styled in a rare combination of historic exteriors with classic modern bohemian interiors, with all the conveniences and amenities of a hotel experience staffed by a family of professional, passionate people. The Redcliffe House is ideal for large groups or families, it being an immaculate 4 bedroom/bathroom home.

This historical building is actually one of the owner’s personal homes, utilized by the family for three months of the year. The remaining nine months the house is available to accommodate guests. The house is serviced daily by the staff of the Hotel, allowing your stay away from home to include being away from the house work. It also features an exclusive swimming pool, solely for your private use. With the ability to safely walk to local restaurants and boutique shops, you really feel as if you are a Cape local and experience the local cosmopolitan lifestyle. All the other amazing opportunities that the Mother City offers are an easy traffic free drive away.