*A version of this article originally appeared in the May 2022 Bush Telegraph newsletter. You can read our recent newsletters and sign-up to receive these in your inbox on our Bush Telegraph newsletter page.
In early 2022, a flurry of new safari camps opened across Africa, a few of which merit special mention here. Pioneering safaris in previously inaccessible locations and bringing the latest in eco-luxury tents, we’re tipping these camps to become new hotspots with Expert Africa’s travellers.
Several of these camps have been created by close partners of Expert Africa, so we – and you – can be assured that great guiding, attention to detail and a solid conservation focus is embedded in these new places. If you’re planning your next trip, you should have a look at these or ask us for more details – we’re very excited to feature them.
East African Additions…..Ruaha Rules and Mara Retreats
In Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, the intimate, 4-tent Usangu Expedition Camp is the first camp in the Usangu Wetlands. Set up your own camera-trap on arrival, visit the nearby Douglas Bell Eco Research Station to see scientific field work in action, consider fly-camping in the ‘star-cubes’ on a guided walking safari, or take a leisurely boat trip along the maze of seasonal waterways.
In the remote northern reaches of Ruaha, veteran guide Andrew ‘Moli’ Molinaro and his wife Noelle Herzog, have opened a permanent camp, Kichaka Zumbua. Having run one of Tanzania’s top walking camps, Kichaka Expeditions, for years, Moli and Noelle have picked out the ideal safari base for this small but perfectly formed camp. With only 3 suites, each with a semi-circular plunge pool and panoramic roof terrace, this is a great spot for engaging safaris on foot, with world-class guiding guaranteed.
Wilderness seclusion in Kenya’s Maasai Mara ecosystem has arrived in the form of Offbeat Ndoto. With only four tents and careful attention to detail, this camp will surely become an Expert Africa favourite. Set in a picturesque valley in the Mara North Conservancy, overlooking the sycamore figs lining the Olare Orok river, this relaxed camp is friendly and effortlessly stylish, with wildlife aplenty, including excellent lion-watching and Great Migration viewing in the neighbouring Maasai Mara National Reserve. It’s a terrific spot, with brilliant opportunities for families and friends to take over the whole camp.
Southern African Selection…..Vintage to Cutting-Edge
Tucked under a shady ebony grove, between the upper reaches of the Okavango Delta and the Selinda Spillway, Okavango Explorers Camp offers a classic safari experience with a touch of 1920s expedition glamour. With wild dogs hunting here, large numbers of elephants congregating in the dry season and great birdlife on the water, it’s a super spot and a wonderfully down-to-earth addition to the Delta’s camps.
For under-canvas, historic glamour though, the rich décor of Duke’s Camp is unlike anything else seen in the Okavango. Reminiscent of its acclaimed sister-camp, Jack’s Camp in Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Duke’s Camp’s patterned tent interiors, canopied four-poster beds, mahogany antiques and Persian carpets create a distinct Old World aesthetic, matched by its afternoon tea served on vintage silverware and formal dinners at the vast banqueting table.
If a more contemporary twist on bush luxury is your style, Machaba Safaris – already well-loved by Expert Africa travellers for their marvellous camps in Botswana and Zimbabwe – are opening two new camps in 2022. The elevated, canvas-chic tents at Kiri Camp in the Okavango enjoy open-sided vistas, beautifully styled interiors and lantern-lit decks overlooking the water, but it’s the crack team in charge who will doubtless make this beautiful camp a stay to remember. Over in Zimbabwe, the same guiding principles are behind Mana River Camp, a simple safari camp on the banks of the mighty Zambezi, in a park famed for its abundant water and wildlife and superlative walking safaris.
Across the river in Zambia, luxurious Lolebezi opens its six striking suites in June 2022. A fusion of original architecture and Zambian artisan craftsmanship, it’s a captivating look. Beaded, cocoon canopies hang around the beds, ceiling-hung leather chairs encourage idle river gazing, and the intricate woven ceilings and glinting copper touches are all beautifully crafted. There are enormous riverfront picture windows, an infinity pool, a canopy walkway and a spa to encourage dreamy relaxation between safari activities on land and water.
Do get in touch with us to find out how any of these new camps can be incorporated into a tailor-made Expert Africa safari…we’d be delighted to help!
If you’ve been inspired and want to find out more, give us a call or enquire now to speak to an expert.
