Africa Travel News - March 2023

For those of you who have not heard of Beagle Expeditions, you may ask what makes it different from the other camps and lodges in Botswana?

Beagle Expeditions is a small, intimate, family-run business owned by Simon and Marleen Byron. Together they have more than 30 years of experience in the safari industry in Botswana and live outside Maun. They are fully committed to the future of the wild places and the people of Botswana.

This is not the normal per person per night safari concept.

Beagle Expeditions offers a truly private experience by taking only 1 booking at a time for a minimum of 4 guests (maximum of 10) and a minimum stay of 4 nights. This provides exclusive access to 30 000 hectares of pristine Okavango Delta and the opportunity to undertake a journey through the wilderness with the intimacy and flexibility of your own camps, guide, safari vehicle and staff complement. Here guests undertake a wild adventure between 2 camps on foot, and game drives or mokoro, and helicopters.

This is not for everyone, but for the ‘right’ family or group it will be the most exceptional experience.

• Seasonality: From April to the end of November each year.
• Per booking: Minimum of 4 guests staying a minimum of 4 nights.
• Children: all ages, certain activities such as mokoro and walking have an age restriction of 12+ years.

A new Jabulani Suite! Unlike current suites, this new addition is unique, as it will be a two-bedroom Suite that will accommodate four people.

It’s an exciting development for the Relais & Châteaux lodge in the private Kapama wilderness.

The building will take place during the months of March through to August 2023, at the far end of the lodge, helping to ensure guests have a soulful safari with Jabulani. The team at Jabulani will arrange guests’ itineraries so that they are not unduly affected.

Namiri Plains is located in an exclusive area of the Serengeti – it is remote and the region is teeming with big cats, making it a popular choice.

Namiri Plains offers unparalleled privacy with no other camps within an hour’s drive. For over 20 years, the area of Soit Le Motonyi was closed to tourism and reserved as a cheetah conservation and breeding program. As a result of this program, the area now features the highest density of cheetahs in East Africa, along with high numbers of lions and leopards, allowing for excellent year-round game viewing.

Activities:

• Game drives
• Walking safaris
• Hot-air balloon safaris (additional cost – note: this involves departing camp at 4 am)
• Cheetah research (additional cost)
• Photographic vehicle (additional cost)

Why choose Namiri Plains?

• Unparalleled privacy with no other camps within an hour’s drive
• Remarkable and spacious accommodation with the addition of a pool, spa, and information centre
• Exceptional big-cat viewing and resident plains game
• Great Migration is accessible from November to June

Bathroom details:

• En suite bathroom with double vanity
• Indoor shower
• Outdoor bathtub
• Toiletries provided

African Bush Camps announced the opening of Khwai Tented Camp, a luxury tented safari camp located along the banks of the Khwai River in the Khwai Concession of Botswana. The new camp, which will accommodate up to 16 guests at once, features environmentally friendly tented accommodations equipped with modern furnishings and amenities.

Each of the 6 double rooms and 1 family unit will have an en suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, a private deck, luxurious bedding, and more.

Opening date: July 2023

Located only a two-and-a-half hours’ drive from Johannesburg in the Waterberg, Kingfisher Villa offers an exclusive and elegant bush getaway for family and friends to come together and enjoy a private safari experience. An airstrip on the reserve caters to those preferring to fly in.

This uber-luxe safari getaway is perfect for multi-generational family groups who can expect the highest level of concierge-style service at every touch point, guaranteeing them the freedom and flexibility to design their own day, from breakfast through to safari activities and dinner.

Guests can custom design their entire stay, choosing to do as little or as much as they wish, at their own pace, while reconnecting with one another in a magnificent setting.

Exclusive-use 5 rooms

Sirai Beach, Kenya Coast

A palatial home on the Kenyan Coast in Kilifi, north of Mombasa. The house has six-bedroom suites, the master suite on the house’s first floor and the others in garden cottages on either side of the main house, with ocean views. In house chef and team. The minimum stay is 2 nights in low-season and 4 nights in the high season.

Their 2-night minimum stay in low-season & 4-night in high-season includes:

• All meals and beverages
• Laundry
• Butler
• Paddleboard (limited snorkel and fishing gear)
• Road transfer to local airstrips

Activities on site:

• 25-meter infinity pool,
• Gym & Spa,
• Tennis Court,
• TV room,
• wine cellar,
• Ocean front coral reef.

Activities off-site:

• Deep-sea fishing
• Sunset dhow cruises
• Watersports
• Lamu day trip
• Golf
• Town and market visits
• Beach bars and restaurants

Open all year round

A magnificent home in Borana Conservancy at the foot of Mount Kenya, enjoying staggering views in every direction. The house has six-bedroom suites. Watering hole and hide on property.

Get there by charter (Pilatus PC12 0 they have their own plane | Heli | daily scheduled to local airstrips

Their minimum 3-night stay includes:

• All meals and beverages
• Spa
• Laundry
• Butler service
• Open 4×4 Landrover safaris
• Guided bush walks
• Mountain bikes
• Road transfer to Borana, Lewa or Nanyuki airstrips

Excludes conservation fees. Available for rental from April to December

Activities on site:

• Pol house, (main pool and heated pool)
• Gym
• Pickleball
• Basketball court
• Spa retreat
• Yoga retreat
• Running track
• Boules pitch
• Croquet
• Waterhole & hide
• Cinema
• Library
• Cellar
• Club room

Activities off-site:

• Safari and game drives
• Mountain biking
• Horse riding
• Forest walks
• Blue pools experience
• Trout fishing
• Cultural exchanges
• Heli flips
• Rhino tracking
• E-bike safaris

Cape Grace will be transitioning into the Accor Luxury Portfolio and will be positioned under the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand, as Cape Grace by Fairmont.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a leader in the global hospitality industry, with a distinctive collection and a worldwide reputation for excellence. With this comes an exciting re-fashioning opportunity for the hotel. Our plans are to start the process towards mid-year, and for the re-fashioning to be completed by end of November 2023.

From the onset, the vision has always been clear – to transform the African hospitality sector and to provide a contemporary offering on the continent. This vision will now come to fruition in Cape Town with the re-fashioning of Cape Grace Managed by Accor, with an unrivaled presence that will connect our guests with the very best Cape Town has to offer.

Whilst already an iconic fixture on the V&A Waterfront, having been voted the ‘Best City Hotel in Africa’ in 2022, this new chapter brings about a new opportunity for Cape Grace by Fairmont to rise to even greater heights.  Cape Town deserves a truly iconic luxury property and who better than Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to achieve this.

The upcoming re-fashioning program presents us with a natural opportunity to refresh rooms and public spaces with layers of sophistication enhanced by subtle artwork collections to create an inspiring atmosphere, cementing Cape Grace’s firm position as one of the timeless iconic hotels in the world.

We are excited to announce the launch of a high-end luxury game lodge, Kateka, located in the big five Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Greater Kruger Park.

The word Kateka means “be blessed” in Tsonga, one of the languages spoken in this north-eastern region of South Africa. This perfectly embodies the visceral reaction elicited by time spent at Kateka, it is truly a blessing.

The lodge features only 2 Deluxe Suites, 3 Classic Suites and a Villa, all of which are spacious and elegantly appointed with breathtaking views of the surrounding wilderness.

Each Suite is equipped with the latest in modern amenities guests would expect of a luxury lodge, including a private plunge pool. The Classic Suites have unique rooftop viewing for star gazing and offer an elevated view of the waterhole. A variety of recreational activities are on offer, including game drives, bush walks, spa and wellness centres and scenic helicopter flights. Our world-class dining experience features locally sourced, seasonal cuisine and an extensive wine list.

Opening date: September 2023