with a view
Track down the latest luxury safari lodges with Natalie Marsh’s guide to some of the best openings across Africa
DESTINATIONS NEW LODGES | AFRICA
w
atching an elephant approach a watering hole from the comfort
of the sundowner deck in your luxury safari lodge is something we could have only dreamed of in the past year. But while we’ve been stuck at home, lodge and camp owners across Africa have been busy getting ready to welcome visitors back with a host of new openings and renovations. As travel restrictions scuppered holiday plans in 2020, even the most- devoted safari lovers won’t have had the chance to visit many of these new properties yet, while other lodges due to open in the not-too-distant future are sure to inspire forward bookings. Here, for the benefit of clients who may have squirrelled away a bit of extra cash over lockdown, is a round- up of renovations and luxury openings to tempt them when travel restarts.
BEST FOR . . . DELTA WILDLIFE The Okavango Delta in Botswana sits centre stage when it comes to wildlife viewing opportunities, and the Tollman family, owners of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, have taken full advantage of the location to build the Xigera Safari Lodge, which opened in January. The lodge is surrounded by wetlands, and
guests can take to the water in an unusual glass-bottomed version of the traditional mokoro canoe to see even more wildlife. And for a chance to fall asleep under the stars, they can book a night in the Baobab Treehouse, half a mile from the main lodge, to take in the natural surroundings from three
storeys above the floodplain. Book it: Xigera Safari Lodge’s nightly rate starts at about £1,847 per person on a fully inclusive basis, including park fees and all activities.
xigera.com
BEST FOR . . . DESERT EXPERIENCES It’s hard to think of somewhere more peaceful and private than the vast expanse of the Namib Desert. Southwest of Windhoek, Namibia, lies Wilderness Safaris’ Little Kulala, which reopened last November after a renovation that included expanding its 11 suites. A hot-air balloon ride, stargazing and guided quad bike tours are just some of the ways guests can make the most of the renowned
Sossusvlei sand dunes nearby. Book it: Three nights at Little Kulala starts from £2,774 per person, including flights from London and return air transfer from Windhoek.
jacadatravel.com
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travelweekly.co.uk 25 MARCH 2021 41
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