Wild Africa
BOTSWANA Botswana safaris often come with a high price tag, with luxurious lodges such as Zarafa Camp, the recently refurbished Belmond Eagle Island Lodge and the upgraded Duba Plains Camp, which opened in March. More flexible high-end options include andBeyond Expeditions’ all-inclusive mobile camping safaris, while Ker & Downey Botswana’s Okuti and Kanana camps are great for families. Botswana offers a diverse range of landscapes
and experiences, from San bushmen interactions in the Kalahari or Makgadikgadi Salt Pan to dug- out canoe safaris in the Okavango Delta. Chobe National Park, to the north, is a good bet for more affordable options such as Chobe Safari Lodge. Another option is a group trip such as Rainbow Tours’ new exclusive Botswana small group tour, which takes in everything from the Savute region of Chobe to the Okavango and the Moremi Game Reserve.
TANZANIA The sprawling plains of Tanzania’s Serengeti host one of nature’s greatest spectacles, the annual Great Migration, and its mobile safari camps provide an excellent, flexible option for making the most of the experience. The phenomenon can be viewed twice a year, from January to March and then November to December. Away from the Serengeti are high-end lodges
around the Ngorongoro Crater, including Asilia Africa’s recently opened Highlands Camp at Ngorongoro and Nomad’s Entamanu Ngorongoro. Selous Game Reserve is another safari magnet,
supported by a wide range of lodges, while over in Ruaha, Asilia’s Jabali Ridge will open in September, with 10 suites and an infinity pool. Another impressive habitat is Lake Tanganyika, where properties include the recently refurbished 130-acre private retreat Lupita Island Resort. There’s a range of coastal properties in Zanzibar and Pemba, such as The Aiyana, which remain a solid bet for relaxing safari extensions.
KENYA Kenya’s peak season runs through July to December. The annual Great Migration can be witnessed around July to September in the Maasai Mara, where other major selling points include high-end Big Five safaris at iconic locations such as Governor’s Camp. Operators are increasingly widening the experience by adding in different habitats such as Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru, both popular birding centres. Other highlights include balloon flights over the Maasai Mara or vintage biplane flights over Laikapia. Trailblazing lodges include Campi ya Kanzi,
which offers yoga and wellness safari packages; Loisaba Tented Camp, with its nearby Loisaba Star Beds; plus the new Saruni Rhino camp, which promises Kenya’s first rhino tracking experience. Good news for coastal areas, with the new-look
Hemingways Watamu set for a July opening, Mombasa’s new cruise ship terminal due to open in August and the Nairobi-Mombasa rail link scheduled for the end of the year.
countrybycountry.com | ABTA Magazine 59
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