africa | regions
Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga sails on scheduled departures every Wednesday and Saturday. Further west, Namibia may have fewer vineyards
and fine-dining options in comparison to neighboring South Africa, but its raw landscape is fast becoming a bucket-list safari destination. The Skeleton Coast is fortunate to have a healthy population of southern right whales, while Etosha National Park attracts more than a million flamingos. Onguma Nature Reserve on the fringe of Etosha
National Park has seen some exciting changes over the past two years. Launched in November 2022, following on from Onguma’s popular Dream Cruiser, Camp Kala offers a sleep-out under the stars in a delightfully converted game-viewing vehicle with a dining deck, ensuite bathroom and bed overlooking a watering hole. Those wanting to eschew helicopter rides and long
drives have new walking trails to look forward to as an authentic experience of reconnecting with nature. “April 2024 will see the introduction of our new
guided walking trails, which will run during the winter months (April to end September) when temperatures are cooler and the bush is less dense, which is perfect for bush walks,” says Onguma’s Managing Partner Fritz Vorster. “Our guests will spend three days and two nights in an untamed wilderness area of the reserve under the care of our experienced trails rangers.” This trail will stop overnight at a pre-erected, off-
grid tented camp before sunset. The camp will have a bonfire pit, dining area and a boma under a canopy of magnificent stars. For the eco-conscious traveler, Camp Doros opened
in the heart of Damaraland in 2023. The camp’s six tents are made from recycled materials and powered by solar energy. Visitors can join walking tours, which include searching for the desert-adapted black rhino. For anyone wanting to skip road trips, Audley
Travel has launched a nine-night flying safari around Namibia’s Skeleton Coast that combines sunrise and star-gazing excursions in the dunes of Sossusvlei, along with meeting the local Himba tribes and boat trips on the Kunene River. Meanwhile, resorts in Mauritius are rethinking how to cater to families and large groups. Sunlife’s four resorts saw a series of renovations this year: “There have been significant changes to the rooms at Long Beach and our adults- only resort, Ambre,” says François Eynaud, Sunlife’s CEO. “We have also added interconnecting family rooms with separate bathrooms to cater for visiting families at Sugar Beach.” Sustainability remains a top priority in Mauritius,
where the tourism board and the Sustainable Island Mauritius project launched the Sustainable Tourism Mauritius Awards in 2022. For U.S. travelers heading for Africa in 2024-
25, trips that offer both sustainable and unique experiences are high on the bucket list.
Worldwide Destination Guide 2024/25 | ASTA | 49
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