The cornucopia of wildlife that is the African wilderness has enthralled many to cross continents to come face to face with its furry and feathered denizens.
After all, Attenborough’s many documentaries have essentially served as stellar adverts for its vast savannas. But, your date with the Big Five doesn’t have to be a rugged, untamed affair as seen on screen, so have a look at these luxury safari experiences in Africa.
Entrust your exotic itineraries with them; from getting within reaching distance of hulking elephants to watching the sun dip below the horizon in sanctuary-like abodes, you’ll bear witness to what the Mother Continent has in store for the most intrepid of travellers.
1. Abercrombie & Kent – The Great African Migration in Style
Set in the safari capital of the world, Abercrombie & Kent’s The Great African Migration In Style promises astounding views of Nairobi’s outdoors and its gnarly inhabitants. Those who embark on this 2-week safari between Kenya and Tanzania will make stops at various wildlife sanctuaries, so have your binoculars at the ready.
Image: Abercrombie & Kent
Travellers will get to walk alongside Amboseli National Park’s gentle giants, their massive herds of elephants, at the foot of the towering Mount Kilimanjaro. Over at Serengeti National Park, the famed Great Migration unfolds before your very eyes as unending columns of wildebeest and other herbivores march across the Serengeti plains.
Cap off your trip with a visit to the Masai village to mingle with the locals for a bit. Things get a little more hands-on when you’re out and about in the village, as you learn about the vicinity’s medicinal plants, help the folks build a hut, and watch on as the tribesmen herd cattle.
Image: Sanctuary Retreats
You’ll also get to recharge at a slew of exquisite accommodation on your nomadic journey. These include a 3-day retreat to Sanctuary Olonana, a secluded lodge sat on a private stretch of the Mara River frequented by a resident pod of hippos.
Rates: From USD$22,490/pax, ~S$30,336.20, for a 14-day safari
2. Micato Safaris – The Micato Grand Safari
The Bush family during their stay with Micato Safaris.
Image: Micato Safaris
With 6 decades of on-the-ground experience under their belt, Micato Safaris’ expertise is unmatched when it comes to crafting astounding safaris around Africa. Their star-studded list of previous customers is a testament to that, which includes the likes of president George Bush, Natalie Portman, and Heidi Klum.
As such, pull no punches and opt for their most glamorous one, which is The Micato Grand Safari. This 15-day expedition promises visits to must-see destinations like the Great Rift Valley and the Serengeti, so each day is just brimming with adventures around every African corner.
Image: Elewana Lewa Safari Camp
Highlights include hanging out with the critically endangered Rothschild Giraffes at the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, plus a short stay at Lewa Safari Camp, whose 65,000 acres of private protected wilderness play host to the world’s largest concentration of Grevy’s zebra.
Image: Micato Safaris
Your journey will eventually lead you to the spellbinding Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. This otherworldly geological wonder is teeming with life, from the long-limbed giraffes to its chorus of sprightly avians like flamingos.
Image: Micato Safaris
As for lodging, expect to spend your nights in palatial resorts like the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti and Hemingways Nairobi. In particular, take a dip in the former’s infinity pool which overlooks the rolling savannas, making sunsets especially magical.
Rates: From USD$32,650, ~S$44,040.77/pax, for a 15-day safari
3. Jacada Travel – Ultra Luxe Zimbabwe & Botswana
Image: Jacada Travel
Jacada Travel’s Ultra Luxe Zimbabwe & Botswana safari transports globetrotters to the biodiverse nations of Southern Africa. Starting in the Mana Pools National Park situated on the banks of Zambezi River, you’ll spend 4 days in the stomping grounds of big game animals like elephants, lions, and zebras.
Image: Jacada Travel
If you can’t get enough marvelling at these awe-inspiring beasts, you’ll be glad to find that the Matetsi Private Game Reserve is also on the itinerary, as it’s one of the largest of its kind in the area. Here, ready your cameras as you peer at prides of lions on the prowl, as opportunistic wild dogs and hyenas trail cautiously behind.
Image: Jacada Travel
Of course, you can’t miss out on the masterpiece that is Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It’s wedged between the cusps of Zambia and Zimbabwe, and you’ll be privy to panoramic views of the rushing waters from above via a helicopter ride. Once you’ve touched down, you can take an afternoon or two to take in its splendour; go white water rafting, or take it easy with a tour of the falls alongside a learned guide.
Image: Jacada Travel
Accommodations-wise, there’re glamping-like tents like at the Zarafa Camp to look forward to. These tented suites are built upon raised platforms that face the floodplains of the Zibadianja Lagoon, giving you unobstructed views of the game-dotted terrain whenever you’d like.
Rates: From S$51,225/pax, for a 14-day safari
4. Luxury African Safari – Beyond Expectations
Staying in South Africa, Luxury African Safari surely lives up to their name with their Beyond Expectations safari. This one’s a tad different, as you’ll get to spend some time in the idyllic city of Cape Town, before embarking on your standard rounds about the various game reserves.
Image: Luxury African Safari
After setting foot into the coastal capital that is Cape Town, take a private tour of the picturesque Cape of Good Hope. Then, hop onto a helicopter transfer that’ll take you right to the doorstep of the Winelands region further east, where you can while the afternoon away at 350-year-old wineries as you sip on glasses of the good stuff.
Image: Kruger National Park
Once you’ve had enough of the city sights, have your sights set for Kruger National Park. It holds the distinction of being the biggest game reserve in South Africa, boasting 2 million hectares of land where wildlife like buffaloes, hippos, and rhinos call home. If you’re a feline fanatic, count yourself lucky; the park also plays host to various species of big cats, with the elusive leopard being the pinnacle sighting on a game drive here.
Image: Luxury African Safari & BelmondWhen it’s time to call it a day, you’ll be hitting the sack in a slew of Belmond’s most lovely luxury hotels like the Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge and the Belmond Eagle Island Lodge. Apart from sinking into your king-sized bed, you can also head out for curated experiences organised by the hotel, such as going on a traditional canoe ride or admiring iconic baobab trees that have weathered over a millenia.
Rates: From USD$15,563, ~S$20,992.54/pax, for a 14-day safari
5. &Beyond – Primates & Predators
For a change of pace, swap the expansive African plains for a trek through the jungles of Rwanda with &Beyond’s Primates and Predators experience. Although you won’t spot any lions perched amongst the canopies in Volcanoes National Park, you’ll get to observe the world’s largest population of wild mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Image: &Beyond
Fret not, you’ll still get your dose of the Big Five at the storied Okavango Delta. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a pulsing wetland, which is home to critically endangered species like the black and white rhinos. Time your trips right and visit when the delta gushes forth with floods during July to September, and you’ll be greeted by views of wildlife frolicking at the water holes.
Image: &Beyond
Lodging during your sojourn here features nights at &Beyond’s very own Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp and Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. These tasteful accommodations pull you close to nature, as you clink glasses over a candlelit dinner with a backdrop of the boundless delta in your backyard.
Image credit: &Beyond
Before bidding farewell to Africa, you’ll also get to spend some time on Cape Town’s sunny shores. As such, don’t forget to wave goodbye to the penguin colony at Boulders Beach during the last leg of your journey, or soak in the sun on the pearly white sands of Hout Bay.
Rates: USD$18,805, ~S$25.370.30/pax, for a 13-day safari
6. Rhino Africa – Luxury Southern Africa Safari Experience
Image: Rhino Africa
If you can’t bear to completely shun the city, then Rhino Africa’s Luxury Southern Africa Experience will be right up your alley. Holidays in South Africa are incomplete without visiting the melting pot of cultures that is its capital city of Cape Town, so that’s where your journey begins. It’s your call; indulge in some slap-happy shopping at the V&A Waterfront, or bump shoulders with socialites at beachside siestas at Clifton and Camps Bay.
Image: Rhino Africa
Afterwards, ditch the city skyline for South Africa’s biggest game reserve, the Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve. Choose between exploring the reserve’s untouched wilderness on game drives, or saddle up with a guided horse safari instead. Either way, keep your eyes peeled for the meerkat colonies, herds of buffalo, and the familiar pangolins.
There’ll be obligatory stops at the picture-perfect Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls during your 19-day odyssey, and your stay at Silvan Safari within the Kruger National Park will be especially enchanting as well.
Image: Silvan Safari
They’ve got 6 suites, all themed after trees found in South Africa, and their Leadwood Suites is the most opulent of the bunch. It’s fitted with an open-air deck that serves as your window into the wild side, plus there’s even an on-site photo studio for you to develop your snaps, immortalising your memories for all to see.
Rates: USD$22,172, S$29,912.80/pax, for a 19-day safari
Unravel the wonders of Africa with these luxury safaris
Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or just looking to leave it all behind for a far-flung respite, consider a luxury safari with any one of these tour operators. One thing’s for certain, the unmarred African wilderness is truly sui generis. So if you’d like to wake up to the trumpet of elephants, you know where to turn to.
Cover image: Jacada Travel
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