Africa anew
Walking shoes – check. Sunscreen – check. Camera – check. With the much-anticipated openings of these four luxury safari camps, there’s never been a better time to explore Africa. (Plus: local is lekker at Joburg’s newest hotel – a stylish cocktail of LA cool, and Cape Town’s waterfront icon.)
“When you realise the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future,” wrote primatologist and conservationist Dian Fossey, after dedicating much of her life to researching Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. A handful of soon-to-launch safari camps across Africa – including one not far from Fossey’s Rwandan research centre – is set to prioritise future-forward conservation as well as promise guest experiences that are both luxurious and rewarding. These are our pick of launches to look out for over the next few months. Pop them at the top of your 2025 travel list and experience Africa afresh.
ZAMBIA
Chichele Presidential
Built in the 1970s as a private getaway for Zambia’s first president – the late Kenneth Kaunda – Chichele Presidential lodge is in the finishing stages of an architectural and design overhaul that has us eagerly anticipating its March 2025 relaunch. Located on a hilltop overlooking the South Luangwa National Park (often referred to as the Valley of the Leopards due to its prolific leopard population), the ten-suite lodge has been reimagined by the award-winning Saffer combo of architect Jack Alexander and hospitality design studio Fox Browne Creative, and is set to elevate Zambia’s luxury safari experience. Think textured material palettes, mineral tones, and contemporary lines, paired with decorating nods to the historic homestead once graced by the late Queen. Protecting the environment: What’s not to love about Chichele’s commitment to Eden Organics, a local community project? Launched by a collective of widows to feed and support their families, Eden Organics will supply fresh organic ingredients to Chichele’s kitchen. We love that the collective’s commitment to sustainable agriculture ensures that ingredients are grown with respect for the environment.
www.chiawa.com/chichele-presidential/
RWANDA
Wilderness Bisate Reserve
After the ultimate Rwandan gorilla-viewing opportunity? This month sees the launch of Wilderness Bisate Reserve, a sister camp to the award-winning Wilderness Bisate. With Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park as its backdrop, Wilderness Bisate Reserve offers panoramic views of all six of Virunga’s dormant volcanoes. The park is home to hundreds of the endangered mountain gorillas, with gorilla trekking a non-negotiable must for guests. Other activities on offer include tree planting, community visits, and the opportunity to hike to the ruins of Dian Fossey’s research centre. Best part? With only four suites, it’s guaranteed to be an entirely intimate and extremely luxurious experience. Drawing inspiration from Rwanda’s Royal Palace, the interiors of Nick Plewman’s striking architecture have been designed by Caline Williams-Wynn of Artichoke Interior Design in shades of green, white and black. Texture comes in the form of a material palette that includes thatch, timber, brick, basketry and hand-chipped volcanic rock. Artworks by local artist Rigobert Uwiduhaye and plush embroidered cushions and chairs by NGO, IBABA, add authentic personality to the suites, each with its own viewing deck complete with a wood-fired hot tub. Going green: Core to the Bisate concession is a reforestation project spanning 42 hectares of previously agricultural land. More than 100 000 indigenous trees have already been planted, including Dombeya, Afromontane bamboo and Hagenia. With an onsite tree nursery, guests may choose to participate in tree-planting activities. The scent of fresh soil on one’s hands – now that’s what we call reconnecting with nature!
www.wildernessdestinations.com/africa/rwanda/volcanoes-national-park/bisate-reserve
TANZANIA
Singita Kilima
Following hot on the heels of the opening – in Singita Grumeti – of Singita Milele earlier this year, Singita Kilima, a five-suite exclusive-use villa, opens in Singita Grumeti this month. The largely untouched wilderness in northern Tanzania forms part of the Serengeti Mara ecosystem, and is characterised by thorny scrublands, riverine forests and grassy plains. From its perch on the slopes of Sasakwa Hill, Singita Kilima will look out over a landscape that’s home to the great wildebeest migration. From game drives, guided safari walks and hot air balloon experiences expect to see Maasai giraffe, bat-eared foxes, cheetah, leopard, lion, topi and more. And know that when it’s time to return to the villa, the ultimate in Singita luxury awaits… textured suites in earthy tones and with modern comforts, and that include floor-to-ceiling windows, fireplaces, lounges and loungers, writing desks and breathtaking views. In addition to two private plunge pools, an infinitely pool will be central to the outdoor entertainment spaces. Ensuring community development: Singita partners with the Grumeti Fund, a non-profit organisation that carries out community development and wildlife work within the Serengeti ecosystem. The Grumeti Fund aims, across the 350 000 acres of Grumeti, to create an environment in which communities and wildlife can coexist sustainably.
www.singita.com/lodge/singita-kilima/
BOTSWANA
Mbamba
Set to open in April next year is Natural Selection’s newest tented camp, Mbamba. Meaning ‘hello’ in the region’s Bukakhwe San Bushman dialect, Mbamba is located in Northern Botswana’s Okavango Delta, north of the Duba and Vumbura plains and adjacent to the Moremi Game Reserve. Situated in the shade of a cluster of leadwood trees, the classically-styled tents are designed in the Ralph Bousfield style (always a visual treat!) and pique our interest for their yesteryear aesthetics. The mere thought of cabinets of curiosities, Persian rugs, and four-poster beds has us eager to book one of the twelve tents (4 doubles, 6 twin and 2 family units) on offer. Guests will be able to experience the area’s abundant wildlife, which includes sable antelope, serval, caracal, wild dogs and more than 350 species of bird, by vehicle, boat and mokoro excursions. Preserving the past: Helicopter visits to the Tsodilo Hills, a World Heritage Site with over 4,500 individual Bushmen paintings, will also be on offer to guests. Tsodilo has one of the highest concentrations of rock art in the world, with artworks dating back to 1300 AD.
www.naturalselection.travel/camps/mbamba/
SOUTH AFRICA
Hyde Hotel
Closer to home, in Joburg, Rosebank’s ‘The Bank’ building is now home to South Africa’s first Hyde hotel. This boho-style brand, which has its roots in the LA music festival scene, has hotels in Ibiza, Miami, and London. Hyde brings its free-spirited, California-cool vibe to Jozi. Expect a laid-back and welcoming hit of super-cool LA style, complemented with murals and art installations by some of South Africa’s most exciting young artists. The hotel offers all the new-age trimmings we’ve come to love – high-speed Wi-Fi, black-out curtains and well-stocked mini bars in spacious rooms with glorious double-volume height, as well as Proud Mary – a lively hotspot restaurant and bar, an always-open gym, and a co-working space where you can work without anyone ‘harshing your mellow’, as Hyde would say.
www.hydehotels.com/home/johannesburg/
Cape Grace
Located in the heart of Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, with views of the working harbour and yacht marina, the Cape Grace remains a timeless classic on the city’s hotel scene. International architecture and interior design firm 1508 London’s recent, extensive upgrade of the hotel opens up public spaces, welcomes in iconic views of Table Mountain, and injects an understated African aesthetic into both shared and private spaces. We’re particularly impressed by the Cape Grace’s local art collection, with exciting abstract works by artists including Galia Gluckman, Andile Dyalvane, Leila Abrahams and the Keiskamma Art Project. Such engaging pieces extend to the hotel’s Bascule bar (see our coverage here) and restaurant, Heirloom, where executive chef Asher Abramowitz recently launched his summer menu. With local flavours and favourites including Saldana Bay oysters, West Coast sardines, braaied lamb rack, and smokey samp and beans occupying pride of place on the menu, tables at Heirloom will be in high demand this summer – so do what we did and book early to guarantee your seat.
