Make the journey to these five new camps across Africa combining luxury hospitality with an exceptional wildlife experience.
An elephant herd in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
Ngorongoro Lodge, a Meliá Collection Hotel
Meliá Hotels International has announced the early 2023 re-opening of the eco-conscious Ngorongoro Lodge, a Meliá Collection Hotel in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater following a major renovation of the former property. The 28-room, 24-suite property with two restaurants, a pool and spa is committed to protecting the natural environment and sustainability through energy efficiency, including the use of solar energy, and waste management. The hotel aims to also integrate and promote Maasai heritage and culture through employing people from the community, philanthropic projects and collaborations with local artisans. This property is one of several lodges occupying the crater highlands in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania. This area of Tanzania is known as the Garden of Eden for its exceptional biodiversity and Ngorongoro Crater is said to be the world’s biggest intact volcanic caldera. The region is also home to a high concentration of the big five wildlife species.
The Royal Suite at Ngorongoro Lodge, a Meliá Collection Hotel.
Angama Amboseli
The wildlife-rich Kimana Sanctuary bordering Amboseli National Park, known for its large elephant herds and views of Mount Kilimanjaro, in southern Kenya is the setting for the forthcoming sister property to Angama Mara, Angama Amboseli. Expected to open in November 2023, this camp showing a contemporary take on African design will accommodate guests in 10 tented suites with private decks overlooking Kilimanjaro and this accommodation will be joined by communal areas including indoor-outdoor dining and a raised swimming pool area as well as an art gallery, makers’ studio and photographic studio. The lodge is partnering with Big Life Foundation to afford guests the opportunity to get involved with conservation projects during their stay. Experiences with purpose will include ranger patrol demonstrations and camera trap monitoring.
River views at Zambezi Grande in Zambia.
Zambezi Grande
Last month saw the opening of Zambezi Grande, a family-owned luxury lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River and bordering Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia. For the creation of this new property, which is open seasonally between April and November, Michelle Throssell Interiors reimagined the former Cape Dutch-style homestead to draw on the surrounding nature through its warm color palette and design accents of local artisans. Sleeping up to 20 people, the boutique property houses a collection of rooms and suites with unobstructed wilderness views, along with shared living and dining space, a terrace for watching the wildlife and a pool deck. Days here are spent on morning and afternoon game drives, on a walking safari, fishing or onboard a river cruise. The dining experience then places the focus on local and seasonal flavors as the property sources produce from local farming communities. To ensure it has a positive impact on its surroundings, the lodge leads a series of conservation initiatives and community outreach programs.
Inside the new Zambezi Grande lodge in Zambia.
North Island Okavango
June 2023 will mark the opening of a new camp by Natural Selection, North Island Okavango in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. This new camp northwest of both Duba Plains and Vumbura aims to embody the Delta experience with activities including game drives, mokoro safaris, Delta boating, nature walks, hot-air ballooning and scenic helicopter flights. The camp is surrounded by islands within channels and lagoons, all rich in wildlife. The lodge’s interior design, undertaken by Hint Interiors, will combine local crafts with a contemporary feel. Textures, fabrics and local craftsmanship celebrating modern Africa will be seen through the guest rooms, each complete with a sunken sundeck and plunge pool. Natural Selection leases this uninhabited private island from the local northern community’s Magobagoba Youth Trust. The lodge is launched as a purpose driven business with proceeds supporting educational projects and employment.
A first look at the forthcoming North Island Okavango lodge in Botswana.
Loapi Tented Camp
Launching in April 2023, Loapi Tented Camp will soon provide a new hospitality experience for guests coming to the foothills of the Korannaberg mountains in South Africa’s biggest private wildlife reserve, Tswalu Kalahari. Sustainability is the focus for this forthcoming property housing just four one-bedroom and two two-bedroom private safari homes, all combining canvas with glass and steel in their contemporary structures and set at least 100 metres apart, with plunge pools, fire pits and views across the reserve. Each tented home will come with its own dedicated butler, a private safari vehicle, tracker and guide, and all meals will be prepared by a private chef in the interactive kitchen. In addition to traditional wildlife drives, activities from here include a meerkat experience and seeking out the area’s ancient rock art.