A slew of lodges and camps are opening across Sub-Saharan Africa for your safari pleasure, writes Lorraine Kearney.
Tawana, Moremi Game Reserve
First up, we head to Botswana, to the Moremi Game Reserve in the north, to be exact, where Natural Selection opened its beautiful camp, Tawana, in May.
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Tawana is a new build in the 5 000 km2 pristine wilderness of Moremi, that is unfenced, so that wildlife can wander through the camp. In fact, each suite is raised on a deck so animals can pass unhindered. The eight private suites are shaded by huge ebony trees, and each has a private plunge pool and lounge area. For views, there is the Gomoti River and its floodplains. Electricity is 100% solar, 24/7. And it has a library filled with books on Moremi and the Batawana tribe, as well as a walk-in wine cellar, wood-fired pizza oven and an open-air dining kgotla. You can even have an in-room spa treatment. Tawana is a partnership with Chief Tawana Moremi, the paramount chief of the Batawana tribe.
Mara Toto Tree Camp, Masai Mara
In July, Mara Toto Tree Camp opens in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Unusually, there is a thick ebony forest in the bend of the river, home to the new Great Plains Réserve-Collection camp. It’s in the tree canopy and is connected by suspended walkways for a full tree-top experience.
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There are four suites, each with an indoor lounge and en-suite bathroom. And for your use, a pair of high-quality binoculars and a complete professional camera set.
You also get primary access to the private Mara North Conservancy, and the Maasai Mara National Reserve combines with the Mara Nyika Camp, which has access to the private Naboisho Conservancy, and Mara Plains Camp, giving you access to the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy. And it’s just the right spot to see two wildebeest and zebra migrations: the famous annual southern migration of more than one million animals from the Serengeti, in late July and August, and the summer season migration from Loita Plains later in the year.
Onsonjoi Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater
It’s off to Tanzania next, where Lemala Osonjoi Lodge opens, on the edge of the astonishing Ngorongoro Crater, on 1 March 2025.
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It’s right on the crater rim, nearly 2 450 m above sea level, which means chilly nights. But Lemala keeps you warm, with a slow-burning log stove in each of its 20 suites, fired by sustainably sourced firewood.
It’s got quick access to the crater floor, which means you get prime game viewing because you’re among the first to arrive each morning, and the last to leave each evening. Settle down in one of several intimate seating areas for a cup of locally sourced coffee and to watch the changing light and shadows cast by clouds on the crater floor. There’s also a communal solar-heated pool, behind floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the views. The Ngorongoro Highlands is known for its chilly mornings and crisp mountain air, swirling mists and Spanish moss, and the camp uses light via huge windows to create indoor-outdoor flow while heating the interior. Clever design.
Extracted from Getaway May 2024 print issue.
