From majestic Mount Kilimanjaro and the wide-open plains of the Maasai Mara in Kenya, to Botswana’s wildlife-rich Okavango Delta area, our 2024 safari ‘Yes List’ has never looked this exciting.
Here we go…
KENYA
- For the elephant enthusiasts
If you’ve fallen in love with the idea of seeing that iconic African image of elephants and giraffes crossing the plains with a dramatic silhouette of Mount Kilimanjaro in the background, then Kenya should definitely be on your ‘Yes List’.
Our YPA founders Nick and Ashley recently visited Angama’s Amboseli Safari Lodge, located in the heart of Kimana Sanctuary (Kenya’s first community-owned conservancy). It’s well-known for its remarkable density of wildlife and is set within a Fever Tree forest where one can still find some of Africa’s last Super Tuskers (elephants with tusks so large they drag along the ground as they walk).
“We saw large herds of elephants on every game drive, so if you love elephants, this is a must-visit,” Nick and Ashley confirm. “The camp is small, offering six standalone tents and two family tents, which give you exclusivity and a high attention to detail. Plus, on a clear day, you can see stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro.”
Image from our recent trip to Angama
- For an authentically ‘wild’ ethos
The Enonkishu Conservancy in the Maasai Mara in Kenya boasts two accommodation options, both of which we’re crazy about for different reasons.
- House In The Wild is a boutique lifestyle lodge located on a bend in the Mara River with 8 rooms. It’s great for kids, especially the open manicured lawns which the kids will love running around on after spending a few hours inside in a game vehicle.
“The guides are great with kids, and the food is served at a pace that makes all the kids (and parents!) happy.”
- Wild Hill (opening in July 2024) is an exquisite retreat built into the edge of the Kileleoni Hill, the highest point in the Maasai Mara.
Nick and Ashley got an exclusive sneak peek of this property recently when they did a hard hat walk through the villa: “It boasts five amazing suites, a private spa, and incredible views over the Mara. It’s also going to have a pickleball court, which is a passion project for owners Lippa and Tarquin Wood.” (For those of you who are unfamiliar with this fast-growing sport, think about a combination between tennis, table tennis and badminton.)
Image courtesy of Wild Hill
- For a slow safari experience (opening in July 2024)
Mara Toto Tree Camp, nestled into a forest canopy of ebony trees, is set to open in July this year. It is going to be the highest level of luxury that the Great Plains group offers, which is a very exciting addition to the Maasai Mara area.
Nick and Ashley love this location for the spectacular safari experiences on offer: “This area always delivers great wildlife sightings, and we love that it’s a private area away from the main game reserve. The safari experience here feels less rushed.”
BOTSWANA
- For intimate wildlife encounters (opening in April 2024)
For a raw, remote, and untamed experience of Botswana’s eastern Okavango Delta area, we’re eagerly anticipating Wilderness Mokete’s opening this April.
Mokete is all about safaris for the brave. They’ve forgone walls and added cantilevered canvas roofs that slide away, revealing open night skies and a carpet of stars to gaze up at. Due to the open layout of the camp and high density of wildlife, only guests 16 and older are permitted. Lions actively hunt throughout the day while flourishing packs of hyenas compete with other predators for game, including cheetah, wild dog, bat-eared fox, jackal, African wild cat and serval.
Image courtesy of Wilderness
This solar-powered, tented camp only has nine tents on site, for 18 guests in total. It’s intentional about leaving a light footprint and presents a beautifully minimalist but refined aesthetic.
- Island living safari
When Nick and Ashley heard about a safari camp being located on a private island, they knew that they had to visit North Island Camp in the Okavango Delta. It’s surrounded by a cluster of other small islands and lagoons, offering great game viewing opportunities on the floodplains, open savannah plains and in the lush woodlands.
Image by Chris Joubert, from our recent trip to Botswana
There are only 4 tents in the camp, offering unique and intimate, up-close-and-personal safari experiences on land, on water and in the air. The location is second to none, and it’s without a doubt one of the best ways to experience all of the Okavango Delta’s wild sides.
- Unrivaled Okavango Delta discovery (opening in May 2024)
Situated in Botswana’s iconic Moremi Game Reserve, Natural Selection’s new camp, Tawana, is due to open in May.
Image courtesy of Natural Selection
Named after the partnership that was formed between Chief Tawana Moremi (the paramount chief of the Batawana tribe) and Natural Selection Camps, Tawana will celebrate the cultural heritage and rich wilderness of the region, while also offering its guests the freedom to experience one of the last truly wild corners of Africa.
The camp features eight luxurious and expansive suites (including 3 family suites), each with its own lounge, private terrace, and plunge pool. The lush riverine forest that surrounds the camp offers a beautiful backdrop, presenting brilliant bird and game viewing opportunities from the comfort of your own suite.
Which of these incredible locations will be in your 2024 safari? Let us help you plan the perfect combination – travel@yourprivateafrica.com
