Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
5 off-the-beaten track African luxury destinations to visit in 2024
MORE African countries are opening up their borders to welcome tourists. Safari destinations like Kenya and South Africa have become favourites among travellers proving that, when it comes to safari explorations, Africa is the only place for this one-of-a-kind experience.
If you are looking for off-the-beaten-track destinations to explore, below are some of the continent's gems.
Madagascar
The fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar won the award for the Indian Ocean's Leading Green Destination twice at the World Travel Awards.
According to the island's tourism authorities, the Great Island is fascinating due to its biodiversity but also its cosmopolitan culture, with origins from Asia and Africa.
The Great Island has rich fauna and flora, breathtaking landscapes and idyllic beaches, and a visit would not be complete without exploring the Tsingy of Madagascar, fossilised shell formations that will remind you of the Jurassic era.
Other attractions include the Baobab Valley, a unique forest of baobab trees some more than 800 years old; and, Nosy Be, the main island of an archipelago of a dozen small islands known as the island of perfumes because of its scents of ylang-ylang, vanilla, sugar cane and spices.
Meet the famous lemurs of the island, a monkey species endemic to Madagascar found at national parks, natural reserves and rainforests.
Where to stay: The Masoala Rain Forest Lodge near the Masoala National Park. Prices vary according to the length of stay, the lodge offers three to 10 nights packages.
St Helena
One of the world's most remote islands, St Helena is a subtropical paradise where the mountainous terrain and microclimates create an astounding diversity of landscapes all within a few minutes' drive. The island boasts clean air, a sparkling ocean environment, and a safe community with a population of about 4 439.
St Helena is an off-the-beatentrack
destination that has more than 500 plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth. The island is renowned for diving and marine experiences.
According to Conde Nast Traveller, there's a rich history to dig into once you land and some tours detail the island's past, from its enslaved African population to Napoleon Bonaparte's exile and death on the island.
Whale sharks visit St Helena's clear waters from December to March and snorkellers might spot turtles and devil rays, and there are several wrecks to explore by scuba. On land, trails cut through lush forests and up rugged hillsides.
Where to stay: In the historic capital Jamestown, the Mantis St Helena remains the smartest hotel on the island and a stay starts from R4 165 a night for two people.
Mozambique
This country has some of the most pristine dive sites in the world. Its reefs of the Bazaruto Archipelago are home
to more than 1 200 species of marine creatures, including the rare Dugong.
The southern African country has more than 2 500km of unspoilt beaches making it the ideal secluded destination.
The deep channels that flow off the coast of Mozambique offer some of the best big-game fishing for marlin and sailfish in the world. The country is also a popular destination for cruise ships. The Bazaruto and Quirimbas Archipelagos are some of the most romantic and secluded beaches, ideal for a honeymoon.
Mozambique is also famous for the quality of its fresh seafood, including the Portuguese influence in dishes such as peri-peri prawns.
Visit the the Gorongosa National Park, one of the wildest and unspoilt national parks in Africa where visitors can have a true wilderness experience.
Where to stay: The Polana Serena is a perfect 5-star hotel in Maputo with prices starting from R 3526 a night for two.
Northern KwaZulu-Natal
Also known as Zululand, this is a gem safari destination. KwaZulu-Natal is home to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa. This 96 000 hectare Park is home to the Big Five and is also known as King Shaka Zulu's hunting grounds.
Visit the Elephant Coast stretching from the world heritage site Lake St Lucia in the south to Kosi Bay, near the Mozambique Border.
The Elephant Coast is regarded as the ecotourism mecca of the Zulu Kingdom where sand dunes blend with swamps, coastal forests, rocky shores, coral reefs, mangrove swamps, woodlands, savanna grassland and the largest protected wetland in southern Africa, iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
The region is great for land and sea safaris.
Where to stay:
There are plenty of safari lodges to choose from. Head to mFulaWozi Private Game Reserve where the Mthembu and Biyela Lodges prices start at R12 375 for a luxury
suite for two.
Chobe River, Botswana
The Chobe River is the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park, where the great elephant concentrations occur on the river during the dry season.
The national park encompasses a vast area that includes Savuti. For elephant lovers and safari fanatics, the great elephant concentrations on the Chobe River occur during the winter months of May through to October.
For serious birding enthusiasts, the Chobe area is spectacular in the wet summer months when the migrant birds are in full colour, and antelope start dropping their young.
Chobe is also a game-viewing region, particularly in winter from March to July.
Where to stay: Consider a river safari and stay on Zambezi Queen Collection Chobe Princess from R6 950 a suite.
The list was sourced from the