Hunting for a safari camp

African eco-tourism is being boosted with the opening of a slew of new luxury camps committed to sustainability

THE FIRST luxury safari camp in eastern Rwanda opens to guests while another in South Africa that pioneered safari vacations gets a rebuild. The following five properties are among the most noteworthy safari camps scheduled to open in Africa over the next few months. All are in prime game-viewing locales and are committed to sustainability.

MAGASHI, AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA

From the eco-tourism operator Wilderness Safaris, the six-tent Magashi will be the first high-end property to open in Akagera National Park, spanning nearly 101170ha in eastern Rwanda. Overlooking Lake Rwanyakazinga, the camp is being built with sustainably harvested wood.

Akagera has a diverse ecosystem of open plains, woodlands, lakes and grassy low mountains, and guests can view its wildlife – large crocodiles, spotted hyenas and the rare black rhino among them – on game drives, walks and boating trips. Nightly rates from $470 (R6550) a person, inclusive of meals, alcoholic beverages and all game viewing. Opening in April.

CHIKWENYA, MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK, ZIMBABWE

Another new camp from Wilderness Safaris, Chikwenya, open only from April to mid-November, is in a private concession in Mana Pools National Park at the confluence of the Sapi and Zambezi rivers. It will have seven large tents, each with an outdoor deck and shower.

Sustainable initiatives include solar-powered geysers and a water purification system that treats water in the Zambezi River for use in the camp.

The park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including hippos, mongoose, buffalo and elephants, and guests can take both walking and game driving safaris. Nightly rates from $1 288 a person, inclusive of meals, alcoholic beverages and game viewing. Opening in April. Asilia Africa’s Namiri Plains led the way for safaris in the Eastern Serengeti, an area closed to tourism for 20 years for wildlife research.

Now this simple camp is being rebuilt for its fifth anniversary. It will have 10 canvas tents with organic stone walls and floors made out of a mix of recycled materials, including wood and metal.

Namiri means “big cat” in Swahili and the area is famous for its lions, cheetahs and leopards.

Asilia has partnered with the Serengeti Cheetah Project to be part of the protection of one of the last remaining healthy populations of cheetahs in East Africa. Nightly rates from $900 a person, inclusive of meals, alcoholic beverages and game viewing. Opening in June.

JUST OPENED MALAMALA CAMP, SOUTH AFRICA

Situated on a 12 140ha private reserve replete with wildlife on the border of the Kruger National Park, MalaMala first opened in

1964 and pioneered the idea of the photographic safari in South Africa.

It has been completely rebuilt over the last 15 months and the new look includes African slate floors in the 19 guest rooms and artworks from contemporary African artists throughout.

When it comes to sustainability, the camp has eliminated single-use plastics and uses reed beds to filter its liquid waste and sewage before the “clean” water is released back into the surrounding rivers.

Nightly rates from $925 a person, including meals, alcoholic beverages, laundry and game viewing.

CHEETAH PLAINS, SABI SAND GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA

Bordering the Kruger National Park, Cheetah Plains is made up of three houses, each with four bedrooms, multiple communal spaces, a wine cellar, a pool and indoor and outdoor dining areas.

Each home has its own private chef and a spa therapist.

Guests can go on twice-daily game rides where they can expect to see lions, white rhinos, leopards and more than 300 bird species, including the elusive hawk eagle.

The camp uses electric gamedriving vehicles, energy-efficient appliances and a filtration system that recycles waste water.

Nightly rates from $6600 for four people, inclusive of meals, alcoholic beverages and game viewing. |