Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Luxury awaits at Africa’s best-kept nature sanctuaries
MAY is Africa Month. Naturally, African travel is in the spotlight.
It is also the month when Travel Indaba, Africa's largest tourism and hospitality showcase, will be held to highlight the vast array of destinations and experiences available across the continent.
There is no doubt that with its abundant natural and unique beauty, the continent is a premier tourism destination. Africa is home to the world's oldest desert, and also a place where one can still view wildlife in its natural habitat.
Africa is a premier destination ready to be uncovered with top-class experiences to rival any in the world. As we look forward to celebrating the continent and all it has to offer, here is inspiration to ignite your travel bug.
Mosi-oa-Tunya: Livingstone Zambia
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park embraces Victoria Falls, which presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming a natural border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The waterfall's name is from the Kololo tribe living in the area, and means ‘The Smoke that Thunders'.
This is due to the immense spray and incredible noise caused by the rushing water. There are plenty of activities in Livingstone, including visiting Mos-oa-Tunya National Park or walking with lions and cheetahs with Mukuni Big Five.
A visit to this destination would not be complete without getting a test of the waters and taking a swim in Devil's Pool or Angel's Pool, depending on the season.
Consider a stay at the Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara with views of the Zambezi River, starting from R15 365 a night for two guests.
Mana Pools National Park: Zimbabwe
A hidden gem in the northern region of Zimbabwe and on the southern banks of the Zambezi River, Mana
Pools National Park will leave you breathless with its beauty.
A paradise for walking and canoeing safaris, Mana Pools is a wildliferich, biodiverse wonderland that delights at every turn.
Explorers can spot hippopotamus, crocodile, elephants and a wonderful array of aquatic birds within this Unesco World Heritage site, and there's a good chance of seeing lionesses hunting around waterholes, where prey are seemingly easy pickings.
The landscape is beautiful too, dotted with acacia trees whose shade becomes vital to the park's more than 12 000-strong elephant population in the dry season, as well as a sprinkling of vibrant plant life.
Consider a stay at Chikwenya Camp for a once in a life-time gameviewing experience, starting from $477 (about R8 931) a night.
Kruger National Park: South Africa
The Kruger National Park has long been one of the world's top tourist destinations, attracting more than a million visitors a year.
For most, its wildlife is understandably the main attraction. The park's sheer size and variety of wildlife means you could spend days exploring it and still not see everything.
It's worth noting that a high proportion of visitors are repeat visitors, with some families going back at least once a year.
The park is home to the so-called ‘Big Five' – lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo – and has no fewer than four distinct types of veld and several smaller areas of distinct vegetation.
It is larger than Qatar, Switzerland and Slovenia, and the home of luxury safari experiences. Consider a stay at Nsala Wilderness Camp overlooking a waterhole frequented by elephants.
Rates start from R8 890 a night for two guests.
Chobe National Park: Botswana
This destination in Botswana is just a hop, skip, and jump over the South African border. It boasts an unspoilt
paradise of adventure and relaxation.
The Chobe River region serves up the winning combination of adventure and abundant wildlife sightings at any time of the year.
This destination is perfect for waterbased safaris, and on a river safari, the game-watching comes to you.
You can also stay on the Chobe at a river hotel if you're looking for endless sights and sounds of the bush.
You can easily spot elephant herds, lions lazing about, and baby antelope by the dozen in the Chobe National Park, and take part in walking safaris and fishing.
Consider a stay at the Ichingo Chobe River Lodge, on a secluded island on the Chobe River, starting from R4 990 (local rates) a night for two people.
Namib Desert: Namibia
The Namib Desert is considered to be the oldest desert in the world. It is also one of the few places in the world where the desert meets the sea.
This ancient desert lies between the icy Atlantic Ocean and the escarpment
of Namibia's interior plateau.
The ochre-coloured dunes of the Namib Desert are magnificent, especially at sundown, and the renowned Sossusvlei Dune area of this arid desert region is especially loved for its towering red-orange dunes and is a mustsee.
The Namib experience the is an ideal place to vastness of Africa's
desert landscapes, soaking up the peace like nowhere else on Earth.
You can go on walking safaris, and scenic desert drives, enjoy star-gazing and spotting rare flora and fauna, or just climb the dunes, making for a truly authentic African experience.
Consider a stay at the Dead Valley Lodge in Sesriem Canyon, starting from R7 800 a night for 2 people.