An Awe-Inspiring Journey to Namibia and South Africa

Overview

This historic hotel in colourful Cape Town has just 19 rooms, offering an intimate escape from the neighbourhood’s buzzy streets. It’s all about local artisans here, with artworks, crafts and striking pieces of furniture that create a bold but beautiful maximalist aesthetic. Expect emerald greens and distinctive printed wallpapers, accented with gold trimmings. 

The property is perfectly placed for exploring the restaurants and bars on popular Kloof Street, or for getting outdoors and atop Table Mountain, where views of the city are truly awe-inspiring. There’s plenty of pleasure to be found inside the hotel, too, though, with two prettily tiled swimming pools and a handful of loungers that invite you to laze around in the sun for at least a few hours. 

Food here is served in Upper Union, where a carefully curated menu offers seasonal produce by way of small plates and larger dishes, and the cocktails are a highlight for locals and visitors alike. 

Overview

Situated in the heart of the V&A Waterfront, the Cape Grace is one of Cape Town’s most famous luxury hotels in a location perfect for enjoying the restaurants, boutiques and entertainment of this upmarket area. The hotel also has a strong focus on contributing to community upliftment and has various measures in place to improve their water and energy consumption.

Reflecting its location, the décor has a nautical theme and is full of local detail, with antiques and maps adorning the hallways. In a playful touch, sumptuous chandeliers are adorned with unusual items (such as crockery and kitchenware in the Restaurant area). The 112 rooms and suites are spacious, comfortable and elegantly decorated, offering views out to Table Mountain, Signal Hill or the Marina.

For dining, savour South African dishes at the Cape Grace’s restaurant Heirloom, where the unhurried spirit and bountiful terroir of South Africa is celebrated. The Bascule bar draws on the city’s contemporary speakeasy culture, offering an immersive journey into the essence of the Cape with whiskey tastings and carefully crafted cocktails.

The hotel also features a heated pool and outdoor deck, along with a spa on the top floor. Immerse yourself in the serene ambience of the stylish treatment rooms, unwind in the sauna and refresh your senses in the salt room. You can walk straight out into the waterfront area here making it a perennial favourite.

Overview

Originally a private retreat of the Brink family, Chitwa Chitwa was transformed by Charl into an oasis of conservation and harmony. With an extremely strong approach to conservation and land management, this beautiful lodge offers you a fabulous experience while visiting the Sabi Sands. The Chitwa Trust actively supports the local community through an educare centre as well as adult educational initiative. You’ll also find several environmental programmes in place at the lodge itself.

As a family owned and run lodge, you will receive excellent service as well as comfort when staying here. With just eight luxury suites each stylishly decorated and spacious, this lodge is a nice and intimate experience for family and honeymooner alike.

The Chitwa House is a private villa with just two beautifully appointed en-suite rooms with private decks and out-door showers. It has a massively spacious common room and benefits from private meals, driver, guides and chef. Magic.

Overview

There’s a real family history tied to the Lion Sands Game Reserve having been by owned and managed by four generations of the More family since 1933.

Exclusive only to guests of Lion Sands River Lodge and Ivory Lodge, game drives are very personal and lead by an expert duo of a tracker and guide who will treat you to close encounters with Africa’s most coveted animal species. Walking safaris let you experience a completely different, more intimate perspective of the bush. The Lion Sands Reserve guiding team is superbly trained and contains one of the world’s four qualified Master Trackers.

As well as encounters with lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant more, you can also spend an incredible night under a blanket of stars atop one of the reserve’s stunning tree houses, enjoy unforgettable dining experiences in the bush or perhaps even take a scenic helicopter flight over Blyde River Canyon.

Two further luxury lodges sit within a private concession of the Kruger National Park adjoining the reserve, Lion Sands Narina Lodge and Tinga Lodge.

Overview

Spread under a leafy canopy of ebony trees, six spacious stone cottages grace the banks of the Mabrak River in the western part of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

As one of only twelve guests at Dulini Moya, one feels instantly at home in this quiet retreat. The beautifully appointed suites boast generous plunge pools, shady decks and classic interiors that celebrate the signature style of the Reserve. From the privacy of your own plunge pools, you can enjoy watching game explore the dry riverbed just a few metres away. Your sitting area is an elegant space filled with big welcoming sofas and interesting African sculptures.

Dine under the ancient jackalberry tree where skilled chefs serve delicious Pan African meals, or steal away for a romantic candlelit dinner in the well-stocked wine cellar.

Overview

Located within the 37,000 hectare private Kulala Wilderness Reserve, this lodge enjoys convenient access via a private gate to the iconic red dunes of Sossusvlei.

Staying here is extremely comfortable, with 23 thatched and canvas “kulalas”, each on a raised platform to catch the cool desert breezes and with private rooftop decks should you want to spend the night under the spectacular star-filled skies. All are en suite, and solar powered heaters provide hot showers.

The main lodge is a clay construction with a North African inspired décor, and it’s here you enjoy the simple yet delicious meals in the spacious dining area followed by relaxing in the comfortable lounge. There is also an outdoor plunge pool and stargazing deck from which to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

Overview

Designed to capture the splendour and solitude of the desert, just ten stone and glass desert villas spread out along the curve of the escarpment allowing absolute privacy.

Each air-conditioned suite features a private veranda, split-level bedroom and living room with fireplace, en-suite glass-encased bathroom and outdoor shower. The villas are equipped with a stunning star-viewing skylight, discreet CD system, custom-stocked personal bar and compact spotting scope for magnificent star and game viewing. The guest area, where walls have become windows that fold away completely, boasts unimpeded desert vistas.

The split-level Lodge features a fire-lit bar, comfortable sitting room, swimming pool, wraparound verandas and a Safari Shop. A fine selection of wines from an impressive walk-in wine cellar complements delicious Pan African meals. Guests can escape the desert heat with a revitalizing midday dip in the pool fed by water from an underground spring. At sunset, animals are drawn to a nearby waterhole, enhancing desert sundowner drinks.

Overview

You’ll find Wilderness Desert Rhino Camp in a wide valley, nestled amid the undulating hills of the 450 000-hectare Palmwag Concession. This tranquil area is recognised for its minimalist beauty and the large range of desert-adapted wildlife that call the area their home, most noticeably for its free-roaming black rhino population, the largest in Africa.

Lodging at the camp is divided between eight raised Meru-style canvas tents with front verandas that take in expansive landscape of the dramatic Etendeka Mountains and the plains scattered with euphorbia and ancient welwitschia plants. The tented dining and lounge areas have also been elevated to provide panoramic views during meal times and moments of relaxation. There’s also an attractive pool to cool off in and a fire pit for enjoying nights spent stargazing and swapping tales.

During your stay, you can take part in daily rhino tracking activities on foot and by vehicle and learn about the Save the Rhino Trust with whom the lodge collaborates.

Overview

This is one of Namibia’s finest camps, blending magnificent views, comfort and exclusivity.

Cradled in the Huab River Valley, Wilderness Damaraland Camp is set among desert plains, ancient valleys and the amazing Brandberg Mountains. All ten adobe-designed thatched units are en-suites with shower facilities and built-in fans.

Other facilities include a large viewing deck boasting magnificent views, a restaurant and bar area, swimming pool and outside boma, while their list of exciting activities is also impressive. During the day go on guided nature walks to sundowner drives, to tracking the rare desert-adapted elephant. As evening comes, dine on meals by lantern light followed by the staggering stargazing that Namibia has to offer.