1. Art in the wild
The Art of Africa – Elephant Art Safaris in Zimbabwe – combines a unique elephant encounter with the creation of art. Cathlyn Grieb, Digital Marketing Assistant for Bushtracks Africa, says this experience is so rare that it is perhaps the height of a new definition of experiential luxury.
Wild Horizons Sanctuary and Orphanage, in conjunction with Art of Africa teamed up to create an eco-conscious, unique elephant experience, allowing guests the opportunity to get creative while viewing these gentle giants.
Guests start the eco-conscious experience in the boma, which boasts views of the Masuwe River, prior to venturing down to the waterhole to paint under a mopane tree. Here they will find a chair and easel, set up with fresh paper, brightly coloured aprons and palettes with paint ready to be handed out.
After the creative experience, guests are treated to a two-course buffet lunch at The Wallow. After lunch guests are transferred back to their lodgings in Victoria Falls town.
As luxury travel moves toward the inclusion of unique experiences, Bushtracks Africa offers luxury modes of safari by rail or water – namely the Steam Train and River Safaris, which, according Grieb, are unique.
High Tea Steam Safaris, a new offering by Bushtracks Africa, gives guests the opportunity to visit the natural wonder, the Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe.
Grieb describes the steam safari as the “essence of old-style luxury, communicated by the opulently decorated interiors, in the style of the extravagant 1920s, paired with outstanding meals created by top chefs”.
2. Kasane – where four countries meet
Kasane in the north-eastern corner of Botswana is where four countries meet – Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is also the gateway to two spectacular attractions – Botswana’s Chobe National Park and the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, making it possible to combine the two in a memorable safari.
Go Touch Down’s tour of the elephant-rich Chobe shows off the area by means of game drives and river cruises. Activities include game drives in a 4x4 open-sided vehicle, and guides who take guests on water safaris and photography cruises on the Chobe River.
During the three-day tour, guests can enjoy being pampered at the Chobe Chilwero Lodge, which boasts panoramic views across the flood plains stretching as far as Namibia.
Airlink flies to Kasane from Johannesburg and, according to Marketing and Sales Manager, Karin Murray, the location is a top destination choice of luxury travellers.
3. Madiba and wildlife combination
Ilios Travel recently released a new tour to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela this year. The Memoirs of Madiba tour travels from Cape Town to Johannesburg and then on to the Kruger National Park, with Cape winelands excursions, a visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, and Mpumalanga stopovers at Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels and more.
The Cape Town leg encapsulates the significant historic sites that were involved in the former South African President’s ‘long walk to freedom’. The Johannesburg part of the tour focuses on the evolution of the Freedom Struggle and the realities of the apartheid policy. To end off, guests get to experience an African safari in the Kruger National Park.
4. Foodie Franschhoek
Kelsey le Voy from The Last Word Intimate Hotels, says for anyone looking for a culturally rich food experience, The Last Word Franschhoek is the place to go, as the town is synonymous with fine dining and gourmet cuisine.
Franschhoek is home to a number of landmark culinary destinations, many of which feature on South Africa’s Top 100 restaurant list. The Last Word Franschhoek will also organise wine farm tours in the region for guests.
One restaurant to sample is La Petite Ferme, which dates back to 1984. Executive Chef, Sidwell Yarrow, creates menus that are seasonal, with ingredients sourced within a 100km range of the property.
5. Time travel in Mozambique
Ilha de Mocambique, a crescent shaped coral island just off northern Mozambique and a Unesco World Heritage Site, served as the capital and trading centre of Portuguese East Africa for four centuries. It is a fascinating addition to a Mozambique trip, as it is rich in European, Indian and Arab cultures.
The island is about three kilometres long and has a permanent population of 14 000 people. It is served by the nearby Lumbo Airport on the Nampula mainland and is fast-becoming one of Mozambique’s fastest growing tourist destinations.
Main attractions include the Palace and Chapel of São Paulo, which dates from 1610 and was used as a Jesuit College and subsequently the Governor’s Residence. It was later transformed into a museum, known today as the Museum of Sacred Art. The island is also home to several mosques and a Hindu temple.
Coral Lodge Mozambique, which is close to the tiny island, takes guests over by traditional dhow, says Carla Antoniazzi, owner of Unlimited Destinations, that represents Coral Lodge. It comprises 10 luxury villas and reopened its doors on March 29 after a brief closure for refurbishment.
