What is being “at peace”? A series of gentle-but-fleeting impressions or experiences that linger to make a lasting, more integrated, whole? Quietly sharing a special moment with family, wife, husband, partner, parent?  Being able to spend time doing what you wish in an environment that takes one back to one’s evolutionary roots? How and where to find “Peace” is, of course, a variable feast for all of us with a million-and-one possibilities but a luxury African holiday can provide this sought after, overlooked and (regrettably) often-ephemeral spiritual commodity.

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And, then, how to define luxury?!? To me, as I sit writing this, it would be luxury to just be in the bush; flycamping in Katavi or, perhaps, at Sosian knowing the camels are safely “done” for the night. Or to sit and watch Wild Dog for an hour that might stretch to several. Cantering down a sandy track in South Africa or (yes, I know, off subject on an African website but why not?) to be camped by a river in Canada with the call of the loon and wolf nearby are also, to me, simple, effervescent, life-enhancing luxuries. Thus, to myself (I hear my colleague, the wonderful Hashim, agreeing) the “luxury” is obtained from the experience per se rather than the accoutrements of where I stay. Again this is (and can only be) a highly personal opinion and I fully accept that, to many, “luxury” is Egyptian cotton sheets and towels in the middle of the bush or champagne for sundowners. Make no mistake about my own motives here, either, I’d say “Why not, indeed!” to such luxury and I certainly wouldn’t turn it down; we all have differing ideas and I have no axe to grind at all with whatever your own definition of “luxury” may be. But I do think that there is a peace that comes from being somewhere you really want to be, in an environment with which you connect, that gives you an inner feeling of luxurious satisfaction that is common to all these experiences.

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There’s a point to these musings and I’m not going to even elaborate here on excellent food, great guiding (crucial) or super-comfortable beds in huge en suite tents in the most extraordinarily lovely locations, let alone stunning wildlife. That’s for other blogs and my point is this: I often get asked – sometimes in roundabout ways – to create a “luxury” African holiday.

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But we know that luxury is different things to different people so, in order to do my duty to you, oh esteemed client, I need to know who you are! What makes you tick? What is it about Africa that entices you – perhaps for the second, third or fourth time? Can I empathise with your own feelings, desires and passions so that I can create exactly the right safari or holiday for you, with all the right nuances? For this, to me, is another luxury; in the process of creating exactly the right balance within a holiday I have the privilege of conversing with (and, sometimes, getting to know rather well) a wide range of very special, often talented, individuals. Most have skills I can only dream of and all are totally different yet have a single unifying desire: to go to Africa. What a luxury…….

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What is a Luxury African Safari? It is many different things to many people! Perhaps this clip defines it in more detail!

An Africa Safari Vacation is one of the most amazing and rewarding types of holiday that one can ever imagine! With magnificent wildlife in abundance, incredible walking, scenery and top class guiding – as well as having such a variety of first class accommodation – all this contributes to having the perfect safari!See the video below to get an idea of which country might be right for you! We come from Africa and have been arranging bespoke safaris for our clients for 21 years – so, if only the very best will do – we would love to assist you in arranging your safari of a lifetime!

Safaris in Zambia are incredibly rewarding!

From the north and south luangwa which are some of the finest wildlife regions in Africa and also home to the best walking safaris in Africa, to the magnificent Kafue and the Busanga Plains, this country has it all! The Busanga is renowned for its concentration of wildlife unlike anywhere else in the country – and is affectionately referred to as the mini Serengeti with its open  plains and fantastic wildlife.

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Zambia boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa including endemic species such as thornicroft’s giraffe as well as being home to the rare shoebill stork. The camps range from simple  to luxury tented camps. The guiding is considered to be some of the finest in Africa. Then you have the upper and lower Zambezi – two completely different area offering very different experiences. Again, there is lovely walking in the lower Zambezi, but the river offers the most stunning backdrop imaginable! Livingstone is just lovely and the perfect place to end ones safari and we have some real gems for you to stay at.

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Perhaps combine Zambia with Malawi for some sailing or beach at the end of your safari and one has the holiday of a lifetime! Call our Expert from Zambia, Katharine Tetley now to design a gorgeous tailormade safari just for you.

Anjajavy is a little piece of heaven in Madagascar! If anyone is looking for a Madagascar Holiday, then this surely must be included!

The most luxurious and only Relais et Chateaux in the country is Anjajavy. It is easy to reach from the capital, Antananarivo and on arrival, one is taken on a beach track to the lodge. The villas are large, spacious, and have French doors opening out  to the sea.  There are walks to 5 different beaches from the hotel and they can arrange a picnic for you on one of them! There is a lovely large swimming pool overlooking the beach and tea is served at 1700 each day in the oasis – a beautiful garden they have built. The cuisine  is excellent.

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There are lots of points of interest  here, including  brown lemurs and Sifakas and grey limestone tsingys. The birdlife is spectacular and includes black kites, weavers, Madagascan sun birds, and pied robins.  I also saw several Couas. Madagsacar has 258 bird species and 71 species of lemur! There is also fantastic kayaking. Anjajavy is also renowned for its fly fishing.   One can catch dog tooth tuna, yellow fin tuna, wahoo, king mackerel and most other big pelagic game fish. Massages are conducted in ones own villa.

San Camp must rank as one of my favourite ten camps in Africa. It is simply astonishing! First of all – take the location. It simply couldn’t be surpassed!

San Camp sits in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, which represent the last visible remains of a ‘super lake’ once known as Lake Makgadikgadi. This lake covered an area of 80 000 square kilometres and covered most of northern Botswana.

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There are just a handful of  tents with white canvas on dark wooden platforms that command possibly the most incredible view of any camp in Botswana – hundreds of miles of white salt pan. The rooms are truly glorious and luxurious with a bedroom and sitting area, ensuite bathroom and a shower with a view over the pans. The tents are rectangular with octagonal ends and are elegantly furnished with a colonial feel.

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Visit to a family of meerkats who have been habituated so that one can get very close to them; or a walk with bushmen who will show one how to light a fire with their traditional sticks, find water and track game and birds; quad bike excursions are also offered and there are wildlife researchers operating in the pans who are studying brown hyena which you can also see.

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