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Africa is a place of rich and diverse culture and history – it’s the second largest continent in the world and boasts perhaps the world’s largest number of animals roaming freely, with everything from big cats to camels, reptiles to birds. Huge mountains, endless plains, jungle, dessert and stunning coastline, Africa has it all. It’s therefore no surprise that millions of people travel each year to this incredible place, many of whom to experience the natural wonders it has to offer.
The variety of luxurious places to stay has grown hugely over the last couple of decades, so whilst you might be living in the wild, there’s no need to ‘rough it’!
It would be impossible to show you everything in one blog, so this is by no means everything we can offer you, but below you’ll find a very brief introduction to five incredible BBB partners in Africa, from Ethiopia to Zanzibar and beyond…
Zimbabwe – Ruckomechi Camp
Ruckomechi is known as The Elephants Favourite Camp. It is a Wilderness property located in a private concession in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. The camp is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River, overlooking Zambia and the Rift Valley Mountain Range, which offers a wonderful silhouette backdrop at sundown.
Ruckomechi offers something for everyone – from game drives to nature walks, river cruises, catch and release fishing, phenomenal birding and just the chance to sit back and enjoy your surroundings and the passing game.
Ruckomechi has ten spacious tents, including two family units – the tents are both comfortable and luxurious with uninterrupted views of the river in front of you, through the safety of the gauze windows. Elephants wander between the tents, snacking on the canopy of Ana pods overhead. In the evening, the communal bonfire is light and the stars come out to play.
Kenya – Sirai House
This magnificent, privately-owned home located in the foothills of snow-capped Mount Kenya offers unrivalled views across the game-rich plains of the Borana Conservancy.
With six beautiful suites and facilities that would rival any of the top hotels, Sirai House offers guests a stay in true luxury, including a plush cinema, extensive library, stunning Club Room, not to mention the in-house Executive Chef, who creates magic in the kitchen daily.
The highlight of staying at Sirai House is of course the game experiences: enjoy the views from your sun-lounger of their own watering hole; explore the reserve from horseback, helicopter or in their custom made Land Rover; or simply walk the game-drives with one of their expert guides. Guests are bound to be amazed!
Botswana – Jack’s Camp
Founded by explorer Jack Bousfield in the 1960s, Jack’s Camp sits in a striking spot on the edge of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans, gazing over glittering salt pans and shimmering expanses of sun-scorched earth.
It’s an oasis of style and old-world glamour in a landscape of savage beauty, and more elegant and enchanting than you could imagine in such a remote landscape.
There aren’t many camps in Africa quite like Jack’s. The ten, Bedouin-style tents are scattered below a soft canopy of molokwane palms, each one an ode to safaris of old. Expect Persian rugs atop polished floors, vintage lithographs and muslin-draped walls, and the comfiest four-posters we’ve ever slept in.
Outside, private verandas and velvet clad chairs look out over the ethereal landscape, where glittering salt and sun-baked plains stretch as far as the eye can see.
Zanzibar – Zanzibar White Sands
Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa is a luxury boutique hotel located on the pristine sands of Paje beach, on the East coast of Zanzibar – a sanctuary of peace and harmony without compromise.
With luxury standards, the resort promises an unforgettable barefoot luxury experience. Their spacious luxury villas (from 500 sqm), with their pool and recreational area, ensure the utmost privacy in a natural setting, while the amenities deliver the highest standard of service, including spa treatments and facilities (sauna, hammam), a restaurant, a rooftop champagne bar, a beach bar and a lounge, as well as a high-end kitesurfing and watersports centre.
The large resort (4 hectares) hosts only 11 villas to ensure the maximum space for each of our Guest in an undisturbed harmony of senses. It’s also ideal for kite surfers as it is on Paje beach; one of the best kite surfing locations in the world.
Ethiopia – Bale Mountain Lodge
Bale Mountain Lodge is a 11 bedroom eco-safari lodge in the Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) of south central Ethiopia. The park is full of rare mammal and amphibian species, endemic birds and spectacular flora. It is also home to 60% of the remaining Ethiopian Wolves, the world’s most rare carnivore plus Black Maned Lions, Giant Forest Hogs and Mountain Nyala.
The location of the lodge has been selected to provide guests with an excellent opportunity to experience a pristine wilderness that incorporates the largest tract of Afro-alpine moorland remaining on the continent, the majority being over 3800m above sea level, whilst living lower down in a stunning cloud forest which offers access to the rift valley and wider local attractions.
UNESCO has estimated that more mammal species would become extinct were the habitats of the Bale Mountains to degrade than if any other area of equivalent size on the globe were to disappear. This unique wildlife experience, combined with the pioneering luxury Eco Lodge, will make Bale Mountain Lodge an unforgettable stay.
Want to discuss dates, curious about prices or have questions about travelling with kids? Just drop Anna a line at anna@thebbbook.com to have a chat. Not only can we get special rates at these places and many more, but we can help with flights, transfers, visas, luggage delivery and a lot more, to make the trip seamless.
Let the adventure begin…