Most luxurious African safari accommodations?
Aug 5, 2018, 9:40 am
#181
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 305
Definitely do Chitabe! I'd combine it with Zarafa and one other camp. Mombo is awesome, but not being able to go off-road makes it tough to get good photos - I might have to bust out my 500mm F4 for this purpose, which is a heavy beast. Our best Botswana wildlife experience was at Chitabe, closely followed by Zarafa and Kwara. Our next trip after the Sept. 2018 Botswana safari is likely to be in Dzanga Sanga (in Central African Republic), which is super rustic, so I wanted to treat Mrs. KI-NRT to something on the luxurious side before roughing it the next go-round. Otherwise, I'd do Chitabe, Kwando's new Splash Camp and Zarafa (in that order.)
Aug 5, 2018, 10:41 am
#182
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 225
We did South Africa this year (Boulders and Lebombo) and are in the process of setting up Vic Falls and Botswana. My agent is steering us to Mpala Jena over Elephant Camp there and said forgo Parmashana and just go to Botswana after. She said to do Zafara then Duba Plains then Mombo. We are planning to go in July for the floods. Would you guys swap out Duba for Chitabe?
Aug 5, 2018, 10:58 am
#183
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,432
We did South Africa this year (Boulders and Lebombo) and are in the process of setting up Vic Falls and Botswana. My agent is steering us to Mpala Jena over Elephant Camp there and said forgo Parmashana and just go to Botswana after. She said to do Zafara then Duba Plains then Mombo. We are planning to go in July for the floods. Would you guys swap out Duba for Chitabe?
Aug 5, 2018, 12:18 pm
#184
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Everywhere
Programs: UA GS 3MM, NH PLT
Posts: 767
We did South Africa this year (Boulders and Lebombo) and are in the process of setting up Vic Falls and Botswana. My agent is steering us to Mpala Jena over Elephant Camp there and said forgo Parmashana and just go to Botswana after. She said to do Zafara then Duba Plains then Mombo. We are planning to go in July for the floods. Would you guys swap out Duba for Chitabe?
Elephant Camp is a novelty; if you want to interact with Elephants, go for it. At least it's about 1/3 of the price of Mpala Jena.
You really only need one full day at the Falls (or 1.5 days.) Walk to the Falls, take the helicopter flight and perhaps go on a boat cruise (not mandatory since you'll have some water activity opportunities in Bots)... then you're done.
If you're hankering for the best game viewing experience, then yes, skip Pamushana and head directly to Botswana. Chobe will be jam-packed in July, so your agent is correct in suggesting you head to Okavango and Linyanti.
Aug 5, 2018, 5:53 pm
#186
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: United global services, BA gold,
Posts: 839
I vote for Zarafa. Been to all the others in Bots and SA and for us it's twice been the best. We are returning July 2019 and doing the revamped Duba Plains. We love Mombo but no night drives and a bit impersonal after Zarafa. But Mombo does have fantastic game viewing although we haven't been back since renovations. It should be greater than ever now as was getting a bit run down. We did go to Chiefs while Mombo was being renoavated and right after Chiefs reopened post renovations. Rooms beautiful ( high end luxury not very African) but game more scarce than normal due to construction. Hope that not the same with renovated Mombo. Anyway, lots of great choices!
Aug 10, 2018, 12:41 pm
#187
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 305
That was the choice I was facing, and ultimately went with Chitabe for 2019 (4 nights each Chitabe + Zarafa + Mombo)...a family member just returned from the new Duba Plains and says it's absolutely gorgeous, but lions/buffalo interactions are not the same as it was in the past and what made the area famous...in fact, they say there is not much variety in game (although for sure lots of lions)...Chitabe, on the other hand (and I have been to the concession Chitabe is in although not to the camp itself) has consistently amazing game viewing...so if the accommodations take precedence for you - go with Duba Plains, but if game viewing is more important, my vote would be for Chitabe...in my case I figured that Zarafa and Mombo would provide a good balance fore more modest accommodations at Chitabe, and since the main reason for going to Botswana for me is the game viewing, I could not forego Chitabe...
Aug 12, 2018, 6:39 pm
#188
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
It feels to me like we might have transitioned from most luxurious hotels to locations and camps with the best game viewing that may not be particularly luxurious.
Aug 13, 2018, 3:42 am
#189
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,752
It's an important discussion. The purpose of a safari lodge is to see animals. There's a delicate balance between choosing the most luxurious without consideration of the animal viewing and choosing it with the viewing. If a lodge is very comfortable and has the best viewing compared to a luxurious lodge with so-so viewing, the first will give me the greatest satisfaction on departure. I find it very helpful when people give context and weight to these variables.
Aug 13, 2018, 8:01 am
#190
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 305
It's an important discussion. The purpose of a safari lodge is to see animals. There's a delicate balance between choosing the most luxurious without consideration of the animal viewing and choosing it with the viewing. If a lodge is very comfortable and has the best viewing compared to a luxurious lodge with so-so viewing, the first will give me the greatest satisfaction on departure. I find it very helpful when people give context and weight to these variables.
Oct 29, 2018, 6:12 am
#192
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
Oct 29, 2018, 8:07 am
#193
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 305
I cannot compare it to Sabyinyo, but we spent 3 nights in Bisate a few days ago and loved it. Some pictures of the property and our treks here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132880...57672754278647
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132880...57672754278647
Oct 29, 2018, 8:23 am
#194
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 50
Currently planning for Kenya trip next August for the river crossing.
For 3 nights in masai Mara, I’m choosing from:
1: and beyond bateluer ( they just recently opened. The pictures of the camp looks fantastic, though feels like the camp lacks classic east Africa style)
2. Richard river camp
3. Mara expedition
then 3 nights in laikipia. Choosing from:
1. Ol malo
2. Sirikoi
anyone have any thoughts on those lodges?
For 3 nights in masai Mara, I’m choosing from:
1: and beyond bateluer ( they just recently opened. The pictures of the camp looks fantastic, though feels like the camp lacks classic east Africa style)
2. Richard river camp
3. Mara expedition
then 3 nights in laikipia. Choosing from:
1. Ol malo
2. Sirikoi
anyone have any thoughts on those lodges?
Oct 29, 2018, 8:26 am
#195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
did you also look at great plains conservation ? KI-NRT has some posts on mara
interesting no discussion of this here from africa regulars who book private vehicles
bribe whoever is necessary to be able to go on a private tour.
https://thegoodthebadandtheluxurious...-lodge-rwanda/
https://thegoodthebadandtheluxurious...-lodge-rwanda/
driver managed to work magic to make it private (something that would normally cost $15,000) [vs $3,000]
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Oct 29, 2018 at 9:07 am