The simple act of getting away often seems like a luxury these days, which is why we like to maximize our experiences when traveling. We work hard to plan customized, memorable trips, and we think it’s a great idea to add some special touches to take your safari to the next level. With that in mind, we’d like to share our top safari upgrades to consider for your next safari!
There is often a lot of movement while on safari –between destinations and activities like a game drive or a hot air balloon ride. We are big proponents of upgrading these forms of transportation, or in many cases, taking them private. Here are a few ideas…
Do you have special interests? Hiring a private, specialist guide affords you exclusive access to incredible expertise and a focus on what you most want to see, such as a rare bird like the Shoebill in Uganda, the life of desert lions in Namibia, or the history of Zululand in South Africa. How about a private jewelry shopping guide or art expert in Johannesburg?
There is a huge variety of properties throughout Africa, and we will work with you to select the level of accommodation that’s right for you. For the ultimate in luxury or for families traveling together, we suggest booking a private villa for your safari. You can count on total privacy, the ability to set your own schedule, all the amenities of a regular camp or lodge (and then some) and more such as private chefs, private pools, butler service and private vehicles!
There are so many opportunities to delve into the food and beverage cultures of Africa – from private wine tastings in historic properties to whisky flight tastings at Bascule Bar in the Cape Grace, one of Cape Town’s best hotels. We can arrange cooking classes with renowned chefs, as well as culinary instruction in regional cuisine, giving the chance to explore unusual local ingredients.
Maybe you’d rather eat than cook? We can recommend restaurants to suit your taste from Kloof Street House and The Potluck Club in Cape Town to sumptuous Ethiopian dinners and traditional entertainment in Addis Ababa. We can also arrange private dining, access to pop-up dinners, culinary tasting tours…the sky’s the limit! Our Safari Concierge team will assist you with dining arrangements before you depart.
We love spending time at the spa to feel truly indulged and doing it while on vacation makes it doubly special! Not all spas are created equally, so we’ve done the hard work of selecting an exclusive list of our favorites. While we think a massage on the banks of the Zambezi is every bit as amazing as one in a plush environment, for our list, we concentrated on full-service spas that are renowned for their facilities, services and experiences. Visit our blog to check out our list of top spas, then contact a Journey Specialist to talk through incorporating one into your safari!
Family travelers need luxury too, and we haven’t forgotten about you and the kids! Family fun ideas include Cape Town’s Two Oceans aquarium followed by family movie night complete with popcorn and milkshakes, preceded by a specially prepared in-room meal. With gingerbread decorating, Africa-themed story-time, bath-time toys and special kiddies’ menus, a family escape will be made memorable for all.
While on safari, we recommend upgrading to a private vehicle for families with younger children or for those who want a more intimate family vacation. If you let us know in advance, we can also arrange childcare at most of our camps and lodges so you can have a twilight dinner, a romantic stargazing session or a private game drive without the children.