The Africa Adventure Consultants team has a deep passion for exploring the world. From experiencing new places and revisiting old favorites to tasting new cuisines and checking out various camps and lodges, our jobs have us constantly learning and exploring.
We visit a wide array of our destinations each year to stay up to date with experiences we plan for our travelers, to see new camps and lodges and to check in on how some of our much-loved accommodations are looking. 2024 had us ranging far and wide across Africa and we came away with some new favorite accommodations among our staff. Here is a roundup of some of AAC’s staff favorite accommodations from our 2024 travels.
It’s hard to pick just one favorite camp I visited this year, but if I’m forced, I choose Tuludi in the Khwai Private Reserve in Botswana’s famed Okavango Delta region. There are only seven roomy, luxurious suites and it’s on a private reserve so we felt like we had a piece of the bush to ourselves. The game viewing was fantastic and we enjoyed the inviting common areas and refreshing pool. Gliding through one of the small channels in a mokoro and then fishing was a blast, even though I kept looking over my shoulder for elephants.
Learn about the best time to visit Botswana and read about some of Kent’s experiences on his most recent safari there on our blog.
Mila Tented Camp is the perfect safari camp to me. Located far from other properties in Tanzania’s western Serengeti, Mila is surrounded by open savanna and bountiful wildlife. The area enjoys amazing wildlife year-round with some of the best lion and leopard sightings I’ve had in 20 years on safari. While it has the heart of a traditional bush camp, the six tents are luxurious with huge beds, fine linens, stunning décor and fully plumbed bathrooms. The food was exceptional and the staff was like a happy family, from my expert guide to the woman who delivered my delicious café mocha before dawn. Game drives and bush walks, a hot air balloon safari, picnics and sundowners ensure every day is full of new experiences. Capping it all off, each booking gets a private vehicle and guide.
I fell in love with Duke’s East – an intimate hideaway pitched on a channel of Botswana’s northern Okavango Delta. It’s an unforgettable under-canvas experience that makes you feel like you have stepped back in time. Activities are varied and exciting – game drives, mokoro (dugout canoe) excursions, fishing and sunset boat trips. I felt like I had found my home away from home and the staff was outstanding! Our guide Desmond was not only knowledgeable and delivered on excellent wildlife sightings (leopard with a kill, wild dogs in conflict with hyenas, elephants wading through the Delta, a giraffe ‘boxing match’ and roaring lions – see more of my trip highlights here) but his humble, kind and humorous personality went a long way in making this one of my all-time favorite guided experiences!
Bwindi Lodge overlooks the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and is the ideal accommodation for gorilla trekking in Uganda. The views of the forest are beautiful and you can occasionally spot monkeys or birds from your banda. The luxury bandas blend perfectly into the environment and the spacious rooms are comfortable. The hospitality is exceptional including a personal butler for all guests. After gorilla trekking, you can explore the on-site amenities which include complimentary spa treatments and massages, a walk along the Munyanga River Trail, visiting the on-site tea plantation or visiting Bwindi Bar for a traditional Uganda ‘Rolex’ wrap and a signature Gorillini cocktail.
My favorite accommodation was Zarafa Camp. The location is absolutely stunning with beautiful islands throughout the conservancy, grassy plains and flatlands. I saw so much wildlife during my visit – leopard, wild dog, lion, and so many varieties of antelope. But, of course the highlight was the camp itself with private multi-course meals, overlooking a floodplain filled with elephant, warthog and more throughout the day. The rooms were massive, with indoor and outdoor showers, copper tub, plunge pool, massive four poster bed, full bar and freshly baked biscuits each night. It was an absolute dream to stay here!
Old Mondoro is my favorite property that I visited this year. Located in a stunning winter thorn forest near the Zambezi River in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park, it has authentic, rustic charm. The intimate nature of the camp allows for personal attention and a more private, immersive feel. It offers easy access to the park’s diverse wildlife, especially the large herds of elephant that roam the area. Old Mondoro offers opportunities for river-based activities such as canoeing and boat safaris, providing a unique perspective on the landscape and its wildlife. Highlights from my stay include watching elephants play in the mud while taking an outdoor bath, learning about the smaller intricacies of nature on a walking safari with Mwila and watching hippos wallow while enjoying a sundowner on a sunset cruise.
Victoria Falls offers a seemingly endless list of adventure, cultural and nature-based activities to fill your time. During my trip this spring, I was glad I also scheduled time to relax and enjoy my stay at Tongabezi Lodge. My gorgeous suite overlooked the Zambezi River and was the perfect place to lounge, read a book, enjoy incredible bubble baths (more on that here), eat delicious food and enjoy my glass of wine without hurry. It was the perfect way to balance the excitement of the Falls with some relaxation.
Elewana Loisaba Lodo Springs was the highlight of my safari in Kenya this year. With expansive views towards Mount Kenya, the lodge feels like it’s floating above the Laikipia Plains. There was a peace and calmness to the lodge’s setting that allowed me to completely disconnect from the outside world. Each one of their eight spacious rooms is uniquely decorated with antiques and chic African-made textiles. In the evenings, my guest ambassador ensured a telescope was waiting on my private veranda so that I could stargaze after my full day of game viewing. In the mornings, a pair of binoculars were waiting for me to watch the giraffes amble to the nearby waterhole as I enjoyed my coffee and fresh shortbread. The staff is incredibly professional, warm and well-versed in the needs of every guest.
Phinda Forest Lodge is my favorite stay of the year, as it was one of the most “part of nature” and calming rooms I’ve stayed in anywhere. As I talked about in my blog earlier this year, South Africa’s Phinda Forest Lodge is interesting not just for its day and night game drives to observe wildlife and birds, but also because you can take bush walks, go on an e-biking adventure, visit nearby Zulu communities and join in seasonal conservation activities such as rhino, elephant and pangolin projects. The Indian Ocean is nearby as well, so water activities such as scuba diving, ocean safaris and even the chance to see turtles nesting are on offer depending on the season. It’s both exciting and serene in equal measures!
To me, Tanzania’s Serengeti Safari Camp is the perfect mobile camp. As a mobile camp, it moves with the wildebeest according to the season, allowing the camp to be in the heart of the migration. Having the opportunity to witness the migration crossings along the Mara River was almost surreal to me. From hyenas barking up a storm right next to my tent and elephants roaming just feet away from us to spending nights around the firepit in awe stargazing, this place completely immerses guests in nature and makes for an unforgettable adventure!
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Photos courtesy Old Mondoro, Tuludi Camp, Mila Tented Camp, Duke’s East, Bwindi Lodge, Zarafa Camp, Tongabezi Lodge, Loisaba Lodo Springs, Phinda Forest Lodge and Serengeti Safari Camp