Top 10 Luxury Camps in East Africa

 

Africancenter’s panel of Luxury  Safari Camps experts  presents  2011 Top 10  lists of  luxury Safari Camps.  The selection is based on rigorous set of criteria, like a combination of luxury, service and location, the best facilities, energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more.  Our ratings will help those seeking for the finest and most distinctive lodgings in Africa, to find thier best holiday spot.

 

 

COTTARS 1920s CAMP ( KENYA )

A 1920′s era feel to this camp set near the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. This camp gives you the authentic feel of that unique era when the word ‘safari’ became indelibly imprinted on the imagination of the adventurer, past and modern. Extending an era of luxury and quality, Cottars Safari Service returns to the original spirit and essence of ‘safari’, reminiscent of a golden era – an era of romance, professional guiding, adventure and elegance.

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

Drawing on eighty years of Safari service, the Cottar family will provide guests with the highest standard of personalized and professional guiding. Tailor made itineraries ensure the safari provides a unique experience for our guests. Recalling an era of luxury and quality, Cottar’s 1920′s Safari Camp in the Maasai Mara returns to the original spirit and essence of ‘safari’, reminiscent of a golden era – an era of romance, professional guiding, adventure and elegance, in a timelessly unspoiled setting with panoramic views and boundless game.

EXCLUSIVE AREA IN THE MAASAI MARA

The Cottar’s 1920′s Safari Camp is situated in our extensive and exclusive concession between the Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Loliondo reserves where a few Purko Maasai clan roam. This area has been untouched by any kind of tourism or development and offers the discerning client a guarantee of privacy.

Most importantly, while the Mara has a reputation of being over congested with mass tourism, we have kept the secret of our area for years – no hot air balloons flying overhead, no minibuses buzzing around, no nearby lodges or low flying aircraft to disturb your special moments. The area is more akin to being in the expansive Serengeti National Park, but with the advantage of ‘off the road’ driving due to the very low vehicle density of the area, and the fact that we can walk and operate ‘night drive’ activities in our community concession.

LUXURY UNDER CANVAS

The camp accommodates guests in three types of accommodations – 6 of our original ‘honey moon’ suites with ensuite bathrooms, 4 luxury suites with double bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms, all authentic white canvas tents, spacious and luxuriously furnished with original safari antiques from the ’20′s; private en suite dressing rooms and bathrooms (with old-fashioned showers and flushing toilets).

PROFESSIONAL GUIDING

Guest activities include game drives with the best guides in Kenya; Of the total of 15 gold level ‘Kenya professional Safari Guides’ certified in the country, 3 of them work at cottars, with 2 additional silver level guides. Our guides utilize either state of the art modern four wheel drive cars on game drives or our authentic vintage wooden car for fun and atmosphere!. What makes an excellent guide? Personality, humor, calmness and knowledge. Our guides are uniquely able to walk safely in the bush and interpret the truth of the wilds; we are one of very few facilities in the country licensed to carry protective firearms for safe walking.

EXCEPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

As our concession is outside the game parks, therefore guided walks and night drives are allowed and highly recommended. By walking, guests can get that much closer to nature, and if an opportunity to track wild game presents itself, our trained trackers will take guests even closer still. On a more self-indulgent note, our masseuse will now be based full-time at the camp for complimentary massages, manicures and pedicures. Any other needs that guests may have will be met by butlers who have been trained to provide guests with discreet, yet attentive service.

Sayari is Swahili for universe or planet, capturing the vast Serengeti plains and endless skies where the camp is situated.

Sayari Camp opened in June 2005 on the south bank of the famous Mara River in the Northern Serengeti. This area has been almost untouched by tourists and is only now beginning to be gain recognition for what it has to offer.

The reason why there are no lodges and camps in this area is because of its remoteness. Far away from the park headquarters in the central Serengeti, the land was subject to poaching in the 1990’s. However, an anti- poaching campaign has since ensured the land belongs to nature and its wildlife.

There is a spectacular concentration of wildlife year-round here and it is also famous for the Great Migration

Located in the remote and exclusive northern Serengeti, stunning Sayari Camp is perfectly positioned to witness what may be the greatest wildlife spectacle on the planet: the Great Migration crossing the Mara River.

The camp overlooks vast Serengeti plains, home to staggering wildlife, great numbers of big cats, giraffe, elephant and buck and an increasing population of rhino. During the Migration season, millions of zebra and wildebeest arrive to share the fertile land with the permanent inhabitants.

The combination of a superb location, luxurious facilities and an incredible wildlife experience ensures that Sayari Camp will etch itself into your memory as the standard against which you will forever judge any other safari camp.

The 15 luxury guest tents blend perfectly into the majestic Serengeti landscape. Both wings have a separate mess and dining area to ensure intimacy and personal service. Each tent has a king size bed (twins also available) and a large, private veranda overlooking the Serengeti. The en-suite bathrooms have flush toilets, a double sink, shower and beautiful bath with a view. After game drives, guests can enjoy the infinity pool or choose the privacy of their veranda, the warmth of the fire place, or the comfort of the library, bar or lounge to relax.

“My family unanimously agreed that Sayari was the “jewel in the crown” of our safari”

 

Chongwe River Camp – Lower Zambezi- (ZAMBIA)

Zambia’s Lower Zambezi valley is one of Africa’s last great wilderness areas. Renowned for breathtaking scenery and incredible wildlife, it’s also home to one of the continent’s top safari lodges – Chongwe River Camp.

Set beneath a canopy of winterthorns at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chongwe rivers, this award-winning camp combines the best of everything, from first-class service and luxurious accommodation to exceptional game viewing and enlightening cultural experiences.

Accommodation

Relax! It’s the only thing we insist upon at Chongwe. You can put your feet up on our furniture without worrying what anyone is going to think…Or curl up amongst plump cushions with a good book and not bother about appearances…We like great service and winning smiles more than dressing for dinner.
These are the ethics we take seriously in all of our award-winning accommodation options.

Responsible Tourism

Chongwe is committed to the principles and ethics of responsible tourism. As such, guests rest assured that their holiday spend is contributing directly to the conservation of the environment and the upliftment of the people of the Lower Zambezi valley.

We are involved in a number of initiatives such as the funding of Chitende High School in Chiawa village and Conservation Lower Zambezi,an NGO combatting poaching and providing environmental education to local communities.Chongwe also helped establish the Chiawa Partnership Park and supports the Chiawa Cultural Village

THE GOVERNOR’S CAMP – KENYA

Governors’ Camp has been a pioneer of safaris in Africa for 30 years. Since we established our first luxury safari camp on the site once reserved for Kenya’s colonial Governors’, we have kept the name and the best of the traditions of those times.

The setting is magical. So much so that almost a century ago it was reserved, exclusively, for Kenya’s colonial Governors. Governors’ Camp nestles in the forest along the winding banks of the Mara River, it’s waters teeming with bird-life, hippo and crocodile, in the heart of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.

Some of the 37 tents line the riverbank, tucked into the forest they enjoy uninterrupted views over the Mara River, others have views across the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara. Created in 1972 Governors’ Camp set new standards in luxury for a tented camp. Today it’s still Africa’s best.

Everything is under canvas, all tents have en-suit bathrooms with hot and cold running water and flushing toilets. There is a bar tent with deck overlooking the Mara River and dinning tent with views over the plains.

Governors Camp has just been awarded a Silver Eco Rating from Eco- Tourism Kenya due to our sustainable tourism practices in place in camp.

All the Governors’ Camp Collection properties are located inside the Masai Mara National Reserve in the heart of one of the best wildlife viewing areas, which means you won’t waste time getting to the action. All our guides are highly trained, enthusiastic experts who know this area of the Masai Mara and its wildlife like their home. We maintain a fleet of custom built 4wd vehicles specifically designed for wildlife viewing in this terrain and we offer a wide variety of activities to explore the Masai Mara National Reserve and its wildlife.

“The following excursions are available from all Governors’ Camp properties in the Masai Mara ”

• Game Viewing in our Custom built 4wd vehicles
• Walking Safaris
• Hot Air Balloon Safaris
• Masai Cultural Visits
• Lake Victoria day trips
• Great Wildebeest Migration
• Enjoy Spa treatments in Camp
• Specialist guiding: ornithology
• Enjoy Bush Breakfasts, Bush Dinners and Sundowners
• Relax in camp

CAMPI YA KANZI- (KENYA)

Campi ya Kanzi is widely recognized as one of the most unique and inspiring safari experiences in Africa. Situated at the foot of the legendary Chyulu Hills, Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa, it is a luxury camp offering an incomparable combination of 5-star luxury, first class wilderness adventure, amazing wildlife, and authentic immersion in Maasai culture. This is truly the ultimate African safari.

This luxury lodge has been built in partnership with the Maasai community of the 280,000-acre Kuku Group Ranch.

Campi ya Kanzi has a unique commitment to community development and environmental sustainability: we are leaders in real ecotourism, engaging the local Maasai in benefiting from wilderness with thriving wildlife.

In front of Kilimanjaro, with a Maasai warrior taking you on safari, among elephants and lions, you will experience your dream African adventure.

Campi ya Kanzi has two goals: treat you to the most memorable vacation of your life, while helping the Maasai preserve their wildlife and cultural heritages. Here you will experience true ethical and solidarity tourism. State of the art technologies have been used to make the least impact on the environment: water comes from rain cropping, electricity from 120 photovoltaic panels, hot water from solar panels, food is cooked using an eco-friendly charcoal. But most importantly the lodge is a partnership with the Maasai local community.

Kanzi House accommodates a maximum of 10 guests, in 3 doubles rooms and 2 twins rooms. It features a jacuzzi for four and a 60ft/18mt swimming pool. It is bookable only by a single party at a time.

Regardless of which accommodation you will choose, we are committed to make your safari experience with us the most memorable vacation of your life.