Be a trail blazer with new African gems
When it comes to safaris it pays to blaze your own trail rather than follow the herds. With the following new additions to Africa marketing experts, Kamili's African Gems portfolio (kamili.co.uk) you're sure to be one step ahead of the rest when it comes to planning an exclusive adventure.
Congo and Central African Republic (CAR)
The Congo Basin national parks, Nouabale-Ndoki and Dzanga-Ndoki, receive just a handful of visitors a year, mostly the preserve of scientists and film makers. These remote parks are home to incredibly diverse wildlife including forest elephants, leopards and endemic birds.
The Congo and CAR parks also provide Africa's newest and most adventurous wildlife experience for intrepid travellers - access to the world's only habituated western lowland gorilla silverbacks with the Ba'Aka, the Central African indigenous people, who serve as gorilla trackers and the cornerstones of the gorilla habituation programme.
Visit the Republic of Congo and Central Africa Republic on an eleven day tour with African and Indian Explorations (africanexplorations.com). The trip costs from £4,532 per person sharing (based on four persons travelling in 2010 and 2011) and includes all transfers, meals, accommodation (bed and breakfast basis in Brazzaville) one gorilla permit per person, porters, drinking water, park entry permits, traditional net hunting and plant gathering with Ba'Aka and regional flights. International flights are extra and start from £650 per person including all airport taxes from London to Brazzaville via Nairobi return.
South Africa
There has never been a better time to visit South Africa. World Cup fever may have abated but the ZAR 33 billion invested in transport infrastructure and telecommunications makes for an even smoother travelling experience. Family-run Isibindi Lodges offer some of the best accommodation in some of the most remote spots:
* Kosi Forest Lodge nestles in a beautiful sand forest on the banks of the Kosi Lake and within the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site. With just eight thatched suites this pristine, prime location is your own peaceful haven.
* Thonga Beach Lodge captures the essence of a luxury hideaway. Built into the coastal dune forest, it has just 12 rooms set above an exquisite, private beach. Its crystal clear, warm waters offer South Africa's best snorkelling and fantastic off-shore scuba diving.
* Situated in a 400 acre private game reserve in the ruggedly beautiful Zululand, the six-room Isibindi Zulu Lodge is a peaceful bushveld retreat perfect for guests wanting to experience a combination of luxurious accommodation, game viewing, battlefields and Zulu cultural experiences.
* Rhino Post Safari Lodge is situated at the southern end of a 12,000 hectare private wilderness concession in the Kruger National Park. In addition to offering game drives in the concession, the lodge has exclusive use of some of the Kruger National Park public roads at night, when the hordes have departed for the day. Rhino Post Safari Lodge also offers Plains Camp - four luxury African explorer-style tents with all the comforts of home, plus the African wilderness on tap - and Rhino Walking Safaris.
A 10 night 'Bush, Beach, Lakes and Zulu' package with Visions of Africa (visionsofafrica.co.uk) costs from £1,699 per person sharing and can be done on a self drive or guided basis. The tour includes three nights at Rhino Post Safari Lodge, one night at Reilly's Rock Guesthouse in Swaziland, two nights at Thonga Beach Lodge, two nights at Kosi Forest Lodge and two nights at Isibindi Zulu Lodge. Price excludes international flights.
Zimbabwe
More often courting controversy than tourists, Zimbabwe is home to some of Africa's finest yet least-visited wildlife areas, great for exclusive luxury:
* Ivory Lodge is situated in the world-renowned Hwange National Park, famous for its "giant tuskers". Set deep in the mystical teak forests, Ivory Lodge sits in its own 6,000 acre conservancy bordering the national park, equivalent in size to Wales. The six elevated suites are built in the tree tops of the giant teak forest, all with sweeping views of the waterhole.
* Situated just off the shoreline of the Matusadona National Park, on its own island on Lake Kariba, Musango Safari Camp is an exclusive owner-run retreat. The six large safari tents and two spacious honeymoon suites with private plunge pools are set in thick forest, all facing east over the lake.
* Set high above the Zambezi River and Batoka Gorge, just downstream of the Victoria Falls, Gorges Lodge has breathtaking views from the ten luxury chalets. A special feature at the lodge is an all day tiger fishing excursion to Sidinda Island Lodge, approximately 80 kilometres further downstream. This white water and exclusive use area provides some of Zimbabwe's best tiger fishing.
A nine night best of Zimbabwe package with The Zambezi Safari and Travel Company (zambezi.com) costs from £2,075 per person sharing. This price includes three nights at Victoria Falls, three nights at Ivory Lodge and three nights at Musango Safari Camp. Return flights from Johannesburg, all transfers, drinks, laundry and unlimited game viewing activities by vehicle, canoe, boat and on foot are also included. Price excludes international flights.
