East & Southern Africa Roundup
Let Four Hundred inspire you with a few of our favorite properties in East and Southern Africa! From the modern safari to the best game viewing destinations, take a look at some amazing places in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa and Zimbabwe!
East Africa
Kenya
Described by Peter Browne as possibly the most beautiful house in Africa, Arijiju's stunning design has become a firm favorite among the most discerning of travelers. Built to all but disappear in to the famous Lewa-Borana Conservancy in Kenya, Arijiju is a deeply private hideaway, available on an exclusive-use basis only, for groups of up to 10 adults and 4 children. The house launched in 2016 as the owner's private residence, only available to a select few. Now Arijiju runs like a 5 star safari, managed by a superb host couple and a team of 27 staff including safari guides, chefs, nannies, a butler, security and housekeeping. Arijiju offers Big 5 safaris and world-class adventures such as remote helicopter excursions, and superb fitness and wellness facilities unimaginable on safari. Members can also enjoy lying by the pool while the elephants drink from the other end and rhino clash at the salt licks below. At Arijiju the wildlife, sunrise, sunsets and views of the mighty Mount Kenya come to you, while you bathe in an equatorial light show and dine under the dappled shade of the olive grove.
Arijiju is home to five exquisite suites, three flanking the central courtyard and a further two nestled in the olive groves that surround it. Each feature the same earthy color scheme and effortless touches characteristic of leading interior designer Maira Koutoudakis, whilst a sixth ‘constellation suite’ is available for those nights too beautiful to sleep anywhere but under the stars. Elsewhere, a cavernous dining room, games room, home cinema and well-equipped library are available for cooler nights.
Arijiju is not just a safari house but a health and wellness retreat too. The organic cuisine and fresh daily smoothies lend to the healthy lifestyle Arijiju supports. There is a spa, Hammam, gym, yoga deck, tennis court and squash court all inconspicuously blending into the valley, and Arijiju includes 6 spa treatments per day by their two highly skilled masseuses. Being a private conservancy and blessed with hills and open trails, Arijiju is able to offer unique guided 'running safaris’ among the Big 5. The altitude makes for better fitness training and an ideal temperate climate for exercise.
Ol Jogi was created over 40 years ago, with the aim of preserving natural habitats and their wildlife in a responsible manner. With this goal in mind, Ol Jogi has developed a multi-faceted approach to conservation, which encompasses preserving critically endangered species and providing them with the best medical support possible, restoring degraded natural habitats, providing a much-needed education platform to share the importance of their work, and working closely with their neighboring communities so they can perceive a direct benefit from wildlife and natural landscapes. Wildlife conservation is at the core of Ol Jogi’s mission.
The landscape in which Ol Jogi is located is known for having the largest diversity of big mammals on the planet. Ol Jogi represents an important breeding ground for some of the most critically endangered species. The aim is to protect wild species and their habitats in order to prevent further extinction.
Being on the equator, Kenya offers a year-round, moderate climate; and being at altitude, the Laikipia Plateau where Ol Jogi is located provides generally consistent temperatures. That said, there are slight differences throughout the year, and each season offers a unique opportunity for animal viewing, landscape appreciation, and activities on property. A major benefit of Ol Jogi’s soil types is that they are able to stay open and enjoy safari year-round, which means that you can feel confident at Ol Jogi at any time of year knowing you will have a truly exceptional experience.
One of the most covetable distinctions of Ol Jogi from other camps and lodges is that they are always 100% exclusive, meaning they confirm only one booking at a time. From the exquisite setting, service and style to the leading Wildlife Rescue Centre, conservation projects and community programs, Ol Jogi offers one of the most deeply moving conservation platforms in Kenya, which all are welcome to participate in.
An award-winning conservation-led 1920s Camp and private Bush Villa located in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Working in partnership with the local community to link tourism returns for biodiversity and for community upliftment through sustainable luxury travel. Cottar’s is only one of only ten designated Global Ecosphere Retreats in the world, chosen for our work toward global sustainability and community support.
Over one hundred years and five generations in the making, Cottar’s provides an unparalleled safari experience to discerning clients in Africa. Extending an era of luxury and quality, they return to the original spirit and essence of ‘safari’, wilderness, wildlife, community, culture, romance, professional guiding, adventure and elegance. The camp and bush villa are situated in the only private conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Loliondo reserves.
From the iconic Maasai Mara migration to sightings of twenty-two lion in one pride, the famous five cheetah brothers, local leopards to tracking the elusive, nocturnal creatures, such as pangolin, aardvark and striped hyena, Cottar’s offer extraordinary and unusual encounters that add a thrilling dimension to any safari adventure.
Rwanda
The Retreat in Kigali is one of the top boutique hotels of the world. The American owners of Heaven Restaurant created The Retreat, a 20-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined street steps from Kigali City Center and 20 minutes from the airport. With 8 new luxury pool villas and a new wine lounge and deck now open, The Retreat is Kigali’s first eco-friendly resort and features solar electricity, organic toiletries, locally crafted furniture from a Tanzanian sustainable teak farm, outdoor showers, private terraces, a yoga and meditation deck, spa, large, heated saltwater swimming pool with jacuzzi and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness center.
Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar, located at The Retreat, offer delicious farm-to-table international cuisine, while Heaven Restaurant offers an innovative modern African menu. The Retreat is the perfect choice to host guests for the first 2 nights or several days as you enjoy the property, Kigali, and exciting onsite cultural experiences and activities. Josh Ruxin, co-owner, is the author of the book "A Thousand Hills to Heaven: Love, Hope & a Restaurant in Rwanda" which shares the whole of the Ruxin family story.
The Retreat is an entirely eco-friendly property with the largest private solar array in Kigali, solar heated, saltwater swimming pool & hot tub, onsite organic composting and gardens, and are a plastic free facility. Since they opened their first restaurant, Heaven, in 2008, they have proudly trained over 2,500 Rwandans in culinary and hospitality skills.
Alongside ancient rainforest, within the lush green expanse of a working tea plantation, One&Only Nyungwe House is an idyllic eco retreat offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences in the heart of magical Rwanda. Being at one with nature sits hand in hand with an ethos of wellness. Whether you wish to enhance your healthy lifestyle or delve into a new world of spiritual and physical development, there’s no better place to practice wellness than here.
Allow the sanctuary of the forest to infuse its healing energy into your body, mind and heart and immerse yourself in the abundant gifts of nature to relax, rebalance, restore, and rejuvenate. One&Only Spa offers an extensive array of luxury spa treatments, meditation, yoga, Pilates and fitness training. A complete sense of renewal and inner joy through the revival of your soul. Each unique treatment combines the wisdom from traditional holistic therapies with the scientific power of the purest natural ingredients. Discover the essence of Africa, a journey that is captured through our bespoke treatments.
The 23 luxury rooms and suites are all designed to frame nature, with exceptional views of the Nyungwe National Park. Newly extended private decks offer a secluded haven to watch wildlife and to simply relax and unwind after a day of adventure. Interior design comprising locally made textiles and artwork is inspired by the talent and beauty of Rwanda.
One&Only Nyungwe House is also located within a working tea plantation on the edge of Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda’s southwest. It is an area of the country famed for its lush rainforests and bright green tea fields. Rwanda’s award-winning tea is grown on high altitude hillsides and has become some of the most sought-after tea in the world. The best quality teas produced in Rwanda include black tea, orthodox tea, white tea, green tea, organic tea and spiced tea.
Surrounded by swaying eucalyptus trees, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest awakens a wild spirit of adventure. A place that encourages you to gaze into the mirror through eye opening encounters with majestic mountain gorillas. Situated just five minutes from the Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi, this ultra-luxury resort offers a front-row seat to exceptional landscapes and vistas, the highest number of natural mountain gorillas in the wild, five dormant volcanoes, monkeys and exotic birds.
A hidden garden atop the volcanic mountains where a world of roses and eucalyptus trees grow all year round in the fertile Rwandan soil. Not only does the plant life contribute to everything from your welcome drink to your dinner and the logs burning on the fire – every plant and tree is chosen to encourage flourishing wildlife. A perfect ecosystem that is constantly growing - your backdrop, your hideaway and your palate. There are 21 havens in which you can stay. Each offers privacy, intimacy, and luxurious comforts. These forest-chic cottages and suites have been designed to frame nature and seamlessly blend in with their surroundings.
Feel connected to the natural turn of life in Rwanda, with cuisine crafted and inspired by local seasonal produce from the Chef’s Garden. Discover an iconic piece of conservation history –the past residence of famed wildlife expert Jack Hanna. His cottage has been reborn as a secluded space to explore with a bespoke games room, fully equipped kitchen hosting interactive cooking classes led by the Executive Chef, as well as a library where you can learn more about Rwanda’s conservation work.
At One&Only Gorilla's Nest, we have crafted a set of experiences that write adventure-rich stories, such as coffee tasting an experience that takes you on the coffee bean journey, bird watching, and resort nature walk.
One&Only is proud to support the development of the communities where they work and offer the opportunity for their guests to contribute in a purposeful way. At One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, they work together with Handspun Hope in Rwanda’s Northern Province, an organization that supports vulnerable women who experienced trauma in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as those living with HIV/AIDS. The organization empowers strong and resilient women by providing them with dignified jobs and spiritual counselling as well as by fostering community development. One&Only supports Handspun Hope by purchasing locally inspired crafts made by the female artisans, including adorable handmade plush animals that are offered to guests as turndown gifts. During their time at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, guests have the opportunity to meet some of the 280 remarkable women artisans and see first-hand how their products are made, from conception to completion, including the impressive handmade mountain gorillas, that celebrate the endangered primate found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
Kwitonda Lodge, named after a legendary silverback gorilla, is located on 178 acres and shares a 1.2km border with Volcanoes National Park – the only lodge within such close proximity of the park.
Designed with respect to its remarkable location. Set right on the edge of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where more than a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas find refuge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge’s unrivalled position puts lifechanging gorilla trekking experiences within easy reach. Each of the eight luxurious suites features a private heated plunge pool, wellness treatment area, in- and outdoor fireplaces and large timber-framed windows that welcome breathtaking scenery and volcano views inside.
Created in response to its dramatic setting, the lodge includes elements such as woven ceilings and hand-fired terracotta brickwork crafted by local artisans, while a dedicated Conservation Room and on-site nursery and vegetable garden – which provides fresh produce for Kwitonda’s farm-to-table food journey – further enhances the experience. Offering guests a nurturing space within which to contemplate their encounters with the remarkable “gentle giants of the forest”, the lodge envelopes them in a sanctuary of warmth, stillness & solitude.
Tanzania
Set on the gentle slopes of Sasakwa Hill, this spacious sanctuary epitomizes casual, carefree living in one of the continent’s most iconic settings. Boasting endless views of the vast Serengeti plains as well as the nearby waterhole where game regularly gather to drink, this modern African home includes a 25-metre rim-flow, expansive outdoor dining decks and fire pit – ensuring continuous engagements with the wilderness.
Singita is recognized as one of Africa’s most influential collectors of wine, with an extensive cellar showcasing a premium selection of wines, including some of the continent’s most sought-after private reserves, including exclusive release, limited single vineyard and rare auction wines. It’s safe to say that wine is a key ingredient of the unique Singita experience.
Singita Serengeti House embodies the very best of classic safari while offering every contemporary comfort from an unparalleled setting. Expansive views of the landscape and passing game from the many outdoor seating areas.
The Serengeti plains teem with wildlife, including vast herds of plains game, a plethora of predators and the spectacle of the annual wildebeest migration. As the custodian of more than 350,000 acres of the world-renowned Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania, Singita’s partnership with Grumeti Fund has had a profound impact on the Serengeti ecosystem. The non-profit Grumeti Fund carries out wildlife conservation and community development programs in and around the Singita Grumeti Reserve.
Southern Africa
South Africa
A sophisticated, innovative eco-luxury safari experience for the modern age. Cheetah Plains is home to the exclusive-use luxury villa and sustainable safari experience nestled in South Africa’s most celebrated wildlife area, the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve. The eco-luxe experience includes three private villas with four guest bush suites that accommodate up to eight guests each with its own formal lounge, living and dining areas, expansive swimming pool, and outdoor deck that operates off-grid.
Each villa comes with a complete hospitality team consisting of an accomplished host, butler, culinary team, and spa therapist, as well as an expert field guide and tracker dedicated to you for the duration of your stay.
Cheetah Plains sets the standard in South Africa for zero-emission game-viewing utilizing its own fleet of solar-charged Land Cruiser Electric Safari vehicles. Their 4×4 luxury safari experience traverses over 20,200+ acres and is led by a highly skilled guiding team.
Cheetah Plains is a pioneer in the eco-safari set in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. In conjunction with owner Japie van Niekerk’s singular approach to sustainability within their footprint on the Sabi Sands, their guiding teams and hospitality staff are committed to delivering an exceptional eco-safari experience of the highest standards. They have partnered with some of the world’s most pre-eminent minds in the renewable energy field to provide clean energy solutions that drive both hospitality and safari experiences. All accommodations (Villas and Private Guest Bush Suites) are entirely off grid, harnessing only the power of solar to provide a reliable, renewable energy source.
The twice-daily game drives are led by best-in-class safari guide and tracker teams and taken in their innovative Land Cruiser Electric Safari Vehicles. This bold advance toward zero-emission game viewing is what drives our sustainable safari experience at Cheetah Plains.
Opening December 2022 - Luxury Safari Boutique - Embracing and supporting the local collectible design offering in South Africa, they will stock a range of the finest quality sourced and curated selection of gifts, jewelry, lodge wear, apparel, accessories and art produced by contemporary design makers and artists.
Tswalu is a visionary conservation project in the southern Kalahari, supported by nature-based tourism, with sustainability at its core. Understated luxury and an authentic sense of place characterize its three camps, representing the lowest ratio of guests to space in a privately protected area in South Africa. Each camp is positioned to take in the reserve’s dramatic landscapes of savannah grasslands, red dunes and ancient mountains. The Motse and exclusive-use Tarkuni are complemented by Loapi, a light-footprint camp with six tented homes offering the ultimate private wilderness experience. At all three camps a private vehicle is guaranteed with each booking, providing complete freedom to traverse and explore this vast, semi-arid wonderland with a dedicated guide and tracker. Days on safari are unscripted and immersive, a unique journey of discovery into the rare and unusual from desert-adapted fauna and flora to San rock engravings. Iconic Kalahari sights include black-maned lion, oryx, desert black rhino as well as shy, elusive creatures like brown hyena, aardvark and pangolin. Guests contribute towards Tswalu’s regenerative vision to leave the world better than how it was found, ensuring that vital habitat is restored so that biodiversity can once again flourish for the benefit of both planet and people.
Whether on game drives, nature walks or on horseback, there is time to pause and appreciate the vastness of Tswalu’s landscapes as well as the privilege of having exclusive access to South Africa’s biggest private reserve.
The development of their new camp, Loapi, is well underway and we cannot wait to share more with you ahead of its opening in 2023. Combining the Motse and Loapi is an opportunity to experience the thoughtful locations, generous hospitality and incredible views that set each camp apart. A longer, more immersive stay will also provide a deeper understanding of this place of contrasts, mitigate your carbon footprint, and have a positive impact on the sustainability of this noble conservation project.
Tswalu has always been a year-round safari destination where the absence or presence of rain triggers dramatic transformations to the diverse habitats and photogenic landscapes of this extraordinary place, often referred to as the Green Kalahari. Seasonal changes determine and influence wildlife sightings so that each time you return to explore the vast reaches of this semi-arid wonderland, it feels like you are scratching the surface or about to discover something new. Finding animals like brown hyena or aardvark, which often prove elusive elsewhere in southern Africa, and enjoying exclusivity at every sighting are the sort of safari memories that make Tswalu unique.
Standing steadfast among giant trees alongside the Sand River, Singita Ebony Lodge provides a fresh and contemporary safari experience. Surrounded by the vivid colors, captivating sounds and soothing rhythms of the bush, it awakens a spirit of discovery while restoring the senses.
Located in Singita Sabi Sand in South Africa, Ebony Lodge gives guests access to 45,000 acres within a breathtaking wildlife sanctuary that’s renowned for its high concentrations of big game and frequent leopard sightings.
Inspired by the adventurous charm of safari, the lodge embodies the thrill of the African bushveld. 12 luxurious suites featuring glass and canvas walls open onto expansive private decks with plunge pools – and uninterrupted river views ensure continuous connections with the wilderness.
Zimbabwe
Pamushana Lodge is set in Zimbabwe’s remote southeast, within the 130,000-acre Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve. Perched high on a sandstone ridge overlooking the shimmering expanse of the Malilangwe Dam, Singita Pamushana Lodge’s eight elegant suites – all with private plunge pools – draw inspiration from the rich tribal history of ancient Zimbabwe. Maximizing opportunities to be immersed in the restorative power of its incredible wilderness setting, the lodge’s guest experience allows for a safari that’s both soothing and inspiring – with comfort, intuitive ease and a complete sense of freedom underpinning every stay.
Featuring a series of staggered and interlinked platforms, the main lodge area provides a variety of living spaces from which to appreciate the astounding natural beauty of the area. Expansive decks deepen connections with the landscape and a cliff-top fire pit and bar-deli overlooking the dam provides the perfect setting for alfresco dining and fireside storytelling.
As custodians of the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in Zimbabwe, the Malilangwe Trust manages the conservation of this pristine wilderness – which comprises 38 different habitats and ecological zones in 130,000 acres of protected land.
After successfully introducing 28 black and 15 white rhinos to the reserve in 1998, it’s now home to a globally significant population of both and the program has been so successful that it is a source for restocking rhinos in other reserves on the continent.
The Trust has developed a blueprint for creating harmony between conservation initiatives and community development in villages that neighbor wildlife areas and ensured a sanctuary for a wide range of wildlife, including breeding herds of rare antelope species such as sable and roan.
Contributor — Helen Himebaugh