5 fabulous reasons to book a trip to Southern Africa

There’s never been a better time to book a holiday to Southern Africa. Here are five good reasons it should be high on your bucket list.

1.  Namibian night skies

Spend a wildly romantic night under Namibia’s starry skies on the Onguma Dream Cruiser – a custom built Land Cruiser with 180-degree views over the bush – from the comfort of its four-poster bed.  The viewing deck overlooks a busy waterhole in Onguma Nature Reserve and there is a beautiful bathroom with shower on the lower deck. If ever you needed another excuse to bump Namibia to the top of your bucket list, November 2022 will see the opening of high-end, ultra-exclusive Onguma Camp Kala which will sleep just eight guests in four suites – complete with private plunge pools and wood-fired hot tubs.

2.  Barefoot bliss on South Africa’s Dolphin Coast

One of the hottest new openings in South Africa, Sala Beach House brings a much-needed luxury boutique offering to the KwaZulu-Natal coastline.  Sala (meaning “stay” in Zulu) is an intimate, privately owned & run boutique hotel nestled between Ballito and Shaka’s Rock with breathtaking, uninterrupted ocean views and private beach access to the protected tidal pool and swimming beach at Thompson’s Bay.  The hotel has just ten rooms  in total including four luxury guestrooms,  three spacious suites and a 3-bedroom private villa with its own pool.

3.  Digital detox in an authentic eco lodge

There are few places more suited to a digital detox than Mosetlha Bush Camp and Eco Lodge in South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve.  The camp is purposely off grid and heats its showers by donkey boiler!  In fact the camp ticks all 10 boxes as eco lodges go.  In addition to its incredibly light footprint, Mosetlha is renowned for its Big 5 game viewing and its expert guides.  Senior Filed Guide Johnny even won an award recently for being one of Wanderlust’s Top 3 Specialist Guides in the World.

4.  Treat yourself… Pinotage and pampering

Lanzerac Wine Estate in Stellenbosch is one of the oldest heritage farms in the Western Cape dating back to 1692.  They were first in the world to bottle Pinotage  – and if the wine isn’t enough to tempt a visit, the Lanzerac Spa has also just been voted “South Africa’s Best Hotel Spa” amidst stiff competition in the World Spa Awards 2022.  With its beautiful views overlooking the lush vineyards and towering Stellenbosch mountains and world class facilities, this is the perfect spot to treat yourself.

5.  Birding on the border

Rare Earth’s The Outpost is a birder’s paradise – located in a vast and remote wilderness in the far north of the Kruger National Park  – right on the border of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The region is well known for its abundant, year-round birdlife, with over 350 recorded bird species in the area and an impressive list of specials.  As much as 80% of Kruger’s total biodiversity occurs here in an area only slightly more than 2% of its total size.

As John Hemingway beautifully captured… “If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa”.  Book your visit today.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.