5 New Luxury Safari Camps In Africa 2023

The new camps that are ready to show guests the very best of Africa

01

CAMP SOSSUS, NAMIBIA

A rocky amphitheatre forms its backdrop and the mammoth dunes of Sossusvlei its view. This otherworldly landscape of the Namib Tsaris Conservancy is now home to the eco-friendly hideaway that is Camp Sossus. Comprising six tents made of canvas and stone, this camp is designed to immerse you in nature. Spend the day going for mountain bike rides, safari drives or helicopter flights, across the land that is filled with bat-eared foxes, Hartmann’s zebra, giraffe, oryx and springbok. In the evening you can relax in a hammock on your breezy terrace, take a dip in the pool, dine family-style in the dining room or swap stories around the camp fire. You may be sleeping under canvas, but you definitely won't be roughing it. Think comfortable beds, freestanding wardrobes and steamer trunks and if you climb the stairs to the roof top, you’ll find a plump double bed, where you can spend the night under a blanket of stars.

02

ANGAMA AMBOSELI, KENYA

Wake up to a view of Mount Kilimanjaro at the new Angama Amboseli that lies within a fever tree forest in the Kimana Sanctuary. Thanks to the river that runs through the conservancy, the area is rich is wildlife include giraffe, zebra and wildebeest. Even the elusive leopard and cheetah can be seen. Next door lies Amboseli National Park, which is where you’ll find yet more incredible wildlife such as rhinos, leopards, lions and buffalos as well as the last of the Super Tuskers. The pachyderms' tusks are so large they drag along the ground. The camp, which is expected to open in November 2023, features 10 tented suites that each come with a super king-sized bed and ensuite as well as a personal drinks cabinet and rocking chairs on the terrace. Within the grounds you’ll find a restaurant, games room, art gallery, and photography studio, should you want to do a quick edit of your vacation shots. Note, you might not be the only visitors at the camp as there is an elephant’s drinking trough at the end of the swimming pool. Angama Amboseli has also joined with the Big Life Foundation to offer guests conservation experiences that they can take part in during their stay. Activities include ranger patrol demonstrations, camera trap monitoring and learning about how to protect ancient wildlife corridors.

03

DUKE'S CAMP, BOTSWANA

The famed Jack’s Camp has been wowing guests for over 30 years in the Makgadikgadi Pans, now it’s sibling Duke’s Camp aims to do the same in the Okavango Delta. The camp is set on a private island within the Moremi Game Reserve, which is where lions, elephant, hippo and leopard can be found. Named after Duke, the local owner of the land, this next level camp is determined to give you a vacation to remember, offering canoe excursions, sunset boat trips, 4WD safari drives and scenic helicopter flights. When the sun goes down a butler will prepare a cocktail or two for you by the waterside, then you can dine alfresco upon a long antique table complete with crystal glasses and antique silverware. But if you are just looking to cool off after a day in the wild, you can take a dip in the swimming pool in the grounds. When it comes to the time you need to rest your head you won’t be disappointed. The tents, which are perched on raised decks, sit between ebony and leadwood trees. Decorated with a paisley pink lining, each canvas tent comes complete with a four-poster bed, mahogany furnishings, Persian rugs, and has an Instagram-worthy ensuite.

04

TEMBO PLAINS CAMP, ZIMBABWE

On the edge of the Zambezi River, you’ll find Tembo Plains Camp. Stretching out along the river bank, the camp is designed to give you a front row seat to the action. From hippos wallowing in the river to the elephants often coming down to water’s edge to drink, it should be no surprise that the husband-and-wife team behind the camp are Nat Geo photographers. This is probably why each suite also comes with a professional camera and lens as well as first-rate binoculars that you can borrow, should you have left yours at home. While the views are breath-taking, the camp is also pretty, with each suite featuring a four-poster bed and deep leather sofas in the lounge. This is undoubtedly a special place, but what makes it extra special is that it is part of an animal relocation project led by the aforementioned photographers and conservationists Derrick and Beverly Joubert who by the time the project is finished will have helped relocate 3,000 animals to the reserve.

05

MILA TENTED CAMP, TANZANIA

This is a small camp that is ready to make a big impact. Tucked away under a canopy of acacia trees in the Serengeti, the Mila Tented Camp is the last word in luxury. Once a seasonal camp, it now has a new location and is open all year round. Its six tents come with Architectural Digest vibes, Italian cotton sheets and cosy sofas. The natural and honey tones used in the decor are inspired by the local Hadza’s people skill at gathering wild honey. Unfortunately, you might not get to spend that much time between the four walls of your tent as you will have too much to do. Your guide could take you in your private vehicle to see some of the largest lion prides in the Serengeti; between May and June, you could watch the migration where the herds cross the Grumeti; or you could also go on a night drive where you could see a porcupine or aardvark enjoying a stroll. There are also walking safaris and hot air balloon rides and when it comes to dining, those options also seem endless from enjoying a Swahili feast under the trees to dining by lantern light on the mountain side.