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Ants Nest is an old school homestead and one of the best horse-riding bases in Africa. It’s all about outdoor exploration and campfire tales. That said, the rooms are spacious with a classic barefoot luxury feel. It encapsulates what safari accommodation has always been about: incredible locations with an adventurous heart, but without any of the added fuss.
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Marataba is a modern, yet traditional safari lodge set in the vast the private reserve that is surrounded by the beautiful Marekele National Park. Offering a non-malarial, big five safari, Marataba can offer something for everyone. Game viewing is plentiful and is matched by one of the most stunning backdrops you can find on safari.
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Since 1989 Rovos Rail has been transporting guests across Africa and into a bygone safari era by train. If you’re a fan of silver service, spectacular views, and Victorian-era opulence – and of course, love being on trains – then Rovos Rail is an experience not to be missed. The itineraries are endless with Rovos, as you can pretty much hop on and off wherever you like from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, and even Angola. Why not swap out the 4x4 for a speedier, streamlined option for your next safari adventure? It would certainly be something different.
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1,000sq km of game reserve, with just two safari lodges at its heart, Tswalu is a world apart, a secret Eden preserved by great hearted and happily generous philanthropists. A superb room lodge with impeccable service; gorgeous house staff to meet and greet and treat you to their Relais and Chateaux-earning gourmet delights, then your own dedicated guide and bushman tracker to take you, all alone, in the company of your own in-jokes and safari interests, on a private safari. With antelopes abounding, and waterhole action in front of your room; this is civilised, gentle safari country, and our first choice for families with children.
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Garonga Safari Camp has all the luxury you could need from safari, and at a third of the price of some of the more famed African wildlife areas. It has the fantastic intimacy of a rustic safari lodge, but with all the bells and whistles you could need. You can’t go wrong here for a relaxing stay in a great wildlife area, and in good proximity to the big South African airport hubs.
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Khoka Moya is a steal. The camp offers a minimalist, adventure-style design but with all the luxuries you could wish for. Plus, it’s on the border of the Kruger National Park, so the wildlife is brilliant - but the Manyeleti reserve is private. That means you get a fraction of the crowds, and here, you don’t pay a premium for it.
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Mantobeni is the sister camp to Khoka Moya, also in Manyeleti. This is the option for those who want an old school safari experience in the African bush. Here the style is less kids-focused and a little more sophisticated, but still with an unbeatable price for some fantastic wildlife viewing.
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Kwandwe is a 22 000 hectare game reserve two hours’ drive to the north of Port Elizabeth. This is a great malaria free safari option to combine with an itinerary featuring Cape Town and the Garden Route. This is a big 5 game reserve, but is particularly good for viewing the rarer aardwolf and aardvark.
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Little Garonga is a magical place to take exclusively with family or friends, and it really nails the idea of safari intimacy, but with some big splashes of luxury. It’s in a brilliant game reserve where wildlife is easy, and importantly you also get brilliant bang for your buck. While this level of safari living would be over $1,500 per person per night in the Okavango Delta, here it’s $820.
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