Luxury Safari
Family Safari
July 5, 2019
For many people, a luxury safari is quantified by the quality of the accommodation itself - the interior decor, service, food quality and general ambience of each camp or lodge, but "luxury" goes beyond this to location, experience and more.
At Tailormade Africa we pride ourselves on being THE luxury safari experts in South Africa, but who are we to say so? Pop over to our independent reviews from Safari Bookings to see what travellers have to say. The days of basic safari camps in small canvas tents have become rare, so it is not always straightforward to understand what makes a “luxury” safari. In our humble opinion it should at least start with the following.
Time, isolation and uniqueness of experience should all be major focal points when considering a luxury safari as all 3 of those elements of luxury have become synonymous with modern safari travel in Africa. South Africa is one of the top African destinations of the luxury safari world where opulent accommodations, food, wine and service are of a superior level. Get in touch with us to help you plan your luxury safari.
This is a tough one, there are so many fantastic luxury options in South Africa you really are spoilt for choice. We support a number of private reserves around the country, all of which have at least one five-star property on offer, often more. Luxury is, in our opinion relative.
We believe that being on a private reserve with the big five, plus all the other extraordinary animals roaming around is luxury no matter what kind of bed you sleep in, particularly when you’re only sharing a vehicle with a maximum of six people and will have enough delicious meals and treats coming at you to fill you to the brim!
If you only pull out the safari portion of a wider Tailormade Africa itinerary, you could be looking at from $700 per person per night including all meals, drinks and activities ranging up to $1,800 per person per night – and that would include as many premium drinks that you can manage to sip in three nights or more!
Remember, we design all of our trips bespoke and know all of the top lodges incredibly well so can help guide you as to where would best suit you and your loved ones. If you throw in a private vehicle to boot then you could add an extra $350 per day – so it can start adding up but with that comes total exclusivity and unbelievable service!
South Africa is quite frankly one of the best when it comes to private reserves and luxury safaris, and we couldn’t possibly pick just one or two. If ticking off the big five is important to you then you’re in the best place possible as pretty much all of the private reserves we support are lucky enough to be home to them, including the elusive leopard and highly sought after rhino!
Some reserves are bigger than others, some have more savannah or more dense bush – some have rivers, some have lakes. They are all unique and have something remarkable to offer. Throw in a stunning five-star all-singing-all-dancing safari lodge and you’re winning!
How can you define luxury? The highest quality bedsheets? Gourmet meals and exclusive wines? Impeccable service? In our opinion luxury is a combination of all of these things, but more importantly, the opportunity for you to witness nature at its finest with just a handful of people around you providing one of the most life-changing and authentic wildlife experiences in the world.
Luxury is being at an incredible game sighting with just one other safari vehicle there. Luxury is hot water bottles and soft fluffy blankets to keep you snug on your game drive, a warming whiskey in hand. Luxury is having every whim taken care of, and the opportunity to meet some of the most talented conservation-minded individuals and learn directly from them in an exclusive setting.
In many ways yes. Luxury safaris afford you the chance to be in a private reserve with just a handful of other people, a small intimate lodge setting with like-minded individuals and being spoilt rotten by the excellent teams on hand.
That said, a private safari is where you have your own vehicle, your own specialist guide to take you on a wilderness journey and that simply takes the luxury safari up a notch! If you’re looking for quality time with your loved ones, then a private safari cannot be beaten. There is something to be said for meeting others in such a special setting though and you may end up making new friends for life!
Lucky you, you’re in the best of hands with us when it comes to fitting a safari in on a budget. As specialists in South Africa, we know all the best lodges there are – from ‘entry-level’ luxury to ‘bling-bling’ luxury, we’re here to help you get what you want! A luxury safari doesn’t have to be super expensive, but we do think it’s worth bearing in mind that many luxury safaris include pretty much everything once you arrive and so you won’t be lumbered with those unexpected extras which can add up so quickly.
The great news is that we are experts at planning bespoke itineraries and if we need to manipulate accommodation in one area to allow a bit more cash for safari then we can do so, and are here to advise you best. Let’s get planning!
