Four new properties open in Southern and East Africa

It’s a new year, and we are excited about four new properties which have just opened in Tanzania, Kenya and Botswana.  

Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp is a private campsite, located on the crater rim in Tanzania’s pristine Ngorongoro National Park. Each of the 10 luxury safari tents offer an en-suite bathroom with indoor bucket shower, a room safe, hairdryer and mosquito nets. The camp is well positioned close to the access road into the crater and offers spectacular views of the crater and surrounds.

Angama Mara, pictured above, was developed by renowned lodge expert, Nicky Fitzgerald. Angama sits high on an escarpment offering wonderful views over the Maasai Mara, Kenya. The lodge consists of two intimate and completely separate camps, each comprising fifteen tented suites. In this location some of the most romantic ‘Ngong Hills’ scenes were filmed for the movie Out of Africa. 

A private hardtop airfield, just five minutes’ drive from the lodge, provides easy access from Wilson Airport in Nairobi.

The new Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi, offers a sophisticated retreat in the new Upper Hill central business district. Located a mere 20 minute drive from the airport, the hotel boasts 271 guest rooms, including 13 suites and 1 presidential suite. Conference facilities are available and 12 meeting rooms have been set aside for this purpose.

The new &beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge lies in a private concession in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Sandibe offers exclusive traversing over 270 km² (104 square miles) of wilderness adjacent to the Moremi Game Reserve. Here eight guest cottages spread out under a cool forest canopy of wild palms and gnarled fig trees. Walls are airy screens, which let through the gentle and refreshing Delta breezes while al fresco showers bring you even closer to the natural surroundings. Access is by charter flight from Maun or Kasane.

East Africa News

The Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi, located within the larger commercial area of Nairobi, commenced operations 01st August 2013 with a soft opening. It’s rated 5 star and among the best of the Nairobi hotels.

The hotel has 200 rooms and suites elegantly presented in a fusion of European and Pan-African style distributed throughout 10 floors, including a Presidential Suite on the top floor.

In the Masai Mara, Kempinski took over the formerly Olare Ntiakitiak camp, now renamed Olare Mara Kempinski (located at Olare Orok conservancy, bordering the Masai Mara). It has 12 luxury tents as well as a honeymoon tent. Access is via chartered flight out of Nairobi.

Other properties at Olare Orok Conservancy are Porini Camp, Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Plains Camp, and the now opened Mahali Mzuri belonging to the Virgin Group.

Mahali Mzuri opens in August in the Masai Mara

Sir Richard Branson’s Kenyan Safari Camp is open for bookings from 1 August 2013. This 12 tented luxury camp is located within Kenya’s Masai Mara ecosystem. 

Mahali Mzuri is located in the Motorogi Conservancy, just north of the Masai Mara National Reserve, and is right in the path of the annual migration. There is also an abundance of resident game all year round both near the camp and also a short distance away by vehicle. The best way to access the camp is by plane from the city's Wilson Airport which serves domestic destinations within Kenya. A number of domestic airlines are based at Wilson Airport and most provide scheduled flights to the region which take about 1 hour. From the public airstrip the journey by vehicle to the camp is roughly one hour's drive. Special charter flights can also be arranged on request if the scheduled times don't suit you and these flights can land at the private airstrip in the conservancy, roughly 20 minutes' drive from camp.