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This month we're highlighting some of the most spectacular luxury lodges in Africa, where you can get up close & personal with all sorts of wildlife while basking in the creature comforts of 5-star accommodations and fabulous food.
In the picture at right, I'm on safari in Kenya at Loisaba, a 150 square kilometre private wilderness area. Look carefully...in the background is a family of elephants about 100 feet from our Land Rover.
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By day, we saw elephants, giraffe, gazelle, impala, kudu, zebra...at night, we enjoyed spectacular meals in the lodge's dining room overlooking the valley.
While many travellers to Africa head for the Mara River and stay in tented camps, you don't have to "rough it" to see an enormous range of wild game. In fact, some of the highest-rated luxury hotels in the world are remote lodges in Africa (check out Matthew Brace's book, Hotel Heaven for more examples).
-- Michael
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Loisaba Wilderness, Kenya
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A 150-square-kilometer private conservation preserve
In the photo at left, we're at the main lodge, looking out over a watering hole, around which there's always dozens of animals--zebra, giraffe, impalas, gazelle. Often there are elephants grazing on the hill at right. Especially romantic are the Star Beds, where you sleep outdoors on a raised platform, guarded by your own Samburu warriors all night long. Check out our photos from our visit; see its location via Google Earth.
5 nights from $2000 per person
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Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, Kruger National Park, South Africa
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A luxurious safari escape set in the heart of the Sabi Sabi bushveld
The 25 spacious, air-conditioned thatched suites are beautifully appointed, featuring ethnic décor. You can watch the wildlife from the huge viewing decks, or from the cool pools...even from your bathroom, through the glass-fronted showers!
From $640/night per person, including all meals, drinks, 2 safari activities daily and laundry
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Ulusaba Private Game Reserve - South Africa
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Sir Richard Branson's private game reserve
Sin the heart of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Ulusaba borders the sprawling Kruger National Park in South Africa's Mpumalanga province. See the list of awards this lodge has won; see where it's located via Google Earth.
From $850 per person per night, including all meals, drinks, 2 safari activities daily & laundry
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Ngorongoro Crater Lodge - Tanzania
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Perched on the edge of the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater at the eastern edge of the Serengeti
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge consists of three adjacent, glamorous camps with 30 Maasai-inspired suites perched on stilts on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater (see its location via Google Earth).
North and South Camp have 12 suites each, while intimate Tree Camp has six suites. All have an en suite bathroom and chandelier-lit bath-tub and shower. Each sumptuous suite is discreetly tended by a personal butler, who will bring you tea in bed, stoke your fireplace and draw your bath, scattering the water with rose petals, ready for your enjoyment.
From $730 per person per night, including all meals, drinks, 2 safari activities daily & laundry
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Singita Private Game Reserve - Lebombo Lodge
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Constructed of glass, slatted wood and bleached branches, Lebombo has been called an architectural masterpiece
Poised over one of Africa's most dramatic landscapes, the design of the glass-walled suites at Lebombo Lodge was inspired by the nests of wild eagles that view the world from heightened perspectives. The interior design of Singita Lebombo Lodge mixes cutting-edge contemporary styles with wide-open spaces and enormous blue African skies.
From $1050 per person per night, including all meals, drinks, 2 safari activities daily & laundry
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Elsa's Kopje, Kenya
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Made famous by the film Born Free, the lodge is invisible to the eye as you approach the kopje
9 individual cottages are perched around the kopje (rocky hill) in the midst of Meru National Park (see its location via Google Earth). When Melinda and I landed on the dirt airstrip, gazelles leapt out of the way and a bull elephant came out to meet us at the far end. The honeymoon villa has an outdoor bathtub set into the hillside--in complete privacy, but overlooking thousands of acres of wilderness. See our photos from Elsa's.
Two weeks from $4300 per person (land only)
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Mombo Camp - Okavango Delta
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Located in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana--a country of exceptional safari opportunities
OK, so this lodge is actually a tented camp....but, the nine tents are luxuriously furnished, raised off the ground on platforms--look at our photo gallery and you'll see it's really not "roughing it" by any means!
Nightly from $1200 per person, including all meals, drinks, 2 safari activities daily & laundry
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