News Archives - Bellingham Safaris

Lessons from Africa

Jen Bellingham — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 07:06:23 +0000

We are thrilled to share this article (recently published in the esteemed in-flight magazine of GOL, a large Brazilian airline), showcasing the remarkable story of our Brazilian friend and conservationist, Mario Haberfeld. The article highlights how Mario’s travels inspired him to take lessons from his African safaris, to help safeguard Brazil’s indigenous species. It is a proud time for Africans that the continent’s conservation ideas have been successfully exported internationally, and we at Bellingham are particularly proud to have played some part in Mario’s story.

We sincerely hope that you find this article enjoyable and that Africa (and now Brazil!) continues to make conservation waves on a global scale.

Warmest regards,
Jen, Simon and the Bellingham team xx

LESSONS FROM AFRICA

The travels of former racing driver Mario Haberfeld to the African continent inspired the creation of the Onçafari association, a biodiversity conservation initiative in Brazil that began with trying to enable the viewing of jaguars in the Pantanal.

By Carol Sganzerla – GOL Magazine (Brazil)

Photos Raquel Espírito Santo
Translated version Simon Bellingham
Click here for the original article in Portuguese

The life of Mario Haberfeld, 47, can be divided into two parts. Not surprisingly, his two great passions, racing and nature. Although they may seem like distinct and contradictory universes, both require a similar mindset to navigate: the race against time. On the race track the driver needs to accelerate to get the best results and danger is always imminent; helping to beat the imminent risk of the extinction of Brazil’s flora and fauna is also a race requiring careful navigation.

It was in early adolescence that the boy who practiced horseback riding, dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, and liked to watch documentaries about animal life approached the two worlds that would take him far. Mario still remembers the feeling of spending his 13th birthday camping in Ngorongoro Crater, in Tanzania, on the first family trip to the African continent. “Nobody went there from Brazil in the late 1980s. It was very rustic. We also visited the Serengeti National Park, sitting in chairs fixed in the back of a truck. Nothing was planned, the truck would get stuck and we would stop anywhere at night, and the guide would say, ‘Here’s your tent, figure it out.’ But I loved it.” Since then, trips to Africa became frequent, almost annual.

Mario cannot explain exactly why he took a liking to racing cars, except for the fact that he had been around three-time world champion Nelson Piquet since he was a child. Nelson Piquet was a close friend of his father, the packaging entrepreneur, Roberto Haberfeld. It was also at the age of 13 that Mario became a professional kart driver and began to have a disciplined life of training, commitments, and competitions. In his debut year, he won the São Paulo championship.

At 17, an opportunity led Mario to enter Formula Ford and move to England, winning the English championship in 1995 and subsequently the world title. “I lived in the same house as the Formula 1 race car driver, Ruben Barrichello, in Cambridge for about seven years, he always helped me a lot in the races.” In the following years, Mario competed in the British Formula 3, where he was crowned champion in 1998. “There’s nothing like the feeling of winning a race.” The invitation to be a test driver in Formula 1 came shortly thereafter, and Mario had stints in the Stewart, McLaren, and Jordan teams. “Motorsport taught me to work as a team. Everyone sees it as a one-person sport but I think it’s one of the most collective sports. If someone forgets to tighten a screw, the car can break or, in the worst-case scenario, you can die.”

SUBMERGED HIPPOPOTAMUS
During the two decades he raced, Mario continued to explore wildlife on his travels. And, Africa always called to him. On one of these trips, when he was almost 30 years old, he met the guide Simon Bellingham, who would become a great friend and driver of all his safaris. “He opened a wildlife travel company, and in theory, it was possible to see any mammal in the world. I said, ‘Simon, there are a lot of animals I want to see, take me there.’ And we went to see pandas in China, polar bears in Canada, gorillas in Uganda, and tigers in India.”

Once, in Mana Pools National Park, “one of the wildest places I’ve ever been to,” on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, going down the Zambezi River for seven days in a canoe, they were surprised by a submerged hippopotamus. “I was at the back of the canoe, and when I went to grab my camera, I ended up falling on top of a hippopotamus. I was like a cartoon character, almost walking on water, but I managed to get back in the canoe. Hippopotamus are the most deadly animal in Africa, besides mosquitoes – they can be very aggressive in their territories,” he explains.

As he continued to cross the skies, Mario grew tired of the race tracks. It was 2008. “Motorsport was in decline in the United States, and I thought it was time to stop,” says the former driver, who at that time lived in Miami with his wife, Ana Haberfeld, and his children, Roberto and Mariana, still babies. “I had the privilege of being with them during that phase, I was the only dad who took his kids to school. It was great, I would go to the beach, take them to the aquarium. But I found out that retiring was the worst thing I did. I woke up with no purpose,” he recalls.

It was time for Haberfeld to find a new motivation. In this search, he called his friend Simon to visit the Pantanal, a region that Mario himself hardly knew – “this is a common Brazilian flaw, that they do not know their own country,” he justifies. Arriving at the world’s largest flooded grassland, the South African guide couldn’t take his eyes off the capybaras. “Imagine if we could see jaguars here?” And he threw it out: “It’s possible to see tigers on game drives in India, lions on game drives in Africa, but you cannot see jaguars on game drives here. We need to find a way,” Simon’s words sowed in Mario the desire to do something.

FREE ANIMAL
Both Mario and Simon knew that the jaguar would be a drawcard, “protecting the jaguar would be protecting the entire forest. Nobody goes to Africa for the first time wanting to only see zebras, everyone wants to see an iconic predator like the lion. And here, they want to see jaguars,” remarked Mario. The two spent a month at the Caiman Ecological Refuge, owned by entrepreneur and environmental activist Roberto Klabin, an old friend and the owner of a 53,000-hectare part of the Pantanal. “I told Roberto, ‘This is the safest place to start, you’ve been preserving it for over 30 years.’ Roberto said, ‘I only see jaguars two or three times a year. But if you want to try, go ahead.’ I don’t know if he believed it would work, but he gave us full support,” recalls Mario.

The idea was to replicate in Brazil the Sabi Sands Private Nature Reserve model in South Africa, a region formed in the 1930s by merging some cattle farms. Just as lions threatened cattle in African savannas, in the Pantanal, jaguars were seen as enemies by farmers. Haberfeld wanted to reverse this logic and show that live animals were worth much more than dead ones, just as what happened in the Sabi Sands. Mario and Simon, along with a team of biologists, spent over a year getting jaguars accustomed to the presence of vehicles using GPS collars, motion sensor cameras, and an extra dose of patience. The goal was never to domesticate them, but to make them relaxed enough to allow observation, making ecotourism possible. In addition to getting jaguars accustomed to the presence of vehicles, they reintroduced rescued jaguar cubs into the wild. Two of them, “who had lost their mother in an incident,” were isolated in an area of Caiman Ecological Refuge and began to be fed with live prey without contact with people. “We released these first two, Isa and Fera, about eight years ago. We see both of them once a week. They have had offspring that have had cubs of their own. Scientifically, to say that the reintroduction project worked, they need to have fertile descendants. And it happened.”

Lili Rampin, field coordinator biologist at Caiman Ecological Refuge, says that when Mario invited her to the project ten years ago, she didn’t believe it would work. “I had never heard of a jaguar relaxed in the presence of vehicles, a free animal near a vehicle… without even being intimidated, I said, ‘I doubt it will work. Do you think the animal will just stand there and stare at me?’ Haberfeld insisted that she see the work up close, which had been going on for a year.” When I arrived, there was already a jaguar that was relatively accustomed to the presence of vehicles, and I saw it 30 meters away from me. I said, ‘This is for real.’ It was a little bit-by-bit job. I started with four more people on the team, the GPS didn’t even exist, we used radio signals. We traded day for night. I got addicted to lollipops so I wouldn’t fall asleep at the wheel and crash,” she recalls. “Things changed drastically. Caiman’s longest-serving employee says they never used to see jaguars; the animal was always driven away, considered a pest.”

At the beginning of the project, the locals’ reception of the idea was not very warm. “When a guy from Africa and another from São Paulo came to help the jaguars, which were considered enemies of their source of income, they were suspicious, of course. Today, there is harmony. Caiman Ecological Refuge has cattle farming, and the cowboys let us know when they see a jaguar. I think their mindset has gradually changed. People see jaguars differently today. They began to understand that a jaguar is worth much more alive than dead,” says Mario. He tells the story of a former employee to explain the changes in behavior he witnessed: “A guy who worked with us used to hunt jaguars with his father as a teenager. Then he became a cowboy, earning a minimum wage. Later, he trained to be a guide and now earns much more. And his wife, son and daughter all have jobs, so the family’s income has increased thirtyfold. I joke that if you tell him you’re going to hunt a jaguar, he’ll hunt you.”

Since its establishment in 2011, the Onçafari Association, in partnership with the National Center for Research and Conservation of Carnivorous Mammals (CENAP) and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), has already identified over 230 jaguars, and the estimated number on the Caiman Farm is around 60, with half of them habituated. Last year was the first time that 100% of the guests spotted jaguars. “Since the implementation of the program, hotel occupancy has increased by almost 600%, promoting job creation. When the project started to show results and more and more people spotted the jaguars, I truly understood the magnitude of the work,” says Roberto Klabin. “Thanks to Onçafari, Caiman receives an increasing number of visitors, which demonstrates the value of partnerships between tourism ventures and rewilding and environmental restoration projects.” Mario adds, “The purpose of Onçafari is to show the way through ecotourism, safari, valuing animals and creating jobs. We have proven that it works and can be a powerful conservation tool.” The project is currently established in ten locations, including the Trijunção Lodge (read the box) on the border of Bahia, Minas Gerais, and Goiás, where the maned wolf is the main attraction. In the Amazon, the Thaimaçu Lodge, in southern Pará, has been working on the reintroduction of jaguars since 2019. The Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge, located on the banks of the Negro River, conducts fauna monitoring but does not offer visitation activities through Onçafari.

MANED WOLF IS THE ATTRACTION IN CERRADO

A racing heart and eyes that barely blink for fear of missing the appearance of a large animal are reactions that can be experienced at another Onçafari base, located in the Brazilian Cerrado and already on the list of the best hotels in Brazil to enjoy nature; Pousada Trijunção, founded in 2018, on the border of Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Goiás, 388 kilometers from Brasília (it is possible to get there by land or chartered flight from the federal capital, Brasilia). The local star, however, is not a jaguar, but the maned wolf, species Chrysocyon brachyurus. “Last year, they were seen more than 1,200 times,” explains Mario Haberfeld.

The departure time for sighting these animals – there are six individuals being monitored (Nhorinhá, Savana, Loba, Buriti, Pequi, and Baru) – takes place before sunrise.

Upon returning from an outing, guests can continue to enjoy the landscape through the large glass windows of one of the seven suites. In the master suite, which measures 90 m², it is possible to immerse oneself in the hot tub before choosing which of the two balconies to rest on. There are also night sightings of the Cuvier’s dwarf caiman in Lake Araras, and mammals such as the Hoary fox.

MODEL PROJECT
When it comes to conservation, Mario argues that the more others are inspired by his initiative’s model, the more benefit it will generate. “Onçafari has this different vision of promoting conservation in general. The more the project is replicated, the better. If you ask me today what one of the biggest problems in conservation is, I would say it’s still ego. The guy wants to appear more than the animal. And that’s wrong,” he emphasizes.

The Association currently has the support and partnership of 20 brands. “Not only are entrepreneurs increasingly aware, but so are established companies. Many take ESG (an acronym used to group initiatives in the environmental, social, and governance fields) seriously. Maybe 30 years ago it would have been impossible to do what I’m doing, nobody would want to help,” believes Haberfeld. “Today, there are many people wanting to participate. Every resource we get goes to conservation.”

Onçafari is also responsible for managing an area of over 430,000 hectares, resulting from the union of farmers and entrepreneurs who created the Aliança 5P group – Pantanal, preservation, partnership, livestock, and productivity. “In three years, we have created one of the world’s largest ecological corridors on private land. There, nobody will hunt jaguars, everyone accepts the research project, and we will start ecotourism. One of the strategies today is to acquire more and more land to protect an even larger area.”

Looking back, Mario Haberfeld feels that he ran all that he ran just to get here. Offer him to drive a Ferrari in Monaco or go to the Pantanal, and there is no doubt. “It’s for nature that I’m going.”

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It’s all about the Tiger!

Jen Bellingham — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 00:00:34 +0000

Humans have always had an obsession with Tigers; this is reflected in our art, poetry, film and story books – The Tyger by William Blake, Netflix’s Tiger King, Shere Khan from The Jungle Book, Tigger in Winnie the Pooh, Hobbes in the comic Calvin and Hobbes, and the list goes on…… But nowhere on earth is this fascination more evident than when on safari in incredible India. Having recently had the privilege of a month travelling through India and visiting several wilderness areas, I wanted to share my thoughts on why the Tiger is justifiably such a focal part of a visit to many of India’s National Parks and how this iconic animal is “burning bright” at the forefront of positive change.

During the pandemic more Indian nationals visited their National Parks than ever before which not only helped to protect conservation areas from the lack of international tourism but also helped foster an increased interest and pride in their bountiful wildlife. There are many reasons why the Tiger takes the center stage of visits to their National Parks but undoubtedly many Indians visiting their National Parks are doing so for the first time and are drawn by the kudos of having seen this charismatic cat (the national animal and a symbol of bravery, beauty and power). Furthermore, vehicles that enter the national parks from more basic lodges, often lack skilled naturalists so the focus is on targeting the charismatic Tiger – an “easy” way to thrill guests. While this tigercentric approach may appear to be a version of “eco-terrorism” the Tigers seem to tolerate living in the spotlight very well, with more cats living in sections of the National Parks where tourism is permitted than in areas where it is not (National Parks only allow tourism in 20% of the Parks).

The allure of the Tiger has not gone unnoticed and the Indian government has for decades used this wildlife superstar to spur positive change for conservation. In 1971 a prominent Indian conservationist, Kailash Sankhala, conducted a survey on the Tiger population in India and when he noticed the declining numbers wrote to the Indian Prime Minister at the time, Indira Gandhi, to formulate a strategy to conserve Tigers. The strategy adopted was to set up “Tiger Parks” to protect viable populations of Bengal Tigers in their natural habitat, saving them from extinction. The project’s task force visualised these Tiger reserves as breeding nuclei, from which surplus cats would migrate to adjacent forests. Funds and commitment were mustered to support an intensive program of habitat protection and rehabilitation under the project. Since Project Tiger’s inception in 1973 the number of Tiger Reserves have grown from 9 to 54 and the Tiger population has taken a dramatic turn for the better. At the same time these Tiger reserves have preserved areas of biological importance that today represent the mega-diversity of ecosystems across the Tiger’s range.

The question most people ask who are planning a visit to India is, will I see a Tiger. Thanks largely to Project Tiger and the nonchalance of this species, the answer to this question is YES, with proper planning and some dedication it is definitely possible to see a Tiger and many more charasmatic wildlife species including Sloth Bear, Indian Wild Dog (Dhole), Guar, Asian Elephant, Great Indian Rhinoceros and more….. Visiting India’s National Parks today is an inspirational experience with concerted efforts having been made to remove alien plant species, restock native animal species and preserve the natural environment.

This year India became the world’s most populous country which makes it remarkable that it is possible to drive for hours through vast tracts of natural habitat in their National Parks – on our most recent visit to India we did one drive that took a full day traversing the breadth of Satpura Tiger Reserve, witnessing first hand the concerted effort made by government to protect conservation areas. Furthermore, at huge expense, corridors have been created between many National Parks to allow wildlife to move freely from one area to the next which is essential to preserve genetic diversity. Arguably, the most impressive part of these corridors that we were witness to were the long stretches of elevated highways which have been raised to allow wildlife to move safely below.

India currently has 25 percent forest cover and aims to bring this number to 33 percent by 2030 (26 million hectares). There is no doubting the role that one of the world’s favorite animals will play in helping to achieve this impressive goal!

Warm regards from Simon and the Bellingham Safaris team

We recorded our wild Tiger sighting earlier this month, click below to enjoy.

For some travel inspiration, check our Instagram and Facebook pages and see our posts from January and February 2023 from our visit to India. You can also find more information on our website’s India page.

Experience the power of conservation in action with us.

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Prioritise the Good Times!!!

Jen Bellingham — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 09:44:12 +0000

From our newsletter sent out on 23 December.

As 2020 draws to a close, we would sincerely like to thank you for your ongoing support. When you next spend a little time on your own (and hopefully you will have an opportunity over the next few days), ask yourself what is most meaningful in your life. We believe the top two most meaningful things in life are loved ones and the experiences we have with them. Our wishes are that you give yourself this gift – quality time with those who mean the most to you.

It is extremely heartening to look at our 2021 calendar and we look very much forward to doing what we do best in the New Year – connecting you and your loved ones to our planet’s precious wilderness areas.

Wishing you a festive Christmas season and a restorative New Year.

Below are our holidays for the festive season:
Thursday 24 December – Christmas Eve
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 31 December – New Year’s Eve
Friday 1 January 2020 – New Year’s Day

24hr contacts: +27 72 545 2862 or +27 83 232 9966.

Happy Holidays!!!

Warm regards from Simon, Jen and the Bellingham Safaris team

Photo credit: Wild Dogs at Mombo Camp, Botswana by Dana Allen

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Happy thoughts and a great weekend

Jen Bellingham — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:02:25 +0000

As we head into the weekend we thought we would get you off to a good start with some positive news…. Our beloved South Africa has opened her borders!!! All international travel will resume (guests must simply provide a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 test obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel).

In fact, much of our continent is currently open to international travel and after a very challenging year, I am sure that many of you are very eager to take some time out in the splendor of Africa’s wildlife areas.

With borders open and vaccines on the horizon, now is an excellent time to benefit from uncharacteristically quiet wildlife destinations and price-saving specials the safari industry has on offer. It is worth mentioning that you do not need to feel any guilt capitalizing on the various specials on offer, in truth, this is something to feel extremely proud of, as these specials are on offer to help this important component of conservation to recover from the pressure that a lack of tourism has placed on it.

Best wishes for the weekend ahead!

Warm regards from Simon, Jen and the Bellingham team

Opening image: Ngorongoro Crater Bulls by Simon Bellingham.

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Thank you

Jen Bellingham — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 16:48:12 +0000

In an age where we have more access to information than ever, humanity finds itself deeply divided in their interpretation of the information; one could argue that the real pandemic we are facing is divided opinion. And, as we are witnessing all over the world, the intolerance that results from divided opinion is not conducive to progress. An exception to this somber trend are wildlife lovers and conservationists. In the face of adversity we have put our focus into what is most important to us, keeping wildlife travel (and the conservation revenue generated from it) alive. During these difficult times and at great expense, our partners in the industry and guests around the world have remained steadfast. Both lodges and wildlife enthusiasts have agreed to move 2020 tours to future dates to ensure that this revenue remains in the wildlife travel industry. If wildlife and wilderness areas survive these trying times, it is through the will of these people. Of the many disheartening things we witness in this day and age, the tenacity people have shown (regardless of their differences) to protect this thing so precious to us all gives much hope and faith in humanity.

The lack of funds derived from ecotourism has forced change and we expect future guests to be pleasantly surprised by the many ingenious ways in which conservation bodies have tightened their belts and become more sustainable. At Bellingham Safaris we are obsessed not only with providing our guests with exceptional service, but in ensuring that each guest and each safari leaves the world a better place, driving both conservation and restoration. We do this by carefully vetting the properties that we work with and making sure that we partner with lodges that put conservation and community first, not as a sideline or greenwashing afterthought.

One of the most exciting developments in recent years has been our deepening partnership with The Long Run. The Long Run members collectively conserve over 20 million acres of wilderness and none of this work has stopped despite tourism’s pause. That’s because Long Run members are primarily conservation and restoration projects although they use tourism as a funding and advocacy tool.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LONG RUN.

Each year we commit over a limited number of nights to donating a minimum of 70% of the value of your stay at selected properties to The Long Run.

How it works:
Long Run properties donate accommodation “bed nights” to The Long Run.
The Long Run hands over these nights to Bellingham Safaris.
Bellingham Safaris sells these nights as part of our guest itineraries (the cost to guest is always equal to what you would pay if booking directly through the lodge).
Monies generated through these sales are donated back to The Long Run. And if you prefer you may donate this portion of your stay directly to The Long Run which is a registered UK charity (donations from the US can be arranged through Riverwind Foundation).

Next time you book a holiday, make sure it meets your values. Are you happy to simply leave a place doing no harm, or do you want to leave it a better place? If so we would love to guide the way

Warm regards from Simon, Jen and the Bellingham team

Opening image: African Elephant by Simon Bellingham.

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Looking forward

Jen Bellingham — Fri, 22 May 2020 13:55:03 +0000

Our world has been shaken.

We worry about our guests, many of whom have become close friends, in the US, Europe, Brazil and the rest of the world. We worry about our friends who own lodges in places like Madagascar and India, who no longer have guests visiting. We also worry about the increase in poaching that is now happening with no money to fund our rangers and no money to support communities who have built their lives around sustainable wildlife travel, rather than destructive wildlife trade. It is you, our guests who pay for this conservation, feed families and build schools.

We wonder how long this will last, but we do believe that this storm will pass, and we believe that travel will be dramatically different once it does. The trend towards more meaningful and mindful travel was already happening pre Covid-19. Seeing blue skies and clear rivers has pushed us to think more about our role in the environment and making our lives cleaner, this includes how we travel. We believe there will be a stronger move towards slow travel, responsible travel, travel in open spaces that contributes meaningfully towards restoring and protecting our planet.

We pray for our heroes on the frontline and for you our heroes, the travellers, without whom our wildlife reserves would not be possible. We will get through this together and we will be ready for you when our world opens up again. We will be stronger and it will be worth the wait.

Please keep safe, we need you back!

Warmest wishes,

Simon and Jen Bellingham

Photo credit: Star gazing at San Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana.

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In it for The Long Run

Jen Bellingham — Wed, 23 May 2018 07:01:20 +0000

We’re in it for The Long Run!!!

We were recently invited to sign The Long Run charter, a declaration of intent and commitment to promoting more sustainable lifestyle choices and building a more sustainable future. We are truly honored to have been accepted as an affiliate member.

One of our aims as an affiliate is to connect you, our guests, to Global Ecosphere Retreats® and other tourism businesses that meet The Long Run gold standard of excellence in sustainability – positively impacting the conservation of wildlife and improving the wellbeing of local communities through the 4Cs (conservation, community, culture and commerce).

Over a limited number of nights we will be donating 70% (this is not a typo) of the value of your stay at any of the below properties to The Long Run*. And if you prefer you may donate this portion of your stay directly to The Long Run which is a registered UK charity (donations from the US can also be arranged through Riverwind Foundation). Let us know if you are in, we are!!!

If you would like any more information please pop us a mail – we would love to help you plan the sustainable safari of your dreams.

FEATURED LONG RUN GLOBAL ECOSPHERE RETREATS®

LAPA RIOS LODGE – COSTA RICA

John and Karen Lewis, the owners of Lapa Rios, believe that ‘no matter how you slice it, a rainforest left standing is worth more than it is cut down’. This 1,000-acre private reserve and ecolodge in Costa Rica is a widely-celebrated model for successful ecotourism. Situated just above the point where the Golfo Dulce meets the wild Pacific Ocean, the Osa Peninsula is one of Central America’s last remaining lowland tropical rainforests and contains 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity.

SEGERA RETREAT – KENYA

Established by Jochen Zeitz in 2005, the 50,000 acres of African wilderness that make up the Segera Ranch and Retreat, proves that luxury can be sustainable. It’s here that the Zeitz Foundation and The Long Run were pioneered. What was previously overgrazed land, struggling to support the surrounding communities and wildlife, is now thriving. These days elephant, lion, buffalo and eland as well as the endangered Grevy’s zebra, patas monkey and African wild dog, roam freely.

CAIMAN ECOLOGICAL REFUGE – BRAZIL

Caiman Ecological Refuge is comprised of 130,000-acres in the heart of Brazil’s Pantanal; one of the world’s most important wetlands. Caiman is home to jaguars, blue-fronted parrots, hyacinth macaws, giant anteaters, howler monkeys and so much more. This is also the base for the Onçafari Jaguar Project, co-founded by Simon Bellingham and Mario Haberfeld. We believe this property offers the very best wildlife viewing in South America.

GROOTBOS NATURE RESERVE – SOUTH AFRICA

Grootbos Nature Reserve occupies an enviable spot on the fynbos and forest-clad hills overlooking Walker Bay in South Africa. This award-winning 6,170-acre reserve is home to more than 790 plant species, including endangered Overberg sandstone fynbos and ancient milkwood forests. It is also one of the few places in the world from where it’s possible to see the ‘Marine Big Five’ — whales, dolphins, seals, penguins and great white sharks.

COTTAR’S 1920’S CAMP – KENYA

In the mid-1990s, Calvin and Louise Cottar set up Cottars 1920’s Camp, creating an experience reminiscent of their ancestors’ earliest safari traditions — unrushed, romantic elegance. The camp has its own 6,000-acre private conservancy, in southeast Mara, just one kilometre from the Maasai Mara game reserve. Guests visiting Cottars 1920’s Camp not only get to witness the peace and solitude of the conservancy (which is outside the busier Maasai Mara), but from July to October are perfectly placed to experience the great wildebeest migration.

WOLWEDAANS – NAMIBIA

Over 400,000 acres of undisturbed nature makes this Southern Africa’s largest private reserve, and one of the most unspoilt places on the planet. The core objective of Wolwedans is to support the NamibRand Nature Reserve in its mission to safeguard and restore the ecosystem. Scenic drives offer guests the chance to learn about desert dwellers and their quest for survival, the fascinating flora and geology.

Photo credits: Top photo by Lapa Rios; lodge photos by suppliers.

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