Going on safari in Africa is one of the most exhilarating and memorable travel experiences. The thrill of spotting your first massive elephant, the calm of the savannah interrupted only by the curious sounds of nature, the sensation of walking through the dense jungle foliage of lush mountains, every moment enlivens the senses and engrains itself deeply in your mind. Our Africa experts strive to create exceptional safari trips by including special bespoke experiences, discover some of these below.
Running with a Masai, Kenya
Located at the edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Cottar’s 1920s Bush Camp and Villa can arrange a variety of original activities to accompany your Kenyan safari vacation, like their running with a Masai. This option is perfect for travelers keen to keep active during their holiday while also experiencing the African bush. One of Cottar’s Masai staff will join you while a vehicle follows behind, keeping you safe and allowing you to enjoy the wonderful, fresh and abundant Kenyan landscape and wildlife. It does get hot during the day so it’s best to plan your run in the early morning or in the evening, when the air is still fresh and cool. See if you can keep up with a Masai, a fantastic way to start or end your day on safari! Contact Cottar’s here for more on their unique safari experiences or watch a preview in the video below.
Gorilla Tracking, Rwanda and Uganda
Our experts at Volcanoes Safaris offer a very special Gorilla Tracking experience either from their Virunga Lodge in Rwanda or their Bwindi Lodge in Uganda. Volcanoes Safaris’ work revolves around protecting and conserving the wildlife, ecosystems and traditional cultures of the Uganda and Rwanda mountains. An important aspect of this is the preservation of the endangered mountain gorillas. With only two populations of mountain gorillas, numbering 880, they are a critically endangered species.
Lasting between three and eight hours, their Gorilla Tracking excursions take you deep into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda or the Virunga Massif region which borders Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Here you can come face to face with these incredible mammals – a fully grown silverback male can be up to three times the size of an average man, weighing up to 200 kilograms. Large they may be in size, however, they are immensely peaceable, playful and tolerant of human visitors participating in gorilla tracking. It is a privilege to spend time observing these wild relatives. Learn more about this once in a lifetime experience through Volcanoes Safaris.
Quad biking at Laragai House, Kenya
With the snow-tipped peaks and glaciers of Mount Kenya to the south and a panorama of mountains and desert to the north, safari settings don’t get much more spectacular than at Borana Lodge, Kenya. On this ranch land lies Laragai House, a beautiful eight-bedroom private villa perched on the edge of a plateau, available through our African lodge and safari experts cazenove+loyd.
To make the most of this stunning scenery, cazenove+loyd recommend going off on an exhilarating quad biking mission into the bush, which can be arranged via Jay McLeod’s company Latitude Adventures. And if you want to continue your adventure, the company can also arrange a ‘fly camping experience’, where you spend a night out of the house and under the stars in a temporary camp. A truly memorable and spectacular way to get close to nature. Plan your extraordinary safari trip to Kenya with cazenove+loyd and travel to Africa virtually in their video below.
Bush Dinner, Kenya
Cottar’s 1920s Camp and Villa can also arrange some special dining experiences, such as their Bush Dinner. After a busy day game viewing guests can enjoy a sumptuous dinner under the stars, in the bush away from camp. Cottar’s can set this up in a number of unique, exciting and romantic settings. Dinner in the dark, in the bush, under the stars while being served a five star meal is no ordinary experience and it’s what being on safari is all about. Sit around a fire chatting or take in a sundowner before your meal; under a huge tree in the middle of the bush or on the open plains of the savannah. Your amazing safari experience doesn’t merely last during daylight hours at Cottar’s. Reach out to them here to start designing your holiday menu.
Batwa Tribe Heritage Experiences, Uganda
Set in the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes, Volcanoes Safaris’ exclusive Mount Gahinga lodge is highly involved with the local Batwa Tribe. They allow guests to learn about this community, one of Africa’s oldest tribes, at their Batwa Cultural Heritage Site, which has been set up through the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT).
Built on the property of the Mount Gahinga Lodge, the Heritage Site is comprised of a demonstration-based herbal garden, a small collection of traditional huts and a short trail that allows the Batwa to demonstrate how they used to live, hunt, and collect honey and other resources from the forest. Guests are welcome to ask the Batwa questions about their traditional lifestyle, as they explain their religious, marriage and courtship customs. Then at the Batwa Vocational Centre (established by the VSPT) you can see first-hand the skills they are learning for self-sufficiency, some of which are on sale and make excellent gifts to take home. Learn more about the work of VSPT and their various experiences connecting visitors with the Batwa tribe.
Little Ruckomechi Safari Camp, Zimbabwe
For a unique safari destination, cazenove+loyd suggests this spectacular camp on the banks of the Zambezi river. Opened in summer 2016, Little Ruckomechi has become one of their favourite new properties in Africa. The camp has just four luxurious tents and feels extremely exclusive, in part due to its fantastic location within the private Ruckomechi Concession in the Mana Pools National Park, one of the great wildlife areas of Africa.
Built on wooden decks, the en-suite tents are airy and elegant with an old-school glamour vibe. The living spaces include a dining room and lounge as well as a plunge pool, all looking out over the great Zambezi River, with the Zambian foothills in the distance.
As for wildlife viewing, hippos, buffalo and larger predators are often sighted and, in addition to game drives, there is a wide range of river-based activities, including boating and canoeing. Experience the golden age of safaris with contemporary comforts by reaching out to cazenove+loyd.
Canvas Bush Bath, Kenya
Connect with Africa’s stunning nature while taking in a luxurious bush bath at Cottar’s 1920s Bush Camp and Villa. They can set up a traditional style canvas bath on a Persian rug in the open-air, the perfect way to pamper yourself after a few long days out on safari. Enjoy your bubble-filled bath sipping champagne, surrounded by the natural flora and fauna. Some wildlife may wander by while you enjoy the expansive view onto the Mara plains. As you bathe, you can soak up the wild beauty of the Masai Mara. Treat yourself to the best safari experiences with Cottar’s at this link.
Have these experiences tempted you to plan your next trip to Africa?
Let yourself be further lured by this lovely video on cazenove+loyd. Your African safari experience will be nothing but extraordinary with our various Africa experts.