Sanctuary Retreats: Luxury African Safari Camps 2023

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Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp blends in sensitively with the dramatic African mountain landscape and, situated uniquely inside the national park, you are only minutes away from the start of your gorilla trekking adventure.

Targeted in the remotest areas of Africa, these comfortable canvas spaces are dressed with indigenous prints and furniture made from natural materials. Beds are draped in neutral-toned linens, and local artefacts set a scene that ensures memorable moments both inside and out the accommodation.

Each tent has a spacious, stone-walled bathroom with private sections, and a free-standing bath for a relaxing soak after a day’s gorilla trekking tours in Uganda. The trees around the camp light up in the morning when the sun starts shining, and thanks to there being so few tents, the camp retains an intimate, exclusive feel, enabling you to experience Africa’s magic with the lightest of footprints

It has a comfortable lounge with a well-stocked bar and elegant dining area, bestowing great views over the verdant rain forest. Come dusk, under star-strewn skies, and accompanied by the night-chorus, guests gather around the central campfire and swap stories of that day’s adventures.

Mealtimes lend a taste of the destination: expertly prepared dishes promise simple flavours and showcase fresh local ingredients try traditional smoked beef in peanut sauce served with Kalo (millet bread).

Sanctuary Olonana

This is an exceptional luxury safari lodge set on a private stretch of the Mara River in the heart of Kenya’s most famous game reserve, the Masai Mara. With 14 glass-sided suites, Sanctuary Olonana is inspired by the Masai Mara’s breath-taking natural wonders, an abundance of wildlife, and a dramatic river which runs right past its forest setting. Game drives, cultural visits, bush dinners, Sun downers, scenic flights and balloon rides, Olonana makes for a wonderful African safari.

The soothing interiors of the main lodge are an extension of the surrounding wilderness, floorboards evoke wood bleached by the African sun, while splashes of saturated mustard yellows and cerulean blues conjure the colours of African wildflowers glowing in a ‘golden hour’ light.

Ornamentation includes hand-crafted Maasai spears on the walls and patterned prints inspired by these carved wooden weapons once used for lion-hunting ensure an authentic African spirit abounds.

Dramatic glass doors open out from the lounge to the terrace. Here, faded indigo rugs and elegant Edison-bulb pendant lights gently illuminate the decking without competing with the natural ambiance and the inviting new boma fire pit is encircled by deckchairs, with each seat promising grandstand river views.

The king-sized beds, with overhead fans, and a daybed on the deck invite you to relax inside or out, while the sprawling lower lounge area offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Three of the suites at Sanctuary Olonana feature an extra bedroom, which is heaven-sent for families. The unfaltering attention to detail extends to fully stocked mini-fridges, specially commissioned African art and glamorous en-suites.

Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp Tanzania

The three large and comfortable communal tents provide a dining area where scrumptious meals are served, a lounge area perfect for afternoon relaxation, and lounge bar where pre-dinner drinks are served. All of the main areas include breath taking views of the spectacular surrounding scenery and large trees surrounding this intimate camp.

For a more intimate experience you can choose to dine on individual tables set in special spots around the camp. The camp offers ten luxury safari room tents – each with its own en-suite bathroom and indoor bucket shower, with personal tent attendant filling your bucket shower to the perfect temperature whenever required from the outside. The room tents also feature hairdryers and plug points and a small sitting area in front of each of the tents where early morning coffee and biscuits can be enjoyed before starting the day of incredible game viewing.

Sanctuary Kusini Tanzania

It offers exceptional and essentially private game viewing. Built around a spectacular rocky outcrop, or kopje, the camp’s communal areas include a dining area, lounge and library, as well as a campfire. The views from the kopje are simply sensational – the perfect spot for sun downers and stargazing.

The library is stocked with reference books to read up on the day’s discoveries, and of course, our experienced guides are always on hand to fill in about local knowledge where books cannot. Like all Sanctuary properties, Sanctuary Kusini is designed to have minimal environmental impact; in fact, the camp can be packed up and removed without leaving a trace.

The open-plan en-suite twelve tents at Sanctuary Kusini are shaded from the sun by acacia trees and all are positioned carefully with thought out views of the surrounding plains and extremely spacious at 48 square metres. Each tent has its own personal attendant to look after guests during their stay and feature mosquito netting, hairdryers and in-room safe.

A large private wooden veranda with comfortable furnishings extends in front of each tent, with many having views of the plains below where zebra, buffalo and lion are a common sight year-round, the ideal spot to relax for a Sun downer after a hot restorative shower.

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