Elite Traveler HRS 2023

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Mara), there is no shortage of activities. Each group of guests has a private vehicle that is open-sided, with removable canvas roofs and sides so you can get a clear, unobstructed view and snap photos. And battery life need not be a worry, as all vehicles have power points to charge devices, as well as a cooler for cold beer. Each group also has a private guide, meaning you can take o ff for a game drive whenever you please. Keep a lookout for some of the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant and bu ff alo, as well as Masai gira ff e, kudu, sable antelope and wild dog. Night drives are when you’re most likely to see the more bashful animals: African wildcat, owls, and bat-eared fox. As the camp is located in a wetland, boating safaris are a must-do. Depending on the time of year, you can navigate the narrow waterways or explore large swamps. Elephants are regular visitors in the shallower waters, and the area is home to an array of birdlife, including endemic species. By Samantha Coles From $700 per night. Contact Katie Fewkes, sales director, enquiries@asiliaafrica.com, +27 214 180 468, asiliaafrica.com

STAY The camp is surrounded by the shade of a miombo woodland. There are four guest tents to choose from; all elegant in their simplicity, letting the landscape take center stage. Each spacious tent is positioned on a raised wooden deck with views of the wetlands and a shaded veranda. The front half of the tent is constructed from mesh fabric, meaning that you can lie in bed and enjoy the views over the wetlands while keeping an eye out for any wildlife that wanders past. There is an en-suite bathroom complete with a traditional safari bucket shower (and yes, it’s heated!). While the tents are fully immersed in the wild, you can take it up a notch by spending a night in one of the star cubes. The camp’s chef cooks the meals on an open fi re, and they’re enjoyed alfresco. Children aged 12 and older are welcome, but if the camp is booked on an exclusive use basis, then younger children can be accommodated. EXPLORE With some 2,300 square miles of largely unexplored wilderness (around four times the size of Masai

USANGU EXPEDITION CAMP RUAHA NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA Deep in the wild and uncharted Usangu Wetlands of Ruaha National Park in Southern Tanzania, Usangu Expedition Camp consists of just four tents and sits on the banks of the Usangu Wetlands. It is the fi rst tourism operation in the area; the next-closest camp is some 60 miles away. A safari for those who have ticked o ff all the big names, this new opening o ff ers a deeply engaging, conservation-driven experience for guests seeking a hands-on adventure. The seasonal camp only operates between June and November. The time of year that you visit is important: During these hot, dry months, the wetlands recede and the surrounding grasslands, which grow lush and verdant during the rainy season, dry out to reveal vast wide-open spaces — ideal for activities. And there are certainly plenty of those.

Head out on a boating safari

Keep a lookout for some of the Big Five

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Spend a night in one of the star cubes

Usangu Expedition Camp consists of just four tents and sits on the banks of the Usangu Wetlands. It is the fi rst tourism operation in the area; the next-closest camp is some 60 miles away.