Tailor Made – Page 76

The Retreat by Heaven

Town & Country and The New York Times call The Retreat in Rwanda one of the top new hotels in the world in 2018. The American owners of Heaven Restaurant created The Retreat, a 12-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined street steps from Kigali City Center and 20 minutes from the airport. Due to great success in their first 2 years they are expanding! 8 new luxury pool villas and a new wine lounge are under construction and will be open by December 2020. The Retreat is Kigali’s first eco-friendly resort and features solar electricity, organic toiletries, locally-crafted furniture from a Tanzanian sustainable teak farm, outdoor showers, private terraces, a yoga and meditation room, spa, large heated saltwater swimming pool with jacuzzi and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness centre. Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar, located at The Retreat, offer delicious farm-to-table international cuisine.

Bisate Lodge

Bisate Lodge hosts dramatic views of the Bisoke and Karisimbi volcano peaks rising through the forests of nearby Volcanoes National Park. Exploring around Bisate includes community visits, birding, golden monkey tracking, helping reforest the area, Gorilla Guardian Village, the Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Burera, as well as Dian Fossey’s burial site. Guests will stay in one of six opulent en-suite Forest Villas, warmed by a central fireplace and offering breath-taking views from the deck. Both the architecture and interiors are rooted in Rwandan cultural traditions. The vision of Bisate is to be a model of sustainable ecotourism in Rwanda. Its reforestation and rehabilitation projects have each guest partnering with us and contributing to biodiversity conservation and local community upliftment, making a far-reaching positive impact on an iconic endangered species: the mountain gorilla. A stay at Bisate Lodge will have you in wonderment, promising one of the most thrilling safari destinations in Africa.

Little Kulala

Located in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve on the dry Auab riverbed, Little Kulala is both luxurious and private. Situated within the awe-inspiring serenity of the desert, this luxury camp is incredibly remote and offers guests experiences unique to the area and its dense terrain. Guests will be able to admire the 27,000 hectares that surround them when staying here, with views from their private suite and rooftop deck. Highly focused on wilderness conservation, activities at the property highlight the biodiversity of the area, bringing guests up close and personal to a vast array of flora, fauna and wilderness creatures that call this reserve their home. Game drives shows guests the beauty of the area as does the hiking and cycling on offer. This will allow guests to discover the magnificent dunes of Sossusvlei, undisturbed as far as the eye can see. Quad biking is perfect for those thrill-seeking adventurers and the property itself offers its visitors the chance to unwind on site should they wish to do so. The library and spa are all accessible and each suite’s rooftop deck allows guests to sleep outside and stargaze. A trip here in the Namibian Desert truly is a magical experience.

Zarafa Camp

Zafara Camp is an intimate, authentic safari camp located within the Selinda Reserve in northern Botswana. The area is known for its famous lion pride and unrivalled numbers of elephant. The camp has four deluxe tented rooms, including private decking and plunge pool which are placed under shady, cooling ebony trees. The camp is the first and only Relais & Chateaux property in Botswana, and this is evident through elegant, luxury touches throughout; few camps rival the intimacy and luxuriousness. There is also a separate villa, the Dhow Suites, which consists of two connecting tents and a private main area which operates independently from the rest of Zafara Camp. Surrounded by the wilderness of Botswana, the camp offers unique and contrasting views from every angle. The diverse landscapes open up a world of wildlife from leopard, lion and cheetah to giraffes and hippos. Zafara strikes a chord of harmony, through the friendly local staff and the mesmerising waters of the lagoon.

Old Drift Lodge

Old Drift Lodge stands within Zambezi National Park, surrounded by 56,000 hectares of untouched natural beauty. The lodge overlooks the mighty Zambezi River and is just upstream from Victoria Falls – one of the seven wonders of the world and the largest waterfall. Travellers can enjoy the stunning panoramic views from the lodge’s main deck which can be accessed via a wooden pathway, with elegant handrails and lit with the gentle glow of a dozen lanterns. Snuggle up around the fire pit at the cosy outdoor seating area, and enjoy the sounds of nearby wildlife as hippos snort and grunt from the river.
Old Drift Lodge blends into the natural environment, with its neutral colours and natural materials, meaning that it neither takes away from the exquisite landscape, nor does it disrupt the local wildlife. Set in the heart of the Zambezi National Park, guests staying at the lodge can expect to see an abundance of amazing creatures wander past including elephants, zebras, waterbuck, buffalo, lions, impala and hippos. Explore the floodplains, grasslands and riverbanks with a variety of activities including game drives, river safaris and guided walks, and learn about the African wilderness and the life that thrives within it.

Constance Ephelia Resort

Impressive, vibrant beauty. Unspoiled beaches. Tropically verdant and tranquil. The Constance Ephelia Resort is situated on two of the most charming beaches on the island of Mahe, overlooking the Marine National Park of Port Launay; enjoying a unique location set within luxuriant and rare vegetation. Guests will experience 5-star luxury across all areas, including the best of attentive hospitality. The Resort offers endless opportunities for sports and activities, pleasing those who want a more dynamic break. Spacious contemporary accommodations are surrounded by lush landscapes and scintillating lagoons, boasting the perfect retreat for an unforgettable visit. The Resort homes an alluring Spa Village, also featuring a Yoga Pavilion and Fitness Centre. The Village is the largest wellness facility in the Indian Ocean and is the ideal place to revive your senses – mind, body and soul.

Stanley and Livingstone Boutique Hotel

Stanley & Livingstone is the first luxury boutique hotel found at Victoria Falls, located just 15 minutes from the falls themselves and surrounded by a Private Game Reserve. It is the ideal base from which to explore the falls and the area they inhabit, and it also makes for a quiet retreat in one of the continent’s most famous destinations. The hotel’s design takes a fresh and easy-going approach to colonial style, encouraging guests to settle and relax in a calm atmosphere. Luxurious amenities, attentive service, and brilliant food enhance the experience by ensuring you are well taken care of – a hallmark of Stanley & Livingstone.

Sanctuary Baines’ Camp

Sanctuary Baines’ Camp is located on a private concession, which borders the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta. The sanctuary is small and private, with six intimate suites set in a grove of trees on elevated platforms with wooden decks that offer expansive views over the Boro River. At Sanctuary Baines’ Camp guests can experience the once in a lifetime opportunity of walking with elephants and sleeping under the stars, looking up at the sky free of light pollution. The camp has a low environmental impact and was built using commercially grown wood, incorporating recycled aluminium cans within the walls for insulation.

Sanctuary Chief’s Camp

Sanctuary Chief’s Camp is located on Chief’s Island in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Situated within the boundaries of the Moremi Game Reserve, the camp is host to an abundance of undisturbed wild game populations and thriving natural habitats – making it the ideal location for wildlife enthusiasts, birders and holidaymakers alike. At Sanctuary Chief’s Camp one can expect unique attention to detail and strong environmental and philanthropic credentials to ensure the ultimate luxury safari experience. Set amongst the backdrop of an outstanding natural landscape, soul-stirring vistas and exotic sights are all but guaranteed – just be sure to bring a camera.

Sanctuary Sussi and Chuma

The gorgeous site of Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma is located on a dramatic bend of the Zambezi River in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, just 12km upstream from the legendary Victoria Falls. Named after a pair of explorers who aided David Livingstone on his travels, this location is one of the most beautiful parts of the Zambezi, amidst Jackalberry trees and Phoenix palms, that provide unrivalled views and serenity. Guests can stay in one of the twelve Sussi tree-houses, connected by wooden walkways, or in a private Chuma house, with two bedrooms making it ideal for families.