There are many ways to take in the wonders of Kruger National Park, which turns 100 this year, and other nature reserves throughout South Africa and across the continent. At Africa’s Travel Indaba, one of Africa’s largest travel trade shows, installations in two large exhibition halls in Durban, South Africa, offered a glimpse into different ways travelers could experience wildlife and nature’s other wonders that are equal parts meaningful and majestic. They ran the gamut from simple camping sites and lodges to family-friendly resort hotels with access to local attractions to luxury resorts with conservation programs as detailed as their guest accommodations.
Among the top-tier resorts and camps presented, some are self-contained with beautifully decorated cabins, on-site braai (barbeques) and sundowners (a.k.a. “happy hour”), and private game reserves adjoining legendary destinations like Kruger National Park. Others that do not have on-site game reserves work collaboratively with open-to-the-public nature reserves and local communities to deliver the most “authentic” experience possible.
Experienced travelers know authenticity is subjective, so owners, hospitality groups, and managers appeal to what they value: Preserving wildlife and geographic features, and delivering quantifiable benefits to people in surrounding communities. Many camps built on this model were on full display at the May 2026 edition of the conference. Representatives from the properties were on hand to grab the attention of selective travel agents, meeting planners, and press with even more selective clients or readers. Some installations offered snacks, gift-store quality souvenirs, and presentations reflecting that employees, residents of neighboring communities, and animals were benefiting from the money guests would be spending.
I was inspired by exhibitors who had particularly well-crafted booths and presentations, including Kaelo Destinations, Ekhaya Luxury Resort, Pabala Private Nature Reserve, Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, and Kapama Private Game Reserve. Kapama still holds a special place in my heart as it was the first South African luxury safari camp I visited back in 2010 on assignment for a wine and spirits trade magazine based on its relationship with Distell, a producer and marketer of spirits and fine wines.
Sampling a Modern Safari
Following this year’s conference, I flew out with colleagues to Leopard Sands at Kruger National Park (opened in 2023, and part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, conceived to be an immersive experience that begins the moment the plane lands at Skukuza Airport, inside Kruger National Park. Rather than have private game safari grounds, its management has a collaborative relationship with the park, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Before the luggage is unloaded from the plane, drivers from the resort meet passengers at the airport with a welcome of beer, soft drinks, and house-made snacks before the 35-minute commute to the resort, which may end up being the first game drive of the stay, based on what animals peek out along the roadside.
Following a second welcome by the hospitality team and a traditional dance and song performance, guests can enjoy their first meal at its restaurant whose menu is overseen by Executive Chef Warren Garner, whose team blends together indigenous, East Indian, British, and Dutch influences along with as much local produce and seasoning as possible to create dishes and menus that change daily as well as simple classics and modifications for those on special diets. There are 18 cottages plus several more under construction at press time that include outdoor plunge pool decks that look out into the Sabie River, along with sightings of passing elephants, rhinos, and other animals. The décor—smart safari minimalism embellished with traditional artwork, motifs, and black-and-white photography—is in the process of being upgraded, a fitness room was added recently, and there is currently a wonderful in-room spa experience available.
Guides leading the Kruger game drives carry the spirit of the resort’s approach out into the field, with witty commentary, warmth, and well-stocked vehicles anticipating weather changes and a demand for snacks. Other activities available through the concierge include a day-long Panorama Route Tour covering some of the area’s most extraordinary geological landmarks, a tee time at the Skukuza Golf Club, Shangana Cultural Village, and nearby recreational adventure parks and shopping excursions.
Africa’s Travel Indaba Highlights | Lodges, Resorts, and Reserves
The Afri Tourism Collection (Botswana): Founded by Duncan Enga, this collection of accommodations, activities, and experiences was designed around building a premium experience for high-net-worth travelers. This, in turn, prevents over-tourism and ensures conservation and environmental protection for the wildlife and their habitats. Furthermore, all camps and lodges within the network are owned and run by citizens of Botswana. The lodges and camps are located in breathtaking areas, including Maun, Moremi Game Reserve, and the Central Kalahari regions, where one may spot springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, red hartebeest, and giraffe in the grasslands and lions, leopards, cheetah, and other predators in the savannah. Interior design at the lodges leans towards stylish, practical comfort, integrating pieces by local artists and designers that nicely frame the outdoor scenery.
All properties feature breathtaking scenery, delicious cuisine with a special emphasis on locally sourced Botswana ingredients, and central guest areas with lounges, dining areas, a deck, pool, and other amenities. The company also offers mobile expeditions where a maximum of six guests travel through different Botswana landscapes, camp under the stars in full comfort, enjoy fresh dishes prepared by a camp cook, and learn about the land from local expert guides.
Leopard Mountain Safari Lodge (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) is located in the magnificent Manyoni Private Game Reserve, one of the largest privately-owned reserves in KwaZulu-Natal. The 54,000-acre endangered species reserve offers an unparalleled opportunity to immerse guests in nature’s grandeur through activities such as beach safaris, nature walks, and boat tours. This sanctuary is a haven for Africa’s majestic “Big Five” animals, as well as endangered species like the pangolin, wild dog, cheetah, and black rhino. Cultural tours, animal marking, and rhino horn trimming programs to enhance the experience of conservation-minded customers and put them front and center of efforts to protect endangered species. Leopard Mountain Lodge also has its own Africology Spa, where guests can try out eco-friendly wellness with treatments inspired by Africa’s traditional healers, using indigenous plants and minerals built into the coveted skincare brand’s collection. Since its opening in 1997, the family-owned lodge in the heart of Zululand has won numerous awards. However, the Vivier family continues to upgrade and update the surroundings in eco-friendly but stylish ways for greater comfort.
Mashatu Game Reserve (Botswana) encompasses Euphorbia Mashatu, the embodiment of five-star luxury situated inside the Mashatu Game Reserve and Mashatu Tent Camp, offering a more rustic take on luxury safaris with eight private tents tucked away under giant trees for an intimate one-on-one bush experience. Euphorbia Mashatu is designed as an exclusive sanctuary where thoughtful architectural elegance and sustainable features underscore the raw, intricate beauty of the landscape.
At the Mashatu Tent Camp, spacious tents rest on a raised platform and feature private open-air en-suite facilities, including an outdoor shower and W.C., allowing one to experience nature up close without sacrificing comfort. Meandering pathways link the tents to the heart of camp, where shared meals bring guests together — either in the open-air gazebo or the boma overlooking a floodlit waterhole alive with wildlife. The private game reserve is also home to Mashatu Lodge, a four-star luxury safari lodge for family groups offering the perfect balance of comfort and wilderness connection. Fourteen luxury suites are thoughtfully positioned along the camp’s edge to offer complete privacy and uninterrupted views of the bush. The Mashatu lodges and sister property Kolokolo Safari Home offer a special “Night Under the Stars” program where guests sleep in custom-designed tents beneath a canopy of stars and a light breakfast before a sunrise game drive.
Pabala Private Nature Reserve (Eastern Cape, South Africa), with self-catering accommodations and activities for families, small conference groups, and milestone event attendees that earn high marks among past visitors, the website is one-stop shopping where trip planners and independent travelers alike can mix and match what’s available to create a customized but authentic experience matching interests, ability levels, and travel schedules. In addition to game drives, there are activities focused on local honey production, guided nature walks, photo safaris, gin tasting sessions, birdwatching, and more. Lodging options include cottages, “Valley View” suites, tented bush camping, and a honeymoon suite.
Pambele Beach House (Mozambique) is a privately-owned, exclusive-use beach house situated within the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary on the remote San Sebastian Peninsula, overlooking the Bazaruto Archipelago. The secluded barefoot luxury destination features four sea-facing en-suite villas, welcoming up to ten guests. Distinctive features include open-plan living spaces, private sunbathing decks, and spacious outdoor areas with uninterrupted ocean views and direct beach access that blend with the natural surroundings to create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. Water activities include snorkeling, kayaking, deep sea diving, fishing, and sandbar excursions, while land-based adventures include birdwatching, bush drives, beach walks, and private picnics.
The Village Lodge at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve (Western Cape, South Africa), located a 4.5-hour drive from Cape Town on South Africa’s Garden Route near Mossel Bay. It is designated a five-star, malaria-free destination spanning 6,000 hectares that not only has “Big Five” wildlife viewing but also a variety of luxury lodging options. On the northern reaches of the reserve, near the charming town of Friemersheim, the five-star, family-friendly Village Lodge offers a secluded countryside haven. At this location, guests can admire sweeping views of the majestic Outeniqua Mountains and sunsets over the reserve and Indian Ocean views.
The property offers activities beyond safaris that include a “Junior Rangers” kids program, horseback safaris, and bird watching excursions. The Bellevue Restaurant, built into the former location of the Bellevue School, is a cherished feature of The Village, offering a refined à la carte menu, with occasional buffets or dinner barbecues on request. In addition to lodge stays with full-board options, day passes are also available for those traveling the full length of the Garden Route.
Activities and Resources of Note:
Beach and Bush Team Building: Event planners for conference and corporate groups heading to South Africa looking for unusual, immersive, and memorable team activities will want to bookmark this page. On-site activities are available in business centers in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.
Coast to Coast evolved from a respected guide, Coast to Coast: Your Guide to Backpacking in South Africa, designed for budget and independent backpackers, into one of Cape Town’s premier walking tour companies. Founder Geoff Heald prides himself on how he pivoted in changing times to bring to life custom walking tours blending Cape Town city break treks, nature, wine, history, and storytelling into vibrant explorations of the region. Coast to Coast’s “Winelands Walking Experience” is a six-hour, five-kilometer journey through the spectacular Banhoek Valley and the wine estates of Tokara, Thelema, and Zorgvliet. In addition to vineyard walks and wine tastings, the tour factors in local history, a vineyard lunch, and a look at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. A privately guided full-day “Cape Peninsula Journey” includes penguin kayaking, dramatic coastal scenery, and the wild beauty of Cape of Good Hope. Guests paddle alongside African penguins in Simon’s Town before continuing into the reserve for a relaxed guided walk or hike suited to each guest.
South Africa Wine NPC: Should you be heading to Cape Town for leisure or business travel, planning at least one day trip or overnight stay in the Winelands is a must. The region outside the city is noted for quaint small towns, boutique hotels, and superb restaurants built around wines grown in the region. This organization’s website is a good place to start one’s research for a Winelands experience as it is the national body for the wine industry. As they represent those who grow grapes, make wine, build brands, and run businesses, it provides an interesting background for trip planners that will help inform decisions of where to visit, sip, dine, and learn.
Wild Wellness offers immersive outdoor wellness activities in South Africa, including hiking, swimming, and yoga, catering to a demographic of women aged 40+ and solo travelers. Their signature programs include a six-day hike along the Cape Whale Coast on the southernmost tip of South Africa and the Kogelberg Camino six-day “slackpacking hike” through South Africa’s first UNESCO biosphere reserve, with optional massages and dietary accommodations like kosher meals. Other programs, which run between a few hours to a few nights, also emphasize conservation efforts, interacting with locals in small towns, and wildlife sightings that may include penguins and wild horses. The company has branches in Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg and offers team-building activities for corporates, including virtual events to engage international clients
“We tell people, come outside, take your shoes off, come and play,” says Peter Hassall, while his wife and co-owner Leanne explains, “It is all about feeling well in nature. Our signature hike along the coastline in South Africa is a little off the tourist grid and insanely beautiful, with big skies, pristine beaches, incredible rock pools, and an opportunity to see a sunrise while swimming in the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. We honestly find people discovering greater wellness in the wild, and the experience is designed to be all about connection.”
