Safari Consultants Introduces US Travelers to New Thrilling African Adventures for 2025

Safari Consultants, renowned for crafting high-end customized safaris to 14 different countries across Africa, keeps abreast of the continent’s ambitious plans for 2025 with an array of new camps and lodges opening up.

The company’s Managing Director, Rob Slater, is bringing the magic of Africa closer than ever this January by visiting Key West and Miami, sharing insights at a series of exclusive events hosted by some of their well-traveled clients. “As well as promoting personally tailored, experiential travel to Africa’s already famous safari destinations such as South Africa, Kenya, Botswana and Tanzania, I’m looking forward to some new camps and lodges opening up entirely new avenues for us to craft “off the beaten track” experiences that are truly unique.”

Let’s see what their pick of new destinations are for 2025.

Kutandala, North Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Mid 2025 will see the excellent Classic Zambia team launch their first camp in the pristine wilderness that is North Luangwa National Park. Classic Zambia, a young owner-run conservation-led operation, are loved for their authentic bush camps and excellent guiding ethos. North Luangwa for many years remained closed to tourism and is still only accessible to a very small number of camp operators.



King Lewanika Lodge, Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia
2025 will see highly respected Botswana operator Ker & Downey venture into Zambia when they take over the management of King Lewanika Lodge in Liuwa Plain National Park. Liuwa is home to the second largest wildebeest migration in Africa, a growing predator population as well as being host to an extraordinarily diverse range of birdlife of significant global importance.

Maxa Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana
And while Ker & Downey may be venturing into pastures new (above), they also have an exciting new opening on familiar turf. Maxa Camp will open in early 2025 in the north-eastern reaches of Botwana’s Okavango Delta. This is an up-and-coming area, comprising a network of unexplored seasonal floodplains, channels and lagoons, offering an exclusive and authentic safari experience.



Franschhoek House, South Africa
Any families or small groups of friends looking to plan an exclusive getaway in the Cape’s beautiful wine region may wish to consider the newly opened (December 2024) Franschhoek House which sits on the 30-acre La Residence estate in the Franschhoek Valley. La Residence is part of the family-owned Royal Portfolio group of five-star properties (including the iconic Silo Hotel in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront) and the latest addition to this Franschhoek property offers expansive exclusive-use accommodation for up to 12 guests.

Namoroka Tsingy in Madagascar
This year saw the opening of a new camp in the unexplored area of Namoroka National Park in north-western Madagascar. Namoroka Tsingy Camp offers the only accommodation in or around this incredibly biodiverse National Park. Encompassing six distinct ecosystems, the park is home to 10 species of lemur, the mysterious fossa, an array of reptiles, and over 100 species of birds - many found only in this extraordinary corner of the world.



Wilderness Bisate Reserve, Rwanda
September this year saw the launch of a new and exclusive sister to Wilderness Bisate Lodge, on the edge of Volcanoes National Park. Wilderness Bisate Reserve (‘Reserve’ in this context refers to a ‘fine edition’ rather than a conservation area) promises a similar level of five star hospitality to its sister, but with just four expansive villas, the accommodation level is slightly elevated (complete with private wood-fired hot tubs) and the experience is more intimate and exclusive.

Erebero Hills, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Bookings have just opened for Asilia Africa’s first operation in Uganda – Erebero Hills. This well-established company has a great portfolio of smart camps and lodges in Tanzania and Kenya, so we’re excited to experience their latest venture. Erebero Hills will open its doors in 2026, offering a base for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The lodge will offer eight suites, each with its own spacious balcony and well-appointed en suite bathrooms, together with a central hillside swimming pool. Asilia are working in partnership with Change a Life Bwindi, to supporting the creation of a new forest buffer zone adjacent to the national park.



Sarara Wilderness, Kenya
We have been long supporters of the wonderful Samburu community-owned Sarara eco-lodges in northern Kenya’s Mathews Range, so we’re very interested to learn about the latest addition to their collection – Sarara Wilderness. This exclusive-use tented camp is launching as we publish and will offer something a little more adventurous for small groups and families looking for a private safari experience which is immersive in both nature as well as the colourful Samburu culture.

&Beyond Suyian Lodge, Laikipia, Kenya
Kenya’s Laikipia area is known for its rare wildlife, stunning scenery and pioneering conservation efforts, but until now accommodation options have largely included tented camps and homestead style lodges. &Beyond Suyian Lodge will bring an elevated level of luxury to the area when it opens in July 2025. The 44,000-acre Suyian Conservancy is managed by Space for Giants who specialise in protecting, restoring and expanding landscapes to protect large mammals and support human-wildlife coexistence.




Lemala Osonjoi Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
January 2025 will see the closure of the iconic Ngorongoro Crater Lodge for a major rebuild (expected to take around two years), and while we wait for updates on that, Lemala Camps & Lodges will bring a new permanent lodge to Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater, scheduled to open in March.
 
Singita Kilima, Tanzania
The exclusive Singita Grumeti Reserves, bordering the Serengeti National Park, unveiled a third private house this year. Singita Kilima sits high above the plains with panoramic views and offers exclusive-use villa accommodation for up to 10 guests. In addition to five individually designed bedroom suites and extensive indoor and outdoor living and dining areas, there is an infinity edge pool, media room and fitness centre.
 
Azura Marlin Beach, Mozambique
We’re delighted to see that an old favourite beach escape, Marlin Beach Lodge, will be reopening in May 2025. The lodge will launch as part of the Azura Retreats collection, with an upgraded five-star rebuild in the same stunning Benguerra Island setting within the pristine Bazaruto Archipelago Marine National Park. Having suffered from a fire in 2012, Marlin was purchased by Azura in 2019 but plans were inevitably delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. So we’re very excited to finally see this reincarnation bringing an additional barefoot luxury beach option to southern Mozambique.
 
Click to read more details about each of these destinations as well as inspiration for 2025 to start planning your ultimate African adventure by visiting their website.