Travel throughout Africa increased dramatically in the past year, to the point where air travel is almost at prepandemic levels. Travelers stayed long after peak season in renowned places like Cape Town and Zanzibar, while safari camps from South Africa to Kenya were fully filled. What does this signify for the upcoming year?
New air routes are opening up parts of the continent that were previously inaccessible, popular events and festivals are encouraging travelers to visit areas they may not have previously considered, and a wave of eagerly awaited luxury resorts—many of which were in the works long before the pandemic ground them—are finally prepared to open. Yes, we’re excited about a number of exciting safari camps that are in the works, from famous locations in Botswana to a lesser-known park in Mozambique.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg was founded on a spirit of uncontrolled optimism and tenacious resolve, akin to that of a gold rush. And despite the city’s struggles with social injustice and infrastructure, it’s hard to miss the upbeat energy pulsing through South Africa’s economic capital. This is demonstrated by the booming restaurant industry, which is quickly challenging Cape Town for supremacy. In 2023, the popular Cape restaurant Pot Luck Club and the Instagram-worthy British café EL&N London opened their first African locations, respectively. Make reservations for a meal at Gigi, the newest venture from renowned local chef Besele Moses Moloi, for a more continental gastronomic experience. Base yourself in Rosebank, an artistic neighborhood, where the posh Park Hyatt Johannesburg—designed by Yabu—will open in late 2024.
Mozambique
Mozambique, a Southern African gem renowned for its 1,500 miles of immaculate coastline, extensive terrestrial wildernesses, and lively Afro-Portuguese culture, will reemerge in 2024, despite the violence and COVID-19 that have temporarily stifled it in recent years.
The most well-known example of the nation’s comeback on the mainland is found in Gorongosa National Park, where rewilding initiatives have increased the number of large mammals by over 700 percent between 2008 and 2018, giving this enchanted land of fever trees and winding rivers newfound ecological and commercial hope. Firsthand witness the success story of conservation from the comforts of Muzimu Lodge, the park’s first and only opulent tented camp. In 2024, the lodge will officially open, and a brand-new walking safari-fly camp. If finances are limited, consider traveling to Ponta Membene in the south. There, 24 brand-new self-catering chalets are ideally situated on a spit of coastal dune forest, less than three hours from Maputo. Additionally, e-bike coastal safaris, which are presently in the trial phase, aim to increase accessibility to the breathtaking Maputo National Park. Last but not least, intrepid visitors have the option to continue Anderson Expeditions’ life-altering seven-night safari in the Niassa Special Reserve, where they will follow wildlife (by foot, game drive, and canoe) within a private concession under the guidance of one of the best guides in the business. The expedition, which is assisting the Mpopo Trails Camp of the Niassa Carnivore Project, is a symbol of sustainable, locally-driven tourism in the future. The upcoming debut of Banyan Tree Ilha Caldeira, which will provide 40 pool villas on a secluded island sanctuary with views of the sea and opportunities for snorkeling with.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Proceed. Now leave. You’ll be spoiled for choice right now if you’ve always wanted to visit Botswana’s Okavango Delta, where yearly floodwaters turn barren dunes into a delicate web of sparkling canals. Surge in demand and aggressive development of community-owned concessions have resulted in a plethora of new lodges throughout the largest inland delta in the world.
In the Delta, water means wealth, and African Bush Camps (ABC) inaugurated the riverfront Khwai Lediba last year. Still, the star of the show is Atzaro Okavango, who will make his debut in March 2024: With 10 rooms overlooking the lagoon that promise outstanding levels of Delta elegance and a strong feeling of location via design—both hallmarks of the Icon portfolio—it’s the third Icon camp in the Delta for ABC.
St. Helena
With less than 4,500 residents, St. Helena is a volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean and a British overseas territory roughly the size of Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Once you arrive, there’s a wealth of history to explore. The Dutch later claimed St. Helena, which was uninhabited when the Portuguese arrived in 1502, and it later became a British dominion. The island’s current inhabitants, known as Saints, have ancestors from China, Madagascar, India, and West Africa in addition to Britain. Tours cover the history of the island, including the enslavement of Africans and Napoleon Bonaparte’s exile and demise. The Mantis St. Helena, located in the island’s historic capital of Jamestown, continues to be the most stylish hotel. From December to March, whale sharks come to St. Helena’s crystal-clear waters; tour companies like Sub-Tropic Adventures provide tours where guests can swim alongside these gentle monsters of the sea. Turtles and devil rays can be spotted by snorkelers, and scuba divers can explore a number of wrecks.
