From a detailed game park refurb to an achingly hip new spot in the Mother City, these are the places to visit.
SONOP
Namibia
It’s all about made-to-measure luxury at this brand new boutique camp in the south of the Namib desert. Hot air balloon ride? Electric mountain bike excursion? Heated outdoor infinity pool? Candle-lit dinner on wild dunes? No problem. And that’s in addition to the spectacular leopard and oryx game-viewing – via horseback or comfy 4×4. Add morning yoga classes, four-poster beds, copper bathtubs and rain showers, antique furnishings and a cocktail and cigar lounge, and you have all the makings of a once-in-a-lifetime holiday at the ten tented Sonop retreat.
HOTEL DAR ES SALAAM
Tanzania
The City Lodge Hotel Group is on a mission to extend its footprint in Africa, and this 148-roomer offers all the convenience and details you’ve come to expect from this chain. Just 13km from Julius Nyerere International Airport and close to all the embassies and cultural points of interest, the City Lodge Hotel Dar Es Salaam is geared for world-class business conferences and affordable city escapes.
JOCK SAFARI LODGE
Kruger National Park, Limpopo
Already a firm favourite with discerning KNP guests, the main camp area recently underwent a major refurb. Nestled in the south-western corner of this legendary park, it now boasts an inviting “Arrival Tent” in true old-school safari style. And the facelift doesn’t end there. Glass sliding doors and extended roofing in the dining area means you feel connected to the surrounding bush, while the communal swimming pool has been heated and remodelled to provide easy access to the river bed. The décor o the three-bedroomed family villa, Fitzpatrick Lodge, has also been refreshed in tones of river sand and punchy greens.
GORGEOUS GEORGE
Cape Town
This ultra-cool blend of hipness and heritage (think 18th-century grandeur with a raw industrial edge) is set to become a hot spot for instagrammers and influencers. A welcome addition to the St George’s Mall area, it encapsulates the energy of downtown Cape Town. And whether you’re a solo traveller or a family needing a two-bedroom suite, the Gorgeous George will meet your needs and then some. Lighting and furniture from leading local designers such as David Krynauw, Gregor Jenkin, Dokter and Misses, Wiid Design and Ceramic Matters, Studio 19, and Douglas & Company set the tone, while a crocodile swing-chair-seating-pod from the inimitable Porky Hefer is a total crowd-pleaser. You’ll also be awed by the Delft-inspired mosaic mural in the foyer created by Cape Town-based artist Lucie De Moyencourt. Yip. It’s the ultimate design hotel.
WORDS Biddi Rorke
