WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

Designed and developed by Chris Sparks Architecture, with interiors by Savile Row, Fifty-Five Mjejane’s striking contemporary African aesthetic seamlessly integrates with the surrounding bush, creating a harmonious balance between modern elegance and its natural surroundings.

“The architecture of our lodge draws inspiration from the flora and fauna of the area as well as its historically Zulu architecture – staying true to the history of the land. The lodge pays homage to the original settlers of the land and their Zulu culture, without compromising on luxury,” says Amy Stanton-van Emmenis, owner of Fifty-Five Mjejane.

The self-catering 12-sleeper lodge is designed with luxury living and comfort in mind. The six master-style Indlus – Zulu-inspired beehive-shaped dwellings – offer a unique, comfortable, and light-filled living experience. Each suite boasts luxe bedding from Mungo, lavish bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers, and a private deck with unobstructed views of the indigenous bush and the Crocodile River.

Another spot that offers breathtaking views of the Crocodile River and the Kruger National Park beyond is the Indlulamithi Bar. The bar is protected from the late afternoon heat, making it ideal for enjoying sundowners. The Boma is also an excellent option for evening dining or star-gazing.

With a wide range of amenities, from a fitness centre and games room to an infinity pool, Fifty-Five Mjejane is perfect for family stays. The lodge also features a dedicated ranger and game vehicle, providing guests with a unique opportunity to observe the Big Five from their doorstep.

While this is a self-catering lodge, the on-site staff are available to assist with every need, from setting tables to lighting fires, ensuring a seamless and indulgent experience. | 55mjejane.co.za

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The post Redefining Luxury in the Heart of Kruger appeared first on Visi.

Drawing inspiration from the campaign safari and royal Raj, Duke’s Camps in the Okavango Delta are a repository of history, conjuring up a bygone era.

When talk turns to Ralph Bousfield, “rock star” is the phrase that often crops up. Tall and rangy, with tousled long hair, wrist cuffed in bracelets, and talisman beads in an antelope scrotum hanging from his neck, this is the mien of a man who knows how to annex attention. Born into a long line of explorers and adventurers, Ralph’s father Jack – holder of the dolorous record for the most crocodiles killed in Africa – started guiding photographic safaris in the 1960s. With a lifetime spent in the bush, augmented by a degree in conservation, Ralph’s skills as a wilderness guide are uncontested: the first choice of Oscar-winning actors, film-makers and former US presidents, he was recognised as Tatler Travel Guide’s Best Safari Guide in Africa in 2023. But he has a knack with furniture and fabrics too.

“His is an extraordinary creativity. Spending a life living so close to nature, he has huge respect for all things alive and dead, old and new. And he has an eye for beauty,” says magpie antique dealer Gilles de Moyencourt, who met Ralph and his then-partner Catherine Raphaely in the 1990s, when they were creating what would become one of the most iconic camps in Africa. Jack’s Camp – part family museum, part romantic evocation of camping in a bygone era – was a rebuild of his father’s favourite campsite in the Makgadikgadi. After Jack’s tragic death in a plane crash, Ralph inherited the keys to a storage unit filled with pristine campaign antiques. Together with the family’s extensive collection of ethnographic and natural artefacts, and photographs of earlier Bousfield explorers, this would form the design core of Jack’s Camp. With the help of a handful of favoured dealers such as De Moyencourt, who alert Ralph to pieces imbued with a kind of narrative depth, and aided by an in-house team of carpenters, welders and seamstresses, this nostalgic aesthetic is still very much in evidence at both Duke’s camps.

Located on a verdant channel in the game-rich northern part of the Okavango Delta, Duke’s East is the more intimate sister to Duke’s, named after another Botswana patriarch: “Duke” Sarefo, whose ancestors are buried on this island. The look is Ralph’s trademark “African Raj”– dark green canvas softened by scalloped edges and draped entrances, the interiors lined with printed cotton – but at Duke’s East, the scale is grander, with double-volume tents on enormous teak decks. The block-print pattern on the interiors, a custom- designed copy of Ralph’s great-grandfather’s campaign tent, is a deep red paisley, creating a richly textured backdrop for polished timber, brass and leather.

Dining is usually alfresco, the long communal table covered in a white tablecloth anchored by a decanter filled with red bird’s-eye chillies soaked in gin – the Bousfields’ legendary Pilipili Hoho. The mess tent features floor-to-ceiling glass case shelves packed with artefacts, reminiscent of a mobile natural history museum. Draped curtains with red velvet tiebacks frame a campaign-style drinks chest that is the central point of the adjacent bar lounge, flanked by sofas covered in velvet and a daybed swaying on chains.

“I’m so not a decorator!” Ralph protests when complimented on his aesthetic. “What I am, is interested in objects and their stories. I’d like to think our camps are a repository of these, whether created in Europe for African explorers or by the Khoi San; over centuries or yesterday. It’s all part of offering guests an authentic experience of the African bush. In fact, the camp is just a small part of a much bigger, much more profound experience.” I have my back to the scrunch and rip of a grazing hippo, just metres from where we are seated for dinner. From here, the draped entrance to the mess tent is like a siren’s lure, the red block-print fabric glowing like one of the coals shovelled under my chair to warm my derriere. I pick up a bone-handled knife, spread some Pilipili Hoho on my fillet. A small part, perhaps…

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In Kwazulu-Natal, a new off-the-grid lodge with 12 luxurious villas bonds with the local community, the flora – and the resident herd of elephants.

Before the mFulaWozi Private Game Reserve‘s Biyela Lodge, there was nothing – except hectares of pristine bush adjoining the lower Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, and plenty of wild animals. “The elephants were our natural surveyors, providing well-worn paths to assist in deciding where the best routes for game-viewing would be,” says Barry Theunissen, who designed and built the lodge with his wife Sonya. “While we were building, elephants often came to inspect the progress. There are herds of more than a hundred that congregate in the river in front of the lodge site.”

Having spent large chunks of time in wildlife reserves, the Theunissens named the lodge after local chief Phiwayinkosi Biyela, a descendent of King Shaka. The project was conceived collaboratively with the amakhosi who own the wilderness areas surrounding the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi reserve.

With the help of architect Peter Whitehouse, Barry engineered a pillared support structure for what is now a series of 12 luxurious stand-alone off-the-grid villas – 10 with private rim-flow swimming pools, and two with expansive daybeds – backing into the bank of the White Umfolozi River. “We had to navigate a cliff and manoeuvre around some fairly significant granite rocks to offer guests what is now modern, five-star, contemporary accommodation immersed in the bushveld,” says Barry.“Villas on a higher section of cliff offer spectacular views, while those lower down offer interaction with animal traffic – including elephants stopping to drink from an otherwise private swimming pool.”

Barry’s vision was to embark on a project with purpose: not just to preserve the land and the animals, but to uplift the communities that live nearby. Local people were employed in all aspects of building, including laying bricks and gathering the stones that punctuate the raw concrete roofs, polished floors and plastered walls – fittingly protected with natural cement paint in an “elephant hide” hue. To produce the concrete slab ceilings that bear the imprint of their wooden moulds, the Theunissens set up an on-site cement plant, pouring concrete on weekends and transporting loads from batching plants in Empangeni and Eshowe.

Sonya’s ideas for the interior fixtures and colours were brilliantly interpreted, expanded and presented by Ballito-based interior designer Michele Throssell. “On our first drive to Biyela, we were struck by the richness and abundance of the landscape surrounding us,” says Michele. “We wanted to celebrate its uniqueness and instil a greater appreciation for nature – for both its physical and spiritual power. We connected with the healing ability of the Earth and its flora (sometimes overlooked in favour of the Big Five), and explored the quiet authority of the sangoma as a medicine man in the Zulu culture. This led us to a concept of ‘contemporary African apothecary’.”

Each uniquely designed room sets off the greens of the foliage – olive, pea, silver-grey, burnt umber – against charcoal walls. The laboratory-shaped glass vessels, steel cabinets, medicine bottles and furniture reference a modern-day chemist or scientist’s study, complemented by botanical artworks and biological studies, handwoven African mats, basketweave natural-grass lampshades and locally sourced fabrics that were carefully selected so as not to impose on or distract from Biyela’s greatest asset: the space beyond.

“Some guests call it the selfie lodge – and it does make for great photos,” says Sonya. “But, really, we’re trying to go back to basics, to where we started, from scratch, simply observing, and to an extent interacting as closely as possible with what’s coming into and out of the wilderness.”

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Thornybush Lodge at Kruger has added a new exclusive-use offering to its 5-star getaway experience. Introducing Kamara House.

The new private house overlooks a small riverbed, the perfect location for watching animals. The newest addition to the luxury safari experience came into fruition when the original lodge received a full refurbishment and facelift which you can read about, here.

Designed with larger groups of friends and family in mind, Kamara House gives privacy and a discreet setting with the option of using all of the Lodge’s public areas and spaces. Including the spa and wellness centre, the feature pool area and the game lodge shop.

“We are delighted to expand the Thornybush offering by introducing our guests to a holistic 5-star luxury safari experience, complete with a health and wellness program, immersive safari experiences, and new facilities while staying true to the safari legacy that defines Thornybush Game Lodge,” says Melanie Parker, Head of Operations.

The house spans 251m squared under the roof with an additional 120m deck and private swimming pool for guests, with the space comfortably sleeping six guests.

Designed in a style that fuses a contemporary edge with organic and nature-inspired qualities, the space juxta[poses textures and tones that blend with the surrounding bush and landscape. Interior Designer Artichoke along with architects Lankers & Fry worked together to imagine the new space “Our aim was to create a sense of tranquillity by combining classic and modern design elements. We have made sure not to overdesign the spaces, which allows for a sense of comfort and relaxation throughout, utilising timeless elements Thornybush is so well known for, allowing the beautiful open spaces to speak for themselves ” says Caline Williams-Wynn.

Artichoke has curated a team of local artisans to create the exquisite cabinetry in both the bedrooms and bathrooms. “The superior craftsmanship, combined with the use of organic and textured materials such as raffia sliding doors on cupboards in the rooms and rattan on bathroom vanities, further enhances the luxurious atmosphere of the spaces. The showstoppers in the rooms are the trunks at the end of the beds which are multipurpose and can be used as luggage racks as well as extra storage” says Samantha Mühlbauer of Artichoke. As part of Thornybush’s ongoing commitment to supporting local communities, the construction teams were employed locally.

Known for quality service in a luxurious setting, Thornybush offers a state-of-the-art safari experience including twice daily game drives, guided bush tours and viewing from the decks of the lodge.

“We are thrilled with the addition of Kamara House to our esteemed Thornybush offering. Building upon the cherished legacy of the beloved Game Lodge, this exclusive-use retreat provides discerning guests seeking high-end seclusion and privacy with the opportunity to uncover their dream safari,” concludes Andy Payne, CEO of Thornybush.

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A beloved Kruger resort received a contemporary makeover that exudes classic safari charm with a modern edge.

Thornybush Game Lodge underwent a top-to-toe refurbishment that took a seven-week closure and a decor overhaul by Caline Williams-Wynn and the designers at Artichoke. Bringing the outside in, the team placed a large emphasis on textures and tones, from wood, steel and leather to rattan, all highlighted by neutral pops of colour like charcoal, saffron and green – the visual palate of a safari holiday.

“The new look for Thornybush Game Lodge is all about what the guests can see and touch. It’s all in the detail but at the same time not minimising all the comforts required for a 5-star Lodge. The colour palette has longevity and is classic” says Williams-Wynn. 

Another task for the team was to minimalise clutter and pare back the style of the lodge, creating a spacious feel, that places more emphasis on the experience and being in nature. Offering 16 luxury suites, the lodge aims to bring a 5-star quality to being in the bush. “Thornybush Game Lodge has been reimagined but yet still preserving its legendary charm and history. As a result, it will continue to make it a favourite South African Lodge because of the hospitality, staff and amazing game-viewing experiences” says Melanie Parker – Head of Operations at Thornybush. 

An introduction to a library to the lodge adds sophisticated flair to the communal spaces, where guests can relax and have private events in an area with a beautifully curated wall of artefacts and art pieces that tell the story and history of Game Lodge and the Kruger National Park. 

“We aim to nurture the guests’ curiosity about the flora and fauna of the area. The guests are encouraged to rifle through the library cupboards exploring specimens that have been collected in the Thornybush area and read the factual and fascinating information that the Thornybush head guides have written about each specimen on the tags provided” says curator Gina Waldman of Waldman Studios. “This experience is very different from viewing live animals in the wild. It’s rather exciting to pick up a giraffe bone and feel the weight of this or look at how thick a giraffe tail hair actually is up close enhancing the game viewing experience. The idea is that the collection will be a growing library and will evolve yearly as the guides find more exciting items and can be enjoyed by all for generations to come,” adds Waldman. 

The pool area has also been increased in size offering guests more opportunities to lounge and soak in the Kruger sunshine. The bar area has had a make-over, with the bar counter sporting a beautiful tiled front, the perfect spot to enjoy a post-game drive G & T or a nightcap. Guests will also notice new decks and flooring throughout. 

“Thornybush strives to continually improve the way we operate and to be aware of our impact on our surrounding areas and communities. A major focus of the refurbishment was to make Game Lodge more sustainable. This has been made possible by the implementation of our own solar plant at Game Lodge which distributes power to this lodge and Saseka Tented Camp and there are plans in place to get more of our lodges, including Simbambili in the Sabi Sands, onto solar to further reduce our carbon footprint across the Group” adds Parker. 

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A recent refurb has breathed new life into Jao Camp, a luxury safari camp located on a private island in the middle of the Okavango.

An elephant drinks from the swamp as a crocodile cruises by, only its beady eyes giving away its presence. A mother and father hippo protect their calf below the surface as a mokoro is expertly steered between the swishing reeds. A lilac-breasted roller flies overhead, displaying its rainbow-like plumage. It’s scenes and moments like these in the Okavango Delta that guests get to experience at Wilderness Safaris’ Jao Camp.

Owned by David and Cathy Kays, fourth-generation Batswana, and their son Martin, Jao Camp was originally built at the turn of the millennium, and recently underwent a complete renovation. Entrusted by the Kays for its first design in 1999 were dynamic husband-and-wife architecture-and-design duo Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens – and they were called on once again for its reinterpretation.

READ MORE: Madagascan Resort

After two decades in operation, the camp – which has grown to be one of the finest in the Delta – had become a bit weathered due to heavy rains, floods and termites. The owners decided it needed an overhaul, one that would take its current issues into consideration and prevent it from deteriorating in years to come while also elevating its offering. This was no problem for Silvio and Lesley, the self-described adventure architects – and everything that makes up the re-imagined Jao is recycled, reclaimed or handmade, and built to last. Authentic-looking thatch is, in fact, recycled plastic. What from afar appears to be a structure made of intertwined metal pipes, haphazardly pieced together like a nest, is actually bleached discarded wood (which shelters the pool). The wooden poles that previously held up the main area have been replaced with a steel structure. And the private and communal decks that appear to be wooden are also made of a composite material. There’s no greenwashing happening here – this is an ecofriendly build in every sense of the term.

“We took a fresh, contemporary approach to the sense of adventure Jao has always had, creating a feeling of not knowing what to expect around the next corner,” says Silvio. “The ever-changing architectural structures take their cues from forms found in nature, but in an innovative way. Conventional materiality is replaced with a more eco-sensitive palette, as the bouquet of spaces and sculptures evolves. The way one is couched – protected from the environment – is blended into a series of sculptural, emotive spaces that amplify the blur between the concept of shelter and art, sculpture and architecture.”

READ MORE: Leobo Lodge in the Waterberg

Accommodation is made up of five one-bedroom suites and two two-bedroom villas, each with an open-plan layout, private plunge pools, lounge and dining areas, and en suite bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers. Interiors are muted and earthy, as one would expect in a place where nothing can hold a candle to the surrounding natural beauty, but that does not make them any less impressive. The predominantly handmade local furniture and decor pieces were thoughtfully imagined and designed by Silvio, Lesley and their team, and meticulously crafted by African artisans and makers.

Attention to detail is apparent throughout, with standout design pieces that echo the environment. The resin and hand-carved steel bathroom furniture is inspired by the waterlily leaf, the wallpaper is made of raffia floor mats, palm-leaf-shaped lampshades are constructed from leather, and floors are adorned with hand-woven raw wool carpets. Communal areas include the elevated lounge and dining space housed in an elaborate two-storey building, a gift shop, a library, a museum and gallery, a boma for outdoor dining, the pool house, a spa and a separate gym.

Jao offers both land- and water-based safaris, with plenty of game-viewing possible from the comfort of the camp. As a destination that has been welcoming guests for 23 years, Jao’s future in the Okavango Delta once again looks as bright as the plumes of the roller.

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A secluded getaway that combines luxury and nature is designed to give guests a peaceful and contemplative escape away from city life, with all the creature comforts of home.

Once you arrive at Melozhori, guests park their cars because only walking or cycling is allowed on the reserve. No need to panic though, there are no predators on site, only friendly Giraffes, flamboyant Ostriches and herds of Sables, Nyalas and Impalas.

“We wanted to develop a low-footprint reserve where guests can be immersed in nature but still have complete privacy,” explains Reserve Manager Lientjie Nell. “The Treehouse idea started to take shape when we decided to add one more final product offering to our reserve. We started looking at secluded and beautiful areas on the reserve and when we decided on the valley the idea just developed from there.”

READ MORE: Treehouse-inspired Constantia Home

The owners of Melozhori have a big love for nature and the conservation of our natural wildlife for future generations. With no previous farming experience, the Bhorat family has turned an undeveloped and overgrazed piece of land into a successful game reserve. With care and consideration to historically occurring species, the game was gradually introduced and today the 19 different mammal species and 131 identified birds bear testimony to the patience and long-term vision needed for conservation to be meaningful. The reserve has expanded to 2,300 hectares of succulent Karoo, Renosterveld and sections of fynbos in the mountainous areas. An expansive dam was repaired and work began on the infrastructure for a family’s “home away from home”.

The mainly steel and wooden spaces – done by JLR Projects combine a family holiday feel with upmarket lodge comfort and style. With 5 luxury cabins holding a total of 18 guests, the design was intended to give visitors a feeling of solitude and quiet contemplation – all situated only 2 hours from Cape Town’s city centre. The kitchen has all the bells and whistles you’d find in a New York apartment, but out in the bush. Guests have everything they need for a comfortable stay. From bean-to-cup coffee machines and pizza ovens, this is the upper echelon of self-catering. Spend long lazy evenings on the deck, hop in the hot tub or book a game drive with the team to explore the surrounding terrain.

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Situated on a riverfront concession in Zambia’s lower Zambezi National Park, this new luxury lodge combines elegance with just a touch of sparkle.

With every new lodge, we have a process,” says Debra Fox, sitting in the lounge of Lolebezi, the latest luxury safari destination to bear the signature of design studio Fox Browne Creative. As coffee is served in bespoke Vorster & Braye crockery on a tray of shimmering copper, the morning sun tinges the Zambezi River with gold.

“Our process is called circles in a forest,” she says. “It’s where we walk and feel the landscape. Because wherever we go, it’s always about a sense of place. It’s all about site.” And the location of Lolebezi is nothing short of remarkable, occupying a riverfront private concession site within Zambia’s remote Lower Zambezi National Park.

“It’s one of those game-changing sites in southern Africa,” notes Jack Alexander, the architect on the project. “The river is obviously the biggest drawcard, but with this particular site, there are also spectacular views backwards into the forest.” That forest is a lush stand of winter thorn acacia, which would become a muse for the lodge’s design ethos, the curved seedpods informing much of Lolebezi’s visual language.

READ MORE: Gujarati Lodge

That’s most obvious in the beautiful hand-printed bed throws, and the botanical panels framing the central lounge area, both by Amanda du Plessis of Evolution Product. But more broadly, the circular seed shape is a motif evident throughout the eight-bedroom lodge, where swirling forms soften the thoroughly contemporary design.

READ MORE: Luxury Sossusvlei Lodge

Created by Tribal Textiles, striking works of woven grass – each nearly four metres across – sweep across the ceiling of the lounge and dining area. But perhaps the highlight is at the very heart of the lodge: a circular two-level platform dubbed the “Circle of Light” that ascends into the boughs of a sturdy winter thorn. “The circle around the tree became a hinge; a pivot point where we see the guest move between two halves of the lodge,” explains Jack. “We also wanted to get guests up into the canopy of the winter thorn. From there, you get this phenomenal aspect down the Zambezi and into the forest.”

“Overall, we tried to provide a design that enhances the guest experience of the Lower Zambezi,” adds Debra. “Many of the most beautiful aspects of the lodge are those that enhance the sense of being in that space.”

READ MORE: Khwai Leadwood in Botswana

Aside from natural inspiration, the design of Lolebezi also taps into the history, traditions and culture of Zambia. Angular legs of Kaonde tribal stools are subtly echoed in the dining tables and faceted bar counter of rain forest marble. A curtain of curled reeds, hand-stitched locally, frames a curving couch of textured rattan designed to maximise the river views. The shimmer of copper – one of Zambia’s key exports – is another thread that runs through Lolebezi, from the breakfast trays to the striking circular mosquito nets in each suite.

“With all the organic textures, you want a bit of sparkle,” says Debra with a smile. “Not too much – just a little, to play off the textural elements. If we didn’t have the rustic railway sleepers and the organic reeds, it might look out of place. But because it’s toned down – and a natural material – it works.

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An intimate lodge in Botswana, Khwai Leadwood may have been built with the core aim of conserving the landscape, but there is a strong design eye in this carefully crafted safari camp.

“I always dreamed of having a site on the river,” says Beks Ndlovu, founder and CEO of African Bush Camps, as the aluminium boat glides through the reeds and launches onto the bank, the motor now killed. It’s nighttime and Khwai Leadwood, African Bush Camps’ new lodge on the Khwai River in the Khwai Concession, is aglow with lanterns, the bush alive with the croaking of frogs. “People said it would never happen – but sometimes it just takes a little bit of time.”

For Beks, patience (five years of it) was a worthy exchange for the perfect riverside site, which isn’t easy to come by. “You see how the river bends,” he says standing by the firepit on a sunken deck shaded by a leadwood tree, pointing to the U-shaped curve in the waterway. From this spot, the hook in the river guides your eye through the grassland and onto the neighbouring Moremi Game Reserve – and you can see why he held out for this precise location.

Beks is a stickler for details, but it was with the help of design duo Debra Fox and Chris Browne of Fox Browne Creative that the lodge became a reality. Turned around in six months, it was a project only experts could pull off. Not only did the team need to bring their sharp design skills, they also had to ensure they were gentle on the fragile landscape. At African Bush Camps, design is important – but conserving the landscape is critical.

“The tents had to have as little impact as possible, and because of the solar farm, we had to choose electrical appliances very carefully,” says Debra, adding that there were many elements to consider – such as the wooden decking for which the material had to be sustainably grown and certified. “Wherever possible, natural materials were used and Botswana crafts were celebrated.”

The six-room tented camp is loaded with eye-catching pieces such as woven baskets, sly wooden crocodiles pinned to the pool deck, a custom beaded chandelier by Mud Studio that dangles in the entrance, and steel cabinets created from small Kavango baskets in collaboration with Design Afrika. The honey-coloured palette, inspired by the Okavango Delta’s wintertime hues, is seamlessly licked throughout the property. “The grass was the base colour, which morphed into a mustard, outlined with black and white,” says Debra. In the river-facing tented suites, headboards are made from flat baskets, providing a fresh take on basket-ware from northern Botswana, and the steel beds feature draped mosquito nets, mustard linen pillows and earthy throws by African Jacquard. There are also less obvious design elements that serve as proof of Beks’s attention to detail, like the shape of the camp, which is designed to resemble a bird in flight – something that can only be seen from above.

But perhaps the most captivating design element is nature’s doing: the twisting river that leads the eye through a grassy landscape, and onto hippos, elephants and golden sunsets.

Looking for more architectural or travel inspiration? Take a look at the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

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Leave no trace they said – not one. And that’s precisely what the remarkable new Angama Safari Camp, a roving wildlife encampment in Kenya’s legendary Maasai Mara, has managed to accomplish. 

The scene is well documented: your senses are heightened, and the hair on the back of your neck prickles as an unmistakable lion’s roar seems to come from just a few paces away. Only a thin sheet of canvas separates you from certain, primitive demise.

As you lie awake, the roars slowly dissipate and the song of early birds fills the air, soon to be replaced by the irrepressible sound of thousands of wild beasts, their hooves thundering across the African plains. And just like that, another dawn breaks over Kenya’s Maasai Mara, home to the greatest wildlife spectacle in the world.

Combining the raw wildness of Africa with the luxuries of 21st-century camping – could there be a more romantic adventure? From the start, the aim of the new Angama Safari Camp was to exceed the expectations of the discerning modern-day traveller, combining total exclusivity and privacy with unwavering respect for the fragile environment.

The answer lies in the very definition of safari, which means “to journey” in Swahili. The word takes us back to the 1920s and ’30s, when, with Herculean logistics, sprawling camps in the middle of nowhere were set up “just for me”. To deliver such an experience in today’s world, the Angama team sat down with Jan Allan of Canvas By Design, Nairobi’s master tentmaker. Jan has been solving design and engineering problems since he was a child, and understands how exacting the brand is about putting their guests’ needs first.

Slowly, the solutions emerged: interchangeable poles, flexibility and adaptability where possible, a compromise here (a vanity without plumbing) and a challenge to solve there (what would an Angama safari be without red Fermob rocking chairs?). And at the heart of all the logistics is a Tetris-fundi’s delight: a 16-ton truck converted to spec and fondly named Big Bertha, in which everything can be moved from place to place.

With the framework in place, VISI’s own Annemarie Meintjes set to work on the interiors. Together with Alison Mitchell, she lovingly sourced items from as far afield as France and Cape Town, all of which were shipped to and stored in Nairobi.

Another problem-solver extraordinaire was Dom Matthews, because every piece of canvas needs a bag, every glass needs a padded crate, and everything needs to be made to measure. And all of this took place under the watchful eye of hospitality legend Nicky Fitzgerald, developing the 61st property of her extensive career. John Vogel designed the furniture, managing to stay true to the aesthetic while ensuring that every elegant item he created could be flat-packed. In keeping with the overall look, John’s signature weaves form the headboards and mirror backings.

The final result is a movable camp that is built to last, yet treads lightly. All you need – but nothing more – is here, and pure simplicity is at the heart of its sophistication. But all of these efforts notwithstanding, the real magic is not in the stuff. It’s in the place. It’s in the people. It’s the Kenyans themselves who make the Maasai Mara the quintessential safari destination, and who bring Angama Safari Camp to life with their love of being of service to others, and with their grace.

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Take a look at this KwaZulu-Natal safari villa.

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