By The UNCHARTED® editors · 4 min read
Okavango Delta
BOTSWANA
Botswana is a wonderful world of wetlands surrounded by desert. The sere beauty of the Kalahari gives way to the lush Okavango Delta, which teems with wildlife. The area is a labyrinth of seasonal waterways covering more than 8,500 square miles; 10 billion tons of water flood the mire each year, bringing life to this otherwise harsh landscape.
North Island Okavango offers the quintessential Delta experience. Set in one of the most game-rich areas northwest of Duba Plains and Vumbura, there are just three premier tents and one very private island.
The camp is surrounded by a riverine archipelago networked by shining lagoons and transient channels. Being on the upstream end of the Okavango Delta, this area receives the annual floodwaters first, which allows for water-based wildlife viewing activities all year. For birders this spot is a dream — over 350 species have been recorded.
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BOTSWANA
Named after the famed Sitatunga aquatic antelope, you can easily spot youngins amongst the lush river weeds and marsh grasses due to their caramel coloring and white stripes and spots. As for the adults, you can’t miss them swimming along the shore due to their large antlers.
In Sitatunga, travelers can scout them from both camp and boat—an unexpected, alternative African safari experience that we highly recommend.
The main activity here is canoeing through Delta waters to spot elephants, crocodiles, and hippos. But the camp also has impeccable and distinctive interior design with a very Robinson Crusoe feel. It was created with a ‘salvage’-inspired look in mind, complete with giant basket shapes as a nod to the Bayei and other local Okavango fishing ancestries. Thick poles and thatches recall masts recovered from a shipwreck—but the spacious floor plan and suites set up high in ebony trees add an element of luxury (not to mention safety, shade, and views).
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Usawa Serengeti
TANZANIA
One of the coolest openings we’ve heard of recently is Usawa, a mobile tented camp that follows the Serengeti’s legendary great migration. It will move with the herd as animals travel throughout the year across the breadth and length of the national park, so guests are always in position to marvel at the unfolding drama.
Usawa means balance in Swahili—there is chaos in the thousands of stampeding wildebeests, predators driven by hunger, and prey trying to desperately cross rivers to fresh grasslands—yet they are all moving in a purposeful direction, through birth and death, rain and drought.
While the term “mobile” might not conjure luxury, that isn’t so in this case. Intimate, exclusive, and exceptional, Usawa can accommodate 12 guests in six en-suite safari tents. No permanent fixtures are left behind when the camp moves, leaving a light footprint. The camps are solar powered, with rechargeable lights and charging stations in the rooms, as well as Wi-Fi and hot water. But the most luxurious aspect of this Outpost is that it can get away from high-density tourist spots, and camp locations are situated within the Serengeti’s designated walking zones, so guided walks begin directly from your door.
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Mara River Tented Camp
TANZANIA
Welcome to the vibrant, redone, refreshed, and always treasured Mara River Tented camp. A true UNCHARTED Outpost classic, this glow up was inspired by the local Masaai. Set on a spectacular river bend in the Lamai Triangle in Tanzania, its bold and playful colors encapsulate the essence of contemporary design while still celebrating local tribes.
Created for modern-day adventurers longing to explore Africa’s bold landscapes and abundant wildlife, the geometric fabrics find balance alongside earthy comforts, and it is a great jumping off point for the far northern reaches of the Serengeti. Moreover, the food scene at Mara is next-level: Chefs work with seasonal ingredients to embody East African flavors, so fireside snacks, tapas, and mezze boards around the pool all bring a local flair.
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Tanda Tula
South Africa
Tanda Tula has a then-and-now feel. After 27 years (45 years after its original opening), the tented camp and luxury lodge recently underwent a radical architectural transformation. This Outpost has an airy design and commitment to ecological sensitivity: Each suite blends glass, canvas, and steel while fusing South African bush elements. Along with the new modern design, Tanda Tula retains its historical field camp for those who seek traditional safari style. As the owners say, “The field camp is a homecoming. You’ll need less than you anticipate, and get more than you expect.”
There are seven rooms and two family apartments, which open out to a covered deck with a plunge pool overlooking the dry riverbed, and feature an open-concept living area and bedroom. The bathrooms have a standalone bathtub, an indoor shower, and a walkway to an outdoor shower. At the heart of the camp lies the Shangaan-inspired split-level lounge, bar, and deck.
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Tswalu Loapi
SOUTH AFRICA
Tswalu is a favorite for one of UNCHARTED’s staff members—it's where her love affair with southern Africa started. Plan to explore the Kalahari, observe lesser-seen animals such as wild dogs, pangolins, and meerkats, and have the pride male stalk your truck from ten feet away. The guides’ tracking skills at this camp are unparalleled—they can find incredible, up-close and unusual encounters.
Tswalu now has a third tented camp, Loapi, which stretches for over a half-mile from one end to the other. It provides space and privacy between six suites, and encourages the true wilderness experience. There is space to breathe with views of Bruwer Valley and the Korannaberg, and the red gradient makes you feel like you’re in the Australian Outback.
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