By The UNCHARTED® editors · 5 min read
When the Dalai Lama himself calls a location “a spiritual center of the universe,” attention must be paid. He’s not exactly known as a tourism hype-man. But some destinations simply deserve to be recognized as extraordinary for the quality of the guest experience and their environmental stewardship.
Though often suspect and overused, nothing short of superlatives are adequate to describe certain select destinations that combine world-wonder natural settings with world-class accommodations, hospitality, and guiding. Such is the case in this selection of UNCHARTED Outposts that cater to travelers seeking the ultimate best and a high degree of luxurious privacy in which to enjoy it.
Here we mean luxury strictly in the most worthy sense of the word. As UNCHARTED Australian guide Craig Wickham put it: “Post-covid, wilderness and pristine biodiversity are the true luxury – and it’s becoming rarer and rarer.”
High-end ecotourism in remote, untouched areas contributes the most toward conservation of precious and fragile environments while having the least amount of impact. Each of these properties has proven its bona fides by utilizing best practices and undertaking initiatives that promote environmental and cultural preservation in their locales.
By providing extraordinary and singular guest experiences that ultimately enhance the sustainability and integrity of their locations, these are destinations that dreams are made of.
Flock Hill Station
Nestled in a remote, pristine valley surrounded by the alps of New Zealand’s South Island, the Alpine Lodge at Flock Hill Station is the epitome of refined wilderness. This homestead is a 36,000-acre working sheep station located close to Arthur’s Pass, and is surrounded by dramatic mountains, winding rivers, and glistening lakes that support high country life.
One of the world’s most scenic train journeys—the Tranzalpine Railway—traverses the property for over 15 miles, snaking alongside Broken River and Slovens Stream. The location is also next door to Castle Hill—or Kura Tawhiti in Maori—which is known as the birthplace of the gods to the pioneering voyagers from Rapanui (Easter Island).
Known for farm-to-table cooking by private chefs, guests can dine in one of the homestead’s several outdoor or glass-enclosed dining spaces while enjoying the ambience of the roaring fireplace and soaking up the last of the sun before it sinks behind the alpine backdrop.The Dalai Lama had such a profound experience at Castle Hill that he described it as “a spiritual center of the universe.”
Singita Malilangwe House
Perched high on a sandstone ridge in Zimbabwe’s remote southeast, Singita Malilangwe House is one of the most breathtaking private, exclusive-use properties in all of Africa. This elegant home encompasses five expansive bedrooms, a large rim-flow pool, and a private chef—Singita properties are renowned for their cuisine, and they recently published an award-winning cookbook. Featuring relaxed, light and airy shared spaces, the villa’s free-flowing living areas provide a sense of seamless ease, ensuring a contemporary safari that is both casual and sophisticated. The rich tribal history of the region is echoed in the carefully curated décor and provides an inspiring reflection of the creative energy of the continent.
Guests are encouraged to immerse themselves in the wilderness with their personal field guide and safari vehicle, as well as enjoy wellness experiences like yoga and massages in their suites or on one of the many outdoor decks.
Botswana is a wonderful world of wetlands surrounded by desert. The intoxicating beauty and scorched land of the Kalahari gives way to the lush Okavango Delta that teems with wildlife. The area is a labyrinth of waterways covering more than 8,500 square miles, and ten billion tons of water enter the mire each year, bringing life to this otherwise harsh landscape.
Experience the beauty in the two-bedroom Selinda Suite, which is part of the Great Plains sustainable guardianship project. The property is set in a pristine, wildlife-rich wilderness where the Selinda Spillway meets the Linyanti River, and guests enjoy private vehicles, a plunge pool, personal safari guides, and an independent entrance to the residence by boat. The Reserve it sits on boasts elephants by the thousands, regular sightings of a resident pack of African wild dogs, and the majestic lions featured in National Geographic’s film “Birth of a Pride” which was made by Dereck and Beverly Joubert—conservationists who are the principals in the Great Plains lodge network. Special touches include a connoisseur rum tasting and signature cocktails served at the campfire.
Widely acclaimed as Australia’s Galapagos, Kangaroo Island is home to sea lions lolling in the sand dunes and eucalyptus forests full of koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies. After rising from the ashes of the bushfires that ravaged the island in the winter of 2019-20, Southern Ocean Lodge has been built back better than ever. Undertaking a “build it, and they will come” mentality, the owners' new-look luxury lodge bears a similar footprint to the original—complete with breathtaking views of the Southern Ocean (Antarctica is the next stop on the horizon), a magnificent Great Room and a string of suites easing along the wild coastline and limestone cliffs.
SOL is a luxurious base for adventures: a series of walking trails from the lodge doorstep traverse bluffs, bushland tracks, pristine beach shores, and farmland. The historically significant Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, a reminder of the region’s tumultuous maritime past, is a highlight. For those interested in local cuisine, tuck into freshly shucked oysters, local olives, and attend a personalized spirit-and-wine tour of vineyards and barrel-room tastings. It’s a deliciously short journey from paddock, plant, and sea to plate.
Based on their stellar track record, expertise, and commitment to celebrating the resilient spirit of Kangaroo Island during this restoration, there’s little doubt that South Ocean will assume its place among the finest luxury lodges in Australia. That stature owes in great measure to the local guides on the island, particularly that of UNCHARTED partner Craig Wickham.
Lengishu House was built for guests who want to settle into what feels like their own private home in the northern Kenya terrain—this is where The Lion King’s Pride Rock drew its inspiration. The last built of four unique properties on the 3,200-acre Borana Conservancy (one of the country’s most successful rhino sanctuaries), Lengishu was built with locally sourced materials and designed to blend in with the Laikipia grassland environment: It features floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed timber, stone paths, fireplaces, wood burning stoves and copper bathtubs to unwind and view animals from. In short, it is the ultimate launchpad not only for its luxury, but also for alternative safari adventures such as galloping across the plains on horseback and tracking rhinos with the anti-poaching unit.
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