Curated travel experiences

3 of South Africa’s most romantic destinations

3 of South Africa’s most romantic destinations

Romance looks different to different couples. For some, it’s complete seclusion and the sound of waves after dark. For others, it’s long lunches under oak trees, sipping on a crisp chardonnay, or falling asleep to lions calling in the distance. South Africa is extraordinary in that it allows you to experience all of this, often within the same trip.

If you’re planning a honeymoon, anniversary, proposal, or simply an escape from everyday routines together, these three destinations consistently stand out for their beauty and intimacy.

1. Turtle tracking and barefoot luxury at Thonga Beach Lodge, KwaZulu-Natal
Tucked into a protected coastal forest within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, near the Mozambican border, Thonga Beach Lodge feels like one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets. Remote and quietly luxurious, it’s an exquisite beach escape for couples who want to truly disappear.

“What makes Thonga so special is the combined feeling of complete escape paired with a natural elegance,” says Lucy Cooke, Marketing Manager for Isibindi Africa Lodges. “The journey to get to Thonga also forms part of the romance, as you travel through coastal forest alongside Lake Sibaya, before the forest opens and reveals the ocean below. That first glimpse of the sea never fails to take my breath away.”

Thatched suites are raised on wooden decks, with floor-to-ceiling glass. The honeymoon suite features an outdoor shower and a private plunge pool on an elevated deck, shaded by milkwood trees and overlooking the Indian Ocean. There are no roads in sight, no nearby towns, and no distractions beyond the shifting colours of the sea. Days unfold slowly with morning swims, guided forest walks, snorkelling on untouched reefs, and afternoon naps lulled by the sound of waves below.

“For romance, it’s the simple things that stand out for me,” says Lucy. “Like walking hand in hand along an untouched stretch of beach, either searching for turtles (in season) or simply wandering around rock pools. But my favourite moment is always an early morning walk down to the beach deck, coffee in hand, to watch the sun rise over the sea.”

For honeymooners, the lodge includes a complimentary head-and-shoulder massage and a private beach picnic lunch for two (these can also be arranged for couples seeking romance and relaxation, even if you’re not on honeymoon). 

Turtle nesting season, from November to February, adds an extra layer of magic. You can join a guide to witness leatherback or loggerhead turtles laying their eggs under the moonlight, and if you visit two months later, enjoy the unforgettable sight of hatchlings emerging from the sand and making their way to the ocean.

“Here, romance is quiet, intimate, and deeply grounding in its most natural and meaningful form,” says Lucy.

2. A Winelands retreat, near Cape Town
Few places in South Africa do romance quite like the Cape Winelands. There are rolling vineyards, historic estates, dramatic mountain backdrops, and a culture built around lingering meals and good wine. Whether you choose Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, or a quieter pocket like the Hemel-en-Aarde or Elgin valleys, the appeal lies in unhurried days. 

In Franschhoek, La Petite Ferme offers a range of beautifully appointed suites, each with expansive views across the valley below and mountains beyond. The accommodation, whether in the Vineyard, Manor House or Winery Suites, is designed to cocoon you in comfort. Expansive windows frame the valley like artworks, while textures and considered design lend warmth without clutter.

A number of the suites open onto private terraces, some with plunge pools where you can sip wine as the sun sets over the vineyards. 

“On arrival, my husband and I each enjoyed a glass of the estate-grown ‘Variation’, a hand-crafted blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre by winemaker Wikus Pretorius,” says Elise Kirsten, reflecting on her romantic getaway here.  “Later that evening, I had the finest plate of food I’d savoured all year in La Petit Ferme’s restaurant and my husband thoroughly enjoyed his meal too. But what made our stay especially romantic was the private suite with incredible views and the seamless service, where all our needs were anticipated without feeling any sense of intrusion.”

La Petite Ferme’s on‑site restaurant serves refined country cuisine with seasonal flair, while the estate’s boutique cellar offers tastings of its own handcrafted wines.

Like this boutique hotel, many wine estate stays are designed with couples in mind: freestanding suites, private terraces, soaking tubs with a view, and discreet, intuitive service. 

3. Couple’s safari at Singita, Boulders Private Safari Lodge, Greater Kruger

Singita’s Boulders Lodge is set along the Sand River in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, where you’ll have access to 45,000 acres of wilderness, renowned for its exceptional wildlife viewing and frequent leopard sightings (despite these big cats’ elusive nature).

As a couple enjoying a luxury safari, each game drive is filled with anticipation, as expert guides track the Big Five and introduce you to a remarkable array of wildlife, from lion, elephant, giraffe and zebra to birds, like the scarlet-chested sunbird and the hunched-looking hornbill. 

The spacious lodge’s suites are designed with privacy in mind and some are positioned to overlook the river, where elephants, buffalo, and predators frequently pass. Private decks with plunge pools are a hallmark of every suite, complemented by a tranquil communal swimming pool at the heart of the lodge. 

Days revolve around world-class game drives followed by slow afternoons, spa treatments, or simply watching the bush from your deck. Evenings are deeply atmospheric: candlelit dinners, fine wine from Singita’s remarkable cellar, and fires glowing as the night sounds of the bush close in.

Let us help you discover your perfect idea of romance in Africa

Whether it’s the untamed beauty of Thonga Beach, the refined ease of the Cape Winelands, or the unforgettable drama of a private safari, South Africa offers romantic escapes that are as diverse as you are. We’d love to help you explore the options.

Here’s to romance in Africa.

Happy travelling,

The Leopard Team

P.S. We loved helping Michael and Xan put together their dream honeymoon in South Africa. Watch the video testimonial they shared below.

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Mozambique’s secret survivors: discovering pangolins and dugongs in the wild 

Mozambique’s secret survivors: discovering pangolins and dugongs in the wild 

“Mozambique is one of the most underrated and exciting destinations. It’s a place where you can experience raw wilderness. For example, Gorongosa is three-and-a-half times the size of the Maasai Mara and yet it has only 32 commercial beds! That sort of exclusivity is rare, and there is some seriously good game viewing. It’s an especially good place to see wild dogs, which are the apex predators here,” shares Suzanne Bayly, Managing Director of Classic Portfolio.

For travellers who value more than just comfort and exclusivity, we share two regenerative travel experiences In Mozambique, curated by Classic Portfolio. Regenerative travel aims to actively improve the places we visit. It’s a philosophy of leaving a destination better than you found it: restoring ecosystems, uplifting local communities, and giving you, the travellers, a chance to leave a positive legacy.

Encountering pangolins in Gorongosa National Park
Gorongosa National Park in central Mozambique has undergone one of Africa’s most inspiring conservation recoveries. Mozambique’s civil war and the resultant poaching caused devastation to this area, but since 2004, a concentrated restoration project has resulted in a magnificent resurgence of wildlife populations.

Perhaps one of the most poignant symbols of that revival is the presence of pangolins, the shy, scaly mammals, which are also unfortunately among the most trafficked animals in the world. In recent years, conservation teams have rescued and rehabilitated over 150 pangolins and reintroduced them into secure wild habitats in Gorongosa.

If you visit the park for five nights or more, you have the opportunity to join the Pangolin Project on the morning foraging walk. A team of vets and rangers take pangolins, which are in the process of being rehabilitated, to different parts of the park every day. Pangolins are nocturnal and notoriously elusive, yet through the Pangolin Project, you can spend an hour walking alongside them. While you can’t touch the pangolins, you’ll witness something incredibly rare in the wild and enjoy exceptional photographic opportunities as they feed and explore.

Guides deeply versed in pangolin behaviour, ecology, and conservation will share the story of their rescue work, their survival prospects, and the park’s broader restoration efforts. Through your visit, you support ranger patrols, habitat protection, and the ongoing rehabilitation work. In regenerative-travel terms: you’re not just a spectator, you’re a contributor.

Seeing dugongs off the Bazaruto Islands
If Gorongosa is a testament to the restoration of Africa’s terrestrial heartlands, then the turquoise seascape of the Bazaruto Archipelago, off Mozambique, tells a similar story for the ocean. The protected marine area is among the last viable strongholds for a rare and vulnerable marine mammal, the dugong, also known as the “sea cow.” Dugongs rely entirely on seagrass for food and the conservation of seagrass beds that run from the northern islands of the Bazuruto Archipelago to the south around Azura Benguerra is a critical part of ensuring their survival.

“I’ve been going to the Bazuruto Archipelago since the 1990s and for years it was as if the dugong was a mythical creature, like a unicorn. I hadn’t seen them. However, since 2016, I’ve seen dugongs each year when I return. And although I’ve never seen a juvenile, recently, the owner of Azuru Benguerra Island was on Peri Peri Beach and spotted a baby dugong in the water!” shares Suzanne.

“Another exciting conservation project is the seahorse restoration project, which takes place in the same seagrass beds. Little flag markers are placed in areas where seahorses have been spotted and then at low tide, you can wade out in water that’s about thigh high and see the seahorses!”

Over recent decades, unsustainable fishing practices, habitat destruction and loss of seagrass meadows have decimated dugong populations along much of the East African coast. However, thanks to the management efforts of African Parks, which co-manages the marine reserve, and concerted conservation law enforcement efforts that include regular patrols, community engagement, and monitoring, the Bazaruto Archipelago remains a marine refuge. 

In 2024, a pioneering satellite-tagging project was launched to monitor dugong movements, their feeding grounds and migration corridors, which is a critical step to ensuring their survival. 

Guests staying at Azura Benguerra (and other luxury spots in Bazaruto) can look for the shy, elusive dugong from boats or kayaks. In the quiet seagrass meadows off Benguerra or Santa Carolina, you may catch one drifting peacefully through the clear water. Sightings are rare, but seeing a dugong in the wild is a true privilege. By choosing protected-area lodges and responsible operators, you support marine conservation, help local communities, and play a small part in safeguarding this unusual creature’s future.

Both Gorongosa’s pangolin rescue-and-release programme and Bazaruto’s dugong-protection efforts are active, ongoing initiatives which embody regenerative travel. When you choose these lodges, your stay directly supports real restoration and luxury travel becomes stewardship rather than consumerism.

What better way to unwind, and rejuvenate yourself than by enjoying regenerative travel that allows you to move beyond admiring Africa’s beauty to actively protecting it? And if Mozambique is calling, a bush-and-beach journey might be the most meaningful way to answer. If so, we’d love to help you plan a trip like this, ensuring seamless logistics and a holiday tailor-made to suit your needs. Reply to this email, and we’ll happily answer any questions you have.

Because true luxury in 2026 won’t just be about how soft the sheets are, or how blue the sea is. It will be about what you leave behind.

Happy travelling,

The Leopard Team

P.S. Read ‘Discovering Mozambique: A Family Adventure in Paradise’ on our blog or watch ‘Zanzibar vs Bazaruto, which is best?’ on our YouTube channel.

P.P.S Watch the Pangolin Project in action.

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Termite-mound pizza & starry sleepouts: the magic of Jembisa 

Termite-mound pizza & starry sleepouts: the magic of Jembisa 

I’ve visited the Waterberg, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a few times in the last 18 months and each time I return, I enjoy it more. 

I had heard great things about Jembisa and decided to book a couple of nights there for my son’s 8th birthday last month. I knew that it was well known for being a great place for families, but the experience we had there exceeded my expectations. 

If you want to see the big five, then Jembisa is not for you. They have no dangerous animals on the reserve. However, if you want to connect with your family and nature in authentic and unexpected ways, this is definitely the place for you. 

The lodge is a converted family home, and it truly feels like one, only better. The comfort, the service, the garden, the views, and the setting are all wonderful, yet you never feel as though you’re in a formal five-star hotel where you’re afraid to leave your kids’ shoes lying around or worry about keeping them quiet.

We arrived for lunch, and as we sat in the garden, I felt all the pressure of the week dissipate. The staff were extremely thoughtful and flexible, and the entire weekend was centred around us and what we wanted to do. What a privilege and the ultimate luxury! The activities they planned for us were exceptional – from eating pizza in the bush (cooked in an unused termite mound!) to learning about animal tracks, seeking scorpions with a UV light and fishing in the Palala River. It was the perfect blend of activity and rest. 

On our last night, the staff at Jembisa set up a bush braai (barbeque) for us. The night sky was clear and the stars shone brilliantly. We didn’t get to do the sleepout under the stars, but it’s something I’d love to do on another visit. Having no dangerous animals on the reserve means that it’s very safe to do bush sleep outs, nature walks and outdoor dining. These activities are all fun and foster a deeper connection to the world around us. 

Our children enjoyed exploring the garden and playing with the two very well-behaved dogs, Milo and Astro. The staff were wonderfully good with them too, taking time to speak to them and play with them.

To me, happy children make a happy family holiday! I’m certain that your children will be happy at Jembisa too! If you’re planning a family trip to South Africa, I highly suggest combining Jembisa with a Big 5 reserve to experience the best of the bushveld.

If you’d like help curating the perfect family holiday in Africa, we are here to help. 

Happy travelling,

Diana

P.S. We’ve launched the second season of the Leopard podcast! If you want to unwind and explore Africa without leaving your armchair, visit Spotify or our YouTube channel to listen to interviews with lodge owners from vastly different wild spaces, from Zambia to the Seychelles.

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What you loved most: our top 10 travel stories of 2025

What you loved most: our top 10 travel stories of 2025

As we close out another year of unforgettable journeys, we want to thank you for letting us guide your African travel plans throughout 2025. Before we step into a new year filled with fresh adventures, we’re reflecting on the stories you loved most. Below are the top 10 most-read and shared newsletters and blog posts of the year. From quiet horseback safaris to remote rainforest gorilla encounters and island escapes in the Seychelles, these were the moments that captured your imagination. . .

1) Paradise found in the Seychelles
As soon as we arrived, before even pausing to unpack, my husband and I put on our swimsuits and dived into the inviting, clear, tropical ocean water just outside our bungalow. Soon after, we saw turtles surfacing to breathe all around us. Brimming with excitement at being surrounded by turtles, we headed to the dive centre to pick up some snorkelling equipment. Read more here.

2)  7 Reasons to return to Africa
Most travellers have a picture of Africa in their minds before they ever set foot on the continent. Perhaps it’s wide-open plains dotted with acacia trees, elephants ambling across golden grasslands, and lions lumped together in a lazy pile under a tree. Seeing the iconic Big 5— in places like South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands, in Tanzania’s Serengeti, or Kenya’s Maasai Mara—is certainly a worthwhile experience. But it’s just one version of Africa. Read more here.

3) The Quiet Safari – Experiencing Wildlife from the Saddle
The most eye-opening thing for me was how much more a part of the natural world you feel when on a horse. The antelope and giraffe completely ignored us, and we were able to get much closer to them than when we were on our mountain bikes. The horses at Ant’s Hill live among the wildlife on the reserve and are accepted as non-threatening by the animals. It was a unique feeling to be integrated with nature in this way! Read more here.

4)  Kruger’s best-kept secret: why the Nyalaland Trail is truly soul food.
The hikes didn’t follow a set path. “We follow where the bush leads us,” explained Christopher. On the first day, we followed an elephant path along the Luvuvhu River, hiked up a rocky koppie, and paused beneath ancient baobabs. The pace was unhurried and as we walked through this magnificent landscape, I imagined the ancient way of life of our ancestors. Life took on a different rhythm. Read more here.

5) Encountering Gorillas in Africa’s Remote Rainforests
The Odzala-Kokoua National Park is a magical place. Being here is quite unlike any experience I’ve had before and is therefore very challenging to describe. It is raw and unfiltered, yet also joyful and awe-inspiring—the perfect mix for an unforgettable adventure. To be one of the very few people in the world to travel here is an enormous privilege. There’s something humbling about visiting a place that only a handful of people on Earth ever get to see. Read more here.

6) 40 lions, rare servals, and unforgettable moments on my Kenyan safari adventure
In November, I had the pleasure of discovering a new African country, Kenya— my eleventh on this continent. I was awestruck by the vastness of the plains and the richness of the wildlife. East Africa is the ultimate safari destination. Having explored Tanzania ten years ago, I dreamed of returning to these endless landscapes and seeing the iconic herds of wildebeest and zebras once again. Read more here.

7) Beyond the hype of the Great Migration
Perhaps when you think of the most iconic images of the Great Migration, in Kenya and Tanzania, you picture dramatic river crossings, where wildebeest plunge into crocodile-infested waters and hooves churn up the muddy banks as they ascend the other side. 

As such, here are 5 important considerations to help you experience the Great Migration responsibly. Read more here.

8) Our family camping adventure to Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagadi National Park
Our first stop was Augrabies Falls National Park, which is home to the awe-inspiring Augrabies Falls. The Orange River, which is the longest river in South Africa, stretching around 2,300 kilometres, plunges 56 metres into a dramatic granite gorge at Augrabies. The park’s stark beauty and sense of remoteness make it a destination that feels both raw and timeless. Read more here.

9) 4 Wildly Romantic Wedding Destinations in Africa
Imagine saying “I do” beneath a vast Serengeti sky, or sharing your first kiss as newlyweds framed by Namibia’s burnt-orange dunes. Africa is full of unspoiled spaces that are endlessly photogenic and perfect for romance. If you’re dreaming of a destination wedding in a soul-stirringly beautiful place, Africa has an abundance of these. Below are four of our favourites. Read more here.

10. Seychelles vs Madagascar, which is best?

You can’t go wrong with either choice, but the two experiences are quite different and will be suited to different types of travellers. Here is what a group from New Zealand, who travelled to Madagascar with Leopard, had to say about their experience. Read more here.

Thank you for trusting Leopard with your travels this year. We’re deeply grateful for your continued support and for the privilege of helping you explore Africa’s rarest, wildest and most beautiful places. We wish you and your loved ones a joyful, peaceful, and well-deserved holiday season and a happy end to the year.

We look forward to helping you plan many more remarkable adventures in 2026! 

Happy travelling,

Diana and the Leopard Team

P.S. We have released Season Two of the Leopard podcast, where Diana interviews a number of lodge owners from across Africa, giving you travel insight into incredible destinations. Pop your earphones in when you go walking and listen!

In the podcast episode below, Diana interviews Kristina Plattner of Kamba Africa, who transports us to the Republic of Congo’s pristine Odzala-Kokoua National Park to track Western lowland gorillas.

2026’s most exclusive travel experiences

2026’s most exclusive travel experiences

There are places where luxury transcends opulence. Places where luxury is defined by something rarer: immersion, intimacy, and the profound privilege of being in extraordinary places few will ever see.

If you’re curating your 2026 travel calendar, here are four journeys well worth considering:

1. Journey to the Seventh Continent with White Desert, Antarctica
There are few experiences left on Earth that feel truly otherworldly and a journey with White Desert is one of them. 

Your expedition to Antarctica begins with a private charter flight from Cape Town. You touch down on a runway made of ice, in a brilliantly white landscape broken only by coco-coloured mountains with peaks that slice into the atmosphere. The most iconic of these is known as Wolf’s Fang. From here, you can choose between Echo Camp, a sleek, space-age outpost inspired by futuristic exploration, or Whichaway Camp, a cocoon of comfort overlooking a frozen lake. Each welcomes only a handful of guests, promising the rarest kind of privacy in one of the most remote places on Earth.

Days unfold in ways that defy expectation. You might hike across shimmering blue-ice caves, visit a vast Emperor penguin colony, or take a flight by Basler to stand at the South Pole itself. Evenings bring gourmet dining paired with fine South African wine.

Each White Desert experience is limited to fewer than 250 guests per year, making it one of the world’s most exclusive adventures. Because the journey departs from South Africa, you have the opportunity to combine a luxury African safari with an expedition to Antarctica, in a single, seamless adventure. 

2. Drift Above the Serengeti in a Hot Air Balloon, Tanzania
Few moments capture Africa’s majesty quite like floating above the Serengeti at dawn. The air is cool and still, the savannah below ripples with golden light. Herds of wildebeest moved in loose formation, as though an unseen hand had tipped a jar of ink and let it run, meandering and pooling across the gold grass.

Your balloon adventure begins before sunrise. As the flame fills the canopy, the horizon blushes pink, and the balloon lifts you into the early morning sky. From this rare vantage point, you see the Serengeti’s scale: the winding rivers, the acacia-studded plains, the perfect geometry of shadow and light. When you land, a champagne breakfast awaits in the bush, elegantly laid beneath the broad shady canopy of a sausage tree.

This is possibly Africa at its most cinematic.

To experience the wonders of the Great Migration, away from the crowds, stay at Asilia’s Sayari Camp, a tented camp that overlooks the remote northern Serengeti. Look out over the Serengeti from the comfort of your king-sized bed, and watch elephants and giraffes wander past at dusk from your private deck or the camp’s rim-flow pool.

3. Encounter Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas at Bisate Lodge
Fly by helicopter from Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, to Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorilla. Here, Bisate Lodge by Wilderness offers six forest-nest villas — inspired by the ancient architecture of the Rwandan royal palace — that seem to grow organically from the hillside. 

“At Bisate, we have these palatial nests up in the sky, overlooking three volcanoes; and from our new Bisate Reserve lodge, you can see six of the eight volcanoes that make up the Virunga Mountain range,” says Tiffany Franks, General Manager of Wilderness Bisate. Inside, every detail whispers intention: hand-woven textiles, volcanic stone walls, and a fireplace glowing against the mountain chill.

At dawn, you set out into the forest with expert trackers — the air rich with the scent of rain on earth, turacos calling overhead. Your pulse quickens as you near a family of mountain gorillas, and though the silverback barely acknowledges your presence, his sheer power leaves you awestruck. For an hour, you watch the family interact and trepidation giving way to wonder, and even laughter, as the infants tumble and play. On the journey back through the forest, you know that the memory of looking into those deep brown eyes will stay with you forever.

Only a limited number of permits are issued each day, protecting both the gorillas and the fragile ecosystem they inhabit. This exclusivity is a privilege and a profound reminder that true luxury leaves a legacy of preservation.

4. Exclusive Use of Beagle Expeditions, Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango Delta is a mosaic of water, light, and wildlife — a living labyrinth where elephants wade through channels that shimmer beneath papyrus reeds. To experience it privately, Beagle Expeditions provides a mobile safari camp, available for exclusive use, meaning it’s entirely yours.

A handful of tents rest on a secluded island deep in the delta, reachable only by light aircraft and motorboat. There are no other guests, no schedules, no interruptions.

Days begin with the sounds of multifarious birdsong as black-collared barbets and woodland kingfishers greet the morning with song, and end with fireside dinners beneath the stars. You’ll explore the delta by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), in a traditional safari vehicle, on foot with expert guides, and by helicopter — a highlight that reveals the immensity of this UNESCO World Heritage Site from above. From the air, you trace the sinuous paths of elephants and watch a herd of lechwe leap through the shallows.

Diana had this to say about her experience at Beagle’s Okavango camp: “The area is so wild and untouched that the only way to get in and out is by helicopter. What an experience that is! What I loved most about Beagle is that the main thing (reconnecting to nature) remains the main thing. Extraneous elements that detract from the core nature experience are stripped away. There’s no WiFi, no air-conditioning, and no luxurious interiors, but instead, you’ll find an extremely comfortable bed, exquisite feasts cooked over open coals, excellent wine and a wilderness experience like no other.”

In 2026, luxury is evolving. It’s less about possession and more about presence. It’s the feeling of standing on Antarctic ice untouched by any footprint, of floating over the Serengeti’s sunlit plains, of locking eyes with a mountain gorilla.

At Leopard, we curate journeys that honour rarity, privacy, and purpose, because for the world’s most discerning travellers, true wealth lies in moments that can’t be replicated.

Happy Travelling,

The Leopard Team

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Safari

12 Unforgettable Star Beds in Southern Africa

12 Unforgettable Star Beds in Southern Africa 

From the savannahs of South Africa to Namibia’s silent deserts, Botswana’s wetlands, and Zimbabwe and Zambia’s river valleys, we’ve gathered 12 of the most exceptional star bed experiences. Each one combines exclusivity, comfort, and the rare magic of sleeping under Africa’s stars.

Diana slept on a star bed at Old Drift, along the bank of the Zambezi River,  in Zimbabwe and shares her experience.
“I loved the feeling of being in proximity to nature. I could smell the scent of the bush in the evening and early morning. I could feel the breeze on my skin and I could hear the sounds of the bush around me, which were surprisingly loud. When I woke up in the middle of the night, I could see the stars shining above me. I felt really connected to nature, and because I was on a platform, I felt really safe as well.”

1. Lion Sands Treehouses –  Sabi Sand and Kruger, South Africa
At Lion Sands, guests can choose between three extraordinary treehouses — Chalkley and Kingston Treehouse (Sabi Sand), and Tinyeleti (Kruger National Park) — each a unique retreat in a pristine wilderness.

Chalkley is built around a 500-year-old Leadwood Tree, where it’s said that Guy Aubrey Chalkley, an American hunter turned naturalist and founder of Lion Sands Game Reserve, once slept to escape predators. Kingston feels like a glass-and-timber dreamscape floating above the trees. At the same time, Tinyeleti, meaning “Many Stars”, overlooks a river alive with nocturnal sounds and can accommodate a family of four (with children under 15).

2. Ngala Treehouse –  Timbavati, South Africa
&BEYOND’s Ngala Treehouse is a four-level treehouse hideaway tucked into the Timbavati wilderness. Solar-powered, stylish, and completely off-grid, it offers the perfect balance of wilderness immersion and design-led luxury. Sleep inside the glassed-in bedroom or under the stars on the rooftop deck. 

Although it’s often seen as a romantic hideaway, the Treehouse also accommodates families with up to two children (between the ages of 10 and 16). Whether you’re sipping champagne as elephants wander below or falling asleep to the calls of lions in the distance, memories from a night here will linger long after the sun rises. 

3. Naledi Star Bed – Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa
Naledi is Tswalu’s soul-stirring sleepout on a minimalist wooden platform situated in the Korannaberg mountains. You’ll find two stretcher-style beds (or four, for a family sleepout), dressed in soft linen and extra blankets, inviting you to drift off beneath the boundless Kalahari sky.

Evenings begin with a picnic of local cheeses, fruit, and charcuterie, followed by stargazing to a soundtrack of barking geckos and distant nightjars. An open-air shower and private bathroom are a few steps away, and a two-way radio keeps you connected should you need anything.

4. Samara Karoo Reserve’s Star Bed – Eastern Cape, South Africa
Samara’s star bed is perfect for those seeking stillness, solitude, and wide-open Karoo skies in a lesser-known Big Five destination. Perched on a raised platform above the Milk River, the elegant four-poster bed, swathed in airy mosquito netting and layered with soft mohair blankets made from local Angora wool, invites you to rest beneath a night sky resplendent with stars. From the seating area, you can watch wildlife amble down to the water’s edge while you sip sundowners — or savour an early morning coffee as the Karoo begins to stir with life.

5. Kwessi Dunes Stargazer Rooms – NamibRand, Namibia
At Kwessi Dunes, tucked deep within the NamibRand Nature Reserve in southern Namibia — one of the world’s premier stargazing destinations — each chalet comes with its own roofless “stargazer” room. Here, you can drift off beneath skies so clear they seem unreal. Far from towns and free from light pollution, NamibRand was named Africa’s first Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Reserve — the highest accolade for places where the Milky Way, zodiacal light and even faint meteors shine in dazzling detail. By day, gaze out over ochre dunes where oryx roam the plains; by night, breathe in the cool desert air and marvel at a canopy of stars that feels close enough to touch.

6. Wolwedans Desert Sleep-Out & Dune Camp Star Bed – NamibRand, Namibia
At Wolwedans, also situated in the NamibRand, where the horizon stretches endlessly with no fences, no buildings, just open desert, you can opt for one of two sleep-out experiences under the stars. Be driven to a remote dune platform equipped with a comfortable bed, soft linen, and lanterns for company or enjoy a private star bed at Dune Camp. Both harness the profound silence and endless sky that make the Namib unforgettable.

7. Little Kulala Star Beds – Sossusvlei, Namibia
At Wilderness Little Kulala, every suite opens onto a private plunge pool and comes with its own outdoor star bed. By day, it’s a shaded deck that transforms into a celestial bedroom by night. From here, you can gaze over the rippling dunes of Sossusvlei, where the desert glows pink and gold at sunset. It’s a seamless blend of comfort and wilderness, where you drift off to sleep beneath one of the darkest, clearest skies in the world.

Little Kulala also has an exclusive-use gate which provides direct access to the dunes of Sossusvlei and to the photographic, otherworldly landscape of Dead Vlei.

8. Baobab Treehouse, Xigera Safari Lodge – Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Baobab Treehouse – set among a stand of indigenous Croton trees, and rising nearly 10 metres above the Okavango floodplain – is a striking three-level structure inspired by artist Jacobus Pierneef’s iconic painting of a solitary baobab. 

Inside, carved timber furniture and natural textures mirror the Delta’s beauty, while canvas walls can open completely to the wild or close for comfort. From the elevated bathroom and bedroom, you can listen to the gentle symphony of the bush drifting through the open screens.

Climb to the top deck and you’ll find an open-air lounge and a king-size bed. With 360-degree views, this is the perfect perch for watching the sun sink into the waterways or sleeping beneath the southern stars. 

9. Wilderness Linkwasha Sleep Out Deck – Hwange, Zimbabwe
Set out from Hwange’s most contemporary camp, Linkwasha, in the wildlife-rich south-eastern corner of Hwange National Park to a private deck on the open plains, nearby. There’s nothing between you and the Southern Cross but warm air and night sounds, plus a proper bed, cosy duvets and the sounds of nature. The Star Bed is located at Scott’s Pan (about a 15-minute drive from Linkwasha camp), where you can watch elephants, buffalo, various antelope and even the predators that stalk them, like lions or wild dogs, come and quench their thirst.

10. Old Drift Star Suite – Zambezi River, Zimbabwe
Old Drift lies on the banks of the Zambezi River, upstream from Victoria Falls. Here,  you can book a star suite, where you’ll have your own raised platform with a star bed beneath the open sky. It sits beside the deck that extends from your indoor suite, complete with a private plunge pool. These star beds invite you to drift off to sleep to the nocturnal sounds that rise from the riverbank, capturing the essence of safari romance – with candlelight, river breezes, and the simple joy of sleeping under open skies.

11. Chikunto Star Bed – South Luangwa, Zambia
The Chikunto Safari Lodge star bed sits above the Luangwa River, in Zambia’s South Luangwa Park. Nicknamed the ‘Valley of the Leopard’, the park is famed for its thriving predator populations — from lions and wild dogs to its iconic leopards. Add to that large herds of elephant, buffalo, hippo and diverse antelope, and you have one of Africa’s most rewarding wildlife-viewing destinations. Your raised star bed platform offers front-row views of wildlife that come to drink at dusk and is linked by a raised, private walkway to the main deluxe suite.

This open-air space allows you to connect deeply with the bush. You may hear a lion’s call reverberating in the night air as you marvel at the stars above and then awake at dawn to birdsong.

12. Puku Ridge Star Beds – South Luangwa, Zambia
Puku Ridge, overlooking the Kakumbi Plain, in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, is another spectacular safari retreat. Each of the eight tented suites opens onto a private deck, and each features a ‘tower’ with an elevated daybed that transforms at night into a stargazing nook. The experience combines comfort with raw wilderness: elephants moving through the grass below, nightjars calling, and an untainted sky full of stars. After a night drive and dinner, you can ascend to your private deck and sleep out under the Milky Way, listening to the sounds of the wild.

If you’re looking for wonder, Southern Africa’s star beds are the ultimate expression of safari romance and adventure. Whether you’d prefer to drift off to the soft hoot of a Pel’s fishing owl in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, watch constellations shimmer above the Namib dunes, or wake to elephants grazing quietly beneath your deck in Zambia, we’d be delighted to help you find the star bed that’s best suited to you.

Happy travelling,

The Leopard Team

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The Quiet Safari – Experiencing Wildlife from the Saddle

The Quiet Safari – Experiencing Wildlife from the Saddle

The Waterberg is one of my favourite, lesser-known safari destinations in South Africa. It’s in the Limpopo province, only a three-hour drive from Johannesburg. The landscapes are truly stunning, with dramatic ochre cliffs contrasting with endless views of the dry savannah bushveld. There is something about these vast spaces in Africa that calms my mind and relaxes my body. It was just what we needed after a busy few months!

I wanted a family escape that felt like a safari but with additional activities. While I can spend hours on a safari vehicle driving through the wilderness, my family prefers something more active and engaging. Ant’s Hill fits these requirements perfectly. They offer activities personalised to your group or family. What I loved most was their flexibility when our family wanted to do different activities. Everyone got to do what they wanted to do, which meant that each family member was happy! 

On the first morning, my daughter and I went on a horseback safari, and my husband and son fished in the dam. We all did rhino tracking, getting close to these magnificent, prehistoric-looking beasts on foot. The family split up again the following afternoon when my husband and I did a guided mountain bike trail on the reserve, taking care to avoid the buffalo, and our kids practised some archery with a guide. On the day of our departure, we all went for a horseback ride in the reserve.

I’m a novice rider, having done a lot of horseback riding when I was my daughter’s age, but I hadn’t ridden properly for many years. My daughter was a beginner, having taken some lessons, and my seven-year-old son had never ridden a horse before. My husband is an all-around sportsman, so he was up for anything. The horses at Ant’s Hill were exceptional, as was our guide, Jenica. My son had a very well-behaved, patient pony, and I had a horse with a little more spirit. The team places a strong emphasis on selecting the right horse for the rider. 

The most eye-opening thing for me was how much more a part of the natural world you feel when on a horse. The antelope and giraffe completely ignored us, and we were able to get much closer to them than when we were on our mountain bikes. The horses at Ant’s Hill live among the wildlife on the reserve and are accepted as non-threatening by the animals. It was a unique feeling to be integrated with nature in this way!

My kids loved their horse-riding experience, and we were all able to enjoy an easy canter up the last hill, which was incredibly exciting and a lovely family bonding experience. 

In summary, I highly recommend a horseback safari for people of all riding levels and experience. However, it’s important to choose a trusted operator with good horses and expert guides to make the experience safe and memorable. 

Leopard specialises in curating extraordinary journeys – get in touch with us when the desire to experience an unforgettable horseback (or regular) safari tugs at your heart in a way that you can’t ignore.

We’d be honoured to design a journey tailored perfectly for you.

Happy travelling,

Diana

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You’ve seen Cape Town. Now experience the Garden Route. 

You’ve seen Cape Town. Now experience the Garden Route. 

Cape Town steals hearts with Table Mountain as its backdrop, vineyards at its doorstep, and its world-famous beaches. However, if you’re planning a trip to the Mother City, you’d be remiss not to venture further east to experience the equally beautiful natural wonderland that unfolds along the Garden Route. In particular, the towns of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay provide space for romance, adventure, and family-friendly fun.

Some of our favourite activities on the Garden Route include:

Ziplining
There are numerous zipline adventures along the Garden Route, including Mossel Bay Zipline, Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours, Knysna Ziplines and Acrobranch Garden Route. All are safe, fun-filled, and perfect for both families and adults in search of adventure.

Mossel Bay’s zipline is the world’s longest over-ocean zipline, stretching more than a kilometre from the cliffs to The Point below. While it’s fast and fun, it is only a single line and the ride is over in about one minute. One of our favourites is the Knysna Ziplines, which zig-zags across a gorge at the SANParks Kranshoek picnic site, with sweeping views over the gorge and the ocean beyond.

If treetop thrills appeal more than big views, then Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours is a great choice. Acrobranch, meanwhile, offers a treetop obstacle course with varying levels of difficulty, catering to both children and adults. These courses are varied, fun, and include some ziplining in between.

Boating
There’s no shortage of boat trips around Plettenberg Bay and Knysna. Sundowner cruises on the Knysna Lagoon are popular, with everything from sleek catamarans to smaller yachts and boats. The John Benn floating restaurant, with its yellowwood panelling, has been a fixture on the lagoon since the 1980s, serving a casual à la carte and tapas menu on board.

A boat trip with Keurbooms Ferries is another wonderful way to experience the Garden Route. Just 7km from Plettenberg Bay, the Keurbooms River Nature Reserve reveals forested gorges and habitats accessible only by water. As you glide beneath the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains, your guide will point out vervet monkeys and possibly a fish eagle or the vivid Knysna loerie. After a gentle five-kilometre journey upstream, you’ll stop at a quiet riverbank to wander among Yellowwood trees or unpack a picnic beside the amber waters.

Another family-friendly water adventure is kayaking up the Touw River in Wilderness. The tannin-rich, coffee-coloured water creates a calming soundtrack with each paddle stroke, while birds like Knysna loeries and rush warblers flit along the forested banks. If you want to extend the outing, you can beach your canoes after about 40 minutes of paddling and follow a two-and-a-half-kilometre trail through mossy trees and leafy boardwalks to a beautiful waterfall.

Beaches
The Garden Route is just as famous for its golden beaches as it is for its forests and mountains. In Knysna, the sheltered shores of the lagoon are perfect for families with young children. Bollard Bay on Leisure Isle is a favourite, with its calm, shallow swimming beach where little ones can splash safely while parents enjoy the view. If you’d like something more rugged, head west to Buffels Bay (Buffalo Bay), a wide stretch of sand and surf that feels blissfully unspoilt. Part of the Goukamma Nature Reserve, it’s popular for swimming, long walks, and spotting dolphins in the waves. 

For something truly atmospheric, take a walk along Noetzie Beach. It’s backed by forest, where mischievous vervet monkeys play, and sits below the iconic Noetzie Castle. Its dramatic setting has made it a popular spot for wedding photography, with the castle towers creating a fairytale backdrop.

Just along the coast, Plettenberg Bay is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa – several of them Blue Flag accredited. Robberg Beach is a long, sweeping expanse perfect for morning runs or sunset strolls, with regular dolphin and seasonal whale sightings offshore. Central Beach is the hub of activity, with lifeguards on duty in summer and plenty of space for volleyball, bodyboarding, and family fun. Keurboomstrand offers a quieter experience, backed by forest and dunes, while Lookout Beach, where the lagoon meets the sea, is another gem for both swimming and photography.

Wilderness Beach, where you’ll find kilometre after kilometre of unbroken sand, is also a Blue Flag beach, and great for long walks or simply finding your own patch to relax. With the Outeniqua Mountains as a backdrop, it’s one of the most scenic coastal stretches on the Garden Route.

For surfers, the Garden Route has some excellent breaks. Victoria Bay (Vic Bay), just outside George, is a legendary right-hand point break that draws both locals and travelling surfers. In Plettenberg Bay, you’ll find good surf at Lookout Beach and Robberg, which offer consistent waves in a beautiful location.

Food and drink
In Knysna, East Head Café sits right at the entrance to the lagoon and the views are as much a draw as the food. Arrive early for brunch (it gets busy) and enjoy perfectly poached eggs Benedict on sourdough or daily chalkboard specials. Also in Knysna, Ile de Pain is a favourite for artisanal breads and pastries, while Emily Moon pairs eclectic décor with beautiful river views and a menu that blends global inspiration with fresh local produce.

In Wilderness, Pomodoro serves excellent, authentic Italian dishes, and in Plettenberg Bay you’ll find both fine dining and casual bites. Sky Villa Boutique Hotel is known for its chic setting and contemporary plates, while The Bungalow on Hobie Beach is a vibey spot for sushi with a sea view, loved by families, teens, and young adults alike.

Wine lovers will appreciate that Plettenberg Bay is South Africa’s smallest Wine of Origin region, producing crisp sauvignon blanc and elegant MCCs at boutique estates. For something stronger, gin enthusiasts can sample inventive small-batch infusions at Harmony Distillery near Mossel Bay, paired with a meal at Salt & Copper, while Inverroche Distillery in Still Bay is renowned for its award-winning gins infused with indigenous fynbos.

Beyond ziplining, beaches, and boat trips, you’ll find world-class golf courses set against spectacular backdrops, from Fancourt in George to Simola and Pezula in Knysna. Hikers and mountain bikers are equally spoiled, with trails winding through forests and along coastal tracks. Whether you come for fun-filled adventure activities, food, romance, or simply to soak up the scenery, the Garden Route offers a tapestry of experiences that are well worth exploring.

Happy travelling,

The Leopard Team

P.S. Watch our short YouTube video on South Africa to get a feel for the rest of the country, or contact us at info@leopard.voyage for assistance in designing your next African travel experience to be both seamless and meaningful, using our intimate destination knowledge.

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Our family camping adventure to Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagadi National Park

Our family camping adventure to Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagadi National Park

I’ve been to almost every National Park in South Africa, including the remote Richtersveld, which was the subject of a prior blog post, but I’ve never visited the Augrabies Falls National Park or the Kgalagadi National Park. I think the reason I have taken so long to get here is the remoteness of both of these parks, which are a long two-day drive from Johannesburg, where I live. 

Neither of our cars was suitable for where we were going, and so we rented a 4×4 that could take us into these wilderness areas, packed our camping equipment and food for 10 days and set off. Our first stop was Augrabies Falls National Park, which is home to the awe-inspiring Augrabies Falls. The Orange River, which is the longest river in South Africa, stretching around 2,300 kilometres, plunges 56 metres into a dramatic granite gorge at Augrabies. Last year, on a hiking trip with my mom, we visited the source of the Orange River, high in the Drakensberg Mountains. It was incredible to see how huge and powerful the river becomes by the time it reaches Augrabies.

Known locally as “the place of great noise,” the thundering cascade is the park’s centrepiece, surrounded by an arid landscape of weathered rock formations, quiver trees, and succulents. The landscapes reminded me of the ones I had seen in the Richtersveld a few years earlier, especially due to the sculptural aloes known colloquially as kokerboom (quiver trees), or scientifically as aloidendron dichotomum.

The park’s stark beauty and sense of remoteness make it a destination that feels both raw and timeless. We explored the network of viewpoints via a wooden walkway, which was unfortunately not well-maintained and had been washed away in parts. The most impressive view of the gorge was from Oranjekom Gorge Cottage. We did the Dassie hiking trail, a beautiful trail, where we spotted smaller wildlife such as klipspringers and dassies (rock hyrax). The hike was fairly easy and our kids, aged 7 and 9, managed quite easily. 

Our next stop was the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which spans South Africa and Botswana. We spent 6 nights in the park, on the South African side only. It is a vast, semi-arid wilderness where sand dunes, sparse grasslands, and dry riverbeds create a unique backdrop for viewing wildlife. Known for its large predator populations, the park is a prime location to see black-maned Kalahari lions, cheetah, and leopard, as well as herds of gemsbok, springbok, and wildebeest. 

The wildlife viewing experience here is quite different from what most Leopard clients are accustomed to. We had some good big cat sightings, leopard and cheetah, but both were at a distance. These cats were also on the move, making it difficult to see them. One of our highlights was seeing a pride of lions, made up of two lionesses, two sub-adults, and two small cubs, playing on the road. Unfortunately, six vehicles were positioned ahead of us, which limited our view. That said, if your focus extends beyond predators, the abundance of ostriches, gemsbok, and springbok offers plenty of lively and engaging moments to enjoy.

I was most impressed with the birdlife in this park, especially raptors. We had stunning sightings of marshall eagles, pale chanting goshawks, lanner falcons, kori bustards and secretary birds. We were also fortunate to stay at Nossob camp while there were four spotted eagle owl fledglings and their mother in camp. I adore owls, and so this was incredibly exciting for me. To share this unique encounter with my kids made it even more special!

The owls became active at dusk, and we saw how the mother owl hunted small rodents for her hungry babies, right near our tent. We were also entertained by the funny dances, bobbing movements and sounds the owls’ babies made to get their mother’s attention. My children were fascinated by this and able to get quite close to the owls. Also in camp, much to my delight, was a barn owl nest with two chicks in it and three extremely cute southern white-faced owls that roosted in the trees around camp each day.

The Kgalagadi’s remoteness, lack of light pollution, and sense of space make it not only a wildlife haven but also one of the most striking stargazing destinations in Southern Africa. We were blown away by the brightness of the stars, especially on clear, moonless nights. 

My children loved camping, and so did I! While I am fortunate to visit some of the most luxurious and premium lodges in Africa, I loved getting back to my roots and close to the wild by camping. It reminded me of my family holidays camping all over Zimbabwe and South Africa when I was about my daughter’s age (9-12 years old). The mornings were extremely cold, so this kind of trip is definitely not for those who do not cope well with some discomfort. But the rewards are certainly worth the effort. 

Happy travelling,

Diana

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Beyond the hype of the Great Migration

In July 2025, experienced safari guide Nick Kleer witnessed a distressing scene in the Serengeti. We believe that true luxury travel is about ethics and impact as much as it is about comfort and exclusivity.

Beyond the hype of the Great Migration

Perhaps when you think of the most iconic images of the Great Migration, in Kenya and Tanzania, you picture dramatic river crossings, where wildebeest plunge into crocodile-infested waters and hooves churn up the muddy banks as they ascend the other side.

In July 2025, experienced safari guide Nick Kleer witnessed a distressing scene in the Serengeti during the migration’s peak tourist season. About 150 safari vehicles wedged themselves into a single river-crossing spot, blocking the wildebeest’s route and triggering panic among the herd. Some animals turned away; others leapt from steep banks in desperation, risking serious injury or death. Shocked and angered by the sight, and after shouting for them to back away, Kleer turned to social media to share a video which reignited urgent questions about ethical wildlife tourism. 

As such, here are 5 important considerations to help you experience the Great Migration responsibly:

1. Choose private conservation areas over crowded public reserves
Private conservancies like Asilia’s Naboisho Camp in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy (in Kenya) and Cottar’s in the Olderkesi Conservancy, which borders the Maasai Mara, offer an entirely different experience to the one mentioned above. 

Vehicle numbers are strictly limited, guides follow more protective rules for wildlife, and you can enjoy sightings without the pressure of a dozen other vehicles jostling for space. You still have access to phenomenal migration viewing, but with far less intrusion.

2. Take to the skies in a hot air balloon
One of the most magical, low-impact ways to experience the migration is from above. A hot air balloon safari at dawn offers a completely different perspective of the vast sweep of the savannah and the herds that stretch to the horizon. Enjoy the gentle rise and fall of the basket as you float silently overhead, giving you a sense of the migration’s scale and rhythm without disturbing the animals at all. When you land, there’s often a champagne breakfast waiting, making it possibly one of the most memorable mornings you’ll ever have on safari.

3. Don’t pressure your guide for a specific sighting
While river crossings are dramatic, they are also unpredictable and, as the viral video showed, can be dangerous for the animals when overcrowded. Your guide wants you to have an exceptional safari experience, but ethical safari guiding means respecting animal behaviour and avoiding unnecessary stress on the wildlife.

Pressuring guides for a particular sighting, such as a river crossing, at all costs, can lead to risky, unethical practices. Trust your guide’s expertise and be open to the full range of migration experiences, whether that’s watching wildebeest calves take their first steps, seeing predators on the hunt, or simply soaking up the scale of the herds as they move across the plains.

4. Understand that the migration is a year-round cycle
The Great Migration is driven by the rains and the search for fresh grazing, which means the animals are constantly on the move. From December to March, herds gather in the southern Serengeti and northern Ngorongoro for calving, with around 500,000 calves attracting predators. 

In April, they move to the central Serengeti, then west in May and June, with May marking the mating season and some herds crossing the Grumeti River. From July to October, the herds reach the northern Serengeti and Maasai Mara, where river crossings (most reliably at the Mara and Talek Rivers) begin. When rains return in November, the herds trek south back to the Serengeti, reaching Ndutu by December to calve, completing the cycle.

By planning around different stages, you can avoid peak crowds while still witnessing awe-inspiring moments.

5. Discover other, lesser-known migrations
While the Great Migration is the most famous, it’s far from the only wildlife spectacle of its kind in Africa. Seeking out these alternatives not only spreads tourism’s footprint but also rewards you with unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences.

Another migration worth seeing is the zebra migration in Botswana. Each year, thousands of zebra travel between the Chobe River and Nxai Pan in search of grazing, creating striking black-and-white waves across the landscape.

Then, the largest mammal migration on Earth is the bat migration in Zambia. In Kasanka National Park, around 10 million straw-coloured fruit bats fill the skies between October and December.  It’s a sensory marvel of wings, sound, and sheer numbers.

Both offer extraordinary photographic opportunities and can be combined with other wildlife highlights in the region.

At Leopard, we believe that true luxury travel is as much about ethics and impact as it is about comfort and exclusivity. When we help our guests witness the Great Migration (or any other African travel experience), it’s always with an emphasis on conservation, respect, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

With care for wild spaces,

The Leopard Team

P.S. If Africa stirs something in you, let us know when you’re ready to explore a tailor-made experience in this continent filled with wonder.

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