Deeper Africa | The New York Times| October 23, 2015 | VPM: 660,840,720

10 African Adventures Answer Call of the Wild and Comfort

By ELAINE GLUSAC OCT. 23, 2015

With something for both travel styles, the following new resorts and trips capture the continent’s array of attractions from culinary and cultural to wild

and scenic.

To range far and wide, or to settle in and dig deep? That is the African travel question. Resorts and wilderness lodges offer in-depth exposure in African climates from coastal to bush, while tour operators take in more territory and manage the logistics of moving you around. With something for both travel styles, the following new resorts and trips capture the continent’s array of attractions from culinary and cultural to wild and scenic.

Kenya Angama Mara

OntheveryspotoverlookingtheMasaiMaragamereservewhereMerylStreepandRobertRedfordpicnickedinthefilm“OutofAfrica,”AngamaMaralodgeopenedinJune.FoundedbySteveandNickyFitzgerald,whoranandBeyondsafarilodgesformanyyears,the30-tentcompound(top)sits1,000feetabovetheGreatRiftValley,whichcanbespiedthroughfloor-to-ceilingglassfacadesoneachtent.Resortamenitiesincludeafitnesscenter,swimmingpool,AfricanartgalleryandartstudiousedbyMasaiartists.Thelodgeofferssafarisonfootandinhotairballoonsaswellasviaopen-airvehicles.Ratesfrom$750aperson,all-inclusive.

Information: angama.com.

CreditFour Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Morocco Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca

InMorocco’sprincipalgateway,the186-roomFourSeasonsHotelCasablancaisscheduledtoopenbytheendoftheyear.SetintheAnfaPlaceplannedcommunity,theoceanfrontresortpositionsitselfasequalpartsbeachretreatandexplorationbase,a10-minutedrivefromtheornateHassanIIMosqueandnearbyattractions.ContemporaryguestroomsfeatureMoroccantoucheslikependantlampsandpatternedtextiles,andmostincludebalconies.ThreerestaurantswillofferFrench,Moroccanandglobalsmall-platesfare,andthe10-treatment-roomspawillincludewhirlpools,saunasandsteamrooms.Roomsfrom3,200Moroccandirhams($345at9.30dirhamstothedollar).

Information: fourseasons.com/Casablanca.

South Africa Gondwana Eco Camp, Mossel Bay

Offeringopportunitiestodoscientificresearchalongsiderangers,thenewfive-tentGondwanaEcoCampwillopenNov.1onthe27,000-acreprivatelyownedGondwanaGameReserveinSouthAfrica’sWesternCape.Six-dayprogramsencouragegueststoparticipateinmonitoringandtrackingelephants,rhinos,lionsandcheetahs,sometimestransportingthemforveterinarycare.Participantswillalsolearnbasicsurvivalskillsandtoidentifytheflorathatmakesuptheuniquefynbosecosystem.Twin-bedtentswithbathroomsandcovereddecksprovidelodging,andfacilitiesincludeacommunaldiningtentandaswimmingpool.Ratesfrom10,500rand($825at12.75randtothedollar),all-inclusiveforthesix-dayprogram.

Information: gondwanagr.co.za

South Africa

The Homestead, Stellenbosch

Inthewine-growingBanghoekValleyabout40mileseastofCapeTown,OldenburgVineyardshasconverteditsCapeDutchfarmhouseintoavisitor’svillawithmoderndécorandaccommodationsforupto12insixbedrooms,eachwiththeirownbathroom.Over200yearsold,thegabledhousewastheoriginalhomesteadontheproperty,andincludesaprivatepoolinthesurroundinggardensaswellasgenerousfurnishedterraceswithvineyardviews.ThepropertyoffersaccesstonearbyJonkershoekNatureReserveforhiking,sevenareagolfcoursesandover150regionalwineries.Ratesfrom14,000randanight($1,100),includingbreakfastandawinetasting.

Information: oldenburgvineyards.com.

CreditAsilia Africa

Tanzania The Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater

ScheduledtoopeninMarch2016atanelevationof8,900feet,theHighlandsissaidtobethehighestpropertyintheNgorongoroConservationArea.Thecampwilloffersafarigamedrives,walkstolocalMaasaivillagesandhikesuptwootherareacraters.Roomsfrom$625aperson,anight,includingmealsandexcursions.

Information: highlandsngorongoro.asiliaafrica.com.

CreditLuAnn Cadd

Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania Ape-watchingmeetsthetraditionalAfricansafariinExtraordinaryJourneys’new12-daytriptocentralAfrica.ItsplitsitstimebetweenVirungaNationalParkintheDemocraticRepublicofCongo,hometoendangeredmountaingorillas,andTanzania’sSerengetiregion.Withaprivateguide,travelersspendfouractivedaysinVirungatrackinggorillasandchimpanzees,andhikingNyiragongovolcanotocampbesideitslavalake.FlyingtoTanzania,thetripcontinueswithgamedrivesandovernightsinluxury-leveltentcampsinSerengetiNationalPark.Limitedtoeightpeople,thetripsdepartinFebruary2016and2017andstartat$13,000aperson,doubleoccupancy.

Information: extraordinaryjourneys.com.

CreditSusi Grant

Ethiopia

ExodusTravels’new13-dayguidedtripEthiopiainDepthfocusesontheless-traveledTigrairegioninthenorth,bestknownforitschurchesandmonasteriescarvedintocliffsandrockyoutcroppings.Highlightsincludevisitstomuraledmonasteries,somedatingbacktothe13thcentury,atLakeTana,17thand18thcenturycastlesinGondarandtherock-hewnchurchesofLalibela,spacedbyhikesintheSimienMountains.TheadventuretravelcompanyalreadyoffersfivetripsinEthiopiarangingfromwildlifewatchingtomountaintrekking.Ratesstartat3,000Canadiandollarsaperson,doubleoccupancy($2,400at1.25Canadiantothedollar).

Information: exodustravels.com.

CreditEspiegle

South Africa ThewinemakerNormanHardieofCanada’sPrinceEdwardCountywillrevisithishomelandinaculinary-focusedtourofSouthAfricanextMarch.EpicureanSouthAfricawithNormanHardiefromQuenchTripDesignfeatures12dayswiththeJohannesburgnativevisitingwinerieslikeKleinConstantia,restaurantsliketheGreenhouseinCapeTownandtheDeHoopNatureReserveforencounterswithsmallgameandatraditionalbarbecue.Accommodationsrangefromboutiquehotelstofarmstays.ThetripdepartsMarch26andis$6,975aperson,doubleoccupancy.

Information: quenchtravel.com.

CreditWildland Adventures

Zambia Fortravelersseekingamoreactivesafarithanmostdrive-focuseditineraries,WildlandAdventureshasintroduceda10-dayWildZambiaSafarithatincludeslonghikesandpassagebycanoeaswellasfour-wheeldrivesafarivehiclesinvisitstoSouthLuangwaandLowerZambeziNationalParks.TripsstartatVictoriaFallsandarelargelydividedbetweentworemotebutcomfortablewildernesscamps.Travelerswillwalkthefivemilesbetweenthem(withluggageshuttledforward),trackingbuffalo,giraffeandelephantenroute.TheadventurouscanaddanoptionalnightofcampingunderthestarsinSouthLuangwatotheitinerary.Tripsstartat$7,450aperson,doubleoccupancy.

Information: wildland.com.

Zimbabwe

Nextyear,DeeperAfricawilltackletheissueofpoachinginitsnew11-daytourZimbabweConservationandCulture.InadditiontosafaridrivesinHwangeandGonarezhouNationalParks,travelerswillaccompanyanti-poachingpatrols,meetvillagersandhearconservationiststalk.Theitinerarybalancesovernightsinrusticbushcampswithmore

pamperingwildernesslodges,andSeptembertripsconcludewithavisittotheMachanganaFestival.Departuresinfall2016andspring2017startat$9,985aperson

Information: deeperafrica.com.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/23/travel/kenya-south-africa-holidays-lodging.html