The travel industry has always had 'trends' with go-to destinations and excursions proving popular some years more than others. With this year's world-wide pandemic, we're like to see people wanting new ways to travel and experience holidays. One of these new trends is a desire to book out places where guests can enjoy time devoid of crowds – places that offer stillness, isolation and privacy. Wilderness Safaris camps, situated in remote and pristine wilderness areas are ideal for travellers seeking wide open spaces and an intimate safari experience and here's its top 8:
1. Little Duma Tau, Botswana A Premier camp with the new DumaTau (currently undergoing a rebuild) comprises four suites, ideal for privacy and small groups. Little DumaTau and DumaTau are located on the banks of Osprey Lagoon within the Linyanti Wildlife Reseve and each suite has a lounge, private plunge pool and also shares a new wellness centre and gym with DumaTau.
2. Jao Villas, Bostwana Awarding-winning Jao Camp has two exclusive villas and five suites. The villas have their own main area and access to an exclusive vehicle, guide, chef and butler. All suites also have a private plunge pool, en-suite bathrooms, a lounge and dining area. Situated in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Jao brings guests up close to the many wonders and offers multiple excursions.
3. Little Mombo, Botswana Mombo and its sister camp, Little Mombo, situated on the northern tip of Chief's Island in the Okavango Delta, are considered to be set in one of the best areas for game viewing in Africa. Connected by a raised boardwalk, Mombo is a bigger camp with eight guest tents while Little Mombo has just four suites each includes a dining and bar area, lounge and plunge pool.
4. Little Vumbura, Botswana Comprising six tented suites, one of which is a family room, Little Vumbura is a fantastic location with well-appointed tents comprising en-suite facilities, decking with incredible vistas, plunge pool and reading area overlook the floodplains. Surrounded completely by water, the camp epitomises all the attractions of a Delta experience.
5. Little Tubu, Bostwana Little Tubu is situated under a lush, leafy canopy on the western side of Hunda Island, the largest stretch of dry land in this part of the Okavango Delta. The camp has just three tents, making it perfectly suited for an intimate getaway. Activities include game drives, boating, guided walks, catch-and-release fishing and mokoro rides. Little Tubu has all its own facilities, including a beautiful bar built into a waterberry tree. The camp is connected to its sister camp, Tubu Tree, via a raised boardwalk.
6. Little Ruckomechi, Zimbabwe Little Ruckomechi comprises just four tents on the banks of the Zambezi River on the boundary of Mana Pools National Park. With views over the great Zambezi, abundant wildlife, and elephants often visiting the camp to feed on the albida trees, Little Ruckomechi is a wonder for the senses. This stylish camp evokes the romance of a by-gone explorer era, with elegant en-suite rooms. The main area consists of a living area, dining room and plunge pool, all with exceptional views of the river frontage and Zambian hills in the distance.
7. Bistate, Rwanda Bisate, the eco-sensitive and award-winning luxury lodge, is a wonderful base for gorilla and other primate treks, situated conveniently close to Volcanoes National Park. Having just six luxurious forest villas allows for an intimate and exclusive stay; indeed you will feel as if you have the whole place to yourself. Bisate is well-known for its sustainability projects that include having planted 40,000 trees to date, and now there is a resurgence of wildlife and beautiful natural forest formerly cultivated for farmland.
8. Magashi, Rwanda Since it's opening Magashi has received a number of awards, testament to the experience this intimate camp offers. Six tents overlook the beautiful Lake Rwanyakazinga and activities include game drives, boating, guided walks, photography lessons and cultural excursions. Rwanda is not only home to great apes and rainforests but has an entire savannah region too. Guests visiting the gorillas can combine their Rwandan adventure with a big game safari while staying at Magashi, Wilderness Safaris newest Rwandan camp, situated within Akagera National Park.