Take Off Go Founder and Managing Director Ivona Siniarska has visited Africa close to 40 times. Here, she reveals her top picks of the best luxury African safaris to recommend to your clients.
Africa isn’t just a destination, it’s a deep-seated emotion; one I’ve had the privilege of experiencing nearly 40 times now and absolutely love sharing with travellers.
No matter how many times I return to Africa, it still takes my breath away. It’s the place I go to reset and feel grounded again – to remember what it means to just ‘be’ for a while.
When people ask what it means to work with an Africa specialist it’s hard to explain without sounding a little emotional. The truth is – it’s personal.
Those of us who work closely with agents to sell Africa do it because we genuinely care. We still get choked up talking about the moment a lion cub steps out of its mother’s shadow, the anticipation before a morning drive, or what it’s like to stand just seven metres from a silverback gorilla.
These are just a few of the locations I recommend again and again – places that have stirred something in me and continue to move the guests I send there.
These hotels deliver five-star comfort, yes – but more than that, they offer something harder to define: a deeper connection to place, to people, and to self.
Tswalu Kalahari – South Africa
Tswalu is a special camp located in the Southern Edge of the Kalahari Desert, and for me, this is where time slows right down.
Vast, private, and soulfully remote, Tswalu feels like another world, where black-maned lions roam red dunes and travellers might not see another guest for days.
Private guides, private vehicles, total freedom, and a powerful conservation story make it an incredibly special stay.
Jack’s Camp – Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
There’s nowhere else like Jack’s. It’s bold, eccentric, and full of history and character; vintage-style tents, black-and-white interiors, and Persian rugs laid out in the middle of a giant salt pan.
I’ve ridden quad bikes into the horizon, shared sundowners after mornings spent with meerkats, and listened to stories from bushmen that have stayed with me for years. It’s totally unexpected and completely unforgettable.
Lion Sands River Lodge – Sabi Sand, South Africa
Lion Sands River Lodge brings understated elegance to one of the best game-viewing areas in Africa.
Set along the Sabie River, it blends seamlessly into the landscape, offering the chance to watch elephants and other wildlife wander past while you sip your morning coffee.
It has all the magic of Sabi Sand, leopards in the trees, lions on the move, but what truly sets it apart is the Chalkley Treehouse sleepout. Elevated under the stars with nothing but lantern light, it’s a romantic, wild, and unforgettable way to experience the African night.
Meliá Ngorongoro – Ngorongoro, Tanzania
There’s something especially grounding about waking up on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Meliá has been beautifully reimagined—it’s stylish, relaxed, and perfectly located for travellers short on time, yet looking for a deep, impactful safari experience.
This is the perfect spot to begin or end a northern Tanzania circuit.
Angama Mara – Maasai Mara, Kenya
This choice is a dream for romantics and storytellers alike.
Perched high above the Great Rift Valley, Angama Mara provides guests with panoramic views that feel like they’ve been pulled from a movie, which is fitting given Out of Africa was filmed just below.
Expect floor-to-ceiling glass walls, dreamy picnics on the escarpment, hot air balloon safaris at sunrise, and the magic of the Mara right on your doorstep. It’s polished but soulful, wild yet deeply personal.
A place where the drama of the savannah meets the quiet luxury of feeling completely at home.
Duba Plains – Okavango Delta, Botswana
This one’s for the true safari purist.
Set in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Duba Plains is all about raw, untamed beauty.
Picture lions stalking through golden floodplains, leopards melting into the shadows, and herds of buffalo kicking up dust.
The camp itself is intimate and luxurious—canvas suites with vintage charm and private verandas overlooking the wild. Add in world-class guiding and a strong conservation ethos, and you’ve got a front-row seat to one of Africa’s greatest wildlife theatres.
Little Kulala – Sossusvlei, Namibia
The desert has a silence that gets under your skin, and nowhere captures that like Little Kulala.
The star beds are iconic, but it’s the stillness, the textures of the Namib, and the slow, beautiful mornings that linger long after guests have departed.
Some days, sand from the neighbouring dunes can be seen dancing across the horizon like mist. It’s surreal, and a brilliant start or end to any Namibian itinerary.
Sussurro – Mozambique
Sussurro is special. It’s calm, earthy, elegant—every element has been thoughtfully crafted.
This is where guests go to truly relax. No fuss, no noise, just beautiful spaces and slow rhythms.
A perfect post-safari exhale for those who want to end their trip somewhere meaningful and memorable.
Top tips for picking safaris
Creating meaningful African journeys isn’t about booking what’s well-known. It’s about listening, matching the right places to the right people, and creating an itinerary that feels personal and lasting, an experience that your guests won’t always have words for, but we, as African specialists, know they will never forget.
We know to ensure honeymooners get the tent with the best sunrise view and we’re not afraid to change a booking when something doesn’t feel quite right, offering an alternative that may be smaller, quieter and more meaningful because the little details matter the most.
It’s about trust, storytelling, and understanding that the journey should feel as special as the destination.
That’s the magic of working with a specialist. Because when it’s done right, Africa doesn’t just meet expectations – it completely redefines them.
For more information, visit Take Off Go.
