Safaris have been a key component to African tourism for over 20 years; relaxing getaways are exactly what we all need every now and then. Now there are a lot of different places in Africa to safari, such as: The Mainland Coast of Kenya, The Omo Valley of Ethiopia and the Kalahari Reserve in Botswana.

Botswana is located in central South Africa, known for its peaceful surroundings and mind-blowing landscapes.

So you may be thinking, what is so good about a Luxury safari? Although they do cost more than ordinary safaris, you definitely get more for your money. They have exclusivity; you may be able to explore not only more locations but also the best. They will also have better accommodation, food and will personalised to your needs and wants.Here are a few of the most extraordinary areas of interest in Botswana.

Kalahari & Makgadikgadi Pans – These are the remains of a once prominent super lake the covered the majority of central Botswana. The lake dried up due to a huge geographical fault, which meant that all but one river had changed flow direction away from the lake. This eventually resulted in the lake drying up. This landscape is now populated by a number of desert species, such as the brown hyena, aardwolf and meerkat. Due to a lack of water this area also sees soaring temperatures.

Moremi Game Reserve – Frequently referred to as one of the most beautiful tracts of wild land in Africa, the Moremi Game Reserve is made up of wetlands, savannah, forest and scrub regions. Inside the Moermi is a network of deep water mazes called Xakanaxa Lagoon, here sightings of both leopard and wild dog are commonly spotted as well as antelope, giraffe and lion. This area is also blessed with a very high ornithological presence and diversity due to very contrasting landscapes and habitats.

Okavango Delta – The Okavango is the largest delta in southern Africa, it supports some of the finest wildlife on the continent. This area is particularly interesting to tourists as it boasts deep water areas and inland areas, which allow a larger variety of activities and wildlife.

If you think you have a passion for exploring Africa and finding out its most revealing secrets, Journey by Design can help. They specialise in creating tailor-made luxury safaris that provide a truly exceptional safari experience.

As well as the classic 4×4 tours, there are also walking tours and even helicopter tours available as options of transport. Imagine seeing the landscape swooping through the air, in between valleys and over mountains in your own privately charted helicopter.

Although you must bear in mind, that Botswana is home to Black Rhino, African Buffalo and mountain Zebra so walking may seem a bit of a daunting task! There is a variety of beautiful scenery populating the country too, from crowded green wilderness to lush green deltas. Taking to the sky will allow you to get a unique view at Botswana’s rich wildlife, with such wonders to see such as the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world!

Another equally amazing country to explore is Ethiopia, which under some circumstances has holiday destination exclusivity because of Journey by Designs innovative itinerary management which allows you to tour a country which an incomparable and truly fascinating destination. Ethiopia has rather underdeveloped tourism and air restrictions will heavily impact on how luxurious/ adventurous you want to be. But there is a positive there too. You won’t see the hordes of tourists you see on Kenyan or South African tours. Ethiopia is the new place to travel, untainted by a tourist scene. There are some incredible places to visit in Ethiopia:

Ankober – Ankober is located in the Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia, this area is a goldmine to explore in terms of fascinating and famous religious buildings including a Judeo-Christian monastery called the Mantiq. You can also seek out the crumbling ruins of Menelik Il’s old palace, up in the mountains in a composition of hills and mountains sitting at over 2500m!

Lake Langano – Lake Langano is part of a series of that runs south down the Ethiopian Rift Valley and home to a bordering lakeside forest which is home to an array of birds and mammals. Populating the forest are a very large number of Colobus Monkeys and some species of bird that are exclusive to this part of the world.

Accommodation is obviously a very important factor in deciding on a holiday, and I have to say, Treetop cabins are really the place to stay if you want an ultimate safari experience. Tree top cabins differ from lodges, in the quite obvious sense that they are suspended high in the air. This gives the guests a feeling of being right in the bush, but with the same comforts such as air conditioning and veranda’s.

Ankober Lodge is a tree top haven in Ethiopia that has breath taking views and is situated in the grounds of Emperor Menelik’s former palace. The lodge was built at altitude of 2,800m in a very beautiful and calm setting. Given the altitude you must be prepared for cold nights and long walks, but do not let this hinder your experiences in Eastern Africa.

Safaris are an incredible thing to do in this world, and to be quite honest a more luxurious safari will be a lot better. There are many specialist companies that exist to help you on your safari experience, with many different types on offer. Whether touring from the sky or on foot in the marshes of the Botswana Delta you will want to see the beauty of Africa one way or another!