Ultra-Luxury Safari & Expedition Travel for the Curious Gourmet

There’s nothing quite like sipping Amarula by firelight while lions roar in the distance. But what if the boma dinner that follows is a nine-course, wine-paired tasting menu prepared by a foraging-trained chef, served under a Baobab tree—with zero single-use plastics, locally sourced ingredients, and a story behind every spice?

Welcome to the new safari: where ethical travel meets culinary wonder, and luxury is defined by meaning, not marble.

For the culturally curious traveler, safari and expedition travel have evolved far beyond game drives and khaki. Today’s best properties aren’t just serving views—they’re serving vision: deeply rooted, locally respectful, and gastronomically inspired experiences that bring you into intimate relationship with both place and plate.

And yes, the wild things? They’re well-fed. And you will be too.

🐘✨ Lodges Where You’ll Eat Well, Sleep Deeper & Wake Up Wiser

These aren’t just places to stay—they’re places to experience. To connect. To indulge. To taste. Each lodge below is rooted in conservation, community, and cuisine that rivals Michelin-star cities… with a few more elephants wandering by.

🦁 1. Singita Boulders Lodge – Sabi Sand, South Africa

Where wilderness meets wine cellar.

• The Stay: A glass-walled, art-filled lodge set along the Sand River with 12 ultra-private suites, plunge pools, and exceptional game viewing (hello, leopard country).

• The Food: Multi-course menus showcasing local ingredients like springbok, amaranth, and marula; think open kitchens, garden herbs, and nightly wine pairings from one of South Africa’s top cellars. Guests can even tour the cellar or book a private sommelier experience.

• Conservation Focus: Supports anti-poaching teams, rewilding projects, and community education programs through the Singita Lowveld Trust.

• From: ~$2,100 per person, per night (fully inclusive)

🐆 2. Zannier Hotels Omaanda – Windhoek, Namibia

Refined, rustic, and deliciously low-impact.

• The Stay: A 10-hut thatched lodge on a private reserve, where Himba-inspired design meets barefoot luxury. Perfect for pre- or post-dune adventures.

• The Food: French-Namibian fusion is the signature here—slow-roasted game, foraged ingredients, traditional stews, fresh-baked breads. The outdoor boma dinners are lit only by lanterns and stars.

• Conservation Focus: Works closely with N/a’an ku sê Foundation on wildlife rescue, cheetah conservation, and sustainable tourism education.

• From: ~$900 per person, per night (fully inclusive)

🐘 3. Bisate Lodge – Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

A luxury nest in the land of gorillas—and green cuisine.

• The Stay: Six architecturally stunning “forest pods” tucked into the hillside with panoramic volcano views. Gorilla trekking by day, bathtub stargazing by night.

• The Food: Locally sourced, vegetable-forward, with Rwandan staples elevated to fine-dining heights. Expect cassava gnocchi, wild mushroom broths, and avocado everything. Menus change daily based on what’s ripe and ready.

• Conservation Focus: Built entirely around reforestation and gorilla protection, with profits supporting eco-education and habitat rehabilitation.

• From: ~$2,050 per person, per night (fully inclusive, excluding gorilla permits)

🦒 4. Angama Mara – Maasai Mara, Kenya

Out-of-Africa romance meets culinary celebration.

• The Stay: Perched on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, this iconic glass-fronted lodge has cinematic views and heart-thumping wildlife access.

• The Food: Farm-to-table fare with a Kenyan soul—roasted pumpkin soup with lemongrass, chapati tacos, open-fire grilled Nile perch, and mango everything. Breakfast in the bush? Absolutely. Sundowners with handmade samosas? Always.

• Conservation Focus: Co-created with Maasai communities, Angama supports local schools, clinics, and a community-run conservancy.

• From: ~$1,650 per person, per night (fully inclusive)

🦓 5. Wilderness DumaTau – Linyanti, Botswana

Remote. Responsible. Remarkably delicious.

• The Stay: A 10-suite camp overlooking hippo-filled waterways and seasonal elephant migrations. Raised walkways, plunge pools, and luxury tents with soul.

• The Food: A modern safari kitchen with sustainability at its core—plant-rich menus, no single-use plastics, and a heavy lean into flavorful, nutrient-dense ingredients like millet, wild spinach, and baobab. Bush breakfasts and al fresco lunches abound.

• Conservation Focus: Part of Wilderness’ long-standing conservation mission, DumaTau supports elephant corridors, anti-poaching initiatives, and scientific research.

• From: ~$1,450 per person, per night (fully inclusive)

🌍 Extend the Journey: Coastal Add-Ons That Feel Like a Dream

Once you’ve tracked cheetahs at dawn and feasted by lantern light, why not cool it all down with an island escape that’s just as novel and refined with a sea breeze twist?

🐚 Mauritius

• Blend safari with spice plantation tours, Afro-Creole cuisine, and barefoot beach elegance.

• Lush, multi-cultural, and full of Creole charm. Mix rum distillery visits with fine Indo-French cuisine, private catamaran sails, and jungle hikes to hidden waterfalls.

🐢 Seychelles

• From granite peaks to coral reefs, this is quiet luxury at its bluest and boldest.

• Some of the most beautiful marine reserves on Earth.

• Stay in a villa at Six Senses Zil Pasyon or North Island for privacy and purpose.

🦎 Madagascar

• Landscapes unlike anywhere on Earth set the stage for true adventure for the rare-species lover and naturalist-at-heart.

• Hike through rainforests filled with lemurs, then unwind in barefoot luxury lodges where French flair meets wild earth.

🐬 Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago

• Private islands, dhow sailing, renowned diving, and Swahili seafood so good it rewrites your taste memory.

• A perfect blend of spice, sea, and Swahili soul.

💡 Y.E.S. Travel Tip: We often pair Singita or Zambia/Botswana-based safaris with Seychelles or Madagascar for a completely bespoke contrast—wild, then whimsical.

✈️ You Bring the Curiosity. We’ll Bring the Magic.

At Y.E.S. Travel, we craft deeply intentional journeys for travelers who care—about the world, about culture, about connection. From the savannah to the sea, we don’t just plan luxury—we curate experiences that are nourishing in every sense.

Whether you want a safari where your breakfast is interrupted by elephants or a seaside villa where lemurs serenade you at sunset, we know where wonder lives.

✨ Say Y.E.S. to the Wild, the Ethical, and the Unforgettably Delicious

Let’s design your expedition—a feast for the senses, rooted in respect, and utterly unforgettable.

→ Inquire now for your customized safari + island extension