Luxury goes wild with three new African safari lodges

The finest African lodges indulge their guests’ every whim while embracing the unpredictability of their surroundings.

By Bruce Wallin 28/12/2017

Nights on safari are astonishingly silent — until they aren’t. When the still of the savanna is shattered by a shriek, a grumble, or a roar, it can startle even the most seasoned explorer from slumber. What a relief it is, then, to find yourself at such moments in an outsized bed draped with mosquito netting and tucked away in a suite with a formal dining room, a wine fridge, and two private pools to buffer you from whatever beasts might be lingering outside.

Comforting as they may be, such extravagances on safari should never come at the expense of a true wilderness experience. The finest African lodges manage to indulge their guests’ every whim while embracing the unpredictability of their surroundings. Three new lodges in southern Africa — from Botswana’s predator-rich Okavango Delta to Zambia’s remote Liuwa Plain — are striking that balance in myriad ways. Distinct in setting and style, they make for a delightfully diverse itinerary — and an eye-opening adventure in the wild.

## The Classic: Duba Plains

One can hardly blame the birds for sneaking into the Duba Plains Suite. The exclusive-use residence at Botswana’s Duba Plains Reserve is an epic amalgam of early-20th-century-style furnishings, formal dining and sitting areas, intimate nooks, palatial bedrooms, and a 145-metre-long deck with plunge pools, exercise bikes, and a fire pit overlooking the floodplain. The only thing missing from the suite is a wall — which is why you might find a curious lapwing or lark flitting about your living room.

The suite’s design — with acres of canvas covers and flaps that open to the elements during the day — ensures an intimate connection to one of the continent’s most exciting ecosystems. Set in the heart of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana, Duba Plains is a 190,000-acre private reserve managed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert’s Great Plains Conservation. In March, the reserve entered the upper echelon of luxury-safari destinations with the debut of the Duba Plains Suite, the equally elegant five-room Duba Plains Camp, and a main lodge that includes a wine cellar, a library, and a media room for reviewing the day’s photographs. (Duba Plains lends guests high-powered Canon 5D cameras with 400 mm lenses to use on their safaris.)

Thanks largely to the photographs and films of the Jouberts — who shot their Relentless Enemies and other documentaries at the reserve — Duba Plains is known for its lion-versus-buffalo battles. Safaris are appropriately adrenaline-inducing, with walks, helicopter flights, boat trips, and drives exploring the watery expanse. In addition to being an ideal habitat for elephants, hippopotamuses, and other large species, the delta delivers amusement-park-like adventures, where custom Land Cruisers helmed by expert guides navigate deep channel crossings to reach islands teeming with wildlife.

Duba Plains’ guides are equally deft at navigating the needs and boundaries of their guests. Whether pursuing a lion on the hunt or shooing away an avian invader in your suite, they gradually expand your comfort zone while immersing you in the wildness of the Okavango.

Duba Plains

Where: Elevated just above the floodplain in a 190,000-acre private reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta

What: Five lavishly appointed suites and the two-bedroom Duba Plains Suite, a private safari palace all its own

Why: Africa’s most luxurious new lodge in a prime safari destination, plus the pure fun of delta crossings in a custom Land Cruiser

Wildlife: Elephants, lions, Cape buffalos, hippopotamuses, and a wide range of waterfowl

## The Wild Card: King Lewanika Lodge

“Zambia always appears to be on the verge of a renaissance as a safari destination,” says Will Jones, founder of the UK-based outfitter Journeys by Design. The arrival of King Lewanika Lodge, which opened in April in the remote Liuwa Plain National Park, might not be the spark that sends the country’s popularity soaring. But for the seasoned African traveller or intrepid first-timer, this intimate camp on Zambia’s western edge offers a special safari experience in a rarely visited wilderness.

Liuwa Plain itself has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years. Set along the border with Angola, the 905,000-acre park was decimated during that country’s decades-long civil war. After the war ended in 2002, the conservation organisation African Parks took over management of the reserve. It has been working ever since with the Zambian government and the local Lozi people (tribe of King Lewanika’s namesake, who originally set aside the land for protection in the 1880s) to restore flora and fauna — and, for the most part, keep visitors out.

Travellers still need to make quite an effort to reach Liuwa Plain’s first and only lodge, which is managed by Zambia’s Time + Tide Norman Carr Safaris. After a small-craft flight to the village of Kalabo, a 3-hour game drive concludes at a camp comprised of six suites flanking an open-air main lodge. Designed by Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens — the South African duo behind North Island in Seychelles and Time + Tide’s Chinzombo in South Luangwa National Park — the contemporary suites feature recycled composite-wood floors, basin sinks, and canvas flaps that roll up to reveal endless vistas of the yellow-green floodplain.

In exploring the plain, King Lewanika remains true to Norman Carr the man, who pioneered walking safaris in Zambia in the 1950s. Outings offer multiple perspectives on the park, from walks with wildebeest — Africa’s second-largest migration passes right through camp — to canoe trips on the spillways in season. Game drives virtually guarantee up-close carnivore sightings — following a mother cheetah on the hunt, catching a clan of hyenas returning to their den-bound pups at dusk — that are rarely shared with other safari vehicles. “The obvious advantage here is that there are fewer visitors,” Jones says. “And with fewer visitors, one gets that greater sense of wilderness and space, which is an increasingly hard commodity to find.”

King Lewanika Lodge

Where: Only lodge in the 905,000-acre Liuwa Plain National Park in western Zambia

What: Six solar-powered tented suites, including a two-bedroom family unit, with high-class-camping interiors and chaise-lounge-equipped decks overlooking the plain

Why: Because no one you know has been there, and you might have the entire park to yourself

Wildlife: Hyenas, zebras, cheetahs, lions, African wildcats, endangered wattled cranes, and, from November to May, the second-largest wildebeest migration

## The Finishing Touch: Matetsi River Lodge

As spectacular as safari can be, the early mornings, sunbaked afternoons, and bumpy, dusty drives can take a toll on travellers. Though not essential, it is highly recommended to set aside a few days at the end of your adventure to ease out of the routine. Matetsi River Lodge, a resort-like property located upstream from the mighty Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, is the ideal bridge between the remote bush and the real world, a deluxe decompression chamber that can be one of southern Africa’s most relaxing — or most exciting — destinations.

Reopened last year after a US$10 ($A13) million rebuild, Matetsi features 18 suites and a four-bedroom family villa set along a soothing stretch of the Zambezi River. Two outdoor dining venues maximize the views, with tables staggered along the shore on lawns, decks, and covered patios. The suites — with their proper walls, marble bathrooms, and private plunge pools — are more luxury hotel than rustic safari lodge, but the safari experience does not disappoint.

Matetsi is the only lodge in a 123,500-acre reserve that encompasses nine miles of riverfront, densely wooded hills, red-clay cliffs, and open savanna. Many among the reserve’s species — elephants, giraffes, troops of baboons, bushbucks, kudus — forage along the river just in front of the suites. Several other animals, from lions to rare river otters, can be seen on game drives and boat trips throughout the reserve.

Safari, however, is just one of the many things to do at and around Matetsi. About 38 kilometres downstream from the lodge, the Zambezi plunges 108 metres into a snaking and cavernous gorge, creating one of the planet’s great spectacles. Day trips to the falls can incorporate activities both mild (shopping in the pleasant town of Victoria Falls, enjoying high tea at the historic Victoria Falls Lodge) and extreme (bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge, zip-lining across the gorge). Of course, for those who want to completely decompress, Matetsi’s main lodge offers a wine cellar, a 20-metre-long swimming pool, and a riverfront massage room.

Matetsi River Lodge

Where: On the banks of the Zambezi River in a 123,500-acre private reserve in Zimbabwe, less than an hour’s drive from Victoria Falls

What: An unapologetically luxurious hotel in the bush, comprising 18 suites with private pools, a four-bedroom family villa, two outdoor restaurants, and a main lodge with a wine cellar and massage sala

Why: The perfect place to begin or end a safari, with a range of activities — Victoria Falls visits, shopping, bungee jumping, river rafting, fishing — to complement the game drives and river cruises

Wildlife: Massive elephants and giraffes, lions, hyenas, baboons, and kudus as well as crocodiles, hippopotamuses, kingfishers, and other river dwellers

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Watch of the Week: TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith

The legendary sports watch returns, but with an unexpected twist.

By Josh Bozin 02/05/2024

Over the last few years, watch pundits have predicted the return of the eccentric TAG Heuer Formula 1, in some shape or form. It was all but confirmed when TAG Heuer’s heritage director, Nicholas Biebuyck, teased a slew of vintage models on his Instagram account in the aftermath of last year’s Watches & Wonders 2023 in Geneva. And when speaking with Frédéric Arnault at last year’s trade fair, the former CEO asked me directly if the brand were to relaunch its legacy Formula 1 collection, loved by collectors globally, how should they go about it?

My answer to the baited entreaty definitely didn’t mention a collaboration with Ronnie Fieg of Kith, one of the world’s biggest streetwear fashion labels. Still, here we are: the TAG Heuer Formula 1 is officially back and as colourful as ever.

As the watch industry enters its hype era—in recent years, we’ve seen MoonSwatches, Scuba Fifty Fathoms, and John Mayer G-Shocks—the new Formula 1 x Kith collaboration might be the coolest yet. 

TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer

Here’s the lowdown: overnight, TAG Heuer, together with Kith, took to socials to unveil a special, limited-edition collection of Formula 1 timepieces, inspired by the original collection from the 1980s. There are 10 new watches, all limited, with some designed on a stainless steel bracelet and some on an upgraded rubber strap; both options nod to the originals.

Seven are exclusive to Kith and its global stores (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Hawaii, Tokyo, Toronto, and Paris, to be specific), and are made in an abundance of colours. Two are exclusive to TAG Heuer; and one is “shared” between TAG Heuer and Kith—this is a highlight of the collection, in our opinion. A faithful play on the original composite quartz watch from 1986, this model, limited to just 1,350 pieces globally, features the classic black bezel with red accents, a stainless steel bracelet, and that creamy eggshell dial, in all of its vintage-inspired glory. There’s no doubt that this particular model will present as pure nostalgia for those old enough to remember when the original TAG Heuer Formula 1 made its debut. 

TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer

Of course, throughout the collection, Fieg’s design cues are punctuated: the “TAG” is replaced with “Kith,” forming a contentious new brand name for this specific release, as well as Kith’s slogan, “Just Us.”

Collectors and purists alike will appreciate the dedication to the original Formula 1 collection: features like the 35mm Arnite cases—sourced from the original 80s-era supplier—the form hour hand, a triangle with a dot inside at 12 o’clock, indices that alternate every quarter between shields and dots, and a contrasting minuterie, are all welcomed design specs that make this collaboration so great. 

Every TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith timepiece will be presented in an eye-catching box that complements the fun and colour theme of Formula 1 but drives home the premium status of this collaboration. On that note, at $2,200 a piece, this isn’t exactly an approachable quartz watch but reflects the exclusive nature of Fieg’s Kith brand and the pieces he designs (largely limited-edition). 

TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer

So, what do we think? It’s important not to understate the significance of the arrival of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 in 1986, in what would prove integral in setting up the brand for success throughout the 90’s—it was the very first watch collection to have “TAG Heuer” branding, after all—but also in helping to establish a new generation of watch consumer. Like Fieg, many millennial enthusiasts will recall their sentimental ties with the Formula 1, often their first timepiece in their horological journey.  

This is as faithful of a reissue as we’ll get from TAG Heuer right now, and budding watch fans should be pleased with the result. To TAG Heuer’s credit, a great deal of research has gone into perfecting and replicating this iconic collection’s proportions, materials, and aesthetic for the modern-day consumer. Sure, it would have been nice to see a full lume dial, a distinguishing feature on some of the original pieces—why this wasn’t done is lost on me—and perhaps a more approachable price point, but there’s no doubt these will become an instant hit in the days to come. 

The TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith collection will be available on Friday, May 3rd, exclusively in-store at select TAG Heuer and Kith locations in Miami, and available starting Monday, May 6th, at select TAG Heuer boutiques, all Kith shops, and online at Kith.com. To see the full collection, visit tagheuer.com

 

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8 Fascinating Facts You Didn’t Know About Aston Martin

The British sports car company is most famous as the vehicle of choice for James Bond, but Aston Martin has an interesting history beyond 007.

By Bob Sorokanich 01/05/2024

Aston Martin will forever be associated with James Bond, ever since everyone’s favourite spy took delivery of his signature silver DB5 in the 1964 film Goldfinger. But there’s a lot more to the history of this famed British sports car brand beyond its association with the fictional British Secret Service agent.

Let’s dive into the long and colourful history of Aston Martin.

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What Venice’s New Tourist Tax Means for Your Next Trip

The Italian city will now charge visitors an entry fee during peak season. 

By Abby Montanez 01/05/2024

Visiting the Floating City just got a bit more expensive.

Venice is officially the first metropolis in the world to start implementing a day-trip fee in an effort to help the Italian hot spot combat overtourism during peak season, The Associated Press reported. The new program, which went into effect, requires travellers to cough up roughly €5 (about $AUD8.50) per person before they can explore the city’s canals and historic sites. Back in January, Venice also announced that starting in June, it would cap the size of tourist groups to 25 people and prohibit loudspeakers in the city centre and the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello.

“We need to find a new balance between the tourists and residents,’ Simone Venturini, the city’s top tourism official, told AP News. “We need to safeguard the spaces of the residents, of course, and we need to discourage the arrival of day-trippers on some particular days.”

During this trial phase, the fee only applies to the 29 days deemed the busiest—between April 25 and July 14—and tickets will remain valid from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Visitors under 14 years of age will be allowed in free of charge in addition to guests with hotel reservations. However, the latter must apply online beforehand to request an exemption. Day-trippers can also pre-pay for tickets online via the city’s official tourism site or snap them up in person at the Santa Lucia train station.

“With courage and great humility, we are introducing this system because we want to give a future to Venice and leave this heritage of humanity to future generations,” Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) regarding the city’s much-talked-about entry fee.

Despite the mayor’s backing, it’s apparent that residents weren’t totally pleased with the program. The regulation led to protests and riots outside of the train station, The Independent reported. “We are against this measure because it will do nothing to stop overtourism,” resident Cristina Romieri told the outlet. “Moreover, it is such a complex regulation with so many exceptions that it will also be difficult to enforce it.”

While Venice is the first city to carry out the new day-tripper fee, several other European locales have introduced or raised tourist taxes to fend off large crowds and boost the local economy. Most recently, Barcelona increased its city-wide tourist tax. Similarly, you’ll have to pay an extra “climate crisis resilience” tax if you plan on visiting Greece that will fund the country’s disaster recovery projects.

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Omega Reveals a New Speedmaster Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics

Your first look at the new Speedmaster Chronoscope, designed in the colour theme of the Paris Olympics.

By Josh Bozin 26/04/2024

The starters are on the blocks, and with less than 100 days to go until the Paris 2024 Olympics, luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega was bound to release something spectacular to mark its bragging rights as the official timekeeper for the Summer Games. Enter the new 43mm Speedmaster Chronoscope, available in new colourways—gold, black, and white—in line with the colour theme of the Olympic Games in Paris this July.

So, what do we get in this nicely-wrapped, Olympics-inspired package? Technically, there are four new podium-worthy iterations of the iconic Speedmaster.

Omega

The new versions present handsomely in stainless steel or 18K Moonshine Gold—the brand’s proprietary yellow gold known for its enduring shine. The steel version has an anodised aluminium bezel and a stainless steel bracelet or vintage-inspired perforated leather strap. The Moonshine Gold iteration boasts a ceramic bezel; it will most likely appease Speedy collectors, particularly those with an affinity for Omega’s long-standing role as stewards of the Olympic Games.

Notably, each watch bears an attractive white opaline dial; the background to three dark grey timing scales in a 1940s “snail” design. Of course, this Speedmaster Chronoscope is special in its own right. For the most part, the overall look of the Speedmaster has remained true to its 1957 origins. This Speedmaster, however, adopts Omega’s Chronoscope design from 2021, including the storied tachymeter scale, along with a telemeter, and pulsometer scale—essentially, three different measurements on the wrist.

While the technical nature of this timepiece won’t interest some, others will revel in its theatrics. Turn over each timepiece, and instead of a transparent crystal caseback, there is a stamped medallion featuring a mirror-polished Paris 2024 logo, along with “Paris 2024” and the Olympic Rings—a subtle nod to this year’s games.

Powering this Olympiad offering—and ensuring the greatest level of accuracy—is the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 9908 and 9909, certified by METAS.

Omega

A Speedmaster to commemorate the Olympic Games was as sure a bet as Mondo Deplantis winning gold in the men’s pole vault—especially after Omega revealed its Olympic-edition Seamaster Diver 300m “Paris 2024” last year—but they delivered a great addition to the legacy collection, without gimmickry.

However, the all-gold Speedmaster is 85K at the top end of the scale, which is a lot of money for a watch of this stature. By comparison, the immaculate Speedmaster Moonshine gold with a sun-brushed green PVD “step” dial is 15K cheaper, albeit without the Chronoscope complications.

The Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope in stainless steel with a leather strap is priced at $15,725; stainless steel with steel bracelet at $16,275; 18k Moonshine Gold on leather strap $54,325; and 18k Moonshine Gold with matching gold bracelet $85,350, available at Omega boutiques now.

Discover the collection here

 

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Here’s What Goes Into Making Jay-Z’s $1,800 Champagne

We put Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage No. 4 under the microsope.

By Mike Desimone And Jeff Jenssen 23/04/2024

In our quest to locate the most exclusive and exciting wines for our readers, we usually ask the question, “How many bottles of this were made?” Often, we get a general response based on an annual average, although many Champagne houses simply respond, “We do not wish to communicate our quantities.” As far as we’re concerned, that’s pretty much like pleading the Fifth on the witness stand; yes, you’re not incriminating yourself, but anyone paying attention knows you’re probably guilty of something. In the case of some Champagne houses, that something is making a whole lot of bottles—millions of them—while creating an illusion of rarity.

We received the exact opposite reply regarding Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage No. 4. Yasmin Allen, the company’s president and CEO, told us only 7,328 bottles would be released of this Pinot Noir offering. It’s good to know that with a sticker price of around $1,800, it’s highly limited, but it still makes one wonder what’s so exceptional about it.

Known by its nickname, Ace of Spades, for its distinctive and decorative metallic packaging, Armand de Brignac is owned by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy and Jay-Z and is produced by Champagne Cattier. Each bottle of Assemblage No. 4 is numbered; a small plate on the back reads “Assemblage Four, [X,XXX]/7,328, Disgorged: 20 April, 2023.” Prior to disgorgement, it spent seven years in the bottle on lees after primary fermentation mostly in stainless steel with a small amount in concrete. That’s the longest of the house’s Champagnes spent on the lees, but Allen says the winemaking team tasted along the way and would have disgorged earlier than planned if they’d felt the time was right.

Chef de cave, Alexandre Cattier, says the wine is sourced from some of the best Premier and Grand Cru Pinot Noir–producing villages in the Champagne region, including Chigny-les-Roses, Verzenay, Rilly-la-Montagne, Verzy, Ludes, Mailly-Champagne, and Ville-sur-Arce in the Aube département. This is considered a multi-vintage expression, using wine from a consecutive trio of vintages—2013, 2014, and 2015—to create an “intense and rich” blend. Seventy percent of the offering is from 2015 (hailed as one of the finest vintages in recent memory), with 15 percent each from the other two years.

This precisely crafted Champagne uses only the tête de cuvée juice, a highly selective extraction process. As Allen points out, “the winemakers solely take the first and freshest portion of the gentle cuvée grape press,” which assures that the finished wine will be the highest quality.  Armand de Brignac used grapes from various sites and three different vintages so the final product would reflect the house signature style. This is the fourth release in a series that began with Assemblage No. 1. “Testing different levels of intensity of aromas with the balance of red and dark fruits has been a guiding principle between the Blanc de Noirs that followed,” Allen explains.

The CEO recommends allowing the Assemblage No. 4 to linger in your glass for a while, telling us, “Your palette will go on a journey, evolving from one incredible aroma to the next as the wine warms in your glass where it will open up to an extraordinary length.” We found it to have a gorgeous bouquet of raspberry and Mission fig with hints of river rock; as it opened, notes of toasted almond and just-baked brioche became noticeable. With striking acidity and a vein of minerality, it has luscious nectarine, passion fruit, candied orange peel, and red plum flavors with touches of beeswax and a whiff of baking spices on the enduring finish. We enjoyed our bottle with a roast chicken rubbed with butter and herbes de Provence and savored the final, extremely rare sip with a bit of Stilton. Unfortunately, the pairing possibilities are not infinite with this release; there are only 7,327 more ways to enjoy yours.

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