With panoramic views of Kinshasa and the Congo River, the Hilton Kinshasa is centrally located in the business and shopping district of La Gombe, with the ferry crossing to Brazzaville, a five-minute walk from the property. The hotel is adjacent to the Congo Trade Centre, close to the U.S. Embassy, and offers VIP transfers to N’djili Airport. Other attractions include the Kinshasa Golf Course and the Pentecost Martyrs Stadium.

Hilton Kinshasa offers 178 rooms and suites, business lounges, an executive lounge and a private pool terrace with cocktail and lounge seating, an expansive library and 12 conference and event spaces — including a ballroom, eight banquet rooms and a wedding lounge. The hotel also features an impressive food and beverage offering for travelers, including a French bistro, a sports bar and a modern eatery.

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Located on the banks of the Kafue River, the camp will feature 12 spacious tents, including a 600-square-meter Presidential Villa. Suspended 3.5 meters above the ground, this location offers guests an immersive experience in the wilderness with unobstructed access to the bush and river for wildlife.

Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp is located between two islands, featuring a spa and wellness area, a swimming pool, a restaurant and bar, a lounge and a traditional African boma. The camp aims to provide an intimate and exclusive retreat, embodying luxury in the wild.

Plenty to do

Activities at the camp include nature-centric experiences such as canoeing, fishing, bird-watching and boat safaris. Each luxury tent will feature a plunge pool and a boat with a skipper, strategically positioned to maximize privacy and immersion in the surrounding landscapes.

Kafue National Park, one of Africa’s largest reserves, spans nearly 9,000 square miles and boasts a diverse range of wildlife and birdlife. The camp will be easily accessible, located approximately three hours from Victoria Falls or Lusaka, and is also reachable by helicopter.

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Sustainability has been a hot topic in tourism to Africa for the past decade. Trade shows, magazines and newspapers have discussed the topic at length, covering everything from greenwashing to greenhushing — when companies or organizations keep quiet about their sustainability efforts to avoid scrutiny — and green technology. And with COP28, the U.N.’s annual climate change conference, about to begin in Dubai, the focus on sustainability may be at an all-time high.

However, the question arises: Do travelers really care about sustainable travel when planning an Africa trip? Is it a deciding factor when they choose their accommodation and destination?

Most travel agents and tour operators in the U.S. seem to agree that travelers are not actively asking about sustainability when they inquire about Africa and are not prepared to pay a premium for more sustainable accommodations options. The focus is currently still more on the wildlife experience.

“My clients don’t ask about sustainability — it is more of a bonus when they are there and learn about it from their guides,” said Peggy Purtell, a Travel Experts affiliate in Milwaukee.

Jim Holden, president of Holden Safaris, also finds that clients don’t so much ask about “sustainability” as to the presence of all of Africa’s iconic wildlife. “Clients want to know what they will see if they visit a certain safari destination and if they’ll see all of the same animal species they see on documentaries such as National Geographic,” he said.

The fact that they don’t actively ask about sustainable options doesn’t mean travelers don’t care about sustainability. Theresa Jackson, a Travel Experts affiliate in Allendale, N.J., pointed out that although travelers don’t want to compromise what they dream of seeing, they are intentional about their travels.

“I am seeing that clients are grateful to know the ecofriendly measures their accommodations take, and this becomes a way into a more immersive journey for them,” Jackson said. “They come home talking about the wildlife, yes, but also the communities they learn about from staying on conservancy land and/or in places staffed by locals.”

Don Scott, owner of Tanda Tula, said that while people are certainly first thinking about what they are going to do on their trip, making the experience itself the No. 1 priority, sustainability is more than just a buzzword.

“The awareness and concerns about overtourism in the safari sector, people’s genuine interest and their questions about what we are doing to help preserve the regions in which we operate, shows me that it is important to them when making their travel choices,” Scott said. “I think if travelers have to choose between two similar products offering the same type of experience, they are more likely now to choose the one that has an authentic and proven sustainability track record.”

Relying on travel advisors

According to Mefi Pishori Alapat, owner of Journey to Africa, travelers rely on their travel advisor to help them make the right choice. “Sustainability is still important for us, and we look out for partners who participate in that,” Alapat said. “Our guests don’t really ask for that, but we let them know that we choose partners who are involved in sustainable practices.”

Tate Hallford, a Travel Experts affiliate in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., has seen a desire to experience our world in its most primitive state.

“Being immersed in nature, getting up close and personal with animals in their natural habitat and seeing the circle of life firsthand will not be possible without sustainability efforts. Clients are expecting advisors to direct them to partners doing their part for the world,” she said.

Ryan Powell, AndBeyond’s COO for sales and touring, put the responsibility with tour or lodge operators to make the right choices on behalf of guests.

“What we are seeing, which is incredibly uplifting, is the increase in travel companies that are including sustainability in their dialogue,” Powell said. “Without a doubt, this is planting the seed in the consumer — and as we all know, growth has to start somewhere.

“What we hope for is that this seed will help the consumer focus on choosing the right travel partner, one that truly helps make the world a better place through the initiatives and projects it supports. When given the option, travelers do want to make a positive contribution and want to give back.”

Tour operators have noticed that once travelers are in Africa, their interest in sustainability peaks.

“Overall, we are finding that there is a definite increase in consumer interest when it comes to sustainability and positive impact. Sometimes this is spoken about upfront during the booking process, other times this is something that a guest will engage with only during their travel experience when they can see firsthand the work in sustainability, conservation, community development, and land care,” said Powell.

Signs of changing priorities

Adrian Kaplan, executive head of marketing at Singita, has seen more environmental awareness from younger guests.

“These guests often inquire about where the fresh produce comes from and about the solar power or how we are supporting conservation and what projects they could help support, such as the rhino dehorning initiative in the Kruger National Park or supporting the students of the Singita Community Culinary School,” he said.

According to Beks Ndlovu, CEO of African Bush Camps, there has been a shift where travel in Africa is becoming less about consuming and more about how one is adding value in a meaningful way through how guests participate and travel. “Guests are consciously thinking about how their buying behaviors, travel and stay while on safari in Africa are contributing to the local community, the environment and conservation,” he said.

Immersive sustainability experiences on the ground in Africa are also definitely gaining traction.

Robert More, custodian and CEO of the More Family Collection, reported that guests are interested in seeing how the lodges and hotel operate, how the staff live, work and play. “They are less interested in being served luxury and have a growing interest in how luxury is created,” he said.

According to Liesel van Zyl, head of positive impact and product development at Go2Africa, travelers are starting to ask if they can volunteer for a day on their safari.

“Our clients look for experiences that foster authentic community engagement during their trip to Africa,” she said, adding that Go2Africa has launched “positive impact safaris” specifically with this in mind.

With its new collection of Impact Safaris, African Bush Camps has also picked up on this trend and is offering opportunities to participate in sustainable travel to aid rural communities located on the outskirts wildlife reserves. Combined with safari experiences in some of the least-touched areas of the continent, Impact Safaris offer avenues for travelers to immerse themselves in natural beauty as well as in local culture and communities.

It is clear that the key to nurturing a deeper interest in sustainability among travelers to Africa lies within the hands of the tourism industry itself. While Africa’s wildlife remains the primary draw, there is a clear shift in traveler engagement with sustainability once they arrive. This presents an opportunity for the industry – from travel agents to lodge operators – to plant the seed of sustainability early in the traveler’s journey. By actively discussing ecofriendly practices and conservation efforts, the industry can both educate and influence traveler choices, ensuring a more sustainable and responsible travel experience.

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South Africa has always been a versatile tourism destination with an incredible array of tourism attractions and accommodations. But one domain South Africa hasn’t ventured into much is beach resort-type vacations.

That is about to change.

French hospitality group Club Med is aiming to plug a gap in South Africa’s midmarket tourism sector by bringing what it is calling a “beach-and-bush” all-inclusive experience to the country. However, some tourism players are skeptical the model will work in South Africa.

Guy Stehlik, general manager of the African hotel management company Bon Hotels, pointed out several challenges. Among them: “The first obstacle is that South Africa is a long-haul destination, and flight prices are expensive. That means that any packages will need to compensate for the high airfares,” he said.

Jim Holden, president of Holden Safaris, agreed that flight costs could be prohibitive. “I don’t see Americans flying all the way to South Africa to a Club Med resort when there are so many others closer to America,” he said, adding that for most Americans, Africa has one product: safaris. For all-inclusive resorts, they tend to opt for Seychelles, Maldives and Dubai.

However, Holden said that the Club Med model could be successful as part of the “beach and bush” concept. “It’s closer to the safari areas of South Africa than other beach resorts in Mozambique and therefore quicker, easier, and cheaper to get to,” he said.

David Vely, Club Med’s vice president for regional development in Middle East and Africa, said he anticipates that two-thirds of the clientele will
come from Europe, Asia and the Americas. Although South Africa is a long-haul flight from Europe, so are many exotic destinations in Asia or the
Caribbean that are still very popular. The upside of South Africa for
Europeans is as well that there won’t be a time difference. He adds that
from Asia, South Africa is much closer than the Caribbean, for instance.

The “beach-and-bush” concept is exactly what Club Med aims to put to the fore, according to Eileen Kett, Club Med senior vice president of development for North America. “Being the brand’s first-of-its-kind resort in South Africa, we believe it will draw travelers from North America and all over the world with the appeal of it combining both a beach and safari experience. The distance will hopefully give guests a reason to visit for a longer period of time so they can immerse themselves in such a unique location,” she said.

Vely noted that although the country has some infrastructure challenges, these can be overcome with careful planning. That is one of the reasons that Club Med has teamed up with the Collins Group, who will develop and own the resort.

He added that the reason Club Med has opted for KwaZulu Natal (KZN) in South Africa as its next destination is because “it is the most beautiful part of South Africa (including game parks) with the most favorable climate that will enable a year-round opening.”  He mentioned that South Africa has many unique selling points. “Our clients look for experiential family holidays. South Africa will offer a unique and outstanding opportunity to enjoy a mix of heritage, culture, beach, wildlife,” he said.

Local tourism players spoke of their concern that the traditional Club Med model is not always conducive for local economies. “The model rests on guests not leaving the resort and not partaking in local culture,” Stehlik pointed out, adding that he is hopeful that this particular Club Med will involve local communities and economies.

Vely assured skeptics that this Club Med will take steps to involve locals, such as forming partnerships. “That’s in the DNA of Club Med in general and will be the case even further in South Africa. As we build our partnerships, we will continue to share news in regards to working alongside local communities,” he said.

In the plus column

Despite the challenges, Bon Hotels’ Stehlik admits the all-inclusive model is emerging as a popular model across the world and across tourism segments, including in corporate travel. “The all-inclusive model aligns perfectly with a desire for convenience we’ve seen with travelers,” he said.

Tony Romer-Lee, managing partner for Africa and the Middle East for Valor Hospitality, agreed, saying that although there will need to be enhanced airline connectivity with major charter airlines flying directly into Durban, the potential for leisure and MICE tourism is immense.

Onne Vegter, managing director at Wild Wings Safaris, is optimistic that Club Med can be successful in the region, largely due to its status as a well-known, trusted global brand. “They’re stepping into a gap in the South African market, and I expect the response from both locals and international tourists to be very positive,” he said. “With the popularity of bush-and-beach packages and the demand for some quality beach time after a safari, it is strange that our beautiful KZN coastline has not seen more all-inclusive resorts being developed.”

According to Vegter, Club Med will not necessarily compete with existing beach lodges and hotels.

“Being a four-star, all-inclusive resort, with over 340 rooms, they’re aiming for a different market than our more exclusive, high-end beach resorts. A large Club Med resort by its very nature will be less personal and less exclusive, compared to some of our established lodge and hotel brands with the legendary warmth of South African hospitality,” he said.

Romer-Lee said it’s good to have an international brand of this caliber coming into South Africa. “If successfully established, it will give a great boost to leisure tourism and greater confidence in South Africa as a destination,” he said.

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The Villa at White Pearl provides guests with breathtaking lagoon views and ensures a unique “home away from home” experience. It’s a good fit for multigenerational families or an intimate groups of friends with its its five Oceanview suites.

A host of amenities await guests, from lounging by the infinity pool to enjoying refreshing cocktails at the poolside bar. Various relaxation areas, both shaded and open-air, are also available for guests.

The Villa boasts a team of dedicated staff, including an on-site manager, a personal butler and a private chef. Supplementary accommodations are also available for guests traveling with additional personnel, ensuring every need is catered to.

“Whether one yearns for an intimate getaway or a lavish retreat with family and friends, The Villa effortlessly combines the immersive experience of a luxury resort with the privacy of personal living,”  said Florival Mucave, chairman of White Pearl Resorts.

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Located just minutes from the Serengeti Gate, Kuoom offers guests views of the park’s landscapes. Its position, close to both Seronera and Kogatende, ensures easy access to key safari spots, including the wildebeest migration and Mara River crossings. The lodge aims to offer both wildlife experiences and a sense of calm.

The standout feature of Kuoom Serengeti is its dome-like chalets. Designed with expansive windows, these chalets provide travelers with an immersive experience, blurring the line between the inside and the vast expanse of the Serengeti outside.

The camp boasts 10 of these Savannah Suite domes, each designed for two guests but able to comfortably accommodate up to three adults or a family of four. Plans are in the pipeline to introduce two larger Oasis Suite domes, providing an even more spacious option for guests.

Travelers can embark on safari adventures as Kuoom has partnered with a local safari company to offer game drives, ensuring travelers have a comprehensive Serengeti experience. Other activities on offer include Serengeti hot air balloon trips, a Masai handicraft workshop, campfire nights, skydiving and quad biking.

Prices for a double room ranges from 300 USD to 400 USD per person, per night, on a full-board basis.

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The superyacht can accommodate up to eight people on overnight cruises and larger parties on daytrips. Three of the cabins are configured with double, queen and bunk beds. The Master Cabin features a king-size bed and large windows to take in the 180-degree Atlantic Ocean views. All four of the cabins have ensuite bathrooms with showers while the Master Cabin has its own bathtub.

The Hazendal Yacht — Princess Eve also boasts extensive outdoor deck areas and a rooftop jacuzzi as well as an indoor lounge.

A variety of Western Cape itineraries are available for charters. These include excursions up the west coast to Langebaan and Saldanha Bay; sunset cruises around Robben Island; trips along the Atlantic Seaboard to Clifton or Hout Bay; and cruises around the Cape Peninsula, passing Simon’s Town and the scenic Cape Point Nature Reserve.

The vessel can also be booked for private functions. These can be held in the harbor waters or at the yacht’s permanent docking station at the V&A Waterfront, opposite the Victoria & Alfred Hotel, where guests are treated to views of Table Mountain.

Guests can enjoy fine dining options onboard or opt for a more casual dining experience with a barbeque on the roof deck. A canape menu is available for elegant outdoor events as well as an onboard mixologist.

The Hazendal Yacht — Princess Eve is the first cruising product to form part of the Newmark Hotels & Reserves portfolio.

“Cape Town has firmly established itself as a sought-after cruising destination since the launch of the city’s cruising terminal. However, despite more than 190,000 big-ship cruise passengers docking at Cape Town harbor this year, the region remains largely unexplored as a superyacht destination,” said Neil Markovitz, CEO of Newmark Hotels & Reserves. “We look forward to tapping into this new market.”

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But first, they had to focus on getting their clients out of Israel after U.S. airlines canceled all flights there.

“It’s a huge challenge,” John Rose, Altour’s chief risk and security officer, said last Tuesday of carriers dropping service. “So the advisors are doing a fantastic job, but it’s a herculean effort.”

Delta, United and American canceled most flights from Israel through October, leaving Israel’s national carrier, El Al, as the sole airline to not cancel or reduce service, as of press time, between Israel and the U.S.

Rose could not comment on the exact number of travelers Altour parent Internova Travel Group had in Israel at the time of the attacks, but he called it “significant.” 

Most clients were routed through countries such as Romania, the Czech Republic and Morocco and flown back to the U.S. from there. But even getting those clients to the airport, Rose said, was a challenge, with ground operators using “extraordinary caution” due to the risk.

Roy Gal, owner of Memories Forever Travel Group in Fair Lawn, N.J., estimated that he helped around 70 clients leave Israel and that as of Oct. 11 had another 50 waiting to get out. Gal was utilizing a GDS feature that enables advisors to wait-list clients for flights.

“It’s hard,” Gal said. “There are a lot of flights, but there are also hundreds of people that are trying to come in and out. It’s hard, but it’s doable. We’ve been quite successful helping people both ways.”

Sharon Rockman, founder of Sababa Travel in Fanwood, N.J., assisted a couple leaving Israel with the help of her tour operator partner, Doron Harel of Har-El Travels, connecting them to the U.S. via Italy. 

Cruises, tours canceled

As of last week, some tour operators and cruise lines, including all three Norwegian Cruise Line brands, have canceled calls through the end of the year, while others will reassess tour departures from November.

Ronen Paldi, president of Ya’lla Tours, which specializes in trips to Israel, the Palestinian territories, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, is a native Israeli who was in Tel Aviv when the conflict began. He said the scale of the attack, which he called unprecedented and “the equivalent of 9/11 for Israel,” would “have consequences for a long, long time.”

Overseas Adventure Travel, which sends anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 travelers to Israel each year, is also concerned about the long-term impact of the conflict on tourism, both to Israel and the surrounding region.

“We’re preparing for the worst,” said CEO Brian FitzGerald, adding that previous conflicts in the region had never resulted in Overseas Adventure Travel’s response at this level. “We made the call to cancel at least the next two weeks, but conservatively, what does this look like if we can’t operate for the next six months or longer?”

Paldi said signs point to Israel travel being off-limits for a while.

“The expectation is for a longer war than ‘usual,’ possibly several weeks. It’s very, very serious this time,” Paldi. But he added that other destinations in the Middle East and the Mediterranean were still safe to visit. “Greece, Turkiye, Dubai, Oman, Morocco have nothing to do with this and are not involved.”

Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International’s senior vice president of sales, trade support and service, said that while it’s too early to know how the conflict will impact the cruise industry long-term, “as far as next year goes, I think we just have to see where we are a month from now, two months from now.”

Royal Caribbean canceled two October cruises on the Rhapsody of the Seas from Haifa, Israel, one of many cruise lines that rerouted ships from the country last week, mostly reassigning them to ports in Greece, Cyprus and Turkiye.

Freed noted that when the Ukraine war started, it was not expected to last as long as it has. She said the cruise lines adjusted and have continued sailing Baltic cruises without the Russian city of St. Petersburg on the itinerary.

Tour operators said that as of last week, travel to neighboring countries, including Egypt and Jordan, had not been impacted but that they were fielding increased inquiries about safety. 

“So far, clients haven’t been canceling [Egypt and Jordan], but they are being more cautious about traveling,” said Matt Berna, Intrepid Travel’s president of the Americas. “We’ve been getting a lot of inquiries about safety.”

For some, concerns about Israel’s long-term prospects go beyond their business. 

In addition to canceling her clients’ Israel trips, Sababa Travel’s Rockman is collecting monetary donations to purchase supplies for reservist soldiers called to duty there; Harel, of Har-El Travel, is working to ascertain their needs. 

“My business started out of my love of travel and my love of Israel,” Rockman said. “Of course, it expanded and I do the world, but Israel is my baby. I do what I do because I love Israel, and simply, I’m Jewish. Period. We do what we do, and we come together.” 

Andrea Zelinski contributed to this report. 

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IMOT said that although U.S. airlines have suspended flights to Israel, Ben Gurion Airport remains open, and many flights are still departing Israel. 

Israel’s national carrier, El Al, said it has not canceled any flights and has even added more service since the attacks to assist army reservists wanting to return to Israel.

IMOT also said it is working to “ensure their well-being in every way possible.” The agency said it created a “virtual office” reachable via WhatsApp (+972 55 972 6931) or email ([email protected]) and said travelers currently in Israel can dial 104 for information or contact Home Front Command.

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Built on a raised railway sleeper private deck, using the wood from old railway tracks, Sitatunga Private Island can host up to eight guests in
two four-person suites and an additional four adults or family of two adults and three children in a spacious two-bedroom unit.

Each of the suites boasts an indoor lounge, well-furnished bathrooms, a private deck and an outdoor pool providing panoramic lagoon views.

• Related: Great Plains offering fitness safaris

The camp’s design, driven by Great Plains’ Dereck and Beverly Joubert, is an ode to the Okavango’s history and the Bayei people.

“Sitatunga’s design tells the story of the Okavango, a camp surrounded by water, and one that has had indigenous fishermen in the region for over 200 years,” Dereck Joubert said. Those fishermen designed and used fishing baskets and traps made from reeds in a funnel shape, so I took this reference and designed the rooms as tents hanging inside of giant fishing baskets. The interiors, as a result, draw on a color range that mirrors that of the Okavango, a blend of misty greens and light bleached woods.”

Sitatunga Private Island is one of the few locations in the world where one can still see the sitatunga, a rare aquatic antelope, from camp and by boat. Activities at Sitatunga encompass boating safaris, mokoro rides, walking safaris, game drives and even private helicopter tours of the delta. Moreover, guests have the freedom to curate their itineraries with the guidance of experienced professionals.

For relaxation, guests have access to in-room massages, yoga mats, exercise equipment, a wine cellar and a boutique. The camp also offers a professional camera set for guests.

Reservations and more details are available at Great Plains Conservation.

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