STAR BEDS
Welcome and enjoy the Great Plains Collective, issue 11, where we start by exploring the celestial sky even with the naked eye, which is exhilarating. A chance to view the night skies as clearly as you see them in some of Africa’s unpolluted and unobscured areas is a gift. Here are some of our favourite Star Beds, offering an alternative “playground” in the bush.
Discover Tswalu’s Star Beds in this the Great Plains Collective, issue 11
Sleeping under the stars is as old as time but will undoubtedly add an exciting dimension to a safari at Tswalu. Tswalu has two sleep-out experiences, Malori and Naledi.
The Malori sleep-out is under canvas and situated in the middle of the reserve. The more adventurous have the option of spending a night at Naledi, a back-to-nature star bed in the Korannaberg mountains.
Malori sleep-out looks out onto a breathtaking view of the reserve and night sky. It is about soaking up the silence, tuning into the sounds of nature and counting shooting stars. The tent comes with comfortable beds, a spacious deck for starlight dining and an open-air bathroom. This additional offering at Tsawlu is great for families or couples that need a little protection under canvas between them and the stars.
The more adventurous will no doubt love the simple Naledi sleep-out experience. Naledi (meaning “star” in Tswana) is literal for this sleep-out as the experience requires you to sleep under the stars, out in the open! Camping stretchers with warm, luxurious blankets and linen, picnic-style food and warming mugs of hot chocolate are all one needs to fully immerse in this raw and unfiltered “camping” experience.
It is experiences like these that make for transformational travel for both children and adults.
Did you know?
It takes millions of years for the light of a star to reach our eyes, meaning you are seeing stars from long ago. Looking at the night sky is like looking back in time 100,000 years.
NAY PALAD (creator of artisanal objects and magical destinations), created the Bird Nest to sustain the groundbreaking conservation initiatives at Segera in Kenya.The Bird Nest is a one-of-a-kind accommodation inspired by nature’s beauty and offers a new concept of nesting and sleeping like a bird – above the ground, with 360-degree sceneries and a bird’s eye view over the wilderness. This experience comes at an additional cost during a stay at Segera but one can be assured that with the conservation funds collected through the Bird Nest experience that future generations may still be able to enjoy the magic of the natural world for years to come.
Did you know?
Part of the Bird’s Nest fee helps with the formation, training and employment of Segera’s All-Women Anti-Poaching Ranger Unit.
The Thanametsi Treehouse is located in the Marakele National Park in South Africa and is solely for guests of Marataba Safari & Mountain Lodge. It is one of the newest Treehouses in the More Collection if not the most impressive. It is completely solar-powered and built on two levels. For families wanting to experience an authentic night out in Africa, this experience will not disappoint. Guests are delivered by game drive vehicle to Thanametsi just before the sun sets. They are left to enjoy a tapas-style picnic whilst spotting animals on the plains. The highlight is to fall asleep whilst counting stars.… who needs sheep when you have a million stars above you…..
Did you know?
The name Thabametsi – meaning ‘mountain water’ was chosen for this romantic tree house as it looks onto the Waterberg and across the verdant expanse of the Marakele.
Gertrude, one of our Great Plains managers in Zimbabwe, and her two children were invited to enjoy a helicopter flight with MJ Air over Victoria Falls. Gertrude shares her experience with us:
“The road trip to MJ Air departures was a short 12km drive along Kazungula road. We were met with smiling faces as we approached the MJ Air helicopter pad. It was good to note that the area around the helipad is well-kept and maintained. The guest briefing area is cosy and clean. The staff is friendly and well-informed. As a safety precaution, we were asked to weigh ourselves. This information is recorded for weight and balance purposes.
The chief pilot accompanied us to the aircraft to ensure we were comfortable and feeling confident. We were given a full safety briefing (which is always reassuring). The highlight of the flight for the kids was the headsets! It was great to have direct communication with the pilot throughout the flight. He pointed out the most interesting sites, and we were able to satisfy our curiosity by asking many questions.
Seeing Victoria Falls from the sky is breathtaking! It is something quite spectacular to view this natural wonder from the air. We were lucky enough to be able to do a couple of orbits over the falls so that each of us could enjoy a full view of this incredible sight.
Once we were back on the ground, we were given some refreshments whilst waiting for our personal memory video to be uploaded. All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the MJ Air Helicopter experience; even my children, who are my most prominent critics, had an unforgettable experience! I highly recommend MJ Air for all Great Plains staff, agents and guests.”
Don’t hesitate to contact our Safari Designers for any information on our preferred partners in this Collective edition.
I trust you have enjoyed reading the Great Plains Collective, issue 11 and remember to keep the dream alive,
Eluisa Di Benedetto | Product Manager
