Is a Luxury Safari Worth It?

I was once asked a deceptively simple question: “What is luxury?”. It took me by surprise, not because I didn’t know the answer, but because I’d never put it into words.

Luxury isn’t about the price tag. It’s not the car, but the comfort and ease it brings. Not the wine, but the craftsmanship, history, and passion in every bottle. Luxury is the way something makes you feel. When it comes to a luxury safari, it’s not about five-star lodges or first-class seats. It’s something far more meaningful.

There’s a sacred stillness to early mornings in the bush. As the land stirs to life, you are a guest at a very private encounter. Mist clings low to the earth, the air is crisp, and sound travels further. You hear the bush before you see it. A twig cracks. A bird calls from somewhere beyond the trees. The quiet is not empty – it’s full. It reminds you to listen, slow down, and be present.

I don’t like crowds. When I travel, I seek solitude and space. Lodges like Chitwa Chitwa offer exactly that. With a limited number of suites, there’s never a queue at the bar, crowd in the gym, or competition for the best view at the main restaurant. Every guest has space to breathe, to be, to observe. Meals are served without the fuss of “please wait to be seated”, and every table faces the dam, where hippos wade, elephants wander, and – if you’re lucky – lions visit, too.

Yes, the suites are generous, and yes, I do love cooling off in my private plunge pool. But the kind of space I crave most is internal. And that's exactly what a luxury safari does. It creates room for thought. There are no buzzing phones or cluttered calendars. Just your thoughts and the wild. The stillness encourages clarity.

I’ll never forget staring into the eyes of a matriarch elephant as she ambled past. Or watching a mother leopard and her cub draped over a branch, completely unbothered by our presence. There were no other vehicles. No pressure to move on. Just us and the moment. That’s a rare kind of space.

There’s something deeply reassuring about handing over the reins. On a luxury safari, I don’t have to organise anything. I just show up. From the moment I arrive at the airport, everything flows seamlessly. Transfers are on time, luggage disappears and reappears as if by magic, and someone always knows my next step – even when I don’t.

I’ve found myself asking, “What time is my flight again?” And the answer is always ready. They know. That’s real peace of mind. It’s not just convenience, it’s care.

Yes, it is, without question. Because luxury isn’t about excess – it’s about experience. It’s the silence of the dawn, the space to reflect, the privilege of being present in raw Africa. It’s the ease of knowing that everything’s handled, so your only job is to allow yourself to feel the moment.

And if you're wondering whether that kind of travel is worth it – I’d say it’s the only kind of travel worth doing.

If you’re craving stillness, space, and something far deeper than a checklist of sightings, then it’s time. Complete the online enquiry form to design a safari that gives you all the space, silence, and simplicity you did not know you needed.