Category: Uncategorized

Navigating Zimbabwe’s abundant Green Season

Traveling to Zimbabwe during the Green Season – also known as the Emerald or Low Season – offers a completely different experience and perspective on one of Southern Africa’s most value-packed safari destinations. Running from November to April, this period is defined by seasonal rains that transform the landscape into a lush, vibrant ecosystem, full […]

Where Cape Town Is Eating This Summer

There’s more to celebrate this December than just the festive season. Cape Town, ever a hub of culinary excellence, has exploded with newness to greet the year-end guests. A clutch of exciting new restaurants and bars is on the menu, with something for everyone — from fine dining to café culture. Cape Town has long […]

Q&A with an expert – Fleur Huijskens, Sterrekopje

Fleur Huijskens and Nicole Boekhoorn founded Sterrekopje, a healing retreat in Franschhoek, in 2022. In a relatively short space of time, it has become world-renowned as a nature-forward space to rest and connect that celebrates authentic wellbeing and embodies the notion of travelling with meaning and intention. We asked Fleur her thoughts on wellness in […]

Summer Season

The end is in sight – summer is coming And just like that, we find ourselves back in September, starting to see the first signs of spring in the southern hemisphere, and staring down the barrel of the end of year– and all the madness, deadlines and frenzied plan-making that come with that. What it […]

Unpacking the Kalahari

Discovering the many spaces and faces of the Kalahari For those unfamiliar with this vast, wild and beautiful land, the Kalahari can seem a little daunting. Is it a desert? A region? Yes to both. The Kalahari is a large semi-arid sandy savanna in Southern Africa covering 900,000 km2(350,000 sq mi) including much of Botswana […]

Travel smart, feel good – the wellness tour

Leisure travel by default is a feel-good exercise, but when it comes to travelling with wellness specifically in mind, there are ways to approach the planning to ensure you come away not only rested and relaxed, but arguably healthier too. Deciding where to go depends on a few different things – whether you enjoy the […]

Barclay Stenner

What makes Botswana so special. It’s among the most popular destinations in Africa – so what is it in your opinion that keeps people coming back? I think what makes Botswana so special is that is one of the last true wildernesses left on earth. It’s not just 20,000 square kilometers of fenced-in area. It’s […]

The Okavango Delta – land of mystery and magic

Before visiting the Okavango Delta – one of Africa’s most remarkable and breathtaking destinations – it’s key to get to know it a little better. To understand its physical makeup, seasonal changes and what makes it unique. This in turn will help you plan timing, choose your accommodations and plan your travel logistics. Ancient history […]

The Diverse Beauty of Botswana

Botswana tops many travellers’ safari wish lists, and this is entirely justified. Apart from its abundance of natural beauty, it’s demonstrated an unwavering commitment to conservation – its high-value, low- volume tourism model, and huge percentage (relative to other countries) of land under conservation make it a uniquely nature-oriented and wild place to visit from […]

The African Icon – beach and bush in Kenya

Even the most popular and loved travel destinations still require a bit of context and research to get the best out of. Safari in Africa will forever be one of the MVPs of the travel game and given the size and diversity of the continent, the choice and scope within this niche is still vast. […]

A Crash Course In The Greater Kruger’s Neighbouring Reserves

Surrounding the Greater Kruger National Park are a number of reserves and concessions that fall within the ‘greater’ park but are privately run. Accessible only to guests staying at one of the lodges or camps within its bounds, they’re not accessible to day visitors and so offer a lower-traffic option for those in search of […]

Villa Combos

Seamless travel – villa duos for the discerning  Private villas offer a supremely personal way to travel. They give you space, peace and privacy. The freedom to spend your days without any restraints, exactly as you choose, with just the people close to you. It’s the ultimate way to reconnect and relax as you would […]

Unpacking The Kruger

A safari icon – unpacking the Kruger National Park A potential guest doing research on bush travel to Africa who types in – ‘best places to go for safari’ will no doubt find the Kruger National Park pops up prominently in the search. And for very good reason. The Kruger National Park is vast, world […]

Q&A With An Expert – Louise Cottar

Louise first came to Kenya some 35 years ago to study and later went to work for the United Nations in Mogadishu, Somalia. From Somalia, she took breaks to visit Kenya where she met and eventually married Calvin Cottar, whose family have been in various safari businesses since 1909.  In 1998, Calvin and Louise set […]

Villa Makomo, Bishopscourt

A warm and vibrant family home, designed with comfort and style in mind, Makomo is supremely versatile and endlessly stylish.  This luxurious nine-bedroom villa is wonderfully spacious and spread widely over two levels, sleeping up to 16 guests. Located in the peaceful and treed suburb of Bishopscourt – a residential area of Cape Town – […]

Colina Verde, Mozambique | 2025

  What kind of traveller would this property suit? Multi-generational, groups of friends, milestone birthday parties, or just a regular family getaway to paradise.   What in your opinion are some of the most standout/impressive features about the property? Incredible views, nature, privacy, staff, food, design, feeling… Just couldn’t get enough of it.   What […]

The Indian Ocean’s Multiple Paradises

Warm water, beautiful beaches and countless islands, the Indian Ocean is home to some of the world’s best leisure destinations. Loved by the full spectrum of traveller – from adventure seekers to those in pursuit of optimal relaxation – these places are the picture postcard of ‘wish you were here’ fame. An easy flight from […]

Magical Mauritius

Dreamy blue ocean, swaying palms and luxurious resorts. This is what comes to mind for a lot of people when you say ‘Mauritius’. But this island off of the east coast of Africa has a lot to offer in addition to its idyllic beach scenes. Multifaceted and multicultural, it’s a thriving developing nation with growing […]

Safari In Style – Private Villas For All Occasions

If you’re a planner, you’re likely looking ahead to your next holiday, perhaps already thinking about booking your flights and stays for a special occasion coming up. If a safari holiday is on the cards, and you’re travelling with a group, or simply want a bit of space, consider the ultimate in escape – the […]

The small but mighty Rwanda – unpacking the land of 1000 hills

The ‘land of a thousand hills’, Rwanda may be petite in size but packs a mighty punch as far as travel is concerned. Now considered one of the safest countries on the continent, it has worked hard to become a beacon of tourism success. With an abundance of magnificent landscapes and endless natural beauty, tourism […]

The bigger picture – building purpose into travel

As one of South Africa’s leading safari specialists, we are committed not only to sharing our continent’s many wonders with as many people as we can, but also to its upliftment, protection and prosperity. A large part of why we work in luxury travel is to benefit those who live and work in Africa – […]

A family affair – a case for multigenerational travel

While it’s always been a strong travel sector, multigenerational travel ramped up significantly post Covid. With more emphasis placed on the importance of special occasions and quality time spent together in the wake of global lockdowns, families made a concerted effort to schedule in holidays en masse. Since then, multigenerational travel has only gained further […]

Unpacking Green Season – the lowdown on safari’s underrated period

We’re of the school of thought that there’s never a bad time to come to Africa. That being said, it’s helpful to understand the nuances of the different seasons across the continent – as climates and terrains vary so greatly from country to country. The better informed you are, the better you can plan the […]

Unpacking Zim – a must-love safari favourite

Unpacking Zim – a must-love safari favourite Incredible scenery, World Heritage Sites, prolific game viewing and warm and friendly people. These are just some of the many things to love about Zimbabwe. And when you add to this its world-renowned reputation for guiding, and relative accessibility, the motivation starts to stack up further. We dip […]

Full of life – SA’s natural leaning to wellness

Much has been said about the diversity of South Africa as a destination. Scenery of all types, cities and towns of all sizes, and sights and pursuits to match. What isn’t as well reported is how well equipped all of this makes it as a world-class wellness destination. As this travel niche reaches new levels […]

A matter of taste – what’s on the menu in the Western Cape

Cape Town, and the greater Western Cape has been inching its way up in the world rankings as a haven for diners. So much so, that over the years its culinary reputation has grown to almost rival its renown as a nature and adventure destination. Incredible variety, superb chefs, unreal settings and a thriving wine […]

Pick a villa, any villa…

In order to assemble a collection of private villas second to none, we have scouted far and wide so that our portfolio represents the very best. We also test drive them ourselves to ensure they tick the Steadfast boxes to create a standout travel experience. We don’t just have a large portfolio though – our […]

Trips to take in your lifetime – the bucket-list musts

For some, uncharted territories are the pinnacle of travel. While for others there is considerably more appeal in the tried and tested, and repeatedly highly rated. And, in the context of African travel there are trips that consistently fall under the ‘bucket-list must’ umbrella – for very good reason. These experiences are so universally remarkable […]

Unpacking: Namibia

The sheer natural beauty of Namibia is just the first and most obvious of the many things that make this incredible country so worth travelling to. And that’s before we even touch on its versatility and accessibility. In addition to its varying landscapes – from desert to bush to coast – it also offers a […]

Open book – some of Steadfast’s best

Sometimes an evocative photo is all it takes to plant the seed that will eventually lead to a booked plane ticket and the promise of adventure somewhere new, far from home. And while images can’t ever fully convey the beauty of a place, its atmosphere or its sounds or smells, a well captured scene is […]

Steadfast on the move – announcing our third London fundraiser

As one of South Africa’s leading safari specialists, Steadfast Africa is passionate not only about bringing people to our continent, but also about its upliftment and protection. This has long been part of our DNA – we work with destinations, operators and enterprises that uplift communities and further conservation in various ways, whether by creating […]

Travel with purpose – making a positive impact

As it is in nature, safari tourism exists as an intricate ecosystem – where everything lives and works directly in relation to everything else. People, wildlife, landscapes – and for the good of each, the others must all thrive. In order to ensure that everyone (and everything) that makes up this system benefits and stays […]

Take a peak – the pros of high season safari

While many people make like swallows and chase summer, winter in the southern hemisphere is largely considered the best time for safari (we will unpack the merits of different seasons in the bush in another post). And in fact, it’s ‘peak’ season for the lodges and reserves across South and East Africa – this is […]

Gorilla trekking 101: the need to know essentials

Gorilla trekking 101 – foolproof your trip Some trips allow for an off-the-cuff, spontaneous approach. Others need a little forward planning – from bucket-list experiences that perhaps due to high demand are often booked up well beforehand, to those needing more logistical manoeuvring. An experience where both of these apply is gorilla trekking – a […]

A villa for all seasons – retreats for any time of year

Steadfast’s portfolio of private and exclusive-use properties offers huge scope – they range across different locations and styles, suit a spectrum of types of travellers and offer every permutation of amenities and features. Exclusive-use villas are an appealing alternative to staying in a lodge or hotel if you’re travelling with a group or family, as […]

Spoilt for choice – choose your safari

Every safari region has its own appeal and offers a unique experience. Depending on what your travel goals and interests are, you can tailor your destination and itinerary to perfectly suit what you’re hoping to get out of an adventure to Africa.   Botswana: the crowd pleaser One of Africa’s most popular safari destinations, Botswana […]

Island styles – the pros of different Indian Ocean paradises

While beach holidays hold universal appeal, every island has its own unique personality. And even within the Indian Ocean region exists a wide variety of destinations with different but equally appealing attributes. For every type of traveller and reason for travel, the ideal destination awaits. Steadfast Africa specialises in crafting itineraries tailored to your tastes, […]

‘Tis the season

It’s easy while planning a group or family holiday to get swept up in choosing accommodation and crafting your itinerary, but it’s often the small, practical details that, when done properly, make a holiday truly relaxing and seamless. If you’re heading to South Africa during the southern hemisphere summer – which extends all the way […]

Explore the Western Cape

One of the joys of travelling to South Africa is the sheer variety and scope it offers for a first, second or even tenth-time visitor. Within the length and breadth of this beautiful country, you’ll find every type of landscape, cuisine and activity imaginable.  The Western Cape in particularly is easily navigable for day or […]

Learning on Safari

At Steadfast, we are big believers in the value of a safari as a family holiday – not just for the opportunity it offers for quality time together in an inspiring setting – but for the chance it gives young (and older) guests to learn about the environment. To truly appreciate the importance of nature, […]

The safari villa

While many people, understandably, associate safari travel with the traditions and rituals of a bush lodge – a collection of suites gathered around a convivial communal space, with guests sharing the day’s stories over a fire and covening for meals – there are many ways to experience safari, depending on your unique needs as a […]