The luxury safari market is expanding with new high-end properties launching in Kenya and Botswana, alongside the reopening of a remote Zambian safari camp for the 2026 season.
Upmarket operator andBeyond is set to open Suyian Homestead, a new sole-use safari home in Kenya’s 44,000-acre Suyian Conservancy, in June 2027.
The five-suite property will accommodate up to 11 guests and is aimed at small groups and multi-generational families.
Operating on an exclusive-use basis, the homestead will have a dedicated team of 13 staff, two private guides and two 4×4 safari vehicles.
Located around 10 minutes from andBeyond Suyian Lodge, guests will have access to selected lodge facilities including the wellness centre, while maintaining a private safari experience.
Activities will include private game drives and guided walks, with wildlife in the conservancy including zebras, giraffes, African wild dogs and black leopards.
Additional experiences will include camel treks, horseback safaris, fishing, cattle ranching experiences and helicopter flights.
The conservancy is owned by the Suyian Conservancy Trust and managed under a Kenya Wildlife Service-approved plan, with andBeyond as the sole tourism operator on the land.
The company said the property will follow a low-impact model, with around 80% of energy generated by solar power.
Rates start from $10,200 per night on an exclusive-use basis.
AndBeyond Managing Director for East Africa Lodges Jane Braack said: “Suyian Homestead expands our East African portfolio into a deeply personal, residential expression of safari living. It’s about creating a home in the wild where far-reaching views invite people to slow down and spend time together differently.”
Additionally, luxury safari operator Ker & Downey Botswana is preparing to open its newest camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
Kanana Nyana will open on 15 October this year, becoming the operator’s eighth luxury camp.
The four-suite camp will accommodate up to eight guests and is located on the edge of the Moremi Game Reserve, overlooking the Xudum River and surrounding floodplains.
Guests will be able to take part in guided walking safaris, game drives and mokoro excursions exploring the Okavango Delta’s wildlife and landscapes.
The camp has been designed to offer an intimate experience, with fewer guests and a focus on personalised guiding.
Ker & Downey Botswana Chief Operating Officer Kim Nixon said: “Kanana Nyana is a return to what safari is meant to feel like: intimate, personal, and completely immersed in the wild. With just four tented suites, it offers a rare and authentic connection to the Okavango Delta, where time is given to observe, to understand, and to appreciate rather than move on.”
Meanwhile, Wilderness Shumba and Busanga Bush Camp have reopened for the 2026 safari season in Zambia’s Kafue National Park.
The camps, located in the remote Busanga Plains, are welcoming guests from June to October, offering access to one of Africa’s largest wilderness areas.
Set within 28,000 hectares of private wilderness, the camps provide access to wildlife including lions, wild dogs, cheetahs, antelopes and more than 500 bird species.
Wilderness said recent rainfall has created favourable conditions for wildlife viewing during the 2026 season, with guides already reporting sightings of lion prides and cheetah in the area.
The reopening follows ongoing conservation work in partnership with African Parks and Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife.
Wilderness Zambezi Managing Director Dean Morton said: “The reopening of Shumba and Busanga Bush Camp marks the beginning of another special season in one of Africa’s most captivating wilderness areas.
“We look forward to welcoming both returning and first-time guests to experience Busanga’s abundant wildlife, sweeping floodplains, and unforgettable safari moments, while gaining a deeper appreciation for the conservation efforts that help safeguard this extraordinary landscape.”
