Personalized safaris on private game reserves

Intentionally selected lodges and villas on private game reserves

Designing an African safari is one of the greatest privileges of what we do at MTY Luxury Travel. Safari is transformational; not simply a vacation, but a reorientation toward nature, rhythm, stillness, and presence. And unlike other forms of luxury travel, the single most important factor isn’t marble bathrooms, Michelin-grade dining, or thread counts (though we love those too).

It’s access.

Ultra-luxury accommodation can be found anywhere in the world. But unrestricted access to wildlife—especially the Big Five—exists only in a handful of extraordinary, privately managed reserves. This is where the safari becomes what you imagined: quiet, exclusive, intimate, and entirely yours.

Private Game Reserves: The Most Important Criterion of All

When designing a safari, this is MTY Luxury Travel’s North Star. The reserve matters more than the room.

In a private concession or game reserve:

  • Only guests of that lodge (or partner lodges) may be on the property.

  • You are not competing with crowds or queuing for sightings.

  • Vehicles can spend meaningful, unhurried time at an animal encounter, not just a few minutes.

  • Guides can go off-road when appropriate and sensitive to the wildlife.

  • Wildlife interactions feel personal, reverent, and untouched.

  • You often won’t see another soul on a game drive.

Conversely, in a national park open to the public, even luxury lodges face:

  • Congestion at sightings

  • Vehicles jockeying for position (only two to three are typically allowed at a time)

  • Strict time limits

  • Noise and traffic that diminish the experience

National parks are magnificent but rarely offer the exclusivity and depth of immersion our travelers expect.

If you’re coming all the way to Africa, this is what you came for — unrestricted access to wildlife on a private game reserve.

MTY Luxury Travel has cultivated trusted relationships with a select collection of lodges and exclusive-use villas on private game reserves across East and South Africa, allowing us to design a safari uniquely tailored to your interests, pace, and sense of adventure.

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East Africa or South Africa (or both)?

Eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda)

Perfect for travelers who want safari to be the primary focus.

Expect:

  • Sweeping plains and endless horizons in Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara and Laikipia Plateau

  • Longer, more immersive game drives

  • Seasonal movement of wildlife

  • Ultra-luxury tented camps that put you beautifully close to nature

  • Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcano National Park

A few nights at a tented camp, such as Singita Sabora, adds a magical, cinematic dimension to any itinerary.

Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe)

Ideal for travelers who want both an exceptional safari and a richly varied journey.

A South Africa itinerary often includes:

  • World-class safari lodges on private game reserves in South Africa’s Sabi Sands and Kruger and Botswana’s Okavango Delta

  • Time in South Africa’s Cape Town, one of the most iconic cities in the world

  • Wine tasting in South Africa’s Franschhoek or Stellenbosch

  • Visits to Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls

It’s sophisticated, scenic, and wonderfully diverse.

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Crafting the perfect safari

A safari is not merely a trip—it's a deeply personal journey shaped by your pace, preferences, interests, and travel style.

At MTY Luxury Travel, we design each itinerary with intention, ensuring:

  • Exclusive access

  • Quiet luxury

  • Exceptional wildlife viewing

  • The most experienced and knowledgeable guides and animal trackers

  • Seamless logistics (including intra-Africa air and ground transfers)

  • Lodges that feel both world-class and soul-stirring

  • Lodges with exceptional dining and wine offerings

  • Small, exclusive lodges, with less than twelve suites and personalized service to meet all of your needs while on safari

When you are ready to explore ideas or begin planning, MTY Luxury Travel is here to guide you toward the most extraordinary safari experience of your life.

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