I think that in many ways we have almost lost the sense of ‘safari’ in most parts of African tourism today. Parks are becoming more crowded and lodges in many parts of Africa are getting more and more ‘solid’, like homes of canvass and wood, just one step away from brick and thatch from home.

What we are kicking around in the broadest concept at the new Zibadianja is a return to the elegant safari under canvass, but with the ultimate style of what many early travellers pioneered, but better. What we plan at Zibadianja is an ultra exclusive (in the truest sense of the word; where you are alone) and ultra personal experience in the old style luxury safari, but taken to a new level. It will be a camp where a family or a small group of friends can book the camp out for that ultimate private experience in a remote and beautiful part of Africa.

The wildlife at Zibadianja is stunning, wild dogs den there, lions chase hippos, there are elephants everywhere...so we are building a camp that can complement the wildlife and have our guests enjoy and savour every moment of that. We started thinking about the real value of the safari experience and how lucky we are in Botswana and in particular in the Selinda Reserve, where we have 300,000 acres of wild wild land.  This camp must embellish and complement this privilege.

The style will embody the age of exploration and adventure that nearly lost the sense of being first and living on the edge, but doing it elegantly, almost decadently.  There will be three tents with telescopes to sweep the plains, maps and books to plan and plot out the direction of roars heard during the night over a pre-dawn coffee as we trace the map and pin point possible islands for that leopard call heard at 4am.

At the same time the new camp will (behind the scenes) have every bit of the latest green technology to make it entirely environmentally friendly. It will be that ideal meeting place between great wildlife, interesting and luxurious but authentic safari accommodation and perfect service.

What we want to create is a camp where people will want to stay for a month.