Dear Travel Partners
Springtime in Southern Africa is nothing short of spectacular, and Extraordinary provides the perfect spaces to experience it. Imagine being surrounded by the lush beauty of the bush, where the landscape bursts into vibrant greens and a tapestry of colourful flowers. As you immerse yourself in nature’s wonders, you’ll find the rhythm of life harmonizing with the pulse of the wild—a reminder that Africa is not just a place, but an emotion, a state of being.
This season offers ideal weather conditions for exploring the great outdoors. Enjoy warmer temperatures and sunny skies as you embark on unforgettable safaris, marvel at the diverse wildlife, and witness the blooming flora in all its glory. A mid-season rejuvenation provides a perfect opportunity to reconnect with nature and find tranquillity in its splendour. Spring travel to Southern Africa also means fewer crowds and exclusive deals, making it the ideal time to explore this enchanting region. Whether you’re captivated by the majestic bush life, eager to experience the kindness and warmth of the locals, or simply seeking a serene escape, the Extraordinary – A Collection of Luxury Lodges and Hotels in Southern Africa has something special in store for you.
As the renowned traveller said, “One of the great things about travel is that you find out how many good, kind people there are.” Experiencing this warmth firsthand will create memories that will stay with you forever.
Embrace the season, discover the beauty, and let the Extraordinary pulse guide the Springtime bookings.
Yours in Travel
The Extraordinary Team
Wild Earth Collaboration
We are delighted to announce a new partnership with Wild Earth TV Our collaboration promises life-changing travel adventures, with a filming team going live daily, bringing you closer to the action than ever before. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our exciting new Virtual Safaris, designed to transport you right into the heart of the African wilderness from the comfort of your home.
An Extraordinary Mandela Day
Our wonderful properties and guests gave back generously on Mandela Day on 18 July, by supporting those in need within their local communities.
From donating material items to preparing meals to assisting in maintenance projects, our teams were able to make a difference in many people’s lives.
We are incredibly grateful to our staff and guests for their generous donations. It is always humbling to take the time to engage with those in need.
- Mabula Game Lodge donated a wonderful assortment of essential food items, juices, yoghurts, fruit, and vegetables to the Huis Taljie Children’s Home.
- Safari Plains visited Tekna Safe House in Bela Bela where they prepared and donated warm soup to 44 children.
- Imbali Safari Lodge visited the Pfunani homestead for children, where they painted some of the classrooms, donated educational materials and toiletries, and our chefs prepared some sweet treats for the children to enjoy.
- The team at Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway prepared and delivered hotdogs and juice to 308 schoolchildren at a primary school in Vaalwater.
- Angels View Hotel donated food items and assisted with some repair and building maintenance at an orphanage in Graskop.
- The Cape Milner Hotel partnered with Homestead, a local Cape Town initiative dedicated to bettering the lives of street children. Care packs were donated to the organization for distribution.
- The Extraordinary Head Office team spent the morning with children at Diepsloot Primary 4, in collaboration with the Help2Read foundation, a non-profit organization focused on literacy development and community strengthening through education and youth promotion. Our team generously donated some educational games and reading material, as well as food items for children attending their after school programme.
Staff on the Move
We are delighted to announce that Beverley Killian has been appointed as Resident Manager at Safari Plains, effective September 2024. Beverley is no stranger to the Extraordinary family and joins us from Mabula Game Lodge where she was Assistant Resident Manager. Be sure to say hi to Beverley on your next visit to Safari Plains.
Extraordinary Invests in Culinary Creativity
Training kitchen staff and re-energizing hospitality kitchens are all part of the day’s work for Ruvé van der Merwe, who recently assisted our teams in revitalizing the Extraordinary food offering.
“The results have been amazing – our food journey has been finely honed to represent the group’s style of luxury and exclusivity. There has been a natural flow into our F&B from a serving and wine-pairing perspective and the guest feedback is outstanding, with our reviews being flooded by positive comments.”
Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway Spring Recipe
Honey and Saffron-Poached Pears with Vanilla Bean Mascarpone
Ingredients
- ¼ teaspoon saffron threads
- 1½ cups white wine, (Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc)
- ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon Honey
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 whole firm-ripe pears, peeled
- ½ cup mascarpone
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
Method
- In a small bowl combine saffron and 2 tablespoons warm water. Let steep for 5 minutes.
- In a saucepan, combine the saffron mixture, wine, ½ cup honey, and lemon juice.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
- Add pears to saucepan, laying them on their sides. Poach pears gently, turning them frequently, until tender, 15-20 minutes.
- Allow the pears to cool in the poaching liquid.
- Right before serving, prepare the vanilla bean mascarpone.
- In a large bowl combine mascarpone, cream, vanilla bean paste, and the remaining 1 tablespoon honey.
- Beat until light and fluffy.
- To serve, spoon a large dollop of mascarpone onto each of 4 plates. Cut ¼” off the bottom of each.
Ground Hornbill Conservation Update
Safe chick harvest with the BATELEURS.
During the 2023/2024 breeding season, five second-egg harvested chicks were successfully hand-reared at the Baobab hand-rearing facility at Loskop Dam Nature Reserve. Our ex-situ coordinator and rearer Elaine Reeve joined the first harvest with the APNR Ground-hornbill Project team, and she then drove the chick back to Loskop. This was Elaine’s second season with the Project, and she felt a lot more confident this time around.
The Bateleurs graciously flew the chicks when the weather was favourable and most of the team had a chance to fly from the Lowveld to the Baobab.
Elaine had assistance from volunteer Kathleen Kemp who has some previous rearing experience and offered Elaine a great deal of support. WIL University of Mpumalanga conservation students Vuysile Mathonsi, Sibusiso Mahlalela and Silindokuhle Nkosi were phenomenal in carrying out all the tedious yet very necessary supportive tasks such as cleaning, food preparation and the endless collection of leaves for natural substrate. And as always, Delecia Gunn (MTPA), whose many years of hand-rearing experience offered valuable advice and support.It was a long season as the harvest lasted just over a month and so having such a wonderful team was invaluable in successfully rearing the 5 chicks. The chicks reared were RhinoRoad, Caroline, Cruise, Baobab Ridge and York. York is the only male with the others all being female.Each chick, as always, very much has their own very distinctive personality. Rhinoroad, the oldest, is a confident and outgoing bird, Caroline is curious, Cruise is the shy one, Baobab is cautious and York is the clown of the group.
The chicks have all been successfully introduced to their foster adults for socializing; some of whom we are thrilled to say are first-time parents and have taken to this role like they have been doing it for years. York is currently being introduced to two older birds, and he will be released in the coming months. One of the release groups on Loskop Dam Nature Reserve also successfully bred for the first time in several years, which is very exciting!
