THE LUXURY SAFARI EXPERIENCE

The Purple Ski ethos has always been to offer exceptional service in a small, handpicked collection of chalets, using our decades of experience to deliver the finest luxury holidays. With Great Plains Conservation, Dereck and Beverly Joubert have created a safari experience that truly embodies that ethos. We are thrilled to now offer Purple Ski guests the chance to encounter the incredible African landscapes and wildlife from the comfort of these exquisite camps.

The Jouberts discovered their passion for safaris while filming and researching in Africa as National Geographic photographers, spending more than four decades exploring the continent and capturing its unique treasures on film. The resulting films, which focus on wildlife and conservation, have been recognised with eight Emmy awards.

Created to share that same passion with all their guests, Great Plains Conservation combines the spirit of adventure with all the luxuries of a five-star hotel. The camps have been meticulously and lovingly designed by the Jouberts themselves, each possessing its own individual character and existing in total harmony with the natural environment.

We offer 14 luxury safari camps and lodges across two collections, the Explorer Collection and Réserve Collection.

Camps in the Explorer Collection are traditional yet stylish bush camps, striking the perfect balance between comfort, dedicated service, and authentic adventure. Ideal for wildlife-lovers and those looking to get far off the beaten track, the Explorer Collection offers a superb value luxury experience.

The camps and lodges in the Réserve Collection are all Relais & Châteaux members, and have the unparalleled service and accommodation to match. The suites are extremely spacious and sumptuous, and feature professional cameras and binoculars for you to use at your leisure. In addition to everything included at the Explorer camps, the Réserve Collection includes premium spirits, champagne, and cigars.

Whichever collection you choose, our camps are all situated in the most beautiful, secluded corners of Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe in private concessions or conservancies. They’re all small and exclusive, with an average of five tents or suites to each camp, so you can enjoy the peaceful, privileged setting without needing to share it with the crowds.

As if breathtaking sunsets, stupendous panoramas and incredible wildlife aren’t enough to have you packing your suitcase, we have a number of special offers to provide that little extra temptation…

Going on safari is a dream come true for little ones, with the chance to see awe-inspiring wildlife up close and experience a real adventure in the wild.

What’s more, Great Plains Conservation offer a range of activities through their Young Explorers programme, allowing children to learn about nature, conservation, and local culture while acquiring new skills and, most importantly, having fun!

A taste of the activities on offer (activities vary by camp):

• Bush cooking and pizza making
• Wildlife photography
• Stargazing with telescopes
• Bow and arrow making with target practice
• Canoeing
• Catch and release fishing
• Traditional song and dance
• Beadwork
• Walking and cycling safaris

Beyond the exceptional wildlife viewing, Africa also offers a seemingly limitless array of cultural activities, natural wonders, and cities to explore. So why not extend your trip by a few days, to allow time to experience more of everything this fascinating continent has to offer? Whether it’s sightseeing in beautiful Cape Town, marvelling at the thundering waters of Victoria Falls, or relaxing on a pristine Indian Ocean beach, we can arrange a number of add-ons to your luxury safari. Simply get in touch for assistance planning your ultimate personalised trip.

Great Plains Conservation operates on a low-volume, high-value tourism model. By leasing former hunting concessions for their luxury camps, they have secured and protected 1.5 million acres of wilderness for African wildlife.

The camps work in tandem with their partner charity, the Great Plains Foundation, which independently funds and manages major regional biodiversity and community development initiatives across Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

You can support their work by making a donation or booking one of their ‘Guest Impact Experiences’ during your stay, such as purchasing local crafts from a women’s group, planting an indigenous tree, or visiting an elephant orphanage.

For more information on the foundation, their projects, and how you can help, visit their website.