andBeyond

Established in 1991, andBeyond owns 29 lodges and operates high-end tours scattered across three continents that showcase the best Mother Nature has to offer. With a posse of skilled guides and rangers, the company delivers extraordinary stays, game drives and eco-luxury.

In January 2020, the luxury travel company unveiled the Ngala Treehouse at the Ngala private game reserve in South Africa. Live out a Tarzan-esque dream with an overnight stay at the four-level treehouse lodge, complete with an open-air sleeping platform beneath the stars. Otherwise, a luxurious weatherproof bedroom (and hot shower) is waiting just below if the weather turns and it rains down in Africa.

Right next to the Kruger National Park, the 36,000 acre game reserve is home to the Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos) as well as the elusive African wild dogs. So keep your eyes peeled. The treehouse experience must be booked as part of a longer stay at either the Ngala Safari Lodge or Ngala Tented Camp, two other properties of andBeyond situated nearby. Otherwise, andBeyond has other lodges and experiences in South America and Asia.

The travel company remains dedicated to conservation by supporting local anti-poaching efforts and protecting local wildlife within their flagship Phinda private game reserve that has grown to – including community land that the company helps to manage – 28,555 hectares.

It was in the Phinda private game reserve that andBeyond reintroduced numerous species including the lion, cheetah, elephant and several smaller animals like the serval and caracal. Most recently, they reintroduced the oft-poached and highly endangered Temminck’s ground pangolin.

Throughout the world, andBeyond’s reserves and eco-lodges protect hundreds, if not thousands, of species of game, birds and sea creatures.

Read more about the treehouse experience here.

Mashpi Lodge

This Ecuadorean wonder is a hidden gem – surrounded by miles of lush tropical rainforest, crashing waterfalls and nature galore, the sustainably-built Mashpi Lodge doesn’t spare any expense in delivering guests a five-star experience that puts the local flora and fauna front and center.

An entrant in the feted National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World list, the luxury jungle resort boasts a wellness center featuring outdoor yoga deck, hot tub and spa. You’ll get a chance to pay homage to Ecuador’s rich culinary heritage and rich variety of local ingredients at the lodge’s dining room.

Choose from fully equipped Yaku (a Kichwa word meaning water) suites complete with Phillipe-Starck designed bathtubs, or Wayra (meaning wind) rooms that come decked out with all the modern amenities we’ve grown used to so we can focus on what’s important: the myriad of species, both floral and faunal, right outside the window.

Spot armadillos, peccaries and maybe even a puma – by hike, aboard a canopy-spanning gondola or from various observation points scattered around the lodge. You could even visit nearby waterfalls to cool off – there’s nothing like trekking through the forest to get you close and personal with ferns, bromeliads and the Mashpi Magnolia, a species endemic to the reserve.

Your stay at Mashpi lounge also funds research by the Mashpi Reserve team. A crew of biologists and researchers has been documenting – with cleverly-designed camera traps and plenty of legwork – some of the thousands of animal, insect and plant species in the forest (there are 400 species of birds alone – with 36 found only in Mashpi).

Read more about the lodge here.

Lindblad Expeditions

Irresponsible cruise operators have given these ocean liners a bad rep. Wanton disposal of sewage and scrubbers that let companies use more polluting fuels and circumvent global standards – not to mention endless buffets – have threatened to permanently muddy the waters of luxury seafaring.

Lindblad Expeditions aren’t technically cruise operators, but they do bring guests on authentic ocean adventures that tell some of Mother Nature’s best stories – ones that you won’t get to witness from the deck of a mega-cruise ship.

Their newest vessel, the National Geographic Endurance (pictured, image from Atle&Oclinl), has the highest ice rating of any passenger vessel which allows it to travel year-round in moderate ice conditions. It is exceptionally comfortable and fuel-efficient thanks to its X-Bow stabilization design, even in rough conditions.

Her maiden voyage is set for Apr 2 this year, titled Svalbard in Spring. With only 126 seats up for grabs aboard this historic 11-day voyage, its a rare chance to witness the bewitching hues of teal, pink and orange across the Arctic sky, pristine floes and glaciers and of course, the majestic polar bear.

Its cabins come comfortably equipped with modern creature comforts – including a balcony for stunning views of azure fjords and miles of nothing but white. The ship also comes equipped with spas, ocean-view saunas and gym facilities.

As for food, expect local, sustainably sourced fare at the main dining room or a more intimate affair at the chef’s table. There’s also the chance to interact with guest speakers from disciplines such as marine biology, exploration and journalism at sharing sessions – or over a drink from fully-stocked bars.

There’s more to see than walruses, reindeer and arctic foxes though; Change, the first-ever permanent ship-based art exhibition – curated by artist Zaria Forman – will be unveiled aboard the National Geographic Endurance. Change is a celebration of the evolving polar landscape in all its fragility and grandeur – as well as its inhabitants, human and animal, as they shift with the environment.

Lindblad Expeditions is also committed to sustainable travel, both for wildlife and the planet. This includes funding conservation efforts protecting the Arctic, the Galapagos Islands and many more. Their expeditions are also a platform for scientists to conduct research in remote locations – and share their findings with the wider community.

Read more about the journey into the ice here.

Maharaja Eco-dive Lodge

Vaunted by Lonely Planet as one of the top five Eco-Luxury resorts in the world, Mararaja is a luxe diving lodge that occupies a tiny private island in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. MahaRaja’s attention to detail is probably what earned them the accolade: the jetty is one of the longest in Raja Ampat (to protect the coastal reef) and – like the bungalows on the island – are made from wood harvested across 100 local family farms. Solar-power and natural spring water account for utilities, and the resort serves only locally-sourced, vegan food.

They’ve also committed to using solar-powered electric boats to prevent noise and fuel pollution at the precious coral reef surrounding the island – which the resort owns, allowing them to ban fishing and give the coral a chance to recover naturally after years of blast fishing activity.

Naturally, guests are not permitted to use commercial sunscreens (that damage corals), nor can they touch or disturb any of the marina flora and fauna, including sea turtles, stingrays and dugongs, clearly visible through the crystal-clear waters.

Other than diving, other eco-activities include using a solar cooker to make a cup of joe, Papuan-inspired vegan cooking classes or simply reclining in your private over-water bungalow that delivers on its promise of exclusivity like no other – there are only five guest bungalows on the island.

You aren’t only supporting local conservation efforts, but the native Papuan community as well who form the bulk of the resort’s crew.

Read more about one of Raja Ampat’s best kept secrets here.

Platinum Heritage

Well-heeled desert aficionados, this one’s for you. Platinum Heritage’s raison d’etre is to provide contemporary hospitality while channelling millennia of Bedouin heritage and an appreciation for the desertscape that never, ever compromises.

Their desert tours feature wildlife drives through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, an authentically Emirati falconry show or even a private hot air balloon experience. Through it all, you’ll get a chance to learn about Emirati heritage from knowledgeable guides or (our favourite way) through faithful local cuisine like lamb ouzi and camel meat stew.

If you opt for a more exclusive experience, you can expect a gourmet six-course meal at a private oasis with after-meal cigars and shisha. End the night with an Arabian fire show whilst lounging on plush cushions in your exclusive corner of the desert.

Their desert camps are sustainably constructed from wood, stone and goat hair; and run solely on solar power. They also use Source hydropanels that pull moisture from the air using solar energy to supply water to guests in a safe, clean way.

Platinum Heritage also lays claim to be the first desert safari company in Dubai to shun dune bashing – a practice, while exhilarating, that is very environmentally damaging and hastens desertification. Their fleet of vintage Land Rovers isn’t just for photo ops (though they make for a rad selfie): rebuilding old vehicles goes a long way in reducing carbon overheads. Naturally, a part of every experience booked goes toward the reserve.

As for fauna, the desert ecosystem actually contains far more than an odd scorpion or two, or buzzards eerily circling overhead: there are herds of Arabian oryx and gazelles within the reserve; you might also spot various desert felines, reptiles and insects.

If we can’t convince you, just know that you’ll be retreading the footsteps of Steve Harvey, Michael Buble and the late Kobe Bryant, among many others – enough for a whole page.

For detailed itineraries, click here.