Sun Destinations

Nature doesn’t follow calendars- it follows cycles, seasons, and migration.
Rainfall signals renewal in the wild, as migratory birds return and the landscape quietly shifts.

Start the year away from notifications and noise.

Where wild calls echo through the dark, shooting stars streak across the night sky, and early mornings in the African wilderness replace countdowns and resolutions.

A safari is never just a holiday.
It’s an immersion into the wild, a place to learn, to slow down, and to absorb in awe, the quiet magnificence of nature.
It changes you, while helping protect the wild landscapes that make it possible.

Time in the wild has a way of resetting our perspectives, reminding us of our place within something far larger and far older.

In 2026, travel is about choosing journeys that give back to the places that welcome us

Where your morning coffee is sipped on surrounded by a herd of zebra or your afternoons are spent moving slowly from lounge to lounger.

A summer safari holds its own special magic. When the bush comes to life with abundance and landscapes are transformed into vibrant and lush havens. Water becomes plentiful as the rains drench the parched earth. Life flourishes.

Here is what the new year looks like in the pristine wilderness surrounding our camps in the Greater Kruger.

Guide and eagle-eyed tracker, Trent, from Chacma Bush Camp shared his favourite moments of the season.

“The bush around us here at Chacma has become very thick and lush green. The rains have changed the landscape entirely bringing moisture for all the plants and trees to grow as well as filling up all our dams in the area, which has brought in all new animals and some new sightings of hippos to new water that have not been seen in these water sources before, water birds like the white faced whistling ducks, knob billed ducks and black storks that we don’t often see around this area. My favourite part of this season is watching all the what looks like dead vegetation come back to life and regrow after the first (and abundant) rains we have had the privilege of having.”

While fellow expert guide, Edward shared

“The Bush is green and lush with plenty new shoots and dense vegetation ranging from glass, flowers, plants and trees. Migratory birds all have chicks 🐣 and water is plenty full.

Rains have filled up all waterholes and catchment areas inside the bush bringing new aquatic life and frogs laying eggs, hippo has come from far and we have been seeing them alot more recently and favourite part of season will definitely be all the cool insects and migratory birds thats all back.”

 

 

Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside sits on the banks of the seasonal Sand River, now a vibrant lush wonderland and haven for elephants, birds and all kinds of life.

 

 

 

The bush hums with new life

With the bush alive with renewal, Nyala Safari Lodge becomes the setting for tender new beginnings and dramatic skies painted across the savannah.

 

 

 

A new year doesn’t have to begin loudly.
It can begin under wide open skies, with quiet mornings in search of wild encounters and a deep sense of connection to nature.

The wilderness is ready when you are. Make 2026 your wildest year yet.

Explore your next boutique bush escape with Sun destinations. Contact our reservations team directly to find out more.