Kapama Private Game Reserve is proud to announce that its flagship lodge, Kapama Karula, has been awarded Best Immersive Experience at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2026.
This prestigious recognition celebrates Kapama Karula’s ability to craft an experience that goes beyond 5 star luxury lodge experience — one that immerses guests fully in the rhythm, textures, and tranquillity of the African wilderness.
An Immersive Safari Sanctuary
Set along the Klaserie River within Kapama Private Game Reserve, Kapama Karula epitomises refined safari living. The lodge’s ten luxurious Superior Villas and two family Villas blend contemporary elegance with the untamed beauty of the bush. Each villa features expansive glass walls that seamlessly dissolve the boundary between the inside and outside, inviting nature to become an integral part of the guest experience.
From sunrise game drives led by expert guides to riverside wellness rituals at the Karula Spa & Wellness Centre — recently named Best Game Lodge Spa Globally by the Haute Grandeur Global Awards — every element of a stay at Karula is designed to connect guests to the essence of the wild.
A Distinction Among the World’s Finest
The Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence are among the most respected in the global luxury hospitality industry, celebrating outstanding properties that consistently deliver exceptional service and unforgettable experiences.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition from Condé Nast Johansens,” said Christiaan Basson, General Manager of Kapama Private Game Reserve. “At Kapama Karula, every detail — from design to service — is crafted to offer guests not just a stay, but an experience that immerses them in the beauty, calm, and authenticity of the African wilderness.”
A Journey Beyond Luxury
As Kapama’s flagship lodge, Karula embodies the Reserve’s commitment to redefining modern safari luxury, where privacy, wellness, and conservation intertwine seamlessly. With a philosophy of quiet luxury and deeply personalised service, Kapama Karula continues to set new benchmarks for experiential travel within the Greater Kruger region.
Kapama’s 15,000-hectare Private Reserve is not only a sanctuary for wildlife, including endangered species like the white rhino and pangolin, wild dogs and southern ground hornbills, but it is a wilderness teaming with magnificent trees. From the knob thorn and the leadwood, to the marula and tamboti, to name but a few, Kapama truly offers discerning travellers a wilderness like nowhere else.
Kapama Karula – Beyond Luxury
For more information about Kapama Karula and to view our rates, click here to Kapama Karula
