From gorilla encounters in Uganda to a reimagined Okavango retreat, Abercrombie & Kent elevates its African journeys with two spectacular lodge transformations.
5 min
Abercrombie & Kent has strengthened its position as the world’s leading experiential travel company with two newly transformed lodges in Africa, signalling a new era of tailormade luxury for guests seeking deeply personal, once-in-a-lifetime journeys on the continent that shaped the brand more than 60 years ago.
For A&K, Africa is not just another destination; it is the birthplace of the company and the foundation of its pioneering approach to responsible luxury travel.
Tailormade journeys allow guests to explore this vast continent entirely on their own terms, supported by a global network of destination experts, specialist guides, and on-the-ground “guardian angels” available around the clock.
Every tailormade itinerary is a fully customised experience, interweaving iconic highlights with hidden wonders. Whether guests dream of tracking wildlife on remote plains, discovering ancient cultures, or reconnecting with family in one of Africa’s most inspiring landscapes, each journey is designed to be as unique as the traveller themselves.
Abercrombie & Kent’s African portfolio has entered a new chapter with the reveal of two extensively rebuilt Sanctuary lodges in Uganda and Botswana, each designed to elevate the experience of Tailormade travel, the luxury company’s signature approach to deeply personal, fully customised journeys.
For more than 60 years, A&K has drawn on its roots in East Africa to craft exceptional, high-touch adventures for travellers seeking privacy, immersion and meaning.
With the reopening of Gorilla Forest Lodge in Uganda and Baines’ Lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, the brand is doubling down on the blend of design, wildlife access and sustainability that has long set it apart.
Tucked inside one of the world’s most biologically rich regions, Gorilla Forest Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary, has long had a singular claim: it is the only luxury lodge located within the actual boundaries of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Already extraordinary in location, the lodge has now undergone a complete transformation — and the result is a deeply refined, fully immersive sanctuary designed with both sensitivity and ambition.
The rebuild significantly expands each of the ten guest suites, creating generous private sanctuaries suspended in the rainforest canopy. Interiors draw directly from local craft traditions — banana-fibre ceilings, handwoven textiles, reclaimed woodwork and artisanal detailing made in nearby communities. The effect is layered, tactile and unmistakably Ugandan.
Bathrooms have been reimagined as spa-like retreats, with freestanding bathtubs positioned for forest views and rain showers opening to private decks. Each suite now includes its own lounge, an oversized bed, and an elevated deck where guests often spot the region’s famed mountain gorillas at dawn.
The lodge’s redesign continues A&K’s decades-long commitment to Uganda’s local communities. Every stay contributes to A&K Philanthropy projects, including education initiatives and healthcare access for villages bordering the park.
Geoffrey Kent’s deep history in Uganda, stretching back more than 40 years, is woven into the property’s ethos. Guests can participate in conservation-oriented activities, guided by expert trackers who work directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Gorilla trekking remains one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences on the planet. Being based inside the park means trekking groups can depart directly from the lodge, often reaching gorilla families in shorter times than guests staying outside the gates.
The result is an experience that feels both exclusive and unhurried, exactly what A&K’s Tailormade travellers value.
Botswana’s Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes — a shifting world of floodplains, lagoons and wildlife-rich islands. Within this UNESCO World Heritage Site, Baines’ Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary, has emerged from a top-to-bottom rebuild that elevates it into one of the most intimate and design-driven lodges in the Delta.
Set on the banks of the Boro River, the new Baines’ Lodge is constructed on stilts, lifting the six suites high above the floodplains. The architecture embraces an “African pavilion gallery” concept: column-lined walkways, soaring ceilings and open-sided lounges that dissolve the barrier between interior and wilderness.
The colour palette draws from the Delta itself — muted greens, reeds, sun-washed timber, handwoven ceilings and raw natural textures that give the lodge a sculptural quietness.
Every suite has been reimagined with:
• Deep soak tubs with uninterrupted water views
• Private decks and outdoor seating for birdwatching and stargazing
• Contemporary African art and artisanal pieces
• Expansive indoor-outdoor bathrooms
• King beds with mosquito-net canopies
• Soft, indirect lighting that mirrors the Delta’s shifting tones
Despite its refined interiors, the lodge remains deeply committed to environmental sensitivity. Lunawood, a lightweight timber material, forms much of the structure, ensuring minimal environmental impact and allowing the lodge to be removed without damaging the landscape, which is an unusually progressive approach for a luxury property.
Because the lodge is located on a permanent channel of the Delta, game viewing is exceptional year-round. Guests can explore by:
• Mokoro (traditional dugout canoe)
• Motorboat
• Guided walking safaris
• 4×4 game drives
• Private river cruises
• Sundowner excursions along the floodplains
The area is known for elephant herds, wild dogs, lions, leopards, hippos and rare birdlife, all often visible directly from the lodge’s deck.
While many safari operators offer luxury, A&K’s Tailormade approach is built around something rarer: absolute personalisation.
Guests receive access to:
• Private guides and handpicked specialists
• Seamless logistics across remote areas
• Behind-the-scenes experiences not open to the public
• 24/7 on-the-ground support
• Carefully choreographed transfers between lodges, parks and cities
• Exclusive conservation and community activities
The reopening of Gorilla Forest Lodge and Baines’ Lodge marks a significant investment in Africa by Abercrombie & Kent, reinforcing its mission to offer world-leading luxury experiences that honour place, elevate culture and maintain a light environmental footprint.
Both properties are now open, with bookings available as part of fully Tailormade itineraries crafted exclusively by A&K’s global network of experts.
Following the successful launch of its Palais Collection, MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled a new modular handbag system offering more than 720 styling combinations.
Automobili Lamborghini and Babolat have expanded their collaboration with five new colourways for the ultra-exclusive BL.001 racket, limited to just 50 pieces worldwide.
The Matildas captain has joined one of the world’s most exclusive luxury watch brands, sharing candid insights into the sacrifices required to succeed at the highest level of world football.
3 min
Australian football superstar and Matildas captain Sam Kerr has joined one of the world’s most exclusive luxury watch brands, reflecting on the sacrifices behind a career at the pinnacle of professional sport and revealing she only signed with her new club last week.
As Richard Mille’s first and only Australian partner, Kerr has joined an elite group of global athletes, artists and innovators associated with one of the world’s most prestigious watchmakers.
Speaking in Sydney, the 32-year-old reflected on her next chapter, the extraordinary growth of women’s football and the personal sacrifices required to reach the top of the game.
Founded in 2001, Richard Mille has built a reputation for producing some of the world’s most technically advanced and exclusive timepieces. The Swiss watchmaker is renowned for its use of ultra-lightweight materials, Formula One-inspired engineering and limited-production watches that often sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars and, in some cases, more than $1 million.
Its ambassadors include tennis great Rafael Nadal, Formula One stars Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, actress Michelle Yeoh and sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
During the Sydney event, Kerr wore the Richard Mille RM 07-04 Automatic Sport, a lightweight model featuring a pink case, blue strap and skeletonised movement. Designed for active lifestyles, the watch reflects the brand’s philosophy of combining high-performance engineering with luxury craftsmanship.
For Kerr, becoming the brand’s first Australian partner is a source of considerable pride.
“Of course, being the only Australian is incredible to me,” she said. “I am very proud to be Australian and I like to put Australia on the map.”
The announcement comes as Kerr prepares for the next stage of her football career following her departure from Chelsea after six-and-a-half years.
While speculation around her future has been mounting for months, Kerr revealed a decision was only finalised recently.
“Everyone thinks that it was decided and I’ve known that (it was) reported that I’d signed somewhere in April, but honestly, I only signed my contract on Wednesday last week,” she said.
“I really hadn’t decided what I was going to do until last week.”
Kerr said she expects details of her new club to be announced around the beginning of July once her Chelsea contract officially concludes.
Despite her excitement about what lies ahead, she admitted leaving one of the world’s biggest football clubs has been emotional.
“I am really sad about it,” she said. “It’s been my home for 6.5 years. I have so many good memories there. I have so many amazing teammates. I’m sad to leave.
“It sucks to leave such a big club like Chelsea too, but it comes to an end to everything, right?”
The 32-year-old also reflected on the transformation of women’s football during her career, describing the Matildas’ rise from relative obscurity to household-name status as one of her proudest achievements.
“What the Matildas have done over the last four or five years has been incredible,” she said.
“The most important thing for me is that you leave the game in a better place.”
Kerr noted that when she began playing, there were few professional pathways for women, limited sponsorship opportunities and crowds that bore little resemblance to those regularly attending matches today.
“We are a part of that generation that still knows what it was like when there was no one in the crowd,” she said.
Today, she said, crowds of tens of thousands remain something the team never takes for granted.
“Even last night we had 20,000 on a Tuesday night nearly. That’s special to us,” she said.
“We feel very lucky that people come out and spend their money and come to a game and watch us.”
Yet behind the accolades, sponsorships and sold-out stadiums, Kerr said there have been significant personal sacrifices.
“I’ve been living out of home since I was 17 years old. I’ve missed a lot of my family’s life,” she said.
“I’ve missed a lot of weddings. I’ve missed funerals. I’ve missed so many things that people don’t see.”
Kerr revealed she was unable to return home for her grandmother’s funeral last year because of football commitments.
“You have to love what you’re doing. You have to want to sacrifice,” she said.
“Everyone makes sacrifices, of course, and what I do is a massive privilege, but there comes a lot of sacrifice with it.”
Away from football, Kerr said Australia remains central to her identity despite spending much of her adult life overseas.
“I think we take for granted in Australia the beaches, the ocean, the open spaces,” she said.
As she prepares for a new club, a new season and a new role with Richard Mille, Kerr said she remains motivated by the same passion that first drew her to the game as a teenager.
“It was really organic,” she said of her relationship with the luxury watchmaker.
“It’s a real family brand.”
