Why Private Concessions Matter When Planning a Trip to Africa
- digglirs
- Sep 29
- 5 min read
When most people dream of an African safari, they imagine wide-open savannas dotted with wildlife, a golden sunset over the horizon, and the thrill of spotting a lion on the move. Yet behind every extraordinary safari experience lies a choice that determines how you will encounter Africa’s wilderness: where you decide to stay. While national parks are celebrated worldwide, private concessions offer a different, often superior, experience. For the discerning traveler seeking exclusivity, intimacy, and impact, private concessions are the gold standard of luxury safaris.
Private concessions are vast tracts of land leased by luxury lodges or conservation operators within or adjacent to well-known reserves and parks. They allow for a highly customized and private safari experience while simultaneously supporting conservation and community development. To understand why they matter, we need to look at what sets them apart.
Key Takeaways
Private concessions redefine the safari experience.
They provide exclusivity and privacy that avoids the crowds of public reserves.
Guests enjoy unique activities like night drives, off-road exploration, and walking safaris not permitted in national parks.
Staying in a concession contributes directly to conservation and local community upliftment.
1. The Difference Between Parks and Concessions
National parks like Kruger in South Africa, Serengeti in Tanzania, and Chobe in Botswana are iconic destinations. They offer immense landscapes and spectacular wildlife, but they are open to everyone. This means more vehicles at sightings, strict rules about driving, and limited activity options.
Private concessions, by contrast, are managed by select operators who lease the land. These operators regulate access, ensuring only guests of their lodges use the area. That control means flexibility, exclusivity, and far fewer vehicles. For example, while ten vehicles might crowd around a lion sighting in Kruger’s public section, a concession within Sabi Sands might allow only two vehicles at a time, creating a calmer, more intimate encounter.
Public parks are governed by national rules that prioritize conservation and access.
Private concessions balance conservation with curated guest experiences.
2. Privacy and Exclusivity
Exclusivity is at the heart of private concessions. In Botswana’s Okavango Delta, lodges like Mombo or Vumbura Plains operate on vast concessions with only a handful of guests at any given time. Imagine having hundreds of square kilometers of pristine wilderness to share with just a few others.
This translates into intimate game drives, personalized guiding, and a sense of wilderness immersion that public reserves cannot offer. Guests do not just see Africa’s wildlife — they feel as though they are discovering it privately.
Vehicle numbers at sightings are capped, preserving the sense of wild authenticity.
Lodges are often small, boutique-style with fewer rooms and high staff-to-guest ratios.
3. Flexibility of Activities
National parks generally restrict visitors to daytime game drives on designated roads. While this is sufficient for many, private concessions open up a world of experiences.
Night drives: Track elusive nocturnal creatures like aardvarks, leopards, and hyenas under starlit skies.
Walking safaris: Step into the wilderness on foot, guided by expert rangers who teach you how to read tracks, identify plants, and feel the pulse of the bush.
Off-road driving: Follow predators as they hunt or elephants as they cross rivers, giving guests a front-row seat to nature’s drama.
Photographic opportunities: Without strict park restrictions, guides can position vehicles for the best angles and light, ideal for professional and amateur photographers alike.
This flexibility means no two days are the same. Guests shape their safari to their preferences, whether that means maximizing photography time, focusing on birdlife, or seeking thrilling predator sightings.
4. Conservation at the Core
One of the least visible but most important reasons private concessions matter is their role in conservation. These lands expand the reach of national parks by acting as buffer zones and wildlife corridors. In places like the Greater Kruger or the Serengeti ecosystem, concessions provide critical safe passage for elephants, lions, and other migratory species.
Revenue from lodge guests funds anti-poaching units, habitat restoration, and wildlife monitoring. In Botswana, where hunting concessions were transformed into photographic safaris, wildlife numbers rebounded, showing the power of tourism-led conservation.
Concession fees often support rangers, tracking technology, and veterinary care.
Protected concessions increase the safe habitat available for endangered species.
5. Supporting Local Communities
Luxury safaris have the potential to uplift local communities, and private concessions make this possible in direct, tangible ways. Many lodges are community-owned or share revenues with surrounding villages. Others provide jobs, training, and educational initiatives that empower residents.
For example, in Namibia, conservancies allow local people to co-manage concessions. They benefit from income while also protecting their environment. In Botswana, community trusts often own concessions leased to operators, ensuring revenue stays local.
Guests indirectly fund schools, healthcare, and infrastructure in rural areas.
Community ownership creates incentives for long-term conservation.
6. Case Studies: Where Concessions Shine
Sabi Sands, South Africa
World-renowned for close-up leopard sightings, Sabi Sands shares an unfenced border with Kruger but operates privately. Guests enjoy the same wildlife richness without the congestion of the public park.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Concessions here are the epitome of wilderness luxury. Exclusive lodges like Duba Plains and Jao Camp combine world-class service with unrivaled access to the delta’s seasonal wildlife spectacle.
Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania
This private concession bordering the Serengeti is managed by the Grumeti Fund. Guests staying at lodges like Singita Sasakwa contribute to large-scale anti-poaching and conservation programs while experiencing the Great Migration away from tourist throngs.
Hwange Private Concessions, Zimbabwe
Bordering Hwange National Park, these concessions offer a mix of walking safaris, cultural encounters, and exceptional elephant herds.
7. Travel Tips for Choosing a Concession
For luxury travelers, not all concessions are equal. Here are some tips for making the right choice:
Research the size of the concession:
Larger areas with fewer lodges offer more exclusivity.
Check wildlife density:
Some concessions are famous for certain species, such as leopards in Sabi Sands or wild dogs in Botswana.
Understand the philosophy:
Some lodges lean toward ultra-luxury with spas and wine cellars, while others focus on rustic elegance and deep immersion in nature.
Look for conservation partnerships:
Choose lodges that transparently invest in protecting wildlife and supporting communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between a private concession and a national park?
National parks are public spaces with strict regulations and high visitor numbers. Private concessions are controlled-access areas where lodges offer exclusive experiences and more flexible activities.
Are private concessions worth the higher cost?
Yes. The premium ensures privacy, unique activities like night drives, and contributions to conservation and community development.
Which countries in Africa offer private concessions?
Private concessions are found in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Each region offers unique ecosystems and wildlife highlights.
Do private concessions guarantee better wildlife sightings?
While nature is unpredictable, concessions often allow off-road driving and night safaris, increasing the likelihood of remarkable sightings.
How do private concessions support local communities?
They provide employment, fund schools and healthcare, and in some cases, share ownership or revenue directly with local people.
Final Thoughts
When planning a trip to Africa, the decision between a public park and a private concession can make or break the experience. National parks offer iconic landscapes and accessible safaris, but private concessions elevate the journey into something extraordinary. They deliver privacy, flexibility, conservation, and cultural impact in ways no public reserve can match.
For those seeking the very best, private concessions are not simply an upgrade. They are the defining element of a luxury safari, ensuring your journey is immersive, purposeful, and unforgettable.