Born out of the landscape of the African savanna, this text is a dynamic combination of primitive architecture and the high decorative style of European explorers in Africa. From tree-house camps and thatched bungalows to lodges akin to small luxury hotels in the wild, the 26 lodges featured in this volume come from the southern African states of Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Accompanying 200 colour photographs is an inspiring text that should entice any home decorator into transforming a city apartment or country house into a home reminiscent of any of these African locales. Lodge addresses are provided for the intrepid traveller, and a source list makes it easy to find everything you need to recreate an African atmosphere with elegance, simplicity, and vitality.
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In our culture, the word safari--which means journey in Swahili--conjures exotic images: romantic treks across desert plains rife with wild animals, journeys through dense jungles and down winding rivers, and the stylish indulgence popularized by early explorers like Captain William Cornwallis and depicted in movies like Out of Africa. Nowadays, Africa still attracts adventurous travelers who want to experience wilderness in the style of these early explorers. Lucky for them, many camps and lodges perpetuate these traditions, adopting the decorative style and offering many creature comforts to provide at once a romanticized way of "roughing it" and an experience of great luxury.
In Simply Safari, Swaziland-based wildlife photographers Daryl and Sharna Balfour illustrate a broad spectrum of architectural and decorative styles--from the more traditional to the most modern, and from the original tented safari style to motifs more reminiscent of a luxury hotel in the wild. The authors take readers on a photographic tour of 26 lodges in seven southern African states, including Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, illustrating the dynamic combination of primitive architecture and the high decorative style of European explorers. They depict romanticized versions of safari life ranging from a tree-house camp in Zambia, high on the banks of the Zambezi River, to the air-conditioned luxury of South Africa's Shamwari Lodge.
Botswana's Abu Camp on the Okavango Delta offers lavishly furnished tents with polished teak floors, a custom-made mahogany sleigh bed, and solid brass and copper bathtubs imported from Italy. Sossusvlei, Ongava, and Skeleton Coast safari camps in Namibia avoid competing with the stunning setting by relying on the simplicity of raw materials and natural textures. Combinations of vibrant earth tones and natural materials such as canvas, wood, stone, and thatch blend effortlessly to delight the eye without detracting from the views beyond.
Sumptuous photographs and inspiring text will entice those who want to transform their homes--whether city apartments or rambling country spreads--into exotic retreats that call to mind these breathtaking African locales. A handy source list is included to make it easy for readers to find many of the home furnishings pictured. Contact information for the featured lodges is included for those inspired to experience safari life firsthand. --Robin Donovan
From the Publisher
With appeal for designers and home owners, this lavish volume shows how to combine African simplicity with colonial grandeur to create interiors with safari style.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous Photography,
This review is from: Simply Safari (Hardcover)
Simply Safari by Daryl and Sharna Balfour is an oversized book (10 inches by 13 inches) billed as a book for "designers and homemakers seeking to recreate the elegance, simplicity, and vitality that accompanies safari style". There are photo from twenty-six safari and hunting lodges in southern Africa. The lodges are located in the countries of Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
In Simply Safari are a handful of gorgeous full color pictures of each lodge, a one page page description of each lodge, and every photo has a descriptive caption. There are pictures of living areas, bedrooms, bathrooms, patios, decks, furniture, artifacts, and more. At the back of the book is a list of stores you can purchase similar items for your home. Chances are you won't be able to get the exact items you see in any of the pictures as those items were made locally in Africa. The authors do give in idea of which items are available at which store. Personally, I like to decorate with curios, wall hangings, and fabrics I've picked up in my own travels instead of raiding stores for items that don't hold any particular memory for me. When people ask about the items in my home, I can usually tell them where I bought the items, about the person who sold it to me, and how hard I had to bargain to get that price. I like that about the things in my home - they all hold a little story and a piece of my experiences and travels. A couple of alternate uses for Simply Safari is as a coffee table book since the pictures are so fascinating to look at. Also, I would use this book if I were going to southern Africa on safari to help me decide where I might like to stay. Simply Safari is a very interesting book to look at with well photographed pictures and can give you some great decorating ideas if you are interested in decorating in the safari style.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
~Simply Safari is simply,B-e-a-t-u-i-f-u-l ~,
This review is from: Simply Safari (Hardcover)
This book is sooo absolutely amazing. I looked through this book & was in AWE with how B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l-l-y put together it is!
There are gorgeous photographs of 26 lodges of the southern African states from: Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia & Zimbabwe! You will enjoy looking & reading through this book time after time. The wonderful picture's in this book will inspire you if your are decorating or wanting to decorate in African Safari, British Colonial or just wanting to add a splash of Safari to your life. Obviously there are items that you cannot get easily in America, but some of idea's in this book can be found @ Cost-Plus World Market or Pier1 Imports! I ordered this book along with "Safari Chic" & although both books are wonderful, "Simply Safari" is my personal favorite!! It is a large book, ALMOST: 10x13" & has 192 pages (including addresses & index in case you decide to visit these lodges). I think you'll be super happy with this book ... I am!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely to look at...,
By "four4leaf" (australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Simply Safari (Hardcover)
I loved the first half of this book. It's filled with dreamy mosquito netted fantasy rooms and is a real delight to look at. The second half,in general, seemed to feature more contrived sort of interiors, a little bit too over the top for me. Overall a really pretty book full of lovely pictures and a totally different world. A must for anyone with rustic/tribal/colonial sort of tendencies. I must admit I haven't read a great deal of the text yet so I can't comment on that, but it's the pictures that make this sort of book worthwhile and there are plenty of those.
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