Luxury With Heart

Luxury With Heart is our philosophy that true luxury is not just about 5-star resorts and fine dining, but also about responsibility, connection, and purpose. Swain Destinations curates extraordinary travel experiences that immerse travelers in some of the world’s most stunning locations – all while prioritizing sustainability, conservation, and cultural awareness.

At the heart of this philosophy is a commitment to protecting the environment, wildlife, and the communities that make each of our destinations unique. From connecting with people in their cultures to encountering wildlife in their natural habitats to enjoying impeccable accommodations in breathtaking landscapes, luxury and compassion truly can go hand-in-hand. By working with travel partners who are as passionate about exceptional service as they are about nature, wildlife, and their local communities, Swain Destinations ensures that travelers experience unparalleled luxury while having a positive impact.

We invite you not just to set out on a grand adventure, but to be part of something greater. Take a moment to learn more about some of the initiatives we passionately support through travel—and please be sure to share those that you care about most with your travel consultant as you begin to write your next travel story.

Care for Wild

Care for Wild is the world’s largest orphan rhino sanctuary, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of rhinos orphaned by poaching. With a firm belief that successful conservation works best with the involvement of local communities, Care for Wild empowers and engages rural communities as essential partners in preserving biodiversity.

Through our close friendship with Care for Wild, Swain Destinations has special access for our clients to observe their remarkable work while in South Africa. The opportunity to witness the careful nurturing and rehabilitation of a baby rhino will make your heart sing. Learn more about how you can have a Care for Wild Experience by Helicopter.

Jabulani

Elephants hold a special place in our hearts and Swain Destinations is committed to seeking out ethical sanctuaries that offer non-intrusive, educational experiences with these majestic animals. Jabulani is recognized as one of South Africa’s most respected 5-star safari lodges. But the essence of the lodge reaches far deeper than luxury and leisure—it reflects an exceptional twenty-year journey that began with a brave little elephant named Jabulani.

The lodge sits alongside Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (HERD), the country’s first dedicated elephant orphanage. A stay at Jabulani contributes directly to the operational costs of HERD. Meanwhile, guests’ lives will be forever touched from witnessing the elephants in the wilderness of the reserve. By intertwining their commitment for conservation and hospitality, Jabulani and HERD’s exceptional and passionate teams share a soulful safari experience.

Singita

With 19 properties in four countries and an unwavering commitment to preserve and protect Africa’s wilderness, Singita is an incredible ecotourism partner. Their core purpose is rooted in their role as the custodian of one million acres across six different ecosystems.

Biodiversity and sustainability are their conservation focus areas, with commitments to restore, protect and enhance the biodiversity of nearly 1 million acres of land across four African countries; reduce their ecological footprint through ambitious energy, water and waste reduction goals; and offset their carbon footprint.

Singita’s initiatives are many, but two of our favorites are the Conservation Education Centre and Grumeti Fund Canine Unit. The Conservation Education Centre is set in the heart of the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, teaching children about the importance of conservation and to nurture a passion for this in their everyday lives. The Grumeti Fund Canine Unit employs a canine unit of four rescue dogs from the US to protect the western border of the Serengeti from the threat of illegal hunting.

Swain Destinations is eager to share the benefits of our close personal relationship with Singita’s team by crafting a meaningful Singita Experience in one or more of their collection of lodges, villas and camps.

Lizard Island Research Station

Lizard Island is in the remote northern part of the Great Barrier Reef. It is an excellent location for reef research because diverse reef types are easily accessible, around the island itself and across the width of the continental shelf. The Lizard Island Research Station (LIRS) is a coral reef research and education facility, owned and operated by the Australian Museum.

Apart from LIRS, the only human habitation on the island is the Lizard Island Resort, a small campground, and from visiting yachts at anchor. Talk with your travel consultant about a stay at Lizard Island where you can do a group or private tour to the Research Station.

Cape Kidnappers Cape Sanctuary

Cape Sanctuary is New Zealand’s largest privately owned and funded ‘mainland island’ conservation project. Owned by the co-founders of Cape Kidnappers, it is the family’s ambition to rewrite the future of Hawke’s Bay’s declining birdlife. Their efforts are focused on habitat restoration, pest control and endangered species re-introduction.

Today the Sanctuary is a world leader in conservation innovation—where recreation, production and restoration occur in symbiosis. Guests of Rosewood Cape Kidnappers are entertained by the largest, most accessible mainland colony of gannets in the world and can embark on a captivating tour of the Cape Sanctuary.

Luxury With Heart is more than a tagline — it's a promise that every adventure will be as thoughtful as it is extraordinary. Our team of Master Designers of Luxury Travel is dedicated to making each journey seamless, memorable, and deeply fulfilling.