Multiple Regions Lodges
Where to go on the best safari in Africa: Luxury lodges by region
lodges
Golden sunset over the savanna in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
Planning the best safari in Africa starts with knowing where to go. From Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti to Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Zimbabwe’s Hwange, these luxury lodges deliver the finest safari experiences on the continent, region by remarkable region
“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy”, wrote Ernest Hemingway circa 1930s. Decades later, author and grandson of the great American novelist, John Hemingway, penned a similar sentiment: “If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.”
The Mother Continent, it seems, had quite an impact on the Hemingways. Such an impression isn’t a rare occurrence. Whoever you are, to visit Africa is to be deeply moved. Its landscapes, its wildlife, its people all deliver wonder in breathtaking and diverse ways, with opportunities for luxury travellers spread right across the continent.
In the east, the classic safari beckons, the Big Five and Great Migration making it particularly appealing to keen photographers and first-timers, among others. Rich cultural encounters, chiefly the Maasi communities, are another undeniable drawcard. Meanwhile, in the south, smaller camps give rise to more intimate and personalised safari experiences, while the proximity to cities and wine regions helps to bolster the itinerary.
Comprised of more than 50 nations, Africa couldn’t possibly be covered in a single jaunt, making it all the more challenging to map out a dream schedule. But it’s nothing a little research can’t fix … and we’ve done it for you.
East Africa
Kenya
The birthplace of the original African safari and a cultural delight.
Angama Mara
Perched on the Oloololo Escarpment overlooking the famed Maasai Mara, Angama Mara balances exclusivity with exceptional game viewing. The 700-hectare site borders the Mara Triangle and offers more than a kilometre of Rift Valley frontage, which means every suite enjoys exceptional views. Two identical but separate camps make up Angama Mara, each with 15 tented suites and connecting options for families. Expect elegant, modern interiors, year-round Big Five sightings, and unmatched experiences, including the signature hot-air balloon safari at sunrise.
Cottar’s 1920s Camp
Old-world safari glamour has been upheld at Cottar’s 1920s Camp, located in the private Olderkesi Conservancy, bordering the Maasai Mara. Under the devoted care of the Cottar family for more than a century, the camp is one of Africa’s most storied, its tales told through expert staff as well as vintage design and antique furnishings. Considered home to one of Kenya’s finest walking safari programs, the camp also benefits from the Cottar family’s longstanding relationship with the Maasai community.
Tanzania
More remote options and home of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater (Great Migration).
Singita Sasakwa
Singita Sasakwa is one of Africa’s most celebrated safari lodges, where uncompromising luxury meets exceptional wildlife encounters. Set within the exclusive 142,000-hectare Grumeti Reserve, bordering the Serengeti, the lodge provides a front-row seat to the Great Migration, plus intimate off-road game drives that deliver year-round. The grand Edwardian manor house comprises 11 luxe cottages and suites, each with private infinity pools, while Singita’s world-class dining and wine programs are also among the lodge’s many spoils.
Jabali Ridge
For travellers who value wilderness over bucket-list destinations, Jabali Ridge is an elevated choice. Part of the Asilia group, the design-driven lodge is located in Ruaha, which is Tanzania’s largest national park yet remains an under-the-radar safari destination. Predator viewing in Ruaha is supreme. It is home to one of Africa’s largest lion populations and is renowned for leopards, cheetahs, elephants and endangered African wild dogs. Intimate and contemporary, the eight-suite property is set among enormous granite kopjes, a dramatic landscape that has been emphasised rather than encroached upon by the property’s striking architecture.
Southern Africa
Botswana
Low-impact tourism model, water-based safaris and the Okavango Delta.
Baines’ Lodge
Baines’ Lodge is one for the romantics. Positioned at the edge of the Moremi Game Reserve, on the UNESCO-protected Okavango Delta, the lodge’s six sustainably designed suites rise on stilts, overlooking a medley of grassy plains and wetlands. Safari excursions include excellent mokoro (canoe) and boating options, and rich wildlife viewing featuring elephants, zebras, impalas, buffaloes, lions and birdlife. Absorb the delta’s symphonic soundscape from your outdoor shower or lantern-lit ‘star bath’, which is set up on the deck each evening in preparation for nightfall.
Zarafa Camp
Intimacy is redefined at Zarafa Camp, where ancient ebony trees frame just four luxury safari tents in the wildlife-rich Selinda Reserve. Named after the Arabic word meaning ‘Beloved One’, the camp offers an exceptionally exclusive experience, where game drives are shared with few others and the landscape feels entirely your own. Claw-foot copper baths, private plunge pools, expansive decks and handcrafted Zanzibar doors create an understated elegance in each tent. On safari, spot leopards, lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, red lechwes, giraffes and zebras, as well as the often-elusive roan and sable. Zarafa is also one of Botswana’s best places to see African wild dogs.
South Africa
Accessibility and variety with exceptional food, wine and urban add-ons.
Singita Sweni Lodge
Located in one of Africa’s most incredible wildlife destinations, Singita Sweni brings together contemporary architecture, stunning landscapes and exceptional guiding. Set along the banks of the Sweni River in a private concession within Kruger National Park, the lodge features seven suites, designed to immerse guests in the surrounding wilderness through floor-to-ceiling glass, organic materials and private river-facing decks. Beyond its bold design, the lodge delivers the trademarks of the Singita experience: outstanding Big Five viewing, intuitive service, remarkable cuisine and a genuine commitment to conservation.
andBeyond Tengile River Lodge
You’re in leopard territory now. Recognised for exceptional leopard sightings and diversity of plant and animal species, Sabi Sand Reserve is a safari gem. In prime position on the reserve’s Sand River, andBeyond Tengile River Lodge has exclusive traversing rights on more than 10,000 hectares of wilderness land and shares a 50-kilometre unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park. The ultra-luxe lodge features nine oversized suites, each with panoramic views, separate lounge and dining, and a large deck with a private pool. andBeyond’s hospitality lives up to the name for a refined riverside escape complete with the Big Five.
Mantis Hiddn
Bringing a design-led perspective to the Eastern Cape, Mantis Hiddn in Addo blends the thrill of safari with the restorative power of wellness. Set on an 800-hectare private reserve bordering Addo Elephant National Park, the mountaintop retreat embraces its natural surroundings with sustainable architecture, panoramic views and thoughtfully designed suites and villas. Beyond game drives, guests can immerse themselves in guided wilderness experiences, holistic wellness treatments, conservation initiatives and elevated (not a pun) dining.
Zambia and Zimbabwe
Authentic bush experience, premium leopard sightings and the Zambezi.
Mfuwe Lodge
A member of The Bushcamp Company portfolio, Mfuwe Lodge might be best known as the property where elephants wander freely through reception. The delight of such a moment notwithstanding, there is plenty more to love about this Zambian lodge. Set between two lagoons at the entrance to South Luangwa National Park, the 18-chalet lodge shares day-to-day life with hippos, warthogs, antelope, baboons, giraffes, buffalo and, of course, some very confident elephants. Expertly guided walking safaris and game drives, including the rare privilege of night safaris, open viewing opportunities even wider. Lions and leopards are regulars here.
Time + Tide Chinzombo
Still at South Luangwa, Zambia’s flagship safari park, Time + Tide Chinzombo is a design-forward stay where award-winning architecture meets wild luxury. Six safari tents line a picturesque bend of the Luangwa River, their private plunge pools, soaking tubs and generous indoor-outdoor living making the most of the soul-stirring views. The lodge’s game drives, walks and cruises lead to up-close wildlife encounters; under-the-stars sleepouts are a popular experience on a thoughtfully curated list.
Matetsi Victoria Falls
On the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, Matetsi Victoria Falls pairs one of Africa’s most luxurious safari experiences with access to the world’s largest waterfall. The property comprises 18 river-facing suites and a private villa, each with expansive decks and plunge pools overlooking the water. The property is set within a 55,000-hectare private wildlife reserve, with game drives (including night drives), walking safaris and river cruises rich with wildlife encounters. Back at the lodge, exceptional dining, an acclaimed wine cellar and intuitive service cement Matetsi’s sky-high reputation.
Wilderness Linkwasha
Up close and personal takes on new meaning at Wilderness Linkwasha, a safari camp on Hwange’s game-rich Ngamo Plains in Zimbabwe. The camp’s sunken hide offers eye-level, arm’s-length wildlife encounters, creating exceptional viewing without even leaving the property. Across nine luxury tents, design nods to the local Ndebele culture while also leaning into neutral tones and textures for a raw sense of place. Star beds are also in play, for those keen on an evening under the inky night sky.
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