Best hotels in South Africa

Located in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg’s newest developing suburb, the modern African Pride Melrose Arch is an urban traveller’s ideal stopover. Whether you’re visiting for work or pleasure, this trendy inner city stay is the perfect base from which you can explore this vibrant city, or host formal business lunches. Head to the library bar for a game of snooker, or watch movies and presentations in the fully equipped sound room. Enjoy the excellent dishes offered at the recently refurbished March Restaurant, where the Slow Food menu, made with the freshest of local produce, offers something delicious for everyone.

Still, tranquil waters of the waterhole reflect sweeping blue skies, a backdrop to a grove of primal green fever trees, producing the perfect canvas for the calming elegance and colourful intrigue of Waterside at Royal Malewane. Waterside presents an immersive setting that will engage your senses, rest your mind and reawaken your soul. It is perfect for couples or families who value memorable experiences, personalised service and unrivalled game viewing. The lodge provides a bold new African context for Liz Biden’s opulent, bright and breath-taking designs. It draws on the timeless luxury that Royal Malewane has become synonymous with while adding thoughtful innovations to complement its own surroundings and anticipate every need of a modern luxury safari.

This exclusive lodge is tucked away within the Timbavati Private Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger Park, and with just five luxury suites, makes a classy choice for families or small groups of friends. It holds a commanding position on a rocky ridge, with stunning views over the surrounding wilderness. This was once a family home, and personal touches are evident in the quirky décor and African artwork throughout. In this scenically beautiful game-rich area you’ll be treated to some exciting viewing, and the chance to explore on foot with highly trained guides and trackers is to be recommended.

This little lodge is situated in the northern section of South Africa's Sabi Sand Reserves. Set on the edge of the unassuming Mabrak River, a hotspot for the surrounding wildlife, the camp is tucked beneath ancient ebony trees. It's an intimate, high-end retreat that provides all the creature comforts of home. Decor could be described as "safari chic", enhancing your sense of being immersed in the bush. Spend your days in a safari vehicle or on well-shod feet, tracking leopard, lion, elephant and rhino with an armed guide before relaxing beside your private plunge pool.

In the vast, privately owned Shamwari game reserve, Long Lee Manor displays the stately charm of a bygone era. It offers a refined experience in the rugged Eastern Cape, easily accessible by road, just east of South Africa's famed Garden Route. Part restored farmland, part dense valley thicket with the Bushman's River meandering through it, this reserve is a conservation success story. Not only is it home to the free roaming Big Five, but it's a haven for other rare species such as brown hyena and aardvark. Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres allow for close encounters and hands-on participation in conservation.

Once a private residence reserved only for invited guests, Shimungwe remains one of the hidden gems of the Thornybush Nature Reserve. The stunning location, offering elevated views over the dry Timbavati riverbed, was hand-picked by the owners for its blissful, secluded nature and captivating array of wildlife ambling through the savanna's leafy marula and knobthorn trees. Beloved by all fortunate to visit in those early days, the decision was made to open up the magic of Shimungwe to the wider public in August 2022. Reborn as an intimate safari lodge, Shimungwe aims to retain its warm, family feel with an enchanting lounge, wooden walkways and an open-air bar and dining area encompassing the crystal-clear pool. Run by a passionate and close-knit team, our dream is to create an unforgettable home-away-from-home in the heart of the African wilderness.

Of all the beachfront hotels in Cape Town, the Last Word Long Beach is possibly the only one that opens directly onto powdery white sand. The sand in question is Long Beach, an eight-kilometre stretch of shimmering shingle in the sleepy village of Kommetjie, framed by the jagged turrets of Chapman’s Peak in the distance. The hotel is a white-washed sanctuary and a lovely place to relax, soak up the sun, and watch the bleach-haired surfer dudes take on the waves. Need some action? It’s an hour's drive to the city, 20 minutes to the penguins of Boulders Beach, and a short distance to nearby Noordhoek's restaurants.

Londolozi (a Zulu word meaning "protector of living things") is a private game reserve in the heart of the larger Sabi Sand Reserve, and is run by the Varty family, well known in the field of conservation pioneering. Of its five camps, child-friendly and elegantly comfortable Londolozi Founders is tucked beneath ancient ebony and matumi trees on the banks of the Sand River. Imagine waking to the evocative call of the African fish eagle before setting off on a private game drive to explore this enormous wilderness filled with the Big Five, especially cats, antelope, zebra and hundreds of birds.

This beautiful lodge is situated on a rocky outcrop in the central region of the vast Madikwe Game Reserve, which is fast becoming one of South Africa's top malaria-free wildlife destinations. Ten private suites, plus the separate sole-use villa at Little Madikwe Hills, are scattered amongst huge boulders and magnificent Tamboti trees facing out across open plains. It’s a superb choice for a luxurious safari in this scenic northern part of South Africa, which borders Botswana. Expect world-class hospitality, absolute luxury and premium game viewing across a diverse landscape of rugged hills, arid open savannas and lush riverine forests.

Imagine a classic, 19th century farmhouse, high in the hills and surrounded by lush, manicured gardens. The whitewashed walls glint in the sun and a shaded veranda looks out across a tranquil valley. Inside, antique furniture sits atop polished wooden floors and rich, damask linens are draped across luxurious leather armchairs. We’re pleased to say it really does exist in the form of Kwandwe’s Uplands Homestead, a private three-bedroomed Cape Dutch farmhouse in the heart of the reserve. Available for sole-use by families or small groups, this is an idyllic retreat for those looking for privacy, flexibility and an all-round outstanding safari.

Jembisa Bush Home was originally built as a family home, and is a wonderful sole-use option for families or a group of friends looking for a fun-filled bush experience with the freedom to plan your stay exactly to your own requirements. The lodge is situated within the private Palala River Reserve, named after the river which flows through it, in the beautiful malaria-free Waterberg region of Limpopo Province. This area is also renowned for the significant number of Bushmen rock paintings and ancient archaeological sites, adding a further fascinating dimension to a great all-round safari experience.

Makakatana Bay Lodge lies along the shores of Lake St. Lucia, deep within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – a pristine World Heritage Site on the eastern coastline of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. It's one of the country’s most ecologically diverse regions, with a mix of coastal dune forest, rolling grasslands and lush wetlands stretching across to the untouched Indian Ocean shoreline. This intimate lodge – with just six rooms and two family suites – is a fabulous spot to relax for a few days and explore this magnificent landscape on game drives, guided walks, boat cruises and beach safaris.

In the central region of the Sabi Sand Private Reserve, spanning the western border of the Kruger National Park, well-known wildlife conservationist brothers Dave and John Varty have created Londolozi Tree Camp - a lodge oozing African bushveld romance amidst the thrill of Big Five encounters. The Londolozi name has become synonymous with sophistication, and Tree Camp, with its enchanting wooden platforms built into a leadwood tree canopy, is a refined sanctuary in the heart of the wilderness. With a prime site overlooking the Sand river, this camp's views are exceptional, with service to match.