Hotels in South Africa | Timbuktu Travel

Thula Thula Tented Camp

Zululand & The Elephant Coast

8 Rooms

From $410 per person/night

Important reserve made famous by celebrated book, "The Elephant Whisperer"

The setting for Lawrence Anthony's real-life conservation tale about adopting a rogue herd of elephants, Thula Thula Luxury Tented Camp offers more than just a luxury safari. Although Anthony died in 2012, his legacy lives on through the continued efforts of the reserve, still managed by his wife, Francoise Malby-Anthony. Set in South Africa's beautiful subtropical northeast, and home to the Big Five and other charismatic species such as wild dog and hyena, this relatively petite (4,500 ha) reserve packs a punch. With stellar hospitality and excellent guides, there's plenty to tempt you to stay.

Moorcraft Manor

Drakensberg

Popular |

12 Rooms

From $140 per person/night

A labor of love.

More than a hotel, Moorcroft Manor is a deeply personal vision brought to life by passionate individuals dedicated to the Southern Drakensberg's extraordinary landscape. The team embodies a genuine commitment to hospitality, weaving local community spirit into every aspect of your experience. From carefully tended gardens to the thoughtfully curated farm-to-table cuisine, each detail reflects the hotel's connection to the remarkable region.

Penwarn Farm Lodge

Drakensberg

13 Rooms

From $90 per person/night

Country charm on a dairy and stud farm in the southern Drakensberg Mountains.

Thirty minutes drive down a bumpy dirt road from Underberg, Penwarn Country Lodge offers the perfect escape from the city and a base from which to explore the southern reaches of the Drakensberg. The lodge lies in a fertile river valley on a 3000-hectare estate which borders the Ukhahlamba World Heritage Site. Besides being home to a variety of wild game and prolific birdlife, the farm also has nearly 2000 dairy cows, making for an interesting tour of the operations. The accommodation ranges from rustic to luxurious.

Dennehof Guest House

Prince Albert

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8 Rooms

From $90 per person/night

Genteel Karoo-style hospitality in a beautifully restored farmstead.

Lying on the fertile Kweekvallei farm in the small Karoo town of Prince Albert, Dennehof Guest House (the oldest surviving building in town) is a dreamy escape. Guernsey cows and Angora goats roam the edges of this historic property, which retains its rustic, stately essence through the original Cape Dutch structures of 1835. The town is surrounded by fruit and olive farms and sits at the foot of the dramatic pass across the Swartberg mountains. Experience Karoo-style hospitality, an olive oil estate, delicious cheeses, markets, eateries, museums and rock paintings. Prince Albert is a treat!

Gondwana Kwena Lodge Suites

Mossel Bay

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14 Rooms

From $460 per person/night

An authentic safari on the Garden Route but still close to Cape Town.

Gondwana Game Reserve sits on South Africa's southern coast in the topographically blessed Western Cape. Located within the Cape Floral Kingdom and edged by the spectacular Outeniqua and Langeberg Mountain Ranges, the natural beauty of this place is brought to life with the storybook wildlife and you'll find most of the major mammal species ambling around. Kwena Lodge's uniquely domed and thatched architecture is a nod to the region's original inhabitants, the Khoi-San, but the accommodation has come on leaps and bounds since then! Think plenty of modern comforts with a touch of understated class.

Oubaai Hotel Golf & Spa

George

From $70 per person/night

Experience the beauty of the Garden Route while indulging in ultimate luxury.

Nestled amidst the serene landscapes of Heroldsbay on South Africa's renowned Garden Route, Oubaai Hotel Golf & Spa offers a luxurious sanctuary mere minutes away from George Airport. The resort seamlessly blends the thrill of links golf with the breathtaking vistas of the Garden Route, providing guests with an unparalleled experience in opulence and comfort.

Sanbona Gondwana

Klein Karoo

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12 Rooms

From $620 per person/night

A warm family lodge in the rolling Karoo landscape

From Sanbona's main gate, drive for just over an hour across the Little Karoo plains and you'll reach Bellair Dam and, on its shoreline, the thatched, Karoo-homestead-style Gondwana Lodge. This family destination has 12 generously proportioned luxury suites, never-ending views and plenty for everyone to do. Stay in super-comfortable style, see the Big Five on game drives, watch out for the reserve's impressive white lions, get close to hippos on a boat safari and enjoy the silence, the smiles and the starry moonlit skies. Children will have fun on the action-packed Kids on Safari programme.

Pearl Valley Hotel

Paarl

68 Rooms

From $120 per person/night

Golfers, polo lovers and wine buffs – this winelands highlight is for you.

With manicured lawns and a mountainous backdrop, this stylish hotel/estate is absolute paradise for connoisseurs of the finer things. As if the location weren't enough (in the Paarl/Franschhoek Valley, the heart of South Africa's emerald wine country), there's also an 18-hole golf course and series of polo fields on the doorstep. The facilities are shared with Val de Vie Estate, so there are also gyms and pools at your disposal, along with restaurants and clubhouse. The area is popular with people of the sporting kind, but Pearl Valley appeals to anyone longing for some real luxury in a dramatic setting.

Sun City Hotel

Pilanesberg

From $160 per person/night

Situated at the heart of Sun City Resort, this hotel is a hub of excitement and luxury, offering direct access to the resort’s myriad attractions. With its lively atmosphere and proximity to the Pilanesberg National Park, it combines the thrill of adventure with the comfort of modern amenities. Its vibrant design, featuring a bustling casino and vivid interiors, makes it perfect for those seeking an energetic stay. Catering to families, couples, and adventure-seekers alike, the Sun City Hotel provides various room options, ensuring you experience the essence of Sun City’s dynamic spirit.

Saseka Tented Camp

Thornybush

8 Rooms

From $1.7K per person/night

A luxury camp with private pools, gourmet food and unbeatable wildlife.

Saseka Tented Camp enjoys a privileged vantage on a curve of the seasonal Monwana River in Thornybush Private Game Reserve. Thornybush is one of the sanctuaries whose border with Kruger Park is unfenced, so there's a constant stream of wildlife wandering and munching freely. You'll find the Big Five, for sure, but also a host of other charismatic species such as endangered wild dogs (always a thrill to see these active creatures). Saseka was built with an emphasis on clever, efficient design and comfort that's subtle. We know you'll have a great stay, and great sightings too.

Motswari Game Lodge

Timbavati

15 Rooms

From $690 per person/night

A winning formula – game galore and charming acccomodation

A mid-sized, thatched lodge located in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve section within the Greater Kruger National Park, Motswari is set on the banks of a seasonal river often visited by resident wildlife. Expect rustic, Afro-chic style, relaxed comfort and a splash of luxury with friendly attentive staff and guides whose knowledge of the reserve and its wildlife is impressive. Head out on day and night game drives or explore on foot for guaranteed sightings and excitement in this neck of the woods. The camp has no boundaries, so the game ranges freely between the reserves in the Greater Kruger area.

Simbambili Game Lodge

Sabi Sands, Northern Sabi Sands

8 Rooms

From $1.7K per person/night

Dizzyingly good game and superb hospitality in South Africa's Sabi Sand

Located in the fertile Sabi Sand Game Reserve, a collection of privately owned reserves that border Kruger National Park, Simbambili Lodge is tucked into the trees along the meandering Manyeleti River. This exclusive lodge has an elegant Moroccan feel with rounded archways and cushioned seating nooks, and some of the warmest hospitality. The real drawcard, however, is its phenomenal game viewing, boasting some of the highest densities of predators in Africa, and frequent sightings of the Big Five. Between the endless winding rivers and vast savannah landscapes, and the dense Knobthorn and Jackalberry woodlands, this is a safari of note.

Honeyguide Mantobeni Tented Camp

Manyeleti

15 Rooms

From $480 per person/night

Private slice of wilderness near the iconic Kruger National Park.

Tucked in a grove of tamboti trees, Honeyguide Mantobeni Tented Camp is the perfect compromise between the rustic and the refined. Its setting, in a private reserve adjoining the Kruger National Park, allows you to have both the option of exploring South Africa's largest wilderness area, and the advantage of retreating to a quieter slice. The 23,000 hectares of Manyeleti Game Reserve are, however, home to all of the Big Five and therefore extremely productive bush. Accommodation here harkens back to the early days of bush travel, but supplies a fair number of slick modern luxuries to keep you comfortable.

Makalali Main Lodge

Makalali

From $470 per person/night

Makalali Main Lodge is a 5 star lodge that is strikingly designed with rustic structures that effortlessly redirect the outside elements indoors. It also features a chic library; a quiet space to reflect or retreat with a book. Guests can enjoy an array of African cuisine in the main dining area, with its characteristic dual aspect fireplace that connects the bar lounge and dining area; perfect for keeping the night chill at bay and enjoying an intimate dinner. The outside area is distinctively designed around the natural surrounds with a spacious deck area built around indigenous trees, overlooking a watering hole. Makalali is the ideal place to see wildlife interact and take in the scenery. Equally spectacular is the large crystal blue rim flow pool. Its comfy chairs and sun-loungers create an inviting ambience, paired with a signature Makalali drink, it concludes the day beautifully.

nThambo Tree Camp

Klaserie

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5 Rooms

From $440 per person/night

Make your treehouse dreams come true at this tranquil, pared-back camp.

If you've ever dreamed of sleeping in a treehouse surrounded by wild Africa, nThambo delivers on that fantasy without the premium price tag. Set on the open plains of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve – one of the largest private reserves bordering Kruger – this unfenced camp puts you genuinely in the bush rather than observing it from a distance. The five chalets are raised on stilts among the trees, with the Drakensberg mountains shimmering on the horizon. It's simple rather than slick, and the experience is more rustic than refined, but for those happy to trade marble bathrooms for elephants drinking from the splash pool at breakfast, it offers something that fancier lodges can't replicate.

Kuname Lodge

Karongwe

5 Rooms

From $590 per person/night

Watch wildlife cross the river from your chalet at this Big Five getaway

If you're in need of an exclusive and perfectly private wilderness break, you'll be entranced by Kuname Lodge. Unashamedly luxurious, this small safari lodge is set in some 9000 hectares of pristine African bush in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve, east of the Drakensberg escarpment and just 45 minutes by road from the Kruger National Park. Its surroundings are lush with riverine vegetation, the views are varied and truly lovely, the game is healthy and plentiful (this is a Big Five reserve) and the silence is broken only by birdsong and the snuffles and grunts of wildlife.

The Outpost

Northern Kruger

12 Rooms

From $810 per person/night

Luxury redefined in the most biodiverse and scenic region of Kruger.

The Outpost Lodge lies in the 26,500-hectare Makuleke Contractual Park, a huge and remote wilderness area bordered to the north by the Limpopo River and Zimbabwe and to the east by Crooks Corner and Mozambique. The Italian-designed lodge is a sleek steel and canvas getaway in this wild setting, home to large herds of elephant and buffalo, nyala and tsessebe (antelope rarely seen in the southern regions of the park) and 350-plus recorded bird species. Vegetation here needs to survive drought, so you'll find mopane woodlands, fever trees, thickets of acacia and some ancient baobabs, the upside-down tree.

Lukimbi Safari Lodge

Southern Kruger

16 Rooms

From $890 per person/night

Exclusive five-star lodge which will make your African dreams come true

Lukimbi Safari Lodge is a stunning luxury safari lodge situated in the southern portion of the Kruger National Park. The area in which it is located is heavily wooded and interspersed with lush riverine thickets. The sheer wilderness of the area is breathtaking. There are vehicle tracks for Landrovers to traverse on for game drives but many areas remain in a pristine state and can only be explored on foot. The lodge was built with the idea of bringing as much of the outside to the inside as possible, so the built areas blend naturally into the surroundings.

Kapama Karula

Kapama

12 Rooms

From $2.2K per person/night

Opulence and fantastic game viewing in Kapama Private Reserve

We weren't at all surprised to hear that Kapama Karula actually means "place of peace." This ultra-luxurious lodge in one of South Africa's largest, privately-run game reserves, Kapama, is the definition of a relaxing and tranquil safari. So, what can you expect? Decadent accommodation and fine wining and dining both get big ticks, but even bigger ones for the wildlife experiences. Choose from elephant-back safaris through the bush, evocative hot air balloon rides, traditional Big Five game drives and walking safaris to complete a very memorable trip.

Bundox Safari Lodge

Hoedspruit & Surrounds

8 Rooms

From $90 per person/night

From the moment you arrive at Bundox Safari Lodge you can feel the outside world become more distant and muted. Perhaps it’s the breeze moving in the branches of the tall, riparian trees that surround you, or the birdsong that fills the air. Maybe it’s the sound of Africa welcoming you to a place where time has no meaning…

Timamoon Lodge

Hazyview & Surrounds

6 Rooms

From $390 per person/night

Fantasy setting in South Africa's prettiest corner

Channelling the romance of ancient places, Timamoon Lodge occupies an enchanted setting in the subtropical forested mountains of South Africa's northeast. Tucked among the trees are six character-filled chalets furnished with an eclectic assemblage of global treasures from India and Bali to Morocco, and views of a tumble of forest-carpeted hills. The lodge lies on the Sabie/Hazyview road, a short distance from a number of sought-after wilderness areas (if you can tear yourself away). Visit the southern Kruger National Park or catch some dramatic vistas at the Blyde River Canyon.

Clifftop Lodge

Welgevonden Game Reserve

8 Rooms

From $610 per person/night

Five-star thatched hideaway in a Big Five bushveld setting

Perched on the tip of a dramatic gorge, Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway overlooks the Sterkstroom River and the rugged bushveld of the 38,000-hectare, malaria-free Welgevonden Private Game Reserve. There are just eight private suites at the lodge, all designed in a style that combines glamour with eco-friendliness. The setting and facilities are first-class, as is the wildlife – see the Big Five, giraffes swaying up the cliffs in search of juicy leaves, rhino taking a mud bath, and plenty of birds. The cuisine is unsurpassable, the rim-flow pool a welcome sight after a hot safari, and atmosphere tranquil and relaxed.

One Kensington Boutique Hotel

Cape Town

Popular |

10 Rooms

From $160 per person/night

A charming heritage villa where contemporary elegance shows off Table Mountain views.

Tucked away in Oranjezicht at the foot of Table Mountain, this beautifully restored 1903 heritage villa is a leafy refuge in the heart of Cape Town. With just 10 elegant rooms (including a standout penthouse apartment), emerald-green gardens, and a sparkling pool terrace, it's the perfect base for exploring the Mother City. Renovated in 2023, traditional charm combines perfectly contemporary style - think double-volume ceilings, sweeping staircases, and Charlotte Rhys amenities throughout. Outside, the famous Kloof Street and its assortment of world-class restaurants is on the doorstep, while Clifton's pristine beaches and the V&A Waterfront are a quick 15-minute drive away.

Singita Boulders Lodge

Sabi Sands, South & West Sabi Sands

12 Rooms

From $3.2K per person/night

A first-rate safari experience in a corner of paradise

This luxurious lodge is located in the game-rich Sabi Sand Reserve in the northeastern corner of South Africa. Built around the enormous boulder for which it is named, the lodge lies on the banks of the Sand River. No expense has been spared here: the lodge has been sympathetically built of wood, stone and thatch to blend with the environment, and incorporates modern and traditional influences in its design. It's a wonderful place to enjoy excellent service, accommodation, food, views and, most of all, diverse wildlife. Meet the stars of the show, the Big Five, particularly leopard.

Head over Hills

Knysna

8 Rooms

From $220 per person/night

Clifftop luxury along South African's Garden Route

Life amounts to breezy perfection at this clifftop retreat perched above the Indian Ocean. Set in the seaside hamlet of Knysna, one of South Africa's most beloved Garden Route destinations, Head Over Hills is a family-run boutique hotel. Each of its features – its modern luxury and ocean panoramas, its easy access to coves and world-class golf courses – combine to create a getaway par excellence. Enjoy languorous gourmet breakfasts on the sundeck, settle back and drift with the tides, or keep the days action-packed, exploring the myriad opportunities for adventure.

Sovereign House

Madikwe

3 Rooms

From $1.5K per person/night

When a lodge has a name like Sovereign, you know you're in for a vacation in a million

Set against the Botswana border, close to the Kalahari Desert, Madikwe Game Reserve is the fifth-largest sanctuary in South Africa. It's also regarded as one of Africa's best, with excellent accommodation and even better wildlife. The newest addition to the Royal Madikwe portfolio, Sovereign House is palatial in size, but relaxed and homely, with three bedrooms, open-plan communal spaces, and plenty of room to sprawl. Beyond the windows and deck, the views are topographically diverse, from open grasslands and forests to the rocky Tshwene Tshwene hills. It's an ideal spot to spend some valuable private time with your loved ones.