Best Hotels & Lodges

Although every Kenyan adventure starts or ends with a night in Nairobi, it doesn't have to involve a run-of-the-mill city hotel. House of Waine is proof of this. Set well outside the central business district on 2.5 acres of soul-satisfying gardens, this boutique hotel starts your vacation off on the right foot. Once the family home of the Waine family, it still retains the feel of a stately, yet homely place to rest and regroup, or plan and prepare. Rooms are individually decorated to make every successive trip something to look forward to.

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.

Open during the peak of the migration action, from June to November, Mara Under Canvas is the perfect place from which to explore the remote reaches of Tanzania’s oldest and most renowned national park. Located in the most northern section of the Serengeti, this well-appointed mobile camp is set in a relatively open plain with sporadic acacia growth breaking up the golden grassy view. Simple comfort steers the focus towards what lies beyond the camp - the awe-inspiring natural phenomenon of the Great Migration.

Zambezi Dusk is a small lodge in Livingstone, set directly on the Zambezi River. It's about 30 minutes upstream from Victoria Falls: close enough for easy access, but removed from the pace of town. The size is deliberate. Fewer suites mean more privacy and uninterrupted views of the river. Days typically aren’t tightly scheduled. You settle in and find your own rhythm.

Boat safaris leave twice daily from the lodge. From the water, you can see the animals of Zambezi National Park, like buffalo and elephants, coming down to drink and plenty of birdlife. The rest of the day tends to take care of itself. A swim when the heat builds. A walk along the bush paths. Time with a book by the pool. Or heading out for one of the many activities on offer.