Best Hotels & Lodges

Open-plan luxury tents cleverly designed to magnify the seclusion and expanse of the African bush. A habitat could scarcely be more diverse: open plains of grazing buck yield to dense, bird-plenty thickets, sudden plummets of rocky ravines are carved by the Bushman's River. Conveniently located along the Garden Route, this lodge is an easy-to-access thoroughgoing wilderness with Big Five game viewing and a host of other general and rare wildlife to boot. Shamwari is known for its conservation ethics, offering additional educational activities through its Animal Rehab Centre, Born Free Big Cat Sanctuaries and Ian Player Rhino Awareness Centre.

A hornbill's flight away from the Timbavati River, your oasis awaits amongst the mopane trees in a private corner of the Ngala Reserve. Taking the meaning of 'treehouse' to an entirely new level, this one comes in the form of a four-storey tower with explorer-chic style and a well-stocked bar...we can taste those sundowners now! With no fence separating the reserve from Kruger National Park and access to 36,000 acres of unbroken wilderness, your days will be filled with tracking members of the Big Five on foot and epic game drives - that is, when you can tear yourself from your rooftop perch.

Amani Safari Camp is the newest addition to the Klaserie Drift portfolio - a place where laidback luxury meets unfiltered nature. Nestled deep in a private part of the Greater Kruger, Amani offers sweeping bushveld views, peaceful seclusion, and an experience that’s as thoughtful as it is unforgettable. Designed with both connection and comfort in mind, the camp features three spacious lodge suites designed for comfort and accessibility, and seven riverbed suites for extra privacy and indulgence. Whilst the lodge suites have easy access to all shared facilities, including the main pool, each riverbed suites boasts a private heated plunge pool, elegant interiors, and the freedom to unwind at your own pace. Relax on the wraparound deck, enjoy a swim between game drives, or toast the day’s sightings beneath the stars in the boma.

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.

Here, take the key to your Roman apartment. There’s no lobby at G-Rough—walk into our 17th-century palazzo through the wine bar, to the sound of clinking glasses, and head up to your pied-à-terre. Throw down your bag and fling open the windows—you’ve arrived.

G-Rough is all about the visceral. Every surface has a texture, from the brass-finished bar to the exposed foundation beams and original walls. The hotel is an homage to timeless good taste, with midcentury furniture by Italy’s top designers and revolving art installations in the Gallery Bar. There, you can enjoy local wines, classic aperitivo, or signature cocktails while the city thrums on out the windows.

Located amidst the bustling streets of Shinjuku, the Keio Plaza Hotel has one of those take-your-breath-away views of Tokyo. Spread across two towers and multiple floors, there are over 1,400 rooms, all with views of Tokyo through the enormous picture windows – the highest even get a glimpse of Mount Fuji on the clearest day. What's more, it's only a few minutes away from one of the city's major train stations, meaning you can zip off to just about anywhere at a moment's notice. In between real-life adventures, let your tastebuds do the travelling at one of 20 restaurants in the hotel, offering everything from teppanyaki to French-Italian fusion.

Speke’s Camp is a small tented camp in a great location between Kenya's Mara North Conservancy, Olare Orok Conservancy, and the main Maasai Mara Reserve. The set-up is traditional safari style with a distinct colonial-era feel in a wonderfully secluded spot amongst stands of indigenous woodland along the Olare Orok River. Nine canvas tents provide a good level of comfort, with owner-run hospitality and friendly local staff. This area is well known for its excellent game viewing, particularly the big cats, a variety of plains game, and vast herds of wildebeest during the annual migration between July and October.

Boasting one of the most picturesque locations of any bush camp in the Luangwa, Mchenja is set high on the banks of the river in a shady grove of mchenja (ebony) trees from which the camp takes its name. This northern section of the park is awash with animals and daily game drives offer wonderful sightings, from the baboons swinging in the trees to the predators stalking across the plains. A stylish tented haven, Mchenja perfectly balances a little bit of luxury with a true wilderness experience.

Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge is located deep in the farmlands of the Ngorongoro Karatu region of northern Tanzania. It's the long-term project of two Dutch doctors who saw the beauty and need of the community, and built a camp to serve both tourists (particularly as a conference venue), and the local children by means of an orphanage and a school. A stay here is a lovely break from the early mornings on safari and it's a good base from which to explore the surrounding area, including the infamous Ngorongoro Crater (which might require an early morning start!). It's a simple but intimate and totally charming lodge, and impressively, 20% of the nightly rate is donated to the children's home and other related projects.

A lavish wedding present from Baron Oppenheim to his bride in the 1860s, this sumptuous villa soon became a magnet for Italian and European aristocracy, then passed into the hands of Napolean III’s widow. Its former splendour has been miraculously preserved, with magnificently opulent and eclectic interiors. Elaborate frescoes, bold tromp l’oeils, gilded mirrors and detailed stucco decorations adorn the rooms and halls, with eclectic Florentine and Moorish influences. All this is set in beautifully landscaped gardens, full of fragrant roses, topiary hedges and ancient oaks, with that inimitable view over the city of Florence. Naturally, the service is slick and attentive – nothing is too much trouble. You could definitely become used to villa living.

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.

This is the closest inn to Hakone's top tourist spot, "Susuki no Hara." All rooms have an open-air bath, so you can enjoy the hot springs whenever and as much as you like without any worries.

Ayubowan! (May you live long)

Over the centuries, the sea brought the world to these very shores. As the waves crashed against the rocky coast, the inhabitants witnessed foreign cultures melding with local traditions, forging a thriving harmony that transformed an ancient trading post into the bustling coastal city they are proud to call home: Galle.

The world's influences have shaped the very fabric of Galle. From the iconic Dutch fortress in the heart of the city to the traditional fishing villages at its fringe, these cross-cultural charms have extended into the nature of its legendary hospitality. This spirit has been brought to life in an architectural masterpiece designed by Geoffrey Bawa, which always remains open for the visitor to come and discover the heritage of tropical luxury on the southern coastline of Sri Lanka.