Best Hotels & Lodges

Exclusive holidays don't get much better than Sirai House, a private lodge set high on a remote ridge of the 35,000-acre Borana Conservancy in Laikipia. Surrounded by its namesake the Euphorbia tree along with wild olives and indigenous cedar. State of the art, built with au courant inspiration, exceptional views over the regions sweeping scenery are found in every direction. Marvel at your surrounds during an exclusive wilderness picnic on the shores of Lake Alice or flying over the volcanic Lake Bogoria and the world's largest populations of flamingoes. This is the VIP experience in an exceptional environment.

Ulusaba Rock Lodge will be closed for an exciting refurbishment from 26 January 2026 and reopening on 31 March 2027.

Ulusaba Rock Lodge is situated in the exclusive Sabi Sand Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park. It is owned by Sir Richard Branson, so you can be assured that you are in for a special experience. Built high on a hilltop, this extra-ordinary child-friendly lodge offers uninterrupted panoramic views of the bushveld and the roaming wildlife below. Ulusaba offers great hospitality and amazing cuisine. There are just ten rooms, ensuring an intimate experience. The lodge's design reflects African tribal influences and style. There are two game drives a day where you can enjoy Sabi Sabi's incredible game-viewing experiences.

One of nature's most awe-inspiring spectacles is the Great Migration, when herd upon herd of wildebeest cross the East African plains in search of fresh pastures. Following ancient routes, they linger in the southern Serengeti to give birth to newborns that are miraculously able to run as fast as their mums within 48 hours!. That's where Ang'ata Migration Ndutu Camp comes in, a well-priced migration camp that straddles the short and long grasses the animals feed on. With its excellent staff and simple, temporary structures, the camp is just the place to view the action of the migration in the south first-hand.

The stylish, intimate and comfortable Akademie Street Boutique Hotel and Guesthouse is situated on a leafy road in Franschhoek, one of the most stunning valleys in the world, and the food and wine capital of South Africa. With just six unique cottages and suites set on a beautiful property, you can be assured of personalised service from the family-owned and managed, five-star, luxury guest house and boutique hotel, rated the best small hotel and the best luxury hotel in the world on Tripadvisor.com. This is the ideal place to relax in luxury, while still enjoying the home-away-from home feeling.

The famous Mala Mala Game Reserve is connected to two of South Africa's most game-rich reserves by unfenced borders. The wildlife in Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve roams freely between these great wilderness areas. The lodge itself is smaller and more intimate compared to other nearby Mala Mala camps. Its elevated position grants views across the lazy Sand River and game viewing is often done from the comfort of the deck—G&T in hand. Unless it's a private group, there will never be more than 14 guests at the camp at one time. Guests are therefore free to simply take in the wilderness around them.

Nestled on the side of a hill—some might say between the heavens and Earth—and surrounded by lush rice paddies and ravines covered in rainforest, Blue Karma Dijiwa Ubud exudes ethnic chic luxury for travelers looking to escape to a serene spot where you can relax, rejuvenate, and delve into Balinese culture and nature.

Located in its own private conservancy just one kilometre from Kenya's famous Masai Mara Reserve, Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp was created by Calvin and Louise Cottar in the mid-1990s. You're in the hands of experts – the owners are the fifth generation of a family recognised as the oldest established and continuing safari family in Africa. So you'll experience the perfect combination of adventure, adrenalin and comfort. The plains are alive with animals, the Masai guides are gold-star professionals, the tented rooms offer relaxation in luxurious style and the food is fresh and fabulous.

The owners of popular Bayete Guest Lodge, set in a quiet neighbourhood outside the town of Victoria Falls, have opened a sister lodge called PheZulu. It's a vibrant retreat with a tranquil atmosphere and, like Bayete, lies just three kilometres from the falls and all the action they bring. The best way to take on this imposing icon is to strike at it from many sides, experiencing everything from rapturous (and damp!) views to adrenalin-pulsing pursuits in the gorge. You must visit Vic Falls at least once in your life and PheZulu is the perfect base to catch your breath again.