Best Hotels & Lodges

Set inside the world famous Laikipia Plateau at the foot of Mount Kenya, Enasoit House is located in the Enasoit Private Game Sanctuary, part of the Laikipia Conservation Project in which ranches and communities work together to preserve essential wildlife corridors. Previously a private home (built specifically for catering for lots of friends - lots!), the house itself is warm, welcoming and totally bohemian, and can sleep up to 12 guests in the charming tented cottages plus a further two in the Pool House. As a guest, the 4500 acre private game sanctuary is yours to explore on day and night game drives, guided walks, horse safaris and even helicopter trips. A fabulous experience if ever we saw one!

Kichakani Serengeti Camp is a new addition to the Tanzanian luxury safari circuit. The elegant camp operates on a mobile basis, following the wildebeest migration across three locations in the Serengeti as the herds thunder from north to south. Each location has been carefully selected to coincide with the million-strong herds of beasties, offering front-row viewing of the incredible spectacle. The camp itself is a blend of vintage, explorer-style nostalgia and contemporary flair, and even better, the whole construction is totally eco-friendly, leaving not a trace on the landscape when the tents are picked up and rebuilt in the next spot.

Surrounded by sandy beaches, tropical gardens and crystal waters, the Hilton Northolme Resort & Spa is a secluded hideaway on the northwest coast of Mahe Island, and the setting for a stunning escape in the Seychelles. The smallest of all the Hilton properties with only 39 rooms, each of the exclusive villas is perched on stilts with views over the dazzling Beau Vallon Bay and magical Silhouette Island. Rumour has it that the stunning retreat was Ian Fleming's inspiration for Bond film 'For Your Eyes Only' - and if you fancy it, the Ian Fleming Suite is worth every last penny!

In the heart of Gion, where tradition flows with quiet grace, Capella Kyoto offers a haven of heritage and harmony. Nestled within the historic Miyagawa-cho district and steps from the revered Kaburenjo theatre—where the timeless arts of geiko and maiko endure - this reimagined machiya (traditional townhouse) opens its doors to deeper cultural understanding.

Maison Chablis is a serene Georgian-style guesthouse, well-situated only a block from Franschhoek high street’s stylish boutiques, many of the region's award-winning restaurants, and the ever popular wine tram. If you're looking for some serious R&R, the Maison caters for that too, and you'll enjoy the pretty garden and peaceful swimming pool area. It's also an extremely well-priced abode for the exclusive Cape Winelands area, but standards are as high as they should be and the overall experience, top-notch.

Previously known as Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp, &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge offers relatively exclusive access to a park well known for its swarming game and its popularity with wildlife lovers. The sustainably-designed lodge, tucked into tall evergreen woodland on the banks of a Grumeti River tributary in the Serengeti's remote western corridor, combines an earth-bound design with a sophisticated edge. The location is excellent for game and bird viewing, and its guides have an impressive knowledge of their surroundings. Add to those attractions, faultless service levels and great accommodation, and you're looking at one of the best camps in the vast Serengeti.

This five-day trip has it all. Based at their main camp, Kujwana, on the banks of the Xudum River, the safari takes you deep into the western Okavango on horseback – expect around six hours in the saddle on riding days, interspersed with scenic picnic lunches and camp beds for midday siestas (or a dip in the river if you fancy it). But it's not all about galloping across floodplains. Game drives, mokoro trips through the peaceful waterways and leisurely sundowners round out the days, striking a balance between adventure and total relaxation.