Best Hotels & Lodges

The Masai Mara is Kenya's safari headliner, but the main reserve can feel like rush hour when the migration's on. Mara North Conservancy, where Hemingways River Camp Mara sits on the banks of the Njageteck River, is the antidote: 73,000 acres of community-owned wilderness with a fraction of the vehicles. Founded by late conservationist Richard Roberts, the camp has just had a top-to-toe refurbishment under the Hemingways Collection, who've kept the old-school safari soul intact. Eight canvas tents, a resident lion pride that hunts within earshot, and guides who'll happily revolve the whole day around you. Safari the way it used to be done.

The dilemma with Victoria Falls is a familiar one: do you want a safari, or do you want the falls? The answer, at this tented camp on the banks of the Masuwe River, is a firm both. Operated by Wild Horizons — the largest eco-tourism outfit in the area — the lodge sits within a 4,500-acre private wildlife sanctuary inside Victoria Falls National Park, where elephants, crocodiles and a reliable cast of other wildlife treat the riverbank as their own. The mist from Mosi-Oa-Tunya hangs on the skyline. The falls themselves are a twenty-minute transfer away. This is not a compromise between two experiences — it's a genuinely well-placed base for all of them, designed by Craig White with the same solar-powered, plastic-free sustainability credentials that run through Wild Horizons' other properties. The chitenge fabric cushion covers and handmade local touches give the whole place a warmth that the word "eco" doesn't always promise.

Hotels at Cape Town’s world-famous V&A Waterfront tend to be of the large and sprawling variety. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes you just want some peace and quiet… Enter the Dock House, a rather splendid boutique hotel with just six uber-luxurious rooms. Restored by interiors guru Francois du Plessis, the pretty Victorian house is cool, creamy and very contemporary and the whole glamorous picture is completed by dazzling postcard-perfect views; the vibrant harbour to the front and Table Mountain and Lions Head behind. And the best bit? Some of the city’s best shopping, wining and dining is a mere stroll from the front door.

Located on the sloping hills of the central Serengeti, and overlooking the Moru Kopjes, is Serengeti Pioneer Camp. All 12 of the canvas tents are reminiscent of the early pioneers and the glamour of 1930s safaris, but furnished with modern and fully-functional luxuries. It is across the great Serengeti plains that the wildebeest of the Great Migration roam, and the members of the Big Five lurk in the bushes and among the kopjes - spot them from the comfort of your tent, on a game drive, or even from the high reaches of a hot-air balloon safari.

Move to the beat of the city at a Tokyo hotel that captures the high energy of Shinjuku. From its perch in Kabukicho Tower, Hotel Groove, Shinjuku, has its finger on the pulse of the famed Kabukicho entertainment enclave while delivering a unique art and music experience for travellers with a keen eye for style and culture.

Set in the heart of the bush, Ubuntu is a small, no-fuss, good value mobile camp that oozes authenticity and effortless charm. The camp moves between several locations in the Serengeti to follow the Great Migration - Ubuntu South (December - March), Ubuntu West (May - July), and Ubuntu North (August - November). The main focus of this camp is undoubtedly the Great Migration and the untouched wilderness in which it happens.

JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo invites guests to experience refined luxury in the heart of Takanawa Gateway City. Inspired by Zen philosophy and the natural beauty of Goten-yama, the hotel offers tranquil, artfully designed guestrooms with panoramic city views. Every detail—from the tactile materials to curated lighting—supports a journey of mindfulness and well-being.

Guests can savor world-class dining, including omakase-style Japanese cuisine and modern Mediterranean fare, alongside a curated selection of premium sake and champagne. With thoughtful service and elevated design, the hotel is a true sanctuary in Tokyo.

Sanctuary Olonana is an elegant tented camp in the heart of Kenya’s finest safari region. It's situated within a private concession alongside the Masai Mara Game Reserve, overlooking a stretch of the Mara River with a resident pod of hippos. A mix of classic safari elements – canvas tents, timber and thatch – together with a strong Maasai influence gives this camp an authentic African feel, with luxury all round. Game viewing is excellent, and one of the highlights is the chance to spend a day at a Maasai village, and participate in some of the daily rituals and routines.

Nkosi Guest Lodge has been designed with a focus on providing guests with adequate space for socialising and relaxing whilst on holiday in Victoria Falls. The pool Is overlooked by the restaurant and executive bar where top class chefs serve delicious food everyday.

Just a stone's throw from Victoria Falls, Mbano Manor is the creation of Dr. Matifadza “Mati” Nyazema, a Zimbabwean hotelier, globetrotter, and force of nature. The hotel is a testament to her determination and vision, and the suites are beautiful, intimate and tranquil. The entire property was built with extraordinary care and attention (only two trees were removed during construction) and you'll wake up to the sounds of birdsong and rustling teak in the surrounding forests. TIME has even named it one of the World's Greatest Places to visit in 2025...

Claiming one of the most coveted spots in the entire Okavango, this beautifully reimagined lodge sits proudly where ancient mangosteen trees meet Africa's most spectacular permanent water site. This region of the Okavango Delta has a wide range of habitats but is dominated by deep, papyrus-fringed channels, shallow floodplains and small palm-studded islands, making water activities Xugana's primary focus. Game drives do not feature on the menu. Xugana is ideal for travellers hoping to relax and soak up the majestic landscapes surrounding this exclusive Okavango original (back in 1974 it was only the second lodge to be built in the Delta). Not to say there is no game to be seen in this slice of pristine wilderness, but chasing the Big 5 is not the main objective.

This relaxing tented camp is located deep in the south of the Serengeti National Park. Comfort and charm are priorities and it’s an extremely affordable camp with some lovely extra touches. Raised wooden decks optimise the sweeping views of Lake Masek, whilst an eco-friendly, solar-powered setup ensures a minimal footprint on the pristine surroundings. Add to that superb game viewing when the Great Migration floods throughthe area from December to March (hundreds of baby wildebeest, everywhere you look!) and a healthy population of big cats year-round, and you have yourself a wonderful Serengeti option, whatever season youchoose to travel in.

This is the Okavango of your dreams, with a vast seasonal floodplain and wildlife to your left and right. And Kadizora Camp delivers it all in spades. Lying in the remote northern delta, this camp offers luxury in both its tents and wildlife encounters. Tear yourself away from the comforts of the lounge, bar and panoramic floodplain views to meander along the waterways in a mokoro. Too hot to move? Rest in the shade of the giant marulas, sycamore figs and rain trees, or cool off in the pool.

Masek is an intimate tented camp in the Ngorongoro Conservation area bordering the Serengeti. Open from the beginning of December to the end of March, it witnesses all the glory of the Great Migration. Its woodland thicket setting makes for a successful combination of privacy and the opportunity to be close to all the action in the surrounding Serengeti. Guests can expect relative luxury for an affordably priced option and a true African adventure. The eco-friendly nature of the camp’s solar powered setup fits with the authenticity of the experience on offer.

Experience timeless safari tradition in secluded luxury, within one of Africa's most prolific wildlife regions. This intimate villa is perched on a hillside in Cottar's Private Conservancy, within the Masai Mara region but just outside of the Masai Mara National Park itself. An indulgent and romantic homestead linked to Cottar's 1920's Camp, Cottar's Bush Villa is utterly exclusive. It comes with a discreet and professional staff, including a butler, private chef and guide. The ecosystem is hugely fertile, with abundant game (keep an eye out for the Big Five) and stunning landscapes to be explored by vehicle or on foot.