Best Hotels & Lodges

The seasonal Monwana River is a central artery for startling volumes of wildlife that inhabit the area. There's something indescribably special about this lodge: it could be the stellar service and attention to detail; it could be the understated indulgence found in the accommodation, or it could be the invitation to immerse yourself in nature at such a close proximity to abundant wildlife. We suggest you do yourself a favour and find out.

The thick, comforting smell of thatch welcomes you to your holiday home in the bush. This is the classic South African safari at its best, but with the distinct advantage of location. Found in the private Sabi Sand Game Reserve, on a very frequented waterhole, you won't believe your luck for discovering such a homely spot in the midst of a prime wildlife viewing reserve where the abundant wildlife from the Kruger roam across freely.

Feel like you're the only people in the Manyeleti Private Game Reserve when you spend a few nights at Tintswalo Safari Lodge. Intimate and limited to only a handful of guests, the lodge is tucked under an ancient sycamore tree grove, fringed by a waterhole. Being open to the Greater Kruger National Park, incredible wildlife often wander through the camp to drink and play while guests look on, G&T in hand. Devoid of Big Five-chasing crowds, the lodge is also perfect for spotting an array of incredible bird species.

Set in the heart of the Klaserie, one of the largest privately-owned reserves in South Africa, Camp George couldn't be more in the centre of the action. Led by highly-experienced guides who know the landscape like their own backyard, game drives and bush walks will take you closer than ever to the Kruger wildlife - and even when you're in camp, there's a strong chance of an elephant wandering along the pathways! The camp has stayed true to its founder and namesake, George Huysamer, weaving together art, nature and heritage in one sublime package. Still in the family today, you'll feel well and truly taken care of, especially in one of the dapper suites, beautifully positioned along the dry riverbed.

Centred around a waterhole in the Kapama Game Reserve near Hoedspruit in Limpopo, Camp Jabulani is an exclusive safari lodge in this Big Five landscape. There may be many other camps of similar description in the Greater Kruger Park area, but Jabulani is different – it has a resident herd of trained elephants and is the only camp that offers night safaris on elephant back. Interacting with these intelligent and gracious mammals is a magical experience. The camp is small – there are just six suites – and the service is up there with the very best.

Game Lodge, situated in the malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg, is both luxurious and child friendly. Private and exclusive (the lodge has recently been renovated), it's the perfect wilderness retreat for families and small groups wanting to explore the bushveld on guided game drives to see the abundant wildlife. And you can expect great sightings at this 34,000-plus-hectare Big Five Reserve. A major attraction, also newly constructed, is the underground waterhole hide in front of the lodge, which allows guests to get close to the animals as they drink.

Schoone Oordt Country House is a charming and intimate country hotel in Swellendam, only two hours away from Cape Town and perfectly situated as the gateway to the Garden Route. Set on extensive lush grounds, the property consists of the Victorian Manor House and ten luxury bedrooms. Guests have access to woodland glades, a stunning swimming pool and a fragrant rose garden. Meals are made with love and served with true flair and style. The emphasis here is on unpretentious luxury, elegance, quality, and attention to detail. This is the ideal romantic getaway for guests looking for pure relaxation.

De Hoop Nature Reserve on South Africa's southern shoreline (about halfway between Cape Town and Plettenberg Bay) is undoubtedly one of the country's best kept secrets. The reserve is probably most famous for its incredible land-based whale and dolphin watching, but it's also one of the most spectacularly beautiful areas on the continent: a melee of fynbos, pristine white beaches and wetlands, all framed by towering mountains to one side and the Indian Ocean to the other. And there's a picture-perfect spot from which to enjoy it all - Lekkerwater Beach Lodge.

Nestled within the heart of South Africa’s Lapalala Wilderness, this exclusive-use villa offers a luxurious sanctuary for up to 16 guests. Melote House features six elegant suites in the main residence and two additional suites in a nearby cottage. Guests enjoy complete privacy, with dedicated staff, including a private chef, and access to three pools, a private spa, and an infinity pool overlooking a waterhole. Surrounded by untamed landscapes, it’s the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

Takamatsu is one of Japan's best-kept secrets — a laid-back port city on Shikoku's northern coast that serves as the gateway to the extraordinary art islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Naoshima, Shodoshima and Megijima are all a short ferry ride away, and back on the mainland, Ritsurin Garden (arguably Japan's finest) and Kagawa's legendary sanuki udon scene await. The hotel itself is a full-service city property, polished rather than boutique, but its position couldn't be better: one minute's walk from JR Takamatsu Station and directly opposite the ferry terminal. For exploring this corner of Japan, it's hard to beat as a base.

Okayama, the 'Land of Sunshine' sits between Osaka and Hiroshima on the Sanyo Shinkansen. Most travellers glide straight through without realising what they've missed, namely one of Japan's three great landscape gardens, a brooding black castle and the whitewashed canal town of Kurashiki, all just a ferry hop from Naoshima's contemporary art scene. Hotel Granvia Okayama, run by JR West, is the natural anchor for all of it. Attached to the station by a covered walkway, with nineteen floors of views over city rooftops and distant mountains, it's a large, reliable hotel whose greatest attribute is exactly where it stands.

Tucked away in the wilds of north-western Madagascar, Namoroka National Park is one of the island's most unexplored and biodiverse regions. The park spans six ecosystems, including over 100 kilometres of caves (among Africa's largest collection) and miles and miles of otherworldly tsingy (the island's iconic limestone formations). Set just outside of the park itself, Namoroka Tsingy Camp is the only accommodation in the area, making for a secluded and totally exclusive experience. The luxury tents have everything you need, whilst also retaining a genuine closeness with the wild. The camp also places the protection and study of the park's unique and fascinating flora and fauna at the forefront and the focus on conservation is top notch.

Perched on a dramatic promontory just south of Positano, this family-owned Relais & Châteaux landmark has been seducing guests since 1970. The brainchild of local visionary Carlino Cinque, the entire hotel was, incredibly, carved into the cliff face by hand and every terrace, pathway and tumbling garden feels as though it grew naturally from the rock itself. With a Michelin-starred restaurant stocked with produce from the terraced gardens, a private beach reached by an elevator drilled through 88 metres of solid cliff, and views that stretch from Praiano to Capri, this is the Amalfi Coast at its most glamorous.

A unique blend of cosy hospitality and a rich literary atmosphere. Its distinctive library-themed concept, combined with its prime location in the heart of Tokyo, makes it an ideal retreat for both book lovers and urban explorers.

It could be said that Patagonia is the home of adventure in Chile and no one would agree more than the folk at Cascada Expediciones, who have spent the last two decades pioneering bucket list trips in the Torres del Paine. Built by hand in the centre of the reserve, their EcoCamp is an innovative collection of geodesic domes with views of the famous Towers. The camp has been recognised across the globe for its environmentally-conscious ethos with their own micro-hydro turbines, solar panels and carbon neutral projects. The camp offers multi-day treks across the Torres del Paine, taking in the ethereal scenery and sights.