Best Hotels & Lodges

For those who believe safari is best experienced at a slower pace, this tucked away camp in the remote northern reaches of Hwange National Park delivers in spades. Nestled beneath mahogany and jackalberry trees on an exclusive 80,000 hectare concession, Bumbusi is a magnet for wildlife, particularly elephants who, flock to the spring fed waterhole as the dry season takes hold. Walking safaris are the main event here, with gorges, river valleys and rocky outcrops creating terrain that begs to be explored on foot. But it's the historical dimension that truly sets this camp apart. The nearby Bumbusi National Monument, with its Great Zimbabwe style ruins and rock engravings dating back millennia, adds a layer of depth you simply won't find elsewhere.

In the remote northern reaches of Zimbabwe's largest national park, where the basalt plains give way to kopjes, mopane woodland and seasonal vleis, sits a camp with a story that rewards curiosity. The camp, recently revived under private management after years under ZimParks, sits in one of the most wildlife-rich pockets of the park: buffalo herds of over 2,000 animals still roam this area, and the density of lion that follows them is, by the park's own reckoning, the highest within its boundaries. Add regular cheetah, wild dog, roan, sable and tsessebe to the picture, and you have one of the more compelling wildlife destinations in southern Africa — at a fraction of what its Botswana neighbours charge. This is an honest, value-driven safari camp, and it knows exactly what it is.

Imagine waking up in a beautifully appointed treehouse, watching the sunrise light up the treetops that surround you. Think about stepping through your glass doors onto your deck, enjoying fresh Zimbabwean coffee, surrounded by birds and an elephant walking below. Followed by a day spent in a very remote part of a vast wilderness that you share with very few people.

Welcome to Sable Valley, known for its sprawling grassy plains and abundance of wildlife diversity. The Dete Vlei, home to Sable Valley, provides scenic landscapes of exceptional and rare beauty, sustaining an ecosystem of remarkable habitat and species, all whilst maintains its ecological resilience and amazing natural phenomena. The Vlei is home to robust populations of some of the world most endangered large mammals such as Cheetah, Wild Dog & Leopard. With its back to teak forest, the whole lodge looks out across open savannah, affording plenty of opportunities for game viewing – from the privacy of your bed or personal patio; from the pool or firepit; from a tree-top platform or hide. And, of course, from a game-drive vehicle or on a guided walking safari. With its own private entrance into Hwange National Park, Sable Valley offers a superb spread of safari options.

Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is a contemporary hacienda-style hotel of 5 stars in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in-between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Immersed in the countryside in a gorgeous area, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba spans approximately 100 acres surrounded by imposing green mountains.

Built to resemble a rural Peruvian village, Rio Sagrado is one of the most unique luxury hotels in Peru. A stay here lets you experience the majesty of life in the mountains.

Situated at a lower altitude than nearby Cusco, the hotel provides the perfect environment in which to acclimatize, and is an ideal base to explore the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Savor sensational cuisine in the restaurant, enjoy a local Sacred Valley massage or spend a few soothing minutes feeding the hotel's baby alpacas.

Picture Wes Anderson directing a film in the Namib and you're halfway to understanding The Desert Grace. The 24 bungalows sit somewhere between Solitaire and Sesriem in the heart of Namibia's enormous Namib Desert, all blush-pink accents and mid-century charm. Built entirely from sandbags filled with Namib sand (yes, really), each room has its own plunge pool for desert-gazing, and there are two family tents if you're coming with the kids. Activities-wise, choose between dawn excursions to Sossusvlei's towering red dunes, morning and afternoon game drives, and a selection of walking safaris - or simply nurse a signature pink gin on your private terrace...