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Accommodation

Best Hotels & Lodges

Timbuktu Travel curates 6392 handpicked hotels and lodges across Africa, the Indian Ocean islands and beyond — from classic bush camps in the Serengeti and Okavango Delta to barefoot-luxe beach retreats in Zanzibar, Mozambique and the Maldives. Our collection spans iconic safari destinations including Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa, alongside island escapes, mountain gorilla hideaways and Indian subcontinent retreats. Every property has been personally assessed by our consultants, who can match you to the camps, lodges and hotels that fit your style and travel rhythm. Browse the full collection below, or speak to a Timbuktu specialist to start planning.

The Boathouse

Zululand & The Elephant Coast

From $90 per person/night

The Boathouse is the gem of the North Coast. Just 25km from King Shaka International, this idyllic spot provides luxurious accommodation to the weary traveller. The bed-and-breakfast hotel offers 19 rooms, each named for a legendary ship and elegantly furnished in classic nautical tones of deep navy, rich burgundy, subtle gold finishes and crisp, clean white. Start your ocean adventure the minute you step on-board into your private room. The ocean-facing rooms allow breathtaking vistas of the vast blue sea, while the rooms facing away from the shore provide a quiet break from the bustle of city life. The penthouse suite offers 5 generous rooms, a living space, a well-appointed kitchen for self-catering purposes and an amazing deck, allowing the most magnificent ocean views imaginable. There’s simply no finer way to start the day than waking up with the untamed beauty of the sea right outside your window. All of the rooms are designed to give you the luxurious escape you need. Each room is individually decorated in its own colour scheme of fabric and style. Choose between luxury rooms, deck rooms or standard rooms. Most of the rooms have sea views.

Tembe Luxury Tents

Zululand & The Elephant Coast

From $130 per person/night

The luxury tented accommodation offers a secluded experience in a serene sand forest. Each tent is equipped with air-conditioning, camping chairs on private decks, and comfortable queen-sized beds dressed with high-quality linen. Enjoy the tranquillity of the outdoor shower and visit the spa tent for a relaxing experience.

Makhasa Game Reserve and Lodge

Zululand & The Elephant Coast

From $140 per person/night

Makhasa Private Game Lodge is nestled in an ancient and rare sand forest within the Munywana Game Reserve, just three hours from Durban. Guests have the opportunity to experience the Big 5 game, 7 different habitats, and over 436 bird species. Makhasa guests enjoy two private game drive experiences a day (sunrise and sunset) with &Beyond Phinda’s world-class trained guides, this experience offers private traversing over more than 12 000 hectares. Be sure to relax on the deck while joining the waterhole callers.Phinda Game Reserve and Zuka Game Reserve, as well as other properties and farms, form part of the World renown.

Jumeirah Thanda Safari Royal Residences

Zululand & The Elephant Coast

From $570 per person/night

Nestled in KwaZulu Natal’s lush wilderness, Jumeirah Thanda Safari features the exclusive Royal Residences within its 16,500-hectare private reserve. Guests can enjoy African authenticity and adventures with expert guides in pursuit of the Big Five, all while enjoying luxurious accommodations with endless views over the game reserve.

Sungulwane Game Lodge

Zululand & The Elephant Coast

8 Rooms

From $640 per person/night

Sungulwane is an exclusive, Big 5 Safari lodge on Zuka Private Game Reserve. With just 8 private chalets, it's the ultimate intimate African bush experience for you and a loved one, friends or the whole family. Each suite is embedded into the thick Red Ivory forest giving you the feeling of sleeping in the tree canopies – in complete harmony with nature. An extensive private deck with large stack back doors and showers allow for endless stargazing or daydreaming over the uninterrupted views of the valley. Whether relaxing on a lounger by the pool, sipping on a glass of red wine while the flames dance in the firepit or enjoying a gourmet dining experience in the Boma, Sungulwane offers warm, friendly Zululand hospitality at its best.

Shiroyama Hotel

Kagoshima

365 Rooms

From $110 per person/night

Kagoshima's guest house, beloved by locals.

Located on Shiroyama in Kagoshima, this tranquil space offers a spectacular view. Enjoy a luxurious view of Sakurajima, gourmet cuisine made with local ingredients, and exquisite hot springs. You are offered sophisticated rooms and comfortable service to ensure you have a special stay.

Sheraton Kagoshima

Kagoshima

228 Rooms

From $130 per person/night

Relax in a modern, luxurious hotel room which features spectacular views of Sakurajima and Kagoshima City. Dine at one of the restaurants and bars and sample local Kagoshima dishes like black pork and beef. Indulge yourself with a massage at the on-site spa or soak in the natural hot springs. If you are hosting an event, reserve one of the state-of-the-art banquet halls at the hotel which reflect the traditional and festive atmosphere of the city.

Taj Rishikesh Resort and Spa

Rishikesh

From $260 per person/night

Deciduous trees, the Shivalik Himalayan mountains and the majestic Ganges in the Singthali village are a formidable setting for Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand, 30 kilometres from Rishikesh. Built from locally sourced artisan materials and spread over 50,585 square metres, the architecture of this magnificent resort pays tribute to Himalayan villages and temple forts.

Surya Shanti Villa

Sidemen

Tucked between rice terraces and the majestic Mount Agung, every homely room is tastefully decorated and offer breathtaking view on the valley and South Bali's Bay. Although Sidemen has a cool climate, all our rooms are air conditioned.

Sani Valley Rainbow Lodge

Drakensberg

From $130 per person/night

Sani Valley Rainbow Lodge is the largest chalet at Sani Valley. It has 3 luxurious en-suite bedrooms that can comfortably accommodate up to six people. Ideal for families and groups

Sani Valley Sunset Lodge

Drakensberg

From $60 per person/night

If you are looking for a luxury private lodge in the most magnificent setting that also caters to your ideal level of seclusion, then this is the place for you! Sani Valley Sunset Lodges consists of 3 beautifully decorated semi-detached one-bedroom units. Each en-suite unit has magnificent lake and Drakensberg mountain views from lounge, bedroom and private deck. There are two accommodation units downstairs and one unit upstairs.

Oaklands

Drakensberg

17 Rooms

From $120 per person/night

Nestled in a vally upon the picturesque escarpment of the southeastern Drakensberg. Oaklands offers a tranquil retreat focused on communion with friends and family, home away from home comfort, spectacular farm-to-table dining and lots of time connecting to the wonderful environment within which the farm is situated.

Khotso Lodge & Horse Trails

Drakensberg

From $40 per person/night

Khotso has been offering horse riding in the Southern Drakensberg for well over a decade and making this most incredible activity accessible to all intrepid travellers visiting this beautiful mountain range. The largest horse trails specialist in the area, guests are invited to this perfect basecamp both to explore and to unwind. Khotso is the only operator running regular and bespoke multi-day cross-border horseback expeditions into the untouched wilds of Lesotho, and they offer a range of unique accommodations.

Inkungu Lodge Boutique Hotel

Drakensberg

From $80 per person/night

Inkungu Lodge celebrates the glorious views of the Central Drakensberg mountain ranges, melting into the natural flora with indigenous gardens and a rimflow pool that reflects the changing moods and seasons of the Champagne Valley region. Inkungu means mist or cloud in Zulu, and the ongoing play of both of these around the riverine valleys and craggy slopes contributes to the mountain’s moody mystique.

Sani Valley Bushman Lodge

Drakensberg

From $90 per person/night

Sani Valley's Bushman Lodge is a large 2 bedroom en-suite lodge exquisitely decorated in African themes with original African artifacts & embroideries. This unit has magnificent elevated views of the lake and Drakensberg mountains, including the balancing rocks which are well known in the Sani Pass area for their distinct look.