Best Hotels & Lodges

Casa di Langa is not just a place, but a philosophy: the belief that the truest luxury is born from a respect for the land and an authentic connection with its traditions. Immersed in the quiet of the Piedmont hills, among the vineyards of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Alta Langa, you will find a sanctuary where every detail is a tribute to the beauty of this region

Wonderful exclusivity in the wilderness

Modern life has deemed it normal to always rush from one place to the next. At Royal Malewane Lodge, you'll learn the opposite. It's not only the luxuries, plush interiors and personal service that remind one of a bygone era, but also the pace of life. Its location in the Greater Kruger National Park makes this a truly remarkable place to see wildlife, and the highly qualified guides will take you out in search of the Big 5, cheetah and wild dog. This exclusive lodge is a meeting of modern facilities and old-fashioned hospitality.

Tucked into the unfenced wilderness of Manyeleti, one of Greater Kruger's best-kept secrets, Khoka Moya lives up to its Shangaan name – 'Capture the Spirit'. And capture it you will. This is a camp that wears its heart on its sleeve: corrugated iron structures nodding to gold-rush pioneers, canvas tents open to the night sounds, and elephants wandering through to drink from the pool (yes, really). What sets it apart? The fact that children of any age can join game drives – a genuine rarity in this neck of the woods. With Big Five sightings pretty much guaranteed and a laid-back, sociable atmosphere, it's the sort of place where first-timers and seasoned safari-goers alike feel immediately at home.

Sitting on a small baobab-studded ridge near the Luvuvhu River, the private Baobab Hill Bush House is the stuff wild dreams are made of. It's surrounded by the 24,000-hectare Makuleke Concession, arguably home to more animal and plant species than anywhere else in Kruger. And with five different vegetation types: acacia veld, mopane woodland, sandveld, flood plain, riverine forests, all intersected with meandering rivers, there's certainly plenty to see. The house, once the ranger's quarters, has been renovated to become a stylish and comfortable property that's ideal for private family getaways incorporating equal measures of leisure and adventure.

Perched on the banks of the Olifants River in Balule Private Nature Reserve, Pondoro is the kind of place that makes you wonder why anyone would stay anywhere else. This family-run lodge, owned by Robbie and Lize Prehn since 1997, has racked up a trophy cabinet's worth of accolades – including a World Luxury Hotel Award for Best Safari Retreat – yet retains the warmth of a well-loved home. With just eight rooms accommodating a maximum of 16 guests, the atmosphere is refreshingly intimate. Expect Big Five encounters on open-topped game drives, an award-winning wine cellar, and the chance to sleep out in a treehouse overlooking a spotlit waterhole. It's proper safari romance done right.

Kapama River lodge is tucked away in the Kapama Private Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park. A large scale, high-end affair, beautifully positioned for picturesque views across the seasonal waters of the Kapama River, it's a well-oiled machine, with the air of a city hotel yet all the benefits of its untouched wilderness setting. Enjoy relaxing at the spa, indulging in the wine cellar, or exploring the untamed surrounds either by open-top Land Cruiser or on foot. With a local guide and lady luck on your side, encountering numerous species and the Big Five is a real possibility, no matter what time of year you visit.

Set just metres from the sea, five-star Morukuru Ocean House is the perfect getaway retreat for a family wanting its own private slice of the wildly beautiful De Hoop Nature Reserve. The reserve itself is one of the Western Cape's most beloved wilderness areas, and the villa – well, it's five-star fabulous, with sleek accommodation (it sleeps 12), amazing views, outstanding service and top-class meals prepared by your private chef. There's plenty to do – take a guided, insightful marine walk, explore the dunes and rock pools and, between July and November, watch the whales and their calves.

Tucked down a leafy cul-de-sac, just off Cape Town's famously buzzy Kloof Street, this collection of six beautifully-restored cottages and apartments is the kind of place you want to keep to yourself. With buildings dating back to the late 1870s, the décor is all about custom wallpapers, chandeliers and Cape Colonial colour palettes, with a good dollop of added South African warmth. There's no reception desk, no communal lobby and no fuss; just a dedicated concierge, impeccable finishing touches and a front door that opens onto one of the Mother City's best-fed neighbourhoods. Table Mountain looms above, Camps Bay's beaches are a quick drive away, and breakfast is a one-minute stroll to the end of the street.

Tintswalo Atlantic is tucked away by the ocean at the foot of a winding private driveway below the famous Chapman’s Peak. Sheltered in a pebbled cove in Table Mountain National Park, Tintswalo looks out across Hout Bay, just a few minutes’ drive from this lively harbour town, yet feels remote and secluded. This boutique hotel is an opulent tribute to its stunning natural surroundings, skilfully crafted from timber and glass to make the most of its spectacular coastal setting. Ten suites, plus a vast hillside double suite, offer lavish accommodation in a beautiful spot within easy reach of Cape Town and its endless attractions.

The Wayo Serengeti Green Camp North is a seasonal camp which follows the main wildebeest events. This camp is located in the northern section of the Serengeti where herds follow the rain showers, leaving behind the drying volcanic plains in the south. The wildebeest track through the corridor where our camp resides to reach the Mara River where they cross back and forth between the months of July and October. These Mara River regions are densely populated by tourists and camps so we prefer to be tucked quietly away from others to enjoy solitude. The river is still accessible for our guests on their daily game drives. The Wayo Serengeti Green Camp features beautifully designed tents sewn by local teams located on the boundary of Arusha National Park. With a picture-window of mesh at the front of the tent, you can lie on your bed and enjoy breathtaking 180 degree panoramic views. Encased in a beautiful stretch canvas overhead, tents sensitively blend into the landscape whilst also providing shade and privacy. The ensuite bathroom is enclosed and covered with bucket showers and low-flush toilets. The camp prioritises adventure, authentic safari experiences, and ecotourism. You will love the personalised service and prime access to some of the world's best game viewing.

Welcome to Luwela Camp, an authentic safari sanctuary nestled in the secluded slopes of Makoma Hill in the heart of Tanzania’s Central Serengeti. As the sister property to the renowned Lake Duluti Lodge, the camp blends warm hospitality with an immersive wilderness experience.

It's prime location is the epicenter of a vibrant ecosystem, celebrated for its incredible density of resident wildlife. Unlike other regions that rely on seasons, the Makoma Hill area offers phenomenal, year-round game viewing, ensuring that every day is an opportunity to witness the Serengeti's untamed drama, from the legendary Big Five to the more than 500 species of birds that grace the skies.

Right at the heart of dreamy, pastel-coloured Positano is Le Sirenuse, a Pompeii-red palazzo that the Sersale family opened to guests back in 1951. What started as a summer abode has become one of Italy's finest and most recognised hotels, though it still feels wonderfully like someone's home, albeit one filled with Neapolitan antiques, contemporary art and the family's own fragrance line. With a Michelin-starred restaurant lit by four hundred candles and complimentary boat trips along the coast, this really is la dolce vita done properly.

With a lobby on the 25th floor of the Shiodome Media Tower, the Park Hotel couldn't be better situated for getting under the skin of Tokyo. Right by a subway station - and only 5 minutes from the Hamamatsucho monorail station - it’s easy to enjoy the full scope of Japan's capital, from the mind-boggling lights of Shinjuku to the serenity of the Hamarikyu Gardens (they're just a 10-minute stroll away). Back at the hotel, prepare to be awed by the incredible artwork: not only does the hotel rotate the art installations in the lobby almost every month, there is an entire floor that has been completely transformed by the work of a Japanese artist.

Over the past few years, Hyatt has made serious inroads in Japan and the Grand Hyatt Tokyo's location, tucked into the heart of the international Roppongi district, is fantastic. Plugged directly into the sprawling Roppongi Hills complex (think 250 shops, restaurants, galleries and an observatory), you're ideally positioned for exploring Tokyo's electric neighbourhoods - and most highlights are within 20 minutes or so by subway. And with 387 mahogany-clad rooms, 10 restaurants spanning French bistro fare to legendary steakhouse cuts, an indoor red granite pool, and the serene Nagomi Spa, there's plenty to do back at your (very slick) base.

Nestled on the edge of the world-renowned Torres del Paine National Park, Estancia Cerro Guido stands as a beacon of Patagonian heritage and natural beauty. This sprawling estancia (ranch) offers a unique blend of rugged wilderness and cozy luxury, inviting guests to step back in time to a simpler, more connected way of life. With its historic architecture, stunning vistas of the Paine Massif, and a working farm atmosphere, Cerro Guido provides an unparalleled experience. Guests can immerse themselves in the rhythms of ranch life, enjoy horseback rides across vast pampas, and relax in rooms that whisper stories of yesteryears, all while being enveloped by some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet.

At the very edge of the earth, where the vast steppe meets imposing mountains, this striking wooden structure curves organically along a bluff overlooking a glacial lake. The design is nothing short of genius – local lenga wood bends and flows with the landscape rather than fighting against it, creating a cocoon of comfort from which to observe the wild drama unfolding outside. Step through the doors, and you'll discover forty elegant suites, all positioned to maximize those jaw-dropping views of the pampas and the iconic massif beyond. This is where intrepid adventurers rest their weary legs after days spent exploring one of the world's most spectacular national parks and where the ever-changing light creates a different masterpiece on the landscape every hour of the day.

Poised at the gateway of the legendary W Trek, this authentic estancia delivers front-row seats to nature's grand performance. The Kusanovic family has called this dramatic corner of Patagonia home since the early 20th century, transforming their working ranch into an adventure-seeker's paradise. From the cosy lounge, floor-to-ceiling windows frame those impossible-to-ignore towers, while the property's own organic garden and farm supply the kitchen with its distinctly Patagonian flavours.

Kichwa Tembo Camp, like its sister Bateleur Camp, lies in the western Mara in a private concession that has been leased from its Maasai landlords. Fewer visitors come to this region, although the landscape is filled with wild animals all year, so you're assured more private viewings. The camp lies directly in the path of the annual Great Migration and, in season, you're likely to get the best sightings of the stampeding animals crossing the Mara River, the stuff of documentaries worldwide.

Positioned in Patagonia's adventure capital, this welcoming base strikes the perfect note between comfort and practicality. The spa provides much-needed muscle relief after glacier hikes, while the artisan bakery's morning aromas could tempt even the most determined mountaineer to linger over breakfast. It's refreshingly unpretentious, focusing instead on the essentials that matter after a day in the wild.

In the popular Botafogo neighbourhood, the hotel offers spectacular views of Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer). Reach the shops, bars, artisans, and restaurants of Arnaldo Quintela Street in a short drive. Botafogo Beach is within walking distance. Enjoy the rooftop bar or locally-inspired cuisine in the extremely popular restaurant.