Best Hotels & Lodges

Pull up alongside that storied waterway and prepare to be transported to a world where cherubs perch on marble staircases and centuries-old frescoes tell tales of nobility past. This 15th-century masterpiece has earned its status as a National Monument, and rightfully so. Each morning, throw open your windows to watch the theatre of daily life unfold at the historical market opposite, as vendors arrange their wares just as they have done for hundreds of years.

As you might have guessed, Great Plains' latest camp is set on a gloriously private island in the Northern Okavango. On arrival, you'll scarcely believe such a place exists, with every corner providing a front row seat to this startlingly beautiful corner of Botswana. Hosting a maximum of eight guests, you'll have your guide's utmost attention whilst exploring the channels and lagoons, watching hippos wallow, elephant swimming, and the birdlife a-fluttering. And how could we forget the shy sitatunga antelope dwelling in the reeds of the Delta from which the camp takes its name?

Kluges Guest Farm is a serene, owner-operated eco-lodge nestled on 70 acres of lush tropical forest and botanical gardens just south of Fort Portal, Uganda. Originally established as a commercial farm, it has been transformed into a tranquil retreat featuring ten self-contained bungalows and cottages that offer stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains. The property emphasizes sustainability and farm-to-table dining, with its restaurant, Ggava Mukulya, serving fresh meals made from home-grown vegetables and daily-baked bread. Ideally located for nature enthusiasts, the farm serves as a gateway to major attractions like Kibale National Park for chimpanzee tracking, the Semuliki forest, and the "Mountains of the Moon," while offering on-site amenities such as a swimming pool, nature trails, and vibrant birdwatching opportunities.

Although it is a newly-minted addition to Tanzania's Tarangire National Park, Honeyguide Tarangire Camp has the feel of an old yet luxury classic. The tented camp is owned by safari giants who have intimate, well-honed knowledge of the industry. Everything about the camp has been chosen with care, from the expert guides to the sensational menu to the plush mattresses. Set in a grove of umbrella thorns with views of the vast savanna, it enjoys an ideal vantage in the wilderness. Is it too soon to say it? Honeyguide has all the makings of a legendary camp...

Ulusaba Safari Lodge will be closed for an exciting refurbishment from 26 January 2026 and reopening on 1 December 2026.

The hill on which Ulusaba Private Game Reserve's lodge sits provided the ancient Shangaan warriors with the perfect lookout point. 'The place of little fear' was therefore the perfect name for this famed stretch of bushveld. Today, the Safari Lodge offers a different kind of adventure. Located on the edge of a dry river and under a canopy of ancient trees, you'll take rope swing bridges between rooms and watch thirsty animals skirt by your deck on their way to the nearby waterhole. Alternatively, retreat to the treehouse to get lost in birdsong.

In pride of place on the Piazza della Repubblica, amongst the city’s leading landmarks, an iconic Florentine hotel. Dressed Olga Polizzi, in signature prints and Renaissance antiques. Catered by Fulvio Pierangelini, in definitive Tuscan style. Filled with character, a breath of fresh air in a city steeped in history. The Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, Via de Tornabuoni… nowhere has neighbours like Hotel Savoy.

The elegant suites conjure a feeling of serenity that feels a world away from the busy Florentine streets.

With a strict limit on the number of lodges allowed in the beautiful NamibRand Nature Reserve, it’s not often that a new one appears on the books. But here is Kwessi Dunes Lodge, once a traditional Namibian farm and now 10 cool and quirky chalets, which opened to guests in March 2020. Set smack bang in the middle of the 200,000-hectare reserve, there’s plenty to get your teeth into – we hear tales of nature drives and walks, quad bike explorations, hot air balloon flights, Sossusvlei trips and plenty of opportunities to spot desert-adapted wildlife. Add to that a lovely-looking lodge and a team that knows exactly what they’re doing when it comes to top-notch safaris (and air conditioning and a swimming pool).

Perched high above the glittering Mediterranean, this elegant hideaway sits pretty amidst rolling vineyards and wild gardens on a UNESCO-listed volcanic isle. The white-washed buildings peek out between tangles of bougainvillea and swaying palms, while the heady scent of Malvasia grapes ripening on ancient vines fills the air. Let yourself be drawn into the rhythm of island life, where mornings might find you practicing sun salutations on the rooftop, afternoons call for lazy dips in the freshwater pool, and evenings are best spent sampling estate wines as the lighthouse beam sweeps across inky waters.

As one of the few geographically elevated areas in Botswana, Ghoha Hills Lodge takes full advantage of its sweeping views over the surrounding Savute landscape. The lodge's remote location in this popular region makes for a more exclusive overall experience. Some of the best game viewing areas on offer are about an hour's drive away, but when the Savute Marsh is showing its full colours, it's well worth travelling across the world for. Hit it at its peak and you'll see things to rival the Serengeti. And the lodge provides all the luxury and relaxation you could want when you're away from the action.