Best Hotels & Lodges

In the sun-soaked embrace of Puglia's countryside, this 16th-century fortified farmhouse now offers a sublime escape that epitomizes the region's understated charm. Originally built as part of a defensive line against Saracen invasions, the whitewashed tower now stands as a testament to centuries gone by, complete with an ancient pigeon tower once used for wartime communication.

Kifaru House, a gorgeous sprawl of thatch, windows and light, is an exclusive-use lodge in the heart of the privately owned Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, itself in Kenya's geographical centre. The house takes its name from the Swahili word for rhino, and indeed the reserve is home to both black and white species. All the Big Five are present, along with plentiful other game and some awe-inspiring landscapes and vistas. The house, which combines colonial style with modern comforts, is perched on a hill with 360-degree views. It's the perfect spot for a private safari group of up to 12 guests.

The Golden Tulip occupies a city block near the heart of Addis Ababa's business district, close to several diplomatic embassies and a kilometre from Bole International Airport. Classy and modern, the hotel's facilities are freshly minted and extremely well constructed. Designed to serve international and business travellers, it contains several convenient amenities for business and leisure: a handful of restaurants and bars, a gym, a 24-hour shuttle service and a top-notch concierge service. This is the kind of place you don't have to second-guess.

The Homestead is a private, sole-use safari residence that sleeps just eight, so it's perfect for a family or group of friends. Situated in the northern Phinda Private Game Reserve, the lodge blends into the surrounding wilderness and has been designed with an eye for space – the interior and exterior flow to create interactive guest areas. The atmosphere is laid-back, the villa is stylishly chic and fully serviced, and your private tracker will lead you to sightings of more animals and birds than you can imagine – including the Big Five, cheetah and the increasingly rare black rhino.

The Surin's placement in Phuket couldn't really get much better. Sitting snugly alongside some of the area's best beaches but still within easy distance of the local nightlife scene, you really do get the best of both worlds here. Whilst not quite a private beach (none in Thailand are), Pansea Beach gets pretty damn close with it's quiet shores only reachable from the hotel or by boat. The hotel itself certainly makes the most of its location, offering spectacular seaside views from almost every spot, and convincing you that might finally have find paradise.

Four Points Sheraton sits in a historic section of Tanzania's northernmost major city, the eponymous Arusha. The hotel itself is said to have been built in 1894 and, although it has since been renovated, it retains some of lovely relics of the past, like colonial facades, broad undercover breezeways, and a mature garden. Expect top-notch hospitality with all the mod cons, alongside somewhat dated but nevertheless clean and comfortable furnishings. Four Points is the perfect stopover treat before and after a challenging ascent of Africa's tallest mountain, just 90 kilometres away.

Imbali is sheltered in a riverine forest overlooking a river in a 10,000 hectare private concession in Kruger National Park. It is one of only three lodges in the area and is built on the site of a 400-year-old African settlement where evidence of an ancient culture has been found. The lodge continues the safari tradition of a bygone era, incorporating comfort and luxury in the serene African bush. A waterhole next to the camp provides wonderful wildlife and bird watching from the decks. The romantic suites are furnished in understated luxury and boast jacuzzis or plunge pools.