Best Hotels & Lodges

Meru National Park is recognised as having a greater diversity of animal species than any other park in East Africa, so prepare yourself and your camera for large elephant herds, hippo, lion, caracal, reptiles, a rhino sanctuary and more than 400 species of birdlife. Elsa’s Kopje, named after the lioness made famous by George and Joy Adamson, is an unashamedly romantic and beautifully styled retreat set into a rocky hill above the site of George’s famous orphaned lion camp.

Located in the heart of the Avenue of Volcanoes and just two hours north of Quito, Hacienda Zuleta holds a very noble heritage: it was once the residence of former president Galo Plaza. Today, the estate is a 2,000-hectare working farm (cheese factory included!), still run by the Plaza family and surrounded by breathtaking rural views. The hacienda’s distinguished history shines through in every room of the main house, replete with antiques and boasting an impressive library. And with plenty of activities on offer - from horseback riding and hiking to mountain biking or cooking lessons - it’s the ideal setting to immerse yourself into Ecuadorean tradition and culture.

In a country with two coasts and dozens of protected reserves, Arenas del Mar enjoys the best of both. A half-hour walk down Espadillas Beach leads you right to the Manuel Antonio National Park, where you'll zipline over lush valleys, take a dip in waterfall pools and snorkel in sky-blue lagoons. Back at the hotel, the 11-acre nature reserve is alive with vivid birdlife and sloths and the naturalist guides will point out even the littlest detail. Rooms are tucked amongst the trees, providing a comfortable cocoon when you need it, and after a day of doing as much or little as you like, how about a sunset cruise in the 100-foot sailboat?

An hour north of Bordeaux, the Médoc is almost all vines and flat as a pancake all the way to the Gironde estuary. And in the middle of the grape-drenched landscape is La Maison d'Estournel. An 18th-century manor that once belonged to Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, the wine baron behind the Cos d'Estournel vineyard next door, it now welcomes wine-lovers to stay. With only 14 rooms, it's intimate and personal and the interiors are classic enough to make you feel like royalty, but with just the right amount of contemporary. The kitchen was left in the capable hands of Jérôme Banctel, the triple-Michelin-starred chef who also runs the stoves at La Réserve Paris.

This lodge is currently closed due to recent flooding Madikwe River Lodge is situated on the banks of the Groot Marico River in the heart of the 75,000 hectare Madikwe Game Reserve. Located between Sun City and Botswana, and only 350 km from OR Tambo International Airport, this is an easily accessible safari experience that is certainly easily enjoyable. Choose one of 16 split-level river front chalets, all with incredible views of the surrounding landscape and snuffling wildlife, add fine-dining, superior service and excellent safari drives in the Big Five reserve, and this is an all-round wonderful safari for families, couples or small groups.

Located in the idyllic lost world that is the Mahale Mountains National Park, Greystoke Mahale is a byword for adventure. In the 1980s, explorer Roland Purcell built the first Mahale Mountains camp on the edge of the forest, captivated by his sensational surroundings and the magnificent chimpanzee population that roamed wild. Today, the camp has changed somewhat and beautiful wooden bandas have replaced the tents of old, but the magic and allure remain. This is a place where wildlife dreams come true and a hideaway that, selfishly, you hope no-one else ever discovers…

Perched on a cliff in the hilltop town of Taormina, this former Dominican convent has spent the better part of six centuries collecting remarkable guests: Oscar Wilde, Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo, D.H. Lawrence and, more recently, the cast and crew of The White Lotus. The building is as extraordinary as its guest list: two wings – one medieval, one 1896 Liberty-style – frame stunning gardens, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a 21-metre infinity pool suspended above the Ionian Sea. It's immaculate, polished and more than a little bit swanky – but it's the 600-year history really wins your heart.

A boat ride across the aquamarine Bay of Hiroshima will transport you to the ethereal Miyajima Island, known as one of the most picturesque places in Japan. Just minutes away from its pretty shores, the Iwaso Ryokan is enveloped by lush gardens that change shades with the seasons. One of its best features is the bubbling onsen baths, which you can enjoy indoors or amongst the foliage, where deer wander by. The original ryokan opened in 1854, giving it a cherished heritage that remains at the forefront of the decor and atmosphere. When you're not soaking the day away, take in the island's famous sights including the striking Torii Gate.

A collection of bucolic wooden cabins on the shore of Lago General Carrera, Mallin Colorado is as eco-minded as they come. Built sustainably from native woods and all on stilts, the flora grows uninterrupted underneath you - and don't be surprised if a horse wanders up to your veranda. The hotel's location in the Southern Carretera Austral of Patagonia receives an unusual (and very welcome) amount of sun, and remains fairly free of tourists. Explore this surreal setting on foot or horseback, where you'll soak up views of serene lakes, glaciers and waterfalls, as your guide shares his expert knowledge.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, sprawled across 65,000 acres (263 square kilometres) of Laikipia wilderness, is top of many people's game reserve wish list for its legendary wildlife viewing. With more than 70 recorded mammal species, the conservancy is home to lion, leopard and jackal, the largest concentration of Grevy’s zebra in the world, more than 130 black and white rhino, and too many bird species to list. To the south rises snow-capped Mount Kenya, to the north are the arid lands of Tassia and Il Ngwesi. Between them lie areas of pristine forest, fertile grasslands, extensive springs and acacia woodland.