Best Hotels & Lodges

Morukuru Farm House is one of three luxury, exclusive-use lodges on a private property within the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. The Marico River runs through the reserve, and super-stylish Farm House lies on its banks. The lodge's property is fenced, although non-threatening game species roam here, so it's the perfect destination if you're travelling with children. Indoors all is modern African contemporary – very chic but wonderfully homely. The owners and staff are extraordinarly friendly, and Madikwe, which can be explored at your leisure, is home to the Big Five and a host of other wildlife. You'll be back!

Nestled between the Duomo and the ancient columns of the Temple of Athena, Palazzo Artemide is much more than a hotel: it is a journey into the most authentic Sicily. A 19th-century palace with monumental charm, it preserves the baroque soul of Syracuse, with tuff stone vaults, hidden courtyards, and unparalleled views. Here, every detail tells the story of the island’s millennia-old culture, transforming your stay into an unforgettable experience.

Thornybush Nature Reserve is an exclusive private reserve in one of South Africa’s finest game viewing regions. This part of the country has a number of conservation areas and private concessions alongside the famous Kruger National Park, which provides a sanctuary for an incredible diversity of wildlife. Waterbuck Game Lodge is tucked away in the southern part of Thornybush, and with just four lavish guest suites, it offers an intimate safari experience, and excellent game viewing. A highlight here is its position overlooking a permanent waterhole, which attracts a constant stream of wildlife, particularly during the dry winter months.

For a really romantic experience in the wild, book a night at Tinyeleti Treehouse. Set high up in the indigenous woodland overlooking the Sabie River in Lion Sands Reserve, this getaway sets the bar high. Lion Sands lies on the unfenced southern boundary of Kruger National Park, and the treehouse perches in an area known as one the busiest and most wildlife-dense in the country. Predators are especially prolific, with frequent leopard and lion sightings. But the real treat is the chance to break away from the clutter with your loved one, and to interact with nature at its purest.

Once a landscape that was unsustainably farmed and over-grazed, the Enonkishu Conservancy is now an incredible story of rewilding. Alongside three other Maasai conservancies, the area is now a 45,000-acre fenceless wilderness with only a handful of lodges and camps to explore it. Sitting atop Kileleoni Hill (the highest point in the Maasai Mara), Wild Hill is one of those lodges - and one of the most exclusive safari houses on the continent. The exclusive-use villa has an equal focus on wellness, conservation and community initiatives, and with a full-service team, your safari is totally on your own terms. And did we mention the sensational views across the wildlife-filled plains?

One of only a handful of camps open in the Green Season, Kakuli is a relaxed and intimate oasis in area renowned for frequent sightings of the notoriously elusive leopard. Perched on a high bank, the 4 chalets all have expansive views across the Luangwa river and down to a grazing lawn where antelope congregate to nibble on the green grass. Game viewing is spectacular year round and this, combined with the encyclopaedic knowledge of the resident guides, puts Kakuli high on the list of ultimate safari hot spots.