Best Hotels & Lodges

The sweeping, double-story grass thatched structure of A'Zambezi River Lodge is surrounded by extensive lawns and set right on banks of the Zambezi River, above the magnificent Victoria Falls. More like a mid-sized hotel than an intimate lodge, it has eighty-seven rooms and a large central garden with a swimming pool. It is well-positioned to take advantage of the town of Victoria Falls and its multitude of activities; the fact that guests can embark on a river cruise directly from the lodge itself is a major benefit. A magnificent mile-wide waterfall straddling Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls needs little introduction. There are several ways to experience it, offering guests varying degrees of adventure. A visit between May and October is optimal.

Livingstone is Zambia's adventure capital, and Protea Hotel Livingstone plays the part of dependable home base rather than riverside showpiece. You're in town here - a few minutes from the falls the locals call Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders" — in a low cluster of buildings wrapped around a garden and pool. It's an unfussy, well-run sort of place: friendly staff, a generous breakfast, and rooms built for collapsing into after a day of rafting or game drives. There's even reliable backup power, which in this part of the world is no small mercy. .

Tucked away in Franschhoek, just off the main road, is La Rive, a tranquil haven in this fair heart of the Cape Winelands. The thatched villa marries colonial English and traditional Dutch/Afrikaans heritage beautifully in its design, with all mod cons for convenience. The warm and homely atmosphere, large and lovely interiors – and 5 bedrooms – make this the perfect retreat for a family or group of friends. For the duration of your stay, the villa, its gardens and pool (perfect for lazy dips after wine-tasting tours) and staff are for your sole use. Welcome to the Winelands!

Quatermain’s 1920s Safari Camp is a delightfully authentic recreation of the adventurous safaris made famous by the fictitious and intrepid explorer, Allan Quatermain, more than a century ago. The camp itself has just three tents, so it’s an intimate setting, and a good choice if you’re looking for a true bush experience far from present day intrusions. Situated within the malaria-free Amakhala Game Reserve, Quatermain’s is a wonderful base from which to explore the surrounding wilderness on foot just like the olden-day explorers would have done, with the welcome modern option of guided game drives.

Nyikani Camp is a seasonally mobile camp that makes its way around the Serengeti in hot pursuit of the annual Great Migration – arguably the greatest wildlife spectacle on Earth. Join the camp on its Ndutu leg in the southern Serengeti, which becomes blanketed with short grasses after the November/December rains. For 4–5 months, wildebeest, zebra and antelope (trailed by predators) congregate in their thousands to graze and calve. Ndutu lies in the rich Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so there's plenty to see year round, and new Nyikani Camp's hillside setting is a lovely place to take in the sights.

Think Masai Mara, think Governors' Camp. The small collection of properties has become synonymous with the Masai Mara and none more so than the original Governors' Camp. Set in the shade of the riverine forest along the banks of the iconic Mara River and overlooking the vast, rolling plains, the camp was originally built in 1972 to set the standard for a new breed of luxury camps. Save for a few (welcome) changes here and there, the camp remains largely as it once was. Entirely under canvas, in a magical location and with an excellent selection of activities on offer, this is a classic and hard-to-beat Mara safari.

Cerf Island, the largest hotel on a small mile-long strip of white beaches and abundant towering tropical Tamaka trees, is home to only a few hotels and 100 local residents. Being only a short boat ride from the main town of Mahe it is the perfect kind of place to escape. Surrounded by the azure waters of the Indian ocean the reefs of the Sainte Anne Marine National Park are teeming with different fish species-perfect for snorkelling. No roads, no pathways and no chance of being crowded into mass resort-style spaces with your only task being to relax unencumbered.

Exclusive holidays don't get much better than Sirai House, a private lodge set high on a remote ridge of the 35,000-acre Borana Conservancy in Laikipia. Surrounded by its namesake the Euphorbia tree along with wild olives and indigenous cedar. State of the art, built with au courant inspiration, exceptional views over the regions sweeping scenery are found in every direction. Marvel at your surrounds during an exclusive wilderness picnic on the shores of Lake Alice or flying over the volcanic Lake Bogoria and the world's largest populations of flamingoes. This is the VIP experience in an exceptional environment.