Where You'll Stay
Safari Lodges and Camps We Use Across Africa
The camps and lodges we actually put our travellers in, across East and Southern Africa. See where each one sits, what it's like, and who it suits.
Where You'll Stay
The camps and lodges we actually put our travellers in, across East and Southern Africa. See where each one sits, what it's like, and who it suits.
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All 262 lodges, camps, hotels and resorts in the Kingse collection, grouped by region. Comfort levels run from Classic to Ultra Luxury. Tell us which ones catch your eye and we'll build the trip around them.
An intimate lodge in Sakina, just outside Arusha town, with green gardens and Mount Meru as the backdrop. It sits between the airports and the centre, so it's an easy first or last night before and after the parks.
A newly opened hilltop lodge on the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area near Karatu, with bungalows and safari tents that each have a private balcony looking out over the Northern Highlands and Lake Eyasi. It's a comfortable, well placed base for the crater.
A tented camp set high on the Rift Valley escarpment near Mto wa Mbu, with wide views over Lake Manyara and the valley below. It's a handy base for game drives in Lake Manyara National Park, with a pool, restaurant and spa on site.
A safari lodge in the remote Lake Natron area of northern Tanzania, with open views of the active Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and the soda lake's flamingos. A mix of glamping tents, bungalows and simpler tents, it's a good base between the Serengeti and the Crater.
A small lodge built in traditional Maasai style in the rolling countryside on the northern edge of Serengeti National Park, near the Kenya border and Klein's Gate. It's a quiet, characterful base for exploring the northern Serengeti.
A tented camp on the Rift Valley escarpment edge near Mto wa Mbu, about 5km from Lake Manyara National Park. Canvas safari cabins sit above sweeping valley views, with an infinity pool, restaurant, bar and spa, well placed for Manyara, Tarangire and the crater.
A glamping retreat in the Great Rift Valley, set among banana groves just 400 metres from the Lake Manyara National Park gate. Comfortable canvas tents look out over the lake, and wildlife like zebra and monkeys wander the grounds.
A tented camp in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where it borders the Serengeti, right in the Ndutu calving-season country. Comfort and glamping tents sit among open plains, so you'll wake to birdsong with elephants, giraffes and antelope often close by.
A new tented camp opened in late 2023 above the village of Mayoka, on the south side of Lake Manyara with wide views over the Great Rift Valley. It's a comfortable base between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, good for a night either side of the parks.
A relaxed safari camp sitting just outside the Serengeti's Ikoma gate, between the Seronera, Grumeti, and Ikorongo wildlife areas. It's a handy base for game drives across the western and central Serengeti, with comfortable tented rooms and family units that sleep up to six.
A camp of 14 safari tents on the Kusini plains in the southern Serengeti, well placed for the calving season. Guests look out over open grassland where lions, giraffes, buffalo and elephants gather.
A classic tented camp set on Makamia Rocks inside Tarangire National Park, with a wide 180-degree outlook over the plains and Tarangire Hill. It sits near big elephant herds and the Silale Swamp, with a nearby airstrip for fly-in arrivals.
A tented camp in the heart of the central Serengeti, about 20km from Seronera Airstrip, overlooking wildlife-rich plains and the Orangi River. The 20 en-suite tents sit on raised platforms with private verandas, and game viewing stays strong here year-round.
Set on the shore of Lake Burunge in the wildlife corridor between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, on community land looked after by the Mbugwe people. Tents sit on raised wooden decks with private terraces looking out over the lake and across to the park, and the restaurant and lounge share one big open timber platform above the water. Elephant come down to drink and the birdlife on the lakeshore is constant. Roughly 20 minutes from the Tarangire gate.
Chem Chem sits in a private concession between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, with eight tented suites spread along the bush. It's an intimate, walking-focused camp where you can track game on foot as well as by vehicle.
Dunia Camp is a small, intimate tented camp in the Central Serengeti, set among the Moru Kopjes near the path of the migration. With just eight tents, it offers easy reach of the Seronera river country and the southern plains.
A relaxed, mid-range country lodge on the edge of Karatu town, with en-suite cottages set among leafy gardens and a pool. It's a comfortable, friendly base for safaris into Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, and the Serengeti.
A 12-tent camp in the South Central Serengeti, set among the Moru Kopjes with views over the plains and Lake Magadi. It echoes the mobile safari camps of the 1930s, with a light footprint and a real closeness to the bush.
A treehouse lodge on a private concession bordering Tarangire National Park, with 20 elevated rooms set among baobab and marula trees. Each room has a private balcony looking out over the plains, and the location keeps you close to Tarangire's elephant herds.
An old-world Afro-European manor set in a working Arabica coffee estate in the green highlands south of Ngorongoro Crater. It's a relaxed, characterful base for crater game drives, with Cape Dutch styling, riding stables and views over rolling hills.
A small, tented camp set in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area near the Elerai River, surrounded by acacia trees and Maasai country. Its ten canvas tents have private bathrooms and hot showers, with a lounge, dining tent, and deck for stargazing.
A 13-tent camp in the Banagi area of the central Serengeti, set along the Nyabogati River with acacia trees and resident wildlife close by. The tents work for singles, couples, and families, and the deck looks out to distant hills at sunset.
A mobile tented camp that follows the Great Migration across the Serengeti, basing in Kogatende in the north from June to October and Ndutu in the south from November to March, so you're camped close to the herds.
A small palm-roofed tented camp on the shore of seasonal Lake Eyasi, deep in Hadza country. It's an easygoing base for meeting the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers and Datoga herders, with eight chalets, private verandas, and a thatched communal bar and dining room.
A polished lodge set in the heart of the central Serengeti, built around a natural rock kopje and a waterhole that draws elephant and game right up to the terraces. Rooms, suites and freestanding villas all look out over the plains.
Gibb's Farm is a working coffee farm at 1,500m in the green Ngorongoro Highlands above Karatu. Garden cottages and two private farmhouses sit in manicured grounds, shade-grown coffee and forest. Full board includes farm-to-table meals, afternoon tea, sundowner drinks with entertainment and a private farm tour.
A polished five-star city hotel spread across 18 acres of coffee and tea plantations on the edge of Arusha, with rooms and gardens looking out to Mount Meru. It's a comfortable, well-serviced base before or after a northern Tanzania safari.
Grumeti Hills sits high on a wooded hill on the western edge of the Serengeti, looking out over the plains and the Western Corridor. It's a tented lodge in a wildlife management area, so you can do night drives away from the busier park routes.
A relaxed 4-star lodge on the forested slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro at Machame, with separate bungalows looking out over the rainforest and the mountain. It's a comfortable base right by the Machame Gate, ideal before or after a climb or safari.
Lion's Paw sits right on the eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, so you're about ten minutes from the crater floor each morning. The tented suites are raised on platforms and look out over the caldera and its wildlife.
A tented camp set beside the Ngare Nanyuki River in the central-eastern Serengeti, away from the busier circuits. It puts you on the open plains for game viewing, with comfortable canvas tents and dining in a communal tent or on your own terrace.
An elegant tented camp perched on a hilltop in the Serengeti's Western Corridor, with 25 tents looking out over the plains. It's well placed for the Grumeti and the migration when the herds move through the area.
Kitela Lodge sits on a hillside in the Ngorongoro Highlands above a coffee plantation and waterfall, an easy base for the crater. Its 20 colonial-style cottages are set among gardens and a working farm.
Set on a gentle slope at the edge of Lake Eyasi on the Rift Valley floor, this lodge looks out over the seasonal soda lake toward the Ngorongoro highlands. It's a comfortable base for time with the Hadzabe and Datoga communities.
Perched on the rim of the Great Rift Valley near Karatu, this lodge looks out over Lake Manyara with Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro beyond. It's a comfortable base for Lake Manyara National Park, about ten minutes from the airstrip.
Perched atop the 900-metre Mto wa Mbu escarpment above Lake Manyara, this lodge frames sweeping views over the lake and national park. Its circular two-storey rondavels echo the area's rich birdlife, with an infinity pool looking out across the Rift Valley.
Mwiba Lodge sits atop an ancient rock outcrop in the private Mwiba Reserve, south of Ndutu, looking over the Arugusinyai River gorge and wooded wilderness. It's an exclusive-use area with just ten tented suites, good for couples and families with children aged four and up.
A classic explorer-style tented camp that follows the migration, set in the rolling hills and rocky outcrops of the Northern Serengeti near Kogatende. It sits close to the herds and the Mara River crossings, with an intimate, traditional feel.
A small lodge of glass-fronted tented suites set among the kopjes of the Wogakuria Hills in the Northern Serengeti, close to the Mara River and well placed for the migration corridor and big-cat country.
Lemala Mara is a 12-tent seasonal camp that moves into the northern Serengeti near Kogatende from June to October, set under large Euclea trees close to the Mara River. It's a remote, uncrowded spot for big-herd game viewing.
Lemala Mpingo Ridge sits high on an escarpment in Tarangire National Park, with sweeping views over the Tarangire River and valley below. It's well placed for the park's big elephant herds, baobabs, and birdlife.
Lemala Nanyukie sits on the open eastern Serengeti plains, about an hour east of Seronera, among rocky kopjes and giant acacias. Fifteen canvas-walled suites with hardwood decks look out over grassland known for big cats and year-round game.
A small seasonal tented camp on the edge of a permanent marsh in the Ndutu area, near the Southern Serengeti border. It runs December to March for the calving season, when wildebeest, zebra and gazelle gather on the surrounding plains.
Set in an old acacia forest close to the eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, this intimate tented camp sits beside the quiet Lemala access road, giving guests one of the quickest, easiest drives down onto the crater floor.
Lemala Osonjoi sits on the eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, close to the Lemala Gate. The spacious, airy suites come with a heated pool and spa, and the team can set up private catered lunches down on the crater floor.
A small owner-run tented camp in the private concession between Tarangire and Lake Burunge in northern Tanzania. Six canvas tents look over a waterhole that draws elephants, with vintage styling and a real sense of being out in the bush.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge sits atop a volcanic rocky outcrop in the northern Serengeti, built from stone and local timber to blend with the landscape. It overlooks the migration route and a waterhole that draws wildlife throughout the day.
Exclusive boutique lodge of 15 villas on the shore of Lake Manyara at Losirwa, each with a private plunge pool and lake view. Solar-powered and community-built, with a 16m infinity pool and a dedicated Honeymoon Villa with private dining under a baobab. About 20 minutes to the Lake Manyara NP gate, 50 to Tarangire, and 2.5 hours from JRO (Lake Manyara airstrip 30 minutes).
Maramboi sits on open Maasai land between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, with tents raised on wooden platforms looking out over the lake and the Great Rift Valley. Zebra, giraffe and warthog wander the plains right by camp.
Marera Valley Lodge sits in the green hills of the Ngorongoro Highlands on the edge of Karatu, midway between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. Its cottages look out over a tropical garden and the valley below, with a pool at the centre.
A tented lodge set on the banks of Lake Masek in the Ndutu area, between the southern Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tents sit on raised platforms with private decks, and animals come down to the lake to drink right in front of you.
Maweninga Camp sits atop a granite kopje on the southern side of Tarangire, with 16 tents looking out over a sea of baobabs and golden savanna. It's a quiet, characterful base, and the views at sunset are the draw.
A modern lodge set right on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania, with rooms and suites looking out over the caldera. It's a comfortable base for descending into the crater for game drives.
A five-star lodge set in the Nyamuma Hills of the central Serengeti, with sweeping views across the plains and the Mbalageti River Valley. It's a comfortable, well-positioned base for game drives, with a pool, spa and gardens.
Namiri Plains sits on the remote eastern Serengeti grasslands beside the Ngare Nanyuki River, in classic big cat country. Eleven tented suites give you wide plains views and quiet, open space well away from the busier circuits.
Ndutu Kati Kati goes up on the southern Serengeti plains for the calving season and comes down again when the herds move on, leaving nothing behind. Eleven tents and one family tent sit at ground level with private porches looking straight out over the savannah, each with its own bathroom and a bucket shower. Meals are served in the dining tents and a fire is lit before dinner, so it stays a genuine bush camp rather than a lodge you drive out from.
Set on a working coffee plantation between Karatu and the Ngorongoro Forest Reserve, this lodge has cottages with private verandahs, fireplaces, and forest views. It's a comfortable base for the Crater and Lake Manyara.
Ngorongoro Farm House is a small lodge of chalet-style rooms set on a working 500-acre coffee plantation in the Ngorongoro Highlands near Karatu, with thatched roofs, wide verandas and colonial interiors, about two and a half hours from Arusha.
A five-star colonial-style lodge set on a hilltop above Karatu, with 360-degree views over Oldeani Mountain, the Ngorongoro Crater rim, and out toward Lake Eyasi and Lake Manyara. It's a comfortable base for crater game drives.
Built into the Ngorongoro Crater rim from river stone and timber, this lodge looks straight down into the crater from most rooms. It's a comfortable, well-located base for early descents to the crater floor and its wildlife.
Ten tents tucked under acacia forest on the slopes of Mount Makarot, on the quiet western side of the Ngorongoro highlands. It sits perfectly for an early crater descent through the Seneto gate, then a clean morning run to the Serengeti. Full board, warm hosting, and the highest-rated camp in the conservation area.
A tented camp of 12 suites near Makoma Hill in the central Serengeti, with private verandahs looking over kopje-dotted plains. It sits on a wildebeest migration route and offers strong year-round game viewing.
A small tented camp on its own private conservancy along Tarangire's eastern edge, in the Randilen WMA. Eight suites look out over baobab country full of elephants, with an underground hide and easy reach of Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro.
Seventeen solar-powered tents wrapped around a granite kopje near Olduvai Gorge, run in partnership with the local Maasai community. Evenings here mean a guided walk to a lookout over the plains with a Maasai warrior, then dinner in a stone-and-thatch dining room built into the boulders. It breaks the drive between the crater and the Serengeti in the best possible way.
A classic tented camp set in the far north of the Serengeti near Kogatende, well placed for the Mara River and the northbound herds. The en-suite tents face the plains with wide covered verandas for long days of game viewing.
A tented camp in the Central Serengeti, set between the Nyaroboro Hills and the Moru Kopjes near the Seronera River. It puts you in prime year-round game country, with open plains, granite outcrops and a hippo pool close to camp.
A nine-tent camp perched on the Makoma Hills in the Central Serengeti, with open views over plains known for resident cheetah. It's about 14km from Seronera airstrip and offers year-round game viewing.
A 20-tent camp set centrally in the Serengeti near the Seronera airstrip, with a lagoon-like setting fed by water catchments on three sides and shaded by acacias. It sits in the path of the migration, so game's often close by.
Oliver's Camp sits deep in the south of Tarangire, beside the wildlife-rich Silale Swamps about three hours past the main gate. It's a remote, classic tented camp known for big elephant herds, walking safaris and quiet game viewing well away from the crowds.
Osero is a small tented camp set deep in the central Serengeti near Banagi, with just a handful of safari tents and wildlife often wandering through. It's an unfenced, classic-feeling base close to the heart of the action.
Asilia's Sayari Camp sits in the northern Serengeti, the closest permanent camp to the Mara River. With 15 tented suites spread across two intimate wings, it puts you within reach of the river crossings from July through October.
A mobile tented camp set out on the open plains of the central Serengeti, within easy reach of the area's game-rich grasslands. It's a simple, ground-level base that puts you right in the middle of the wildlife action.
A hilltop lodge in the central Serengeti, looking out over Lake Magadi, the Moru Kopjes and the Mbalagati River. The soda lake draws plenty of game and birdlife, so there's good wildlife watching right from the rooms.
A tented camp set right inside Tarangire National Park, looking out over the baobab-dotted plains and the big elephant herds the park is known for. The en-suite safari tents are spaced for privacy and quiet, with easy game viewing on the doorstep.
Built into a rocky kopje in the heart of the central Serengeti, this lodge sits right on the migration route with wide views over the plains. It's well placed for year-round game viewing, with nearby waterholes that draw wildlife day and night.
Serval Wildlife is a private sanctuary and eco-resort set on the green slopes of Mount Meru, with sweeping views across to Mount Kilimanjaro. Animals roam freely through the grounds, so you can feed giraffes from your porch and meet rescued wildlife up close, an experience quite unlike a traditional game drive. Spacious animal-themed villas and its easy reach from Kilimanjaro International Airport make it a memorable way to open or close a safari.
Fully mobile tented camp that physically moves with the migration through Grumeti.
9 luxury suites on the Grumeti River. Contemporary safari design with river-facing decks.
Private sole-use villa. Newer-build Grumeti exclusive-use option, sister to Milele.
6 tents on the Mara River in the Lamai Wedge. SEASONAL Jun-Nov to follow the migration.
Private sole-use villa. Newer-build Grumeti exclusive-use option.
1920s-style luxury safari tents on the open Sabora plains. 9 tents with Persian rugs and antique writing desks.
Edwardian-manor flagship on Sasakwa Hill, Grumeti Reserve (western Serengeti). 10 cottages incl. 1-bed, 2-bed, 4-bed + Hillside Suite.
Private sole-use homestead in Grumeti. 4 suites, sleeps up to 8. Private chef + butler + guide + game vehicle.
A 12-tent lodge set in the Pololeti Game Reserve near Klein's Gate, just a short drive from the northern Serengeti. It's a quiet, game-rich corner of Loliondo where you can do off-road and night drives that aren't allowed inside the park.
A safari camp set inside Tarangire National Park, right on the Tarangire River where elephants gather. Suites look out over the savannah, and it's a comfortable base for game drives in one of northern Tanzania's quieter, elephant-rich parks.
A tented lodge of 25 raised tents set along a baobab tree line inside Tarangire National Park, northern Tanzania. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers and a private veranda looking over the bush.
Family-owned and run since 1985, this lodge sits high on the escarpment above the Tarangire River, with wide views over the plains. Choose from safari tents or stone Maasai-style bungalows, and game often wanders right below camp.
The Highlands is a small camp of eight domed perspex-and-canvas suites set high on the slopes of Olmoti Crater in the Ngorongoro Highlands, about an hour from the crater. It's a quiet base for crater game drives, forest walks, and time with the local Maasai.
Set in the Ngorongoro Highlands above Karatu, Tloma Lodge sits among its own coffee plantation with gardens and views toward the crater walls. Colonial-style cottages and main-building rooms make it a comfortable base near the Ngorongoro Crater.
A mid-range tented camp in the heart of the Central Serengeti, with no neighbouring lodges nearby for a private feel. The 15 en-suite tents sit among scattered acacias with open savanna views, close to the Seronera airstrip.
A private coral island off the northeast tip of Zanzibar, with just twelve open-fronted bandas tucked into the palms a few steps from the sand. Days drift between the turquoise reef, a hammock in the shade and barefoot dinners under the stars, and the whole island sleeps only 24 guests, so it feels entirely your own.
Baraza is a Swahili-inspired beach resort on the Bwejuu-Paje shoreline of Zanzibar's south-east coast, with 30 individual villas set in tropical gardens above a long stretch of white sand. It's a relaxed, family-friendly spot to unwind after a safari, with a spa and a kids' club.
Bawe Island is an all-villa resort on its own private island just off Stone Town, Zanzibar. Each of the 70 villas faces the Indian Ocean and comes with a private pool and butler, set across about 30 hectares of natural island.
A relaxed beachfront resort spread across palm-filled tropical gardens on the wide white sands of Kiwengwa. Spacious Zanzibari-styled rooms, a spa, several restaurants and an easy all-inclusive rhythm make it a comfortable base for unwinding after safari, with snorkelling and watersports close by.
A small beachfront retreat on Zanzibar's quieter east coast at Michamvi Pingwe, with just six rooms across two villas. You can book a single room or take a whole villa for exclusive use, with direct beach access and personal service throughout.
A relaxed four-star beach resort on Zanzibar's quieter south-east coast near Bwejuu, with rooms set in tropical gardens behind a wide stretch of sand. It's a popular spot to unwind on the Indian Ocean after a mainland safari.
Set in tropical gardens on the secluded northern edge of Pemba near the Ngezi Forest Reserve, Constance Aiyana is a refined collection of thirty villas opening onto a silky Indian Ocean beach. Traditional Pemban architecture meets minimalist coastal style, with many villas enjoying their own infinity pool, plus a spa and seafood-led restaurant.
Dhow Inn is a friendly boutique hotel a short stroll from the powder-white sands of Paje on Zanzibar's southeast coast. Swahili-styled rooms open onto terraces and peaceful garden pools, while the bar and restaurants serve everything from local seafood to sushi, with Paje's world-class kitesurfing on the doorstep.
A beachfront resort on the white sands of Uroa, on Zanzibar's east coast, built in 2023 and run on a premium all-inclusive basis. Several restaurants, pools, a spa, a dive centre and a kids' club mean there is plenty to fill the days, suiting travellers who want everything taken care of after safari. Uroa Bay is reef-protected, so the water is kinder than the far south-east beaches.
A collection of white-domed pavilions spread across 50 acres of tropical gardens on Zanzibar's north-west coast near Kendwa. Each pavilion has ocean views and its own garden, fronting a long white beach with a 25-metre infinity pool.
Emerson Spice is a lovingly restored 19th-century merchant's house tucked into the heart of historic Stone Town. Eleven individually styled rooms wrap around an airy central courtyard, each rich with antique character, while the celebrated rooftop Tea House serves a daily tasting menu beneath one of Zanzibar's most beautiful sunsets.
Perched on a low coral bluff above the Indian Ocean on Zanzibar's northern coast, this striking resort sits under the island's tallest makuti thatch, a short drive from Nungwi. Forty suites and a cluster of larger villas open to ocean or garden views, with a sprawling lagoon-style pool, a long jetty and a spa.
Fumba Beach Lodge sits on the quiet southwest tip of Zanzibar, about 30 minutes from Stone Town, where 26 whitewashed Zanzibari-style bungalows are scattered along a beach sheltered by three natural coves and shaded by ancient baobabs. There's an open-air restaurant over the sand, an infinity pool, a dive centre and spa, and an easy, unhurried feel. It's a good spot to slow right down for a few days once the game drives are done.
Reached only by boat, Fundu Lagoon scatters canvas-and-thatch suites across a forested hillside and a private beach on Pemba's quiet south-western shore. It is gloriously off-grid and intimate, with a jetty bar, a jungle spa and an award-winning dive centre on the doorstep.
A beachfront resort on the tideless white sand of Kendwa, on Zanzibar's northwest coast. Just 76 rooms, suites and villas with contemporary African and Arab design, set in a secluded corner about an hour from the airport for relaxed downtime after safari.
Isaraya Water Villas are six overwater villas floating above the turquoise lagoon at Konokono, on Zanzibar's quiet south-east coast. Each 65m² villa has a 35m² private pool and direct ocean access. All Inclusive basis, adults only (14+).
Three intimate beachfront properties strung along the quiet sands of Jambiani on Zanzibar's south-east coast, 350 metres apart, offering one and two-bedroom apartments and two and three-bedroom villas. Each property has its own private pool and tropical garden, with breakfast and easy meals at the La Shira restaurant. A relaxed, private base for couples, families or groups winding down after safari.
A large, lively beachfront resort spread along a secluded stretch of powder-white sand near Pingwe on Zanzibar's east coast, with makuti-thatched rooms set in tropical gardens. It is one of the few places where you can swim in the ocean even at low tide thanks to a natural sea pool, with multiple restaurants, a spa and plenty of activities for families and groups.
Kendwa Rocks sits right on the soft white sand of Kendwa, one of the few north-coast beaches where you can swim at any tide. It's a relaxed, buzzy spot known for golden sunsets, beach bonfires and barefoot evenings, with rooms from simple garden bungalows to beachfront houses.
Tucked away on the quiet Michamvi peninsula overlooking Chwaka Bay, Konokono is a secluded retreat where each villa sits in lush gardens with its own private plunge pool. The sister overwater villas float above a turquoise lagoon for something truly special, with a long stretch of white beach, a spa and easygoing barefoot service.
A lovingly restored boutique hotel tucked into the historic lanes of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, just steps from the Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens. Its 51 rooms blend traditional Zanzibari design with modern comforts, and the rooftop terrace has the only rooftop pool in Stone Town with 360-degree views.
Set on the quiet northeast coast facing the Mnemba atoll reef, this adults-only retreat spreads 74 airy villas through tropical gardens above a long stretch of golden sand. Each villa has its own pool and an easy indoor-outdoor flow built for slowing right down, with the reef just offshore for snorkelling and diving.
A five-star beachfront resort on Zanzibar's quiet east coast at Kiwengwa, set in tropical gardens above a long stretch of white sand and a coral reef. Rooms, suites and private-pool villas all look out over the Indian Ocean.
A small, low-key retreat tucked beside the old lighthouse on the northern tip of Nungwi. Makuti-thatched cottages sit in palm gardens just steps from the turquoise water, with a pool, sun deck and a house reef good for snorkelling, a world away from the bigger resorts down the beach.
A small, design-conscious retreat right on the soft white sand at the peaceful fishing village of Pwani Mchangani, away from the busier tourist strips. Just 25 individually styled rooms sit among palm gardens and pools facing the Indian Ocean, with a kitchen that leans on fresh seafood and warm, owner-led hosting.
A boutique beach resort on the northern tip of Nungwi, where two infinity pools step down toward one of the island's finest stretches of sand. Rooms are bright and modern, many with sea views, and the rooftop Sky Bar takes in a 360-degree view of the coastline.
A seafront hotel in the heart of Stone Town, set within the 17th-century Mambo Msiige building and a newer residence on Shangani Beach. It's a polished base in a UNESCO-listed quarter of winding alleys, markets and the Indian Ocean.
A small beachfront hotel on Zanzibar's quiet east coast, set on a cove facing the Indian Ocean with a protected coral lagoon. Whitewashed makuti-thatched rooms sit among gardens and beach, about 45 minutes from the airport.
A relaxed mid-market beach resort on the long white sands of Jambiani on Zanzibar's quiet south-east coast, with rooms and thatched bungalows set among gardens. A pool, spa and a jetty bar reaching over the Indian Ocean make for easy days, with snorkelling, kayaking and village walks close at hand.
A large, polished all-inclusive sitting directly on the white sand between Kendwa and Nungwi, with three pools, several restaurants and bars, a spa and rooms from junior suites up to villas with private pools. The everything-handled option for travellers who want to switch off. (Formerly Hideaway of Nungwi.)
Samawa Living is a 30-room boutique hotel set among palm groves in Paje, on Zanzibar's south-east coast, with the beach just a few minutes' walk away. It's a relaxed, intimate base for unwinding after safari.
A Swahili-style bed and breakfast in the heart of historic Stone Town, set in a characterful old building down the cobbled alleyways and just 450 metres from the ocean front. It's a handy, atmospheric base for arrival or departure nights.
Sitting on a 40-acre estate beside its sister resort on Kiwengwa beach, Sultan Sands has a low-key island feel with rooms built as traditional African rondavels dotted through tropical grounds. Most rooms face the ocean, with an all-inclusive plan, two restaurants, a spa and watersports.
Perched on a low coral cliff above the Indian Ocean in the Matemwe area, this relaxed lodge looks straight out toward Mnemba Atoll, one of Zanzibar's best snorkelling and diving spots. Its 28 ocean-facing rooms sit within tropical gardens, with an on-site dive centre and an easygoing barefoot feel.
A historic seafront hotel set inside Stone Town's UNESCO old quarter, where carved Zanzibari doors, antique furnishings and Swahili hospitality fill a building that has stood since the 19th century. Sea-view balconies look over the Indian Ocean, with a pool and beachfront terrace steps from Forodhani Gardens.
A tiny adults-only hideaway of just six ocean-facing villas built on a coral-rock islet in the calm waters of Pongwe bay. At low tide you can walk out to it; at high tide a little boat ferries you across, so arriving feels like part of the adventure, with days drifting between the gourmet restaurant and the turquoise lagoon.
Tucked onto a powder-white beach on Pemba's wild north-western tip, The Manta Resort is a barefoot-luxury hideaway fringed by forest and a vivid coral reef. It is world-famous for its floating Underwater Room, moored offshore so you can sleep beneath the waves, with days drifting between snorkelling, diving the Pemba Channel and slow afternoons by the pool.
A five-star all-inclusive resort on Muyuni Beach on Zanzibar's quiet north-east coast, set across ten hectares with direct beach access and a protected house reef looking out toward Mnemba Island. Home to 250 garden and ocean-view suites with several pools and restaurants, a spa and watersports. A polished beach finish after safari, around 45 minutes from Stone Town, and a member of Leading Hotels of the World.
The Palms is an intimate, adults-focused beach resort on Zanzibar's quiet east coast near Dongwe and Bwejuu. It's a handful of spacious seafront villas, each with a private plunge pool and its own thatched beach banda, set in tropical gardens on white sand.
The Swahili House is a restored heritage building in the centre of historic Stone Town, five floors of Zanzibari rooms wrapped around a traditional courtyard and reached by a carved staircase or a lift. The rooftop restaurant and bar, with a plunge pool, look out over the old town's rooftops to the Indian Ocean, and the bustling alleys, market and Forodhani are all on the doorstep. A characterful arrival or departure stay in the middle of it all.
A relaxed boutique hotel set in tropical gardens that open straight onto one of Nungwi's best stretches of white-sand beach. Bright contemporary rooms, an infinity pool and a rooftop bar make for an easy, stylish stay on the island's northern tip.
A small five-star beachfront resort on Zanzibar's quieter east coast at Pongwe, with a tropical garden and white-sand beach. It's an intimate, couples-leaning spot that works well as a relaxed wind-down after a Tanzania safari.
Upendo is an intimate, design-led hideaway set along a secluded white-sand tidal beach on the Michamvi Peninsula, looking out toward the famous Rock Restaurant. Just a handful of beachfront villas and suites share an infinity pool, a relaxed beach bar and a seafood restaurant, with butler service and a barefoot-luxury feel.
Strung along a 300-metre private beach in the quiet fishing village of Uroa on Zanzibar's east coast, this easygoing resort offers large rooms with private terraces, a spa, pools and a tennis court. Evening entertainment, buffet dining and a full all-inclusive plan make it a sociable, good-value spot. (Recently rebranded JAZ Adonia Beach Resort.)
A family-owned eco-luxury resort spread across forty private villas on a long stretch of private beach at Uroa, fringed by tropical forest and spice gardens. Villas range from jungle suites to beachfront and family options, each with butler service, plus several restaurants and an unhurried, sustainability-minded feel.
A beachfront resort on Zanzibar's south-west coast, sitting right on a white-sand stretch of the Indian Ocean. It's about ten minutes from Stone Town and five from the airport, so it's an easy first or last stop on a Zanzibar trip.
A small beachfront boutique hotel set in tropical gardens on a quiet stretch of Matemwe on Zanzibar's north-east coast, with white sand and the Indian Ocean at its doorstep. It's a relaxed, romantic spot to unwind after safari.
A restored heritage hotel set right on the Stone Town seafront, blending two old waterfront buildings into 51 rooms and suites overlooking the Indian Ocean. It's a calm, central base for exploring Zanzibar's old quarter on foot.
A family-owned Relais & Châteaux hideaway set among tropical gardens on the powder-white sands of Paje, with just a couple of dozen villas for an intimate, deeply personal stay. Each villa opens to its own plunge pool with a butler on hand, and garden-to-table dining and a serene spa round out one of Zanzibar's most cherished beachfront escapes.
A small adults-only beachfront retreat of twelve private villas on Zanzibar's quieter southeast coast near Michamvi, set above an unspoilt sandy cove among coconut palms with direct Indian Ocean views and good swimming and snorkelling.
Zuri Zanzibar is a 5-star beach resort spread through a tropical garden on the northwest coast at Kendwa, about 50km from Stone Town. Its bungalows, suites, and villas open onto terraces a short walk from the Indian Ocean.
Set in the heart of Amboseli National Park beside a spring-fed marsh, this lodge looks out to Mount Kilimanjaro across acacia-dotted plains. The Maasai-inspired rooms have private verandas, and elephants and other wildlife are often close by.
Ashnil Aruba Lodge sits on the banks of the Aruba Dam in the heart of Tsavo East, where open savannah grassland makes wildlife easy to spot and elephants gather at the nearby waterholes. African-inspired rooms and luxury tents look out over the water, and there's a pool and a restaurant overlooking the dam. It's an easy drive from both Mombasa and Nairobi, making it a natural stop on a coast-and-bush itinerary.
A small tented camp set in the Mara North Conservancy, on the quieter fringe of Kenya's Masai Mara. It pairs rustic, low-key bush living with comfortable tents, and gives you space away from the busier reserve, plus walks and night drives the conservancy allows.
Perched on the rocky summit of Mughwango Hill, this elegant lodge looks out over the wild plains of Meru National Park, the country where Elsa the lioness of Born Free was returned to the wild. Each open-fronted cottage is hand-built into the rock with sweeping views, and the park below stays gloriously quiet, with elephants, lions, a rhino sanctuary and exceptional birdlife.
A small lodge of five thatched cottages set within Kenya's Lewa Conservancy on the Laikipia Plateau, known for its healthy black and white rhino populations. There's an infinity pool with views over the plains toward Mt. Kenya.
A tented camp set within the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on Kenya's Laikipia Plateau, with views toward Mt Kenya. The eleven safari tents and two family suites give you direct access to a private rhino sanctuary and its grasslands.
Loisaba Lodo Springs is an intimate tented camp set in the Loisaba Conservancy on Kenya's Laikipia Plateau, with eight rooms looking out across open country toward Mount Kenya. It's a quiet base for game drives in a working wildlife conservancy.
Set on a rocky kopje in the Loisaba conservancy in Laikipia, these handcrafted four-poster beds sit on raised platforms and can be wheeled out under the stars. Views sweep over the valley and a waterhole that draws resident wildlife.
Loisaba Tented Camp sits on the edge of an escarpment in the 57,000-acre Loisaba Conservancy in Kenya's Laikipia, with open tents looking out over the plains. Alongside day and night game drives, you can trek with camels, walk and fish.
Sand River sits on the banks of its namesake river inside the Masai Mara National Reserve, near the Tanzanian border. It's a permanent tented camp styled on the classic safari camps of the 1920s, set across two adjoining campsites.
A solar-powered tented camp set on an acacia hillside in a private conservancy bordering Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Most tents look straight out to Mount Kilimanjaro, and there's a Family Tent and Private House for groups travelling together.
Finch Hattons sits among natural spring-fed pools in the wild heart of Tsavo West, with views across to Mount Kilimanjaro and the Chyulu Hills. Seventeen elegant tented suites blend old-world safari romance with modern comfort, and resident hippos and abundant birdlife gather at the water right by camp. Part of the Virgin Limited Edition collection, it pairs twice-daily game drives with a quiet, far-from-the-crowds wilderness feel.
A historic 1930s ivy-covered manor on the edge of Nairobi where resident Rothschild's giraffes wander up to the windows at breakfast. A small, characterful city bookend set in green parkland, easy to reach from the airport.
A boutique hotel in leafy Karen, set among manicured gardens with views toward the Ngong Hills. It's a calm place to start or finish a safari, close to Nairobi National Park and an easy run from both airports.
An intimate tented camp set on a hilltop overlooking Naboisho Conservancy in Kenya's Maasai Mara. With just ten tents and expert-guided game drives, it's a quiet, personal base for big-cat country and open-plain wildlife.
A small under-canvas camp set along the Njageteck River in Kenya's Mara North Conservancy, with just eight tents. Guests can watch elephants at the springs and hear lions calling at night, with the quiet feel of a private conservancy.
Hemingways Watamu sits right on the white sand of Garoda Beach, inside the protected Watamu Marine National Park on Kenya's north coast. The ocean-view rooms and one-, two- and four-bedroom residences look straight out over the Indian Ocean, with a botanical spa, pool and easy access to snorkelling, diving and some of East Africa's best deep-sea fishing. It's a relaxed barefoot-luxury base for families and couples after warm-water beach days to round off a safari.
A modern city hotel in Nairobi's Westlands district, along Lower Kabete Road and handy for Westgate Mall, the Nairobi National Museum, and Karura Forest. It's a practical, comfortable base for a night or two on either side of a safari.
Kilaguni was one of the very first lodges built inside a Kenyan national park, set in local stone beneath the Chyulu Hills in Tsavo West. Its open-fronted dining terrace and rooms look straight onto a floodlit waterhole where elephant, buffalo and plains game come to drink, with Mount Kilimanjaro rising on the horizon on clear days. A relaxed, classic safari base with a pool and easy access to Tsavo's lava flows and Mzima Springs.
A boutique tented camp on the flamingo-fringed shores of Lake Elmenteita, set deep inside the 48,000-acre Soysambu Conservancy in the Great Rift Valley, around two hours from Nairobi. The lake is a UNESCO-listed wetland alive with thousands of flamingos, pelicans and over 450 bird species, while the surrounding plains hold giraffe, buffalo, zebra and hippo. Days mix game drives, guided walks and birding with quiet time by the pool, gazing across the water to the Sleeping Warrior hills.
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Limited Edition camp, set in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy in the Masai Mara. Twelve tented suites perch on a valley side overlooking the plains, with low vehicle numbers and a front-row seat on the migration route.
Mara Bushtops is a tented camp set in its own private wildlife reserve bordering the Masai Mara in Kenya. It runs 12 spacious luxury tents plus two family suites, each tent with a private deck and hot tub, and offers off-road night drives and walking safaris.
The only lodge in the Mara Triangle, perched high on a bush-covered hill with sweeping views over the savannah and the Mara River. Its circular design takes its cue from a Maasai manyatta, and it sits right in the heart of crossing country.
Mbweha sits in the private Congreve Conservancy on the quiet southern edge of Lake Nakuru National Park, just ten lava-stone and thatch cottages tucked among the acacias. Being on private land means you can do what the park itself doesn't allow, like guided bush walks and night game drives, alongside classic days out in Nakuru looking for rhino and flamingo. It's a relaxed, unhurried base that suits couples and families wanting space and personal service.
A polished five-star hotel beside Central Park in central Nairobi, with lush gardens, a spa and pool. It's an easy base for a night either side of safari, close to the business district and a short drive from the airport.
A modern airport hotel set opposite Nairobi National Park, so you can watch game from the terrace minutes from the runway. It's a practical, comfortable base for the night before or after your safari.
Rekero Camp sits beside the Talek River in the Masai Mara Reserve, looking out over a well-used migration crossing point. It's a small camp of canvas tents, recently rebuilt, with a deck where game viewing happens from your seat.
Sala's Camp is an intimate tented camp set on the banks of the Sand River in a remote corner of the Masai Mara, where wildebeest gather to cross. Seven tents look out over the river and the plains toward the Serengeti.
A tented camp set on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Samburu National Reserve, northern Kenya. The 28 tents sit on raised decks over the river, where elephants and crocodiles often turn up below.
Sasaab sits high above the Ewaso Nyiro River in Samburu's Westgate Conservancy, with nine open-fronted, Moroccan-inspired tents that each have a private plunge pool and long views across the plains toward Mount Kenya.
Set on the white sand of Shanzu Beach on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast, this five-star resort is built in the style of a 13th-century Swahili village, with whitewashed walls, carved doors and lush tropical gardens winding down to the sea. Guests enjoy ocean and garden-view rooms, several restaurants, the Maisha Spa, and conservation touches like an on-site turtle programme and butterfly park. It's an easygoing place to wind down after safari, with plenty for families and couples alike.
A small tented camp on the 43,000-acre Suyian Ranch in Laikipia, with canvas suites tucked among granite boulders and fig trees overlooking the Ewaso Narok River valley and Mount Kenya in the distance.
Solio Lodge is the only property on the private Solio rhino reserve in Laikipia, Kenya, sitting between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare range. Just five cottages make it intimate, and it's one of the best places to see black and white rhino without the crowds.
A classic tented camp set inside Ol Pejeta Conservancy near Nanyuki, framed by Mount Kenya's snow-capped peaks. It's a strong base for Big Five game drives and meeting the conservancy's rhinos, with the comfort of solid floors and ensuite tents.
A relaxed, characterful little hotel right on the shore of Lake Victoria, just ten minutes from Entebbe airport. The lakeside pool, beach bar and easygoing service make it a perfect first or last night to ease into or wind down from your Uganda adventure, with special sunsets over the water from the terrace.
Anyadwe House is a private four-bedroom villa set in its own sweep of grassland running down to the Nile on the southern edge of Murchison Falls. Booked for just one group at a time, it gives a family or friends the whole house, with a pool above the river where hippos, warthogs and monkeys come and go, plus indoor and outdoor dining and a private jetty.
Haven Lodge sits on a rise above Buhoma village with wide views across the Bwindi rainforest, an easy reach from the Buhoma trekking start point. It is run on behalf of the Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association, so your stay feeds directly into local schools and water projects, with simple comfortable cottages and hearty home-cooked meals.
One of only a couple of lodges set within the national park itself, Buhoma Lodge looks straight out over the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest from individually designed cottages built with local materials. The trek assembly point is a short walk away, and after a day with the gorillas guests gather around the fires in the raised central lounge.
Hand-built bandas of stone, timber and glass look straight across the canopy of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with a stream running below the deck. Guests trek mountain gorillas on a private path that drops from the lodge into the trees, then return to butler service, a forest spa and the well-loved Bwindi Bar that trains young local people in hospitality.
Chimpundu Lodge sits among indigenous forest trees with sweeping views over the Kibale canopy from every private deck. Fourteen spacious cottages, a pool and a spa make it an easy, comfortable base just minutes from the chimpanzee trekking start point, with warm meals and quiet forest evenings.
A small, friendly lodge on the savannah near the Kazinga Channel at Katunguru, with five cottages overlooking the plains plus a well-known campsite. Elephants, buffalo and other game routinely wander through the grounds day and night, making it an easygoing, good-value base for game drives, the boat cruise and Kyambura chimp trekking.
Fort Murchison sits on the quiet eastern bank of the Albert Nile, its earth-toned tower and Swahili-inspired walls echoing the old explorers who tracked the source of the Nile here. Rooms and thatched tents look out over the slow-moving river, and a pool and bar make an easy place to unwind between game drives and boat trips.
Eight thatched cottages of local timber sit on raised platforms at the forest edge in Bwindi's quieter southern Rushaga sector, each with a private balcony looking into the trees. It is one of the closest lodges to the Rushaga briefing point, so mornings start without a long transfer, and the kitchen has a strong reputation among guests.
Gorilla Leisure Lodge sits in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with forest views across the volcanic Kisoro hills. It's a quiet, eco-focused base of en suite cottages, well placed for early-morning gorilla treks.
Perched in the high, misty Ruhija sector on the eastern side of Bwindi, this locally owned camp looks out over forested valleys that draw some of the finest birding in the Albertine Rift. Eight comfortable en-suite rooms each have a private balcony facing the forest, and Ruhija's habituated gorilla families make it a calm, uncrowded place to trek.
Ichumbi sits on a forested hillside just a ten-minute walk from the Rushaga trekking gate, among the closest stays to the gorillas in southern Bwindi. Thirteen en-suite cottages each open to a private balcony with views into the Bwindi forest and the hills beyond.
Tucked along the Ntungwe River in the remote Ishasha sector, this intimate camp is ten canvas tents shaded by riverine forest, each with an en-suite and a private deck. Days are spent tracking the area's tree-climbing lions and the elephants that wander down to drink, wonderfully far from the crowds.
Kibale Forest Camp is a relaxed tented camp tucked into a patch of evergreen forest right on the edge of the national park. Canvas safari tents sit among the trees, with the chimp trekking start point and the Bigodi wetlands both a short drive away, and evenings around the campfire round out the stay.
Kibale Lodge is Volcanoes Safaris' newest flagship, perched on a ridge in the rolling crater-lake country near Fort Portal. Eight handcrafted bandas look west to the Rwenzori Mountains, each with a private terrace, and the lodge adds a spa, pool and personal butler service, a polished base for chimp trekking in Kibale Forest.
Perched on a hill just outside Kidepo Valley's Kalokudo Gate, this is a wonderfully remote camp with long views over the Narus Valley to Mount Morungole and the South Sudan ranges beyond. Solar-powered safari tents and simpler camping tents share a hilltop mess and a deep sense of being far from anywhere, a genuine wilderness base for game drives and walks.
Perched on the edge of the lush Kyambura Gorge, this lodge of eight hand-built bandas was cleverly converted from an old coffee store, with sweeping views over rolling savannah to the distant Rwenzori Mountains. There is a pool and spa for slow afternoons between drives, and it is the natural base for trekking the chimpanzees in the gorge below.
Built by hand from over a thousand local logs across six years, Kyaninga is a landmark log lodge perched on the rim of a deep crater lake near Fort Portal, with the Rwenzori Mountains beyond. Nine private cottages sit on raised platforms linked by timber walkways to a grand main lodge with a pool, wellness centre and lake views.
Tucked away on its own forested island mid-stream in the River Nile, Wildwaters is reached only by boat, with thatched suites raised on stilts above the rushing water. Elevated walkways wind through the rainforest to a natural rock pool and riverside spa, and the white-water rapids near Jinja are right on your doorstep.
Set at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes on the edge of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, this lodge has eight hand-built stone-and-thatch bandas, each with a fireplace and a private porch facing the peaks. It is the only lodge serving Mgahinga, with a private footpath to the gorilla and golden monkey trailheads, and a moving Batwa cultural visit nearby.
Perched on a private peninsula reaching into Lake Mutanda, with the Virunga volcanoes filling the horizon, this is one of the most beautiful places to base yourself for gorilla trekking. Cottages dressed in local art open onto private verandas right above the water, and between treks you can paddle a dugout canoe or hike the volcano foothills.
Set right on the edge of the Kazinga Channel inside the park, this relaxed lodge mixes raised canvas-and-timber bandas with simpler tented options, all looking toward the water and the Rwenzori range beyond. Hippos, elephants and buffalo wander past, the birding is superb, and meals are taken on a deck overlooking the channel.
This elegant colonial-style hotel sits right on the Zambezi, with its own private path to the edge of Victoria Falls. Zebra, giraffe and impala wander the manicured lawns while you take in the river from your veranda, and sundowners on the deck as the spray rises in the distance are the kind of thing guests remember for years.
Set on the same riverside estate as its grander neighbour, Avani is the relaxed, family-friendly option with its own private gate to Victoria Falls. Giraffe, zebra and cheeky baboons share the gardens, and the big pool and casual restaurants make it easy with kids, with the falls walkable as many times as you like during your stay.
A relaxed boutique lodge tucked into leafy gardens a short stroll from the heart of Victoria Falls town. The rooms are simple and stylish, with a pool, verandah and easy access to the river and the falls, and a warm, unhurried feel with genuinely friendly local hosting.
A family-run hotel set in lush gardens, famously the closest hotel to Victoria Falls itself, an eight-minute walk to the entrance gate. Rooms are elegant and air-conditioned with teak furnishings, the on-site Cassia restaurant is a local favourite, and the garden and pool wings catch views of the spray rising over the falls.
Tucked into leafy gardens on the same estate, Lokuthula is the relaxed self-catering home base for families. The two- and three-bedroom lodges have private patios, and with no fences around, warthogs, antelope and monkeys wander freely; kids have a playground and pool while everyone shares the estate's restaurants, spa and Boma dinner show.
Old Drift Lodge sits on the banks of the Zambezi inside the national park, with canvas suites that open straight onto the water. Each has a private plunge pool, indoor and outdoor showers and a deck where elephants often drink just metres away, and it's the closest lodge in the park to Victoria Falls, reached by boat across the river.
A modern fifty-room lodge wrapped in green gardens, the newer sister property to Batonka and opened in 2021. It blends classic safari charm with up-to-date comfort, inviting pools and good dining, plus roomy family options, a calm base a short drive from the falls and town.
Opened recently on the Zambezi inside Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, this is the newest and most polished address in Livingstone, with rooms, suites and villas all opening onto a terrace above the river. Six restaurants and bars, a generous pool, a spa and a sports pavilion mean nobody has to leave the grounds on a rest day. The Falls are under ten minutes away by road.
Zambia's only Relais & Châteaux property sits well upstream of the falls on a quiet wide bend of the river. Two intimate lodges, a riverbank River Lodge and a private-island retreat, share beautiful suites, generous decks and food that guests rave about, with hippos and birdlife drifting past while you eat and the falls an easy day trip when you want them.
Set on the Zambian bank of the Zambezi a short drive upstream of the Falls, this lodge puts every room face-on to the river, with a wide pool terrace and a spa built for slow afternoons. Its own cruiser, the Lady Livingstone, casts off from the property jetty for sundowners on the water. Inter-leading rooms and a daily shuttle into the Falls and town make it an easy landing pad for families.
The Elephant Camp is a tented camp on a private concession looking out over the Victoria Falls spray and the Batoka Gorge. Each suite is air-conditioned with a private plunge pool, outdoor shower and a deck facing the gorge, and the neighbouring wildlife sanctuary brings guests close to rescued elephants and other animals.
The grand old lady of the falls, an Edwardian-era hotel opened in 1904 and set in manicured gardens above the Batoka Gorge. A private path leads to the falls in about ten minutes, with views of the spray and the famous bridge from the terrace, and three restaurants, a spa and timeless colonial elegance make it a destination in its own right.
Tucked into the riverbank a short drive upstream of the falls, Tongabezi is one of the most romantic spots on the Zambezi. Each open-fronted cottage and house has its own valet, and dinner might be canoed out to you on a candlelit sampan drifting on the river, quietly perfecting this kind of magic for over thirty years.
The Safari Club is the calm, grown-up corner of the estate, set on its own elevated wing with sweeping bush and waterhole views. Days come with breakfast, afternoon tea and evening sundowners included, plus a private lounge and a dedicated team, made for couples wanting to slow right down.
The flagship of the Victoria Falls Safari estate sits high on a plateau on the edge of Zambezi National Park, a few kilometres from the falls. Its famous open-air deck looks straight onto a busy waterhole where elephant, buffalo and kudu drift in to drink, and the Buffalo Bar terrace is the spot to watch the sun go down.
These six split-level suites give families and groups room to breathe, each with two or three bedrooms, an open-plan lounge and a private patio looking over a small waterhole. You're a short stroll from the Lodge's restaurants and pool, but with the privacy of your own retreat.
Set in the natural amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone, Bisate's six domed forest villas look straight out across the peaks of the Virunga volcanoes. Each villa wraps a fireplace, king bed and private deck in handcrafted Rwandan design, a short drive from the gorilla trekking start point, and days pair time with the gorillas with planting trees in one of Africa's most ambitious reforestation projects.
An intimate boutique hotel on the edge of Volcanoes National Park near Musanze, with just thirteen rooms so it never feels crowded. Expect spacious self-contained rooms, an outdoor pool, a spa, and a private villa option for families and groups wanting extra space.
A polished five-star hotel in the heart of Kigali, just minutes from the city centre and a short drive from the airport. Spacious air-conditioned rooms and suites sit among landscaped gardens, with a pool, spa and several restaurants on site, an easy place to land or unwind at the start and end of a Rwanda trip.
Magashi sits alone on its own peninsula on the shores of Lake Rwanyakazinga, in the wildlife-rich north of Akagera. Eight airy canvas suites face the water, where hippos call through the night and the Big Five roam the surrounding grasslands, and days mix classic game drives with boat safaris among crocodiles and birdlife.
Tucked into a soaring eucalyptus forest in the foothills of the Virungas, this is the closest luxury retreat to Volcanoes National Park. Elevated treehouse-style lodges and suites open onto private decks with volcano and canopy views, and the warm, polished service makes the early starts for gorilla trekking feel effortless.
Tucked into a working tea plantation on the edge of Nyungwe Forest, this is one of Rwanda's most refined rainforest hideaways. Twenty-two rooms and suites spread across timber villas, each with a private deck, fireplace and sweeping views over the canopy, making a wonderful base for chimpanzee trekking and forest walks.
Rwanda's first community-owned lodge sits in the volcano foothills right at the edge of Volcanoes National Park, a short transfer from the trekking start point. Six stone cottages, two suites and a family unit each come with a fireplace, deep tubs and sweeping views of the Virunga peaks, and every stay channels revenue back to surrounding communities through the SACOLA trust.
A small owner-run eco-lodge tucked at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes, just a few minutes from the Volcanoes National Park trekking start point. Just six private rooms and cottages, each with a fireplace and views over the gardens to the peaks, with everything included from home-grown meals to a post-trek massage.
A four-suite exclusive-use villa set on the same volcano-fringed Singita estate as Kwitonda, Kataza House is yours alone. Open living spaces, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, a wine cellar, cinema and gym give a group or family complete privacy between treks, with a dedicated chef and host tailoring every meal.
Set right on the edge of Volcanoes National Park across a reforested 178-acre estate, Singita Kwitonda frames the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes from every suite. Each room layers heated plunge pools, indoor and outdoor fireplaces and quiet, contemporary Rwandan craft into a deeply restful base for trekking.
A relaxed resort spread across garden chalets at the base of the Virunga mountains in Kinigi, an easy drive from the gorilla trekking briefing point. Rooms are generous, with large terraces that open onto sweeping volcano views, plus a restaurant, a bar with a fire pit, and a spa for unwinding after a trek.
Perched high on a ridge above Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo, Virunga Lodge has arguably the finest views in Rwanda, with the Virunga volcanoes filling the horizon. Ten stone bandas each have a private veranda and fireplace, and after a day's trekking you return to hot showers, a spa treatment and genuinely warm Rwandan hospitality.
Chief's Camp sits on Chief's Island in the wildlife-rich Mombo area of the Moremi Game Reserve, one of the best stretches of game-viewing country in the delta. Ten generous thatched pavilions and a two-bedroom private suite each open onto a wraparound terrace with a plunge pool, paired with an on-site spa and easy, elegant dining.
Chobe Marina Lodge sits right on the banks of the Chobe River in Kasane, where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet. Mornings start with elephants drinking below the lawns and afternoons drift by on a river cruise toward Sedudu Island. Two restaurants, a spa and a pool overlooking the water make it an easy place to slow down between game viewing.
DumaTau sits along the Linyanti waterway under a grove of mangosteen trees, with eight raised tented suites looking over a hippo-filled lagoon. In the dry months thousands of elephants funnel through this corner of Botswana, often drifting right past the deck, with game drives, boat cruises and walks on a vast private concession.
Mogotlho is an off-grid tented lodge strung along the Khwai River, with thirteen tents each looking straight out over the water. The setting between Moremi and Chobe brings strong wildlife, from lion and wild dog to elephants drinking below camp, with game drives, walks and mokoro outings in a quiet, unfenced corner of the bush.
Jack's Camp is a Kalahari icon, nine vintage-styled green canvas tents pitched on a palm-fringed island at the edge of the Makgadikgadi salt pans. The feel is 1940s expedition romance, with Persian rugs and a famous tea tent of curiosities, built for the desert with habituated meerkats, walks alongside San guides and quad-bike rides across the pans.
Hidden on a remote island in the western delta, Jao is one of the most beautiful camps in the Okavango, all sculptural timber, soaring thatch and glass that opens onto the floodplain. Five suites and two private villas each have a plunge pool and shaded deck, leaning into the water side of the delta with mokoro glides and boat trips alongside game drives.
Kadizora sits alone on a floodplain in the remote north of the Okavango, in a private concession bordering Duba Plains and Vumbura. Eight luxury tents, three standard tents and a two-bedroom family villa look out over open water and grassland, each with a deep bath positioned for the view. Days move between game drives, mokoro glides through the channels and boat trips, and it is one of the very few places in the Delta where you can drift over it all by hot-air balloon at sunrise.
Raised high above the floodplains of Chief's Island, Mombo is one of Africa's most storied safari camps, set in a private concession protected since the 1980s. Nine open-fronted tented suites look out over plains where lion, leopard and rhino move through almost daily, with quiet, unhurried evenings under the stars.
Saguni Safari Lodge, luxury tented main lodge on the Khwai channel in the Khwai Concession, eastern Okavango Delta. River Tents on the water, Forest Tents in the woodland. Big game-drive country with mokoro and boating in high water. Owner-led group, all rates fully inclusive of activities and drinks. 19°08'02"S 23°45'48"E.
Set in a vast private concession in the northern delta, Vumbura Plains pairs open grassy plains with permanent waterways, so game drives, boating and mokoro all sit on the doorstep. The fourteen contemporary open-plan suites are among the largest in the region, each raised on a deck with a private plunge pool.
A relaxed safari hotel a two-minute drive from the Phalaborwa Gate, so you are through into Kruger before the morning heat builds. Rooms are spacious and cool, there is a spa for the middle of the day, and the kitchen has a real reputation locally. It is the easiest possible launch point for a Kruger trip.
Dulini is a boutique collection of three small lodges set along the Sand River in the western Sabi Sand, where leopard and lion sightings are part of daily life. Each lodge holds just a handful of suites, so the bush feels like your own, with expert guides and trackers leading open-vehicle drives and unhurried evenings back at camp.
Khaya Ndlovu sits on the edge of a kopje with the Drakensberg range filling the horizon and a busy waterhole below the deck. It is the only lodge in its reserve, so mornings on the vehicle feel unhurried and private. Between drives there is an infinity pool, a spa treatment room and a kitchen that guests talk about long after they leave.
Londolozi is one of the original private game reserves of the ecotourism movement, an unashamedly family-run operation with more than a century of safari heritage in the Sabi Sand. Set across five distinct camps along the Sand River, from family-friendly Varty and Founders to the intimate Tree Camp, it is world-famous for its leopards and pioneering tracking.
Savanna sits in the western Sabi Sand overlooking a busy waterhole, blending canvas-topped suites with relaxed colonial elegance. Each suite has its own plunge pool and outdoor shower, and the open plains around camp draw a steady stream of game, with twice-daily drives and lantern-lit dinners under the stars.
Once the family home of Singita's founder, Castleton is a stone-walled farmhouse-style retreat taken on an exclusive-use basis by one party at a time. Six en-suite cottages spill onto tree-shaded lawns around a homestead with deep verandas, a pool and a waterhole, with a wine cellar, tennis and a private chef and guide.
Singita's founding lodge, opened in 1993, sits on the banks of the Sand River in the heart of South Africa's big-cat country. Twelve glass-fronted suites each open onto a private plunge pool and deck, blending timber, canvas and stone with uninterrupted bushveld views and some of the most reliable leopard sightings in the Sabi Sand.
Tswalu Kalahari is South Africa's largest private reserve, a vast malaria-free wilderness of red dunes, grassy plains and ancient mountains in the Northern Cape. At the flagship Motse camp, stone-and-thatch suites look out over the Korannaberg, and every booking comes with its own vehicle, guide and tracker for unhurried days tracking meerkats, pangolin, aardvark and black-maned lions.
Ten glass-and-stone suites and one larger Star Dune Suite are sculpted into a vast private desert reserve deep in the Namib. Floor-to-ceiling glass, private plunge pools and a skylight above every bed bring the desert and night sky right inside, design-led desert living at its most immersive.
Damaraland Camp sits in the remote Huab River valley in the Torra Conservancy, one of Africa's pioneering community-owned camps. Ten elevated adobe-and-thatch units look out over stark plains toward the Brandberg massif, and game drives track the famous desert-adapted elephants along the dry riverbed, with exceptional night skies.
Eleven thatched suites sit in a private reserve with their own gate into the dunes, so you reach Sossusvlei before the public gates open. Each suite has a private plunge pool and a rooftop sky-bed for sleeping under the stars, one of the most refined ways to experience the world's oldest desert.
Ongava Lodge spreads fourteen stone-and-thatch chalets along a dolomite ridge on a private 30,000-hectare reserve bordering Etosha. A floodlit waterhole below the deck draws both black and white rhino, and because it sits on private land you can do walking safaris and night drives the national park doesn't allow.
Onguma The Fort is a striking fortress-style lodge on a private reserve along Etosha's eastern edge, with bold stonework and a tower bar built for sundowners. Its thirteen suites look west over open plain to one of the finest sunsets in Namibia, and a waterhole by the main area pulls elephant and plains game close.
Ten cabins shaped like stranded shipwrecks are strung along a dune facing the wild Atlantic on Namibia's Skeleton Coast. Each has a log fire and big windows onto the dunes and sea, with a sense of being gloriously far from everywhere, exploring roaring dunes, seal colonies and a haunting coastline.
This four-star hotel sits right on the historic Mole, wrapped by the Atlantic on three sides with the Namib dunes behind. Most of the 125 rooms look straight out to sea, and there are several restaurants, a deli and a wellness centre on site, an easy comfortable coastal stop in the heart of Swakopmund.
A twelve-suite boutique hotel hidden in a tropical garden ten minutes from OR Tambo, where the staff greet you by name and the pace slows the moment you walk in. Suites are generous and quiet, there is a full spa, and airport transfers are handled for you. It turns an awkward layover into a genuinely restful part of the journey.
Four Rosmead is a ten-room boutique hotel in a listed heritage building in Oranjezicht, Cape Town, a short walk from Kloof Street and five minutes from the Waterfront. Chic interiors with original South African artwork, a heated saltwater pool in landscaped gardens.
Impodimo sits high on a rocky ridge in Madikwe, its glass-fronted suites built into the hillside above a natural spring. Days run to the rhythm of open-vehicle drives and long afternoons on your private deck, and the sunken hide puts you at eye level with elephants at the waterhole. Being malaria-free, it suits families who want the Big Five without the medication.
Seven stone-and-thatch chalets sit tucked beneath ancient mahogany and jackalberry trees on a vast private concession in the wild northern reaches of Hwange. Solar-powered and unfenced, with a waterhole that draws elephants right up to camp, it's a place for walking safaris, big-sky game drives and exploring the nearby Bumbusi ruins, often with the park to yourself.
Perched on a hill above a dam alive with crocodile and hippo, this intimate eco-lodge has just nine rooms in one of the few private concessions inside Hwange. The Robins area is famous for its lions, leopards and cheetahs, plus dry-season buffalo herds in the thousands, and it's the closest Hideaways lodge to Victoria Falls.
Malilangwe House is an elegant exclusive-use home perched alongside Pamushana, taking in the same long views over the Malilangwe Dam and surrounding wilderness. Five spacious en-suite bedrooms, free-flowing living areas, an interactive kitchen and a large rim-flow pool make it ideal for a family or group who want the whole place to themselves, with a private chef, guide and host.
Singita's flagship in Zimbabwe sits high on a sandstone ridge above the shimmering Malilangwe Dam, with eight airy suites that each open to a private plunge pool and sweeping views of the lowveld. The vast 130,000-acre private reserve means very few other vehicles, superb rhino and Big Five sightings, and design that draws on Shangaan heritage.
Perched on a dune at the very tip of the Machangulo Peninsula, with the Indian Ocean on one side, Maputo Bay on the other and Inhaca Island straight ahead. Three suites, a private pool and your own chef mean the whole place is yours alone. Days run on fat bikes along empty beach, boat trips out to the marine reserve, and very little else.
A "lodge" and a "camp" are very different nights, and the right mix is half of what makes a safari feel right. Here's how we think about it, so you know what you're picking.
Canvas under the stars, right in the wild. Proper beds, ensuite bathrooms, the sounds of the bush at night. Closest to the action.
Solid walls, a pool, a view over a valley or waterhole. More space and comfort, a good base for families and longer stays.
Town and gateway stays, usually either side of your arrival. Easy, reliable, close to the airport and a hot shower.
The Zanzibar wind-down after the dust. Sand, sea and a slower pace to round the trip off.
Four comfort levels
Honest, comfortable camps and lodges. Everything you need, nothing you don't.
Characterful lodges with a bit more polish, space and a pool. The sweet spot for most.
Premium camps and lodges in the best positions, with the service to match.
The marquee names, the rim-edge views, the once-you're-there-you-get-it places.
On the map
Every pin is a lodge or camp we use, coloured by comfort level. Tap one to see what it is and visit its website.
Tell us where you'd want to wake up and we'll build a trip around it, with honest pricing and the lodges that actually fit your dates and group.
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