Must-see hotels in Africa

  • Vumbura Plains Camp

    Okavango Delta

    One of Wilderness Safaris' flagship properties, this regally luxurious twin camp is on the Duba Plains in the transition zone between the savannahs and…

  • Sandibe Safari Lodge

    Okavango Delta

    This riverine forest retreat is the architectural jewel of the Okavango Delta, as well as one of the premier safari camps anywhere in Southern Africa…

  • Jao Camp

    Okavango Delta

    Part of Wilderness Safaris' portfolio of premier camps, Jao is a special place that combines Asian style (the public areas and the rooms were inspired by…

  • Bom Bom Resort

    São Tomé & Príncipe

    It's hard to find fault with this slice of tropical paradise, for while that term is highly overused, it does apply here. The resort has an extraordinary…

  • Mkulumadzi Lodge

    Malawi

    Romantically reached by a suspension bridge over a croc-infested river, this extraordinary lodge is a fusion of African tradition and boutique chic. The…

  • Mucumbli

    São Tomé

    STP's finest ecolodge is situated in a cliffside forest overlooking the sea. Nicely designed wooden bungalows offer plenty of space, light and dreamy…

  • Nkwichi Lodge

    Northern Mozambique

    For setting, service, romance, proximity to nature and integration with the local community, Nkwichi Lodge can rival anywhere in Africa. Gracing the…

  • Fregate Island Private

    Seychelles

    Perched on a hillside and patrolled by some of the island's 3500 free-roaming giant tortoises, this breathtaking resort is home to 16 elegant villas that…

  • Lake Shore Lodge & Campsite

    Western Tanzania

    The universally praised Lake Shore Lodge & Campsite has beach chalets with a lovely open ‘African Zen’ design incorporating shells, sand, ropes, flowers…

  • North Island

    Seychelles

    It's easy to understand why North Island regularly features on lists of the world's top hotels. The natural island environment is staggeringly beautiful,…

  • Kwetsani Camp

    Okavango Delta

    This highly recommended camp has the usual high levels of comfort, but there are some very special selling points. The recently overhauled rooms, elevated…

  • Ol Donyo

    Kenya

    Welcome to what could just be our favourite place to stay in Kenya. Built onto the foothills of Chyulu Hills at the remote eastern reaches of the 1113-sq…

  • Rhino Safari Camp

    Zimbabwe

    One of the best camps in the country, this is remote, wild and everything you want from a safari experience. Its simplicity in design is genius; it blends…

  • Limalimo Lodge

    Simien Mountains National Park

    Now here's something really special – one of the best places to stay in Ethiopia. The location is the best in the Simiens, with incredible views from the…

  • Kaya Mawa

    Malawi

    Remember Scaramanga's pad in The Man with the Golden Gun? Kaya Mawa, set on an amber-coloured beach lapped by turquoise water, is the ultimate location to…

  • Segera Retreat

    Laikipia Plateau

    We can be difficult to impress, but this place left us speechless. Six villas and a couple of houses inhabit an oasis in the heart of the ranch, looking…

  • Adrère Amellal

    Siwa Oasis

    Backed by the dramatic White Mountain (called Adrère Amellal in Siwan language), this impeccable retreat lies in its own oasis, 13km from Siwa Town, with…

  • Mara Plains

    Masai Mara

    This utterly captivating camp has a dozen tents with beds and showers carved from old wooden railway sleepers and quality rugs lazing across the floors…

  • Little Elephant Camp

    Southwestern Uganda

    This dream safari camp features a few impeccable tents outfitted with grills and your own personal kitchen and living-room tent. Comfortable and…

  • MalaMala Main Camp

    Kruger National Park

    While very comfortable, Main Camp doesn't offer plunge pools, throw pillows or chic interiors. And it doesn't care – everything here is about providing…

  • Le Prince Maurice

    Mauritius

    The sense of perfect tranquillity is immediately striking as you pass through the entryway – this is a world unto itself that knows no limit to luxury…

  • Le Saint Géran

    Mauritius

    Le Saint Géran is classic Mauritian luxury at its finest. And the clientele seems to agree. The resort sees more repeat customers than most top-end hotels…

  • Wildwaters Lodge

    Jinja

    One of Uganda's best luxury hotels, Wildwaters lives up to its name by overlooking a raging stretch of the Nile from its stunning island location…

  • Coral Lodge

    Northern Mozambique

    If they gave out six stars for hotels, Coral Lodge might just qualify. Everything gets top marks, from the setting (an idyllic beach with its own natural…

  • Riad Kasbah Oliver

    Central Morocco

    Owned by Tighza native Mohamed El Qasemy and his British wife Carolyn, Riad Kasbah Oliver is a labour of love. Built by hand from stone and earth by local…

  • Le Jardin des Biehn

    Medina

    This is a place you'll want to stay at again and again, just to try out all the eclectic rooms. Each one conveys its own whimsical story, through superb…

  • Lou Moon Lodge

    Ghana

    Perhaps the loveliest beach resort in the country, Lou Moon sits on a beautiful and private sheltered bay backed by thick forest. Rooms and chalets – all…

  • Victoria Falls Hotel

    Victoria Falls (town)

    Built in 1904, this historic hotel (the oldest in Zimbabwe) oozes elegance and sophistication. It occupies an impossibly scenic location, looking across…

  • Al Tarfa Desert Sanctuary

    Western Desert

    Taking the high end to unheard-of heights in Dakhla, Al Tarfa is flat-out desert-fabulous. The traditionally inspired decor is superbly tasteful and…

  • Zarafa Camp

    Chobe National Park

    Make no mistake: this is one of the premier properties anywhere in Africa. As ecofriendly as it's possible to be out here, Zarafa's tented villas are…

  • Le Paradise Cove

    Cap Malheureux

    A five-star, adults-only boutique resort aimed at honeymooners, understated Paradise Cove is as luxurious as its name suggests – it won first prize for…

  • Zaina Lodge

    Ghana

    Luxury Zaina Lodge is a game changer for Mole, and one of the nicest places to stay in all of Ghana. Entrance gates, built in traditional northern mud-and…

  • Kasbah Bab Ourika

    Ourika Valley

    Occupying an outstanding hilltop location in the Ourika Valley, this rammed-earth kasbah provides understated luxury, including uninterrupted views of…

  • Elsa’s Kopje

    Kenya

    Plenty of hotels claim to blend into their environment, but Elsa’s did so in such a seamless manner that the bar on chic ecosuites was permanently raised…

  • Water Lovers

    Diani Beach

    Beautiful, peaceful and intimate, Water Lovers has eight rooms and one villa, all designed with aesthetics, sustainability and love in mind. The furniture…

  • Ellerman House

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    Imagine you’ve been invited to stay with an immensely rich, art-collecting Capetonian friend – that's what the vibe is like at the Ellerman House, an…

  • Kyambura Gorge Lodge

    Southwestern Uganda

    This former coffee factory is a top choice for those looking to slow things right down. Style looms large here, with abstract art and mismatched craft…

  • Nike Ambassador Guest House

    Nigeria

    It's essential to book ahead to stay in this wonderfully tasteful home, decorated with artworks inside and out. It's centred around an internal courtyard,…

  • Woodlands Stop Over

    Botswana

    A wonderfully tranquil place, 15km north of town off the road to Maun, Woodlands is easily the pick of places to stay around Francistown if you have your…

  • Le Touessrok

    Mauritius

    Le Touessrok has one of the best reputations on the island, and the accolades are well deserved. Rambling across a sandy peninsula, it blends Moorish…