Grand Baie
Perhaps the boutiquiest resort on the island, 20° Sud has a cache of chic, plantation-inspired rooms. Walls are lavished with prim white paint, accented…
Must-see hotels in Africa
Taroudant
This hotel is on a huge plot of land around 5km west of Taroudant, but its gardens are designed so that every space feels intimate, including two pools,…
Tangier
This lovely peppermint-walled guesthouse has no central courtyard. Instead, rooms here branch off two winding staircases, creating a maze of dream-like…
Southeastern Tanzania
This beautifully restored building is on a breezy hilltop overlooking the town and Mikindani Bay. It offers spacious, atmospheric, high-ceilinged doubles…
Zanzibar Island
Upendo offers luxurious villas and an excellent bar-restaurant (meals US$8 to US$25) that's also open to nonguests. Villas have between one and four…
Western Ethiopia
Negash Resort is probably the best hotel in western Ethiopia. Accommodation comes in a range of styles, from tribally decorated rondavels to stylish rooms…
Luxor
This is a great reinvention of a traditional-style, two-storey mud-brick house: Beit Sabée has appeared in design magazines for its cool use of local…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
Set on a rise southwest of Megab, this lovely place has stone cottages built from local materials (sandstone walls, olive-wood floors, eucalyptus ceilings…
Masai Mara
One of the most storied camps in the Mara region, Cottar's, owned by a legendary safari family, induces a misty-eyed sense of longing from those lucky…
Masai Mara
Stunningly sited in a lush, intimate valley along a hippo-inhabited stream lined with acacias, Kicheche is a lovely property. The large tents with bucket…
Malawi
Book at least a day ahead to stay at this four-room guesthouse owned by British-Malawian couple Tom and Petal. Woodcarvings and Tom's artwork decorate the…
Eastern DRC
Easily the most luxurious and beautifully designed hotel in DRC, Mikeno Lodge is a pampering slice of bliss in the wilds of the Congo jungle. Each of the…
Marrakesh
There's lots to love about Riad Noos Noos, starting with its mellow location in the Mellah, stork-viewing roof terrace and kooky retro style. Online deals…
Zagora
This super-stylish desert oasis exudes understated luxury. The fabulous pisé (rammed-earth) edifice was constructed by a team from Skoura, while craftsmen…
Southern Ethiopia
What a find! This exquisite lodge, a favourite with nature lovers, is set in the Harenna Forest at an altitude of 2400m. It features three well…
Lilongwe
Lilongwe's first world-class boutique hotel, this gated, nine-suite retreat raises the bar for Malawian accommodation. From the moment you step into its…
Johannesburg
A wonderful urban sanctuary, Satyagraha is built around the Kraal, a 1907 traditional African-style thatched house where Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi lived…
Durban
One of Durbs’ most cutting-edge sleeping options, this cleverly conceived spot – 12 cosy rooms in four pods – is more about the design (urban, funky,…
Meknes
This converted family home is a short walk from Place El Hedim. The main entrance opens onto a leafy courtyard, which also hosts a great restaurant. Rooms…
Skoura
This gorgeous lodge has seven spacious, light-filled rooms and suites, decorated with antiques, elegant furnishings and artwork from Morocco and beyond…
Masai Mara
So far south in the Masai Mara that you're almost in Tanzania, Sala's Camp is a real find. Away from the busier central and northern areas of the reserve,…
The Great Reef
This is the premier resort along the Southern Reef. It’s not that any of the elements are unique, but each one is carried off to perfection. The bungalows…
Medina
In this 17th-century palace, a warm staff welcomes you into tangible history: floor tiles show centuries of footsteps; worn-smooth wooden doors open on…
Masai Mara
On a hillside among granite rocks contorted into fantastical shapes, Maji Moto is around 60km north of the reserve proper. The camp is fairly simple but…
Kruger National Park
Sleep inside or out, with the press of a button. Set high above the Luvuvhu River at the northern extreme of Kruger, the outward-facing walls of these 12…
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
The only private lodge in iSimangaliso’s Kosi Bay region, and surrounded by the sand forest’s Umdoni trees, this intimate 16-bed lodge offers a dreamy,…
Southern Highlands
This lovely beachfront place has camping with spotless ablution blocks, and luxury bungalows with verandahs overlooking the lake, polished wood floors and…
Pemba
In a quiet spot on a small island off the coast of Pemba this lodge epitomises the word 'remote'. Overlooking the empty beach and ocean beyond are just…
Limpopo
Perched in the clouds of the Soutpansberg mountains, this Fair Trade–accredited resort is based on a Venda village, created with the help of acclaimed…
Namibia
Nambwa, 14km south of Kongola, is one of the very few places to stay in the park itself. It combines an excellent campsite with a luxury lodge, replete…
Kenya
This terrific place is just outside Meru National Park, 2.5km from Murera Gate on the road in from Meru, so you can be inside the park in minutes. The…
Eastern Ethiopia
If you’re looking to rehabilitate your travel-worn body and mind, a surprisingly relaxing retreat is this small lodge just outside the northeast park…
Kruger National Park
This comfortable, family-run, six-room camp offers a fine safari experience. The open dining area and two rooms (Nos 3 and 4) overlook the water hole,…
Okavango Delta
A beautiful option for those wanting the amenities of a high-end safari – expertly cooked meals, attentive service and wonderful views over its island…
Zambia
Built into the hillside are Mayense's individually designed chalets, each with outstanding views. All are beautiful in their simplicity and blend in…
Zambia
With its stunning white sands, palm trees and thatched bungalows, Luke's Beach resembles some secluded Southeast Asian beach paradise. The stilted…
Kruger National Park
Built on the site of the Varty family's original 1920s Sparta Hunting Camp, Varty Camp was Londolozi's first photographic safari lodge and has…
Merzouga
Affable Youssef's simple pisé (rammed-earth) home offers four rooms arranged around a courtyard shaded by a single palm. The oasis-inspired decor is spare…
Medina
Open since 2003, Mabrouka feels lived-in, in a good way. The large traditional courtyard house is furnished with European antiques and art, and the…
Free State
The accommodation at this cheerfully overgrown place is decidedly rustic, but the secluded location right on the Vaal River is unbeatable. Options include…
