Must-see hotels in Africa

  • Thawale Camp

    Malawi

    Situated around a watering hole frequented by antelopes and warthogs, this upmarket bush camp is about 3km inside the reserve from the main entrance. The…

  • KaingU Safari Lodge

    Zambia

    Set on a magical stretch of the Kafue River, this lodge overlooks a primordial stretch of lush islands among the rapids, with delightful birdwatching. The…

  • Asilia Naboisho Camp

    Masai Mara

    So what if the tents, with their huge beds and indoor and outdoor showers, are among the most extravagant around. Why people really stay here is the…

  • Chitabe Lediba

    Okavango Delta

    One of the more intimate camps run by Wilderness Safaris, Chitabe Lediba has just five tents (including two family ones) and a warm and intimate…

  • Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge

    Zimbabwe

    With its stunning elevated location overlooking the Save River, safari lodges really don't get much better than this. All of its luxurious stilted…

  • Al Moudira

    Luxor

    Al Moudira is a luxury hotel of a stylish individuality. A fantasy of pointed arches and soaring domes set amid lush gardens and birdsong, the hotel is…

  • Duma Tau

    Chobe National Park

    This 10-room camp was rebuilt completely in 2012 with a commitment to sustainability; all of the camp’s power comes from solar energy, and waste disposal…

  • Waterberg Wilderness Lodge

    Namibia

    Waterberg Wilderness occupies a vast private concession within the park and is a wonderful upmarket choice. The Rust family has painstakingly transformed…

  • Desroches Island Resort

    Seychelles

    Reborn in 2018 under the Four Seasons name, this completely overhauled five-star 71-room resort resides at the western end of the island. The airy…

  • Kicheche Valley Camp

    Masai Mara

    High in a valley that looks down into the heart of the conservancy – there is not a single light in view at night – Kicheche Valley is a terrific property…

  • Mayoka Village

    Malawi

    Cleverly shaped around the rocky topography of a cliff, boutique-style Mayoka cascades down in a series of beautiful bamboo-and-stone chalets. There are…

  • Maliba Lodge

    Lesotho

    Maliba ('Madiba') offers a range of accommodation, from riverside huts to comfy lodge rooms to lavish chalets, in Ts’ehlanyane National Park, along with a…

  • La Maison Bleue

    El Gouna

    A fantasy constructed out of the imaginary life of a wealthy Levantine. With an eclectic interior that is all grand tiled floors, intricate wooden…

  • Semonkong Lodge

    Lesotho

    Near the Maletsunyane River, this lodge is a model of community tourism and a great place for everyone from families to adventure seekers. If the inviting…

  • Le Nautique

    La Digue

    Although this small boutique offering opened in 2018, owner Natasha's family has longstanding roots on the island. Together with her Australian husband…

  • Cape Cross Lodge

    Skeleton Coast

    Cape Cross Lodge has an odd but strangely appealing architecture, which is self-described as a cross between Cape Dutch and fishing-village style. The…

  • Chole Mjini

    Southeastern Tanzania

    Chole Mjini is an upmarket bush adventure in synchrony with the local community and environment. Sleep in spacious, rustic and fantastic treehouses, eat…

  • Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh

    Hurghada

    Peaceful, exclusive and opulent beyond your imagination, the Oberoi sits a good 30-minute drive south from Hurghada and features palatial suites decorated…

  • Ponta Anchaca

    Guinea-Bissau

    Superlatives don't do it justice. Gorgeous. Idyllic. Heavenly. You won't want to leave after disembarking onto a long postcard-perfect white-sand beach…

  • Jollyboys Backpackers

    Livingstone

    The clued-in owner here knows exactly what backpackers want, making Jollyboys popular for good reason. From its friendly staff, social bar and restaurant…

  • Le Domaine de L'Orangeraie Resort & Spa

    La Digue

    This dramatic 63-suite resort climbs its way up the tree-covered slope that overlooks the harbour, with spacious, well-appointed villas nestled among…

  • Mumbo Island Camp

    Malawi

    Situated exclusively on Mumbo Island, this eco-boutique camp has chalets and a walk-in tent on wooden platforms (with en-suite bucket showers and eco-loos…

  • Erongo Wilderness Lodge

    Damaraland

    This highly acclaimed wilderness retreat combines spectacular mountain scenery, wildlife viewing, birdwatching and environmentally sensitive architecture…

  • Chiawa Camp

    Zambia

    In a spectacular position at the confluence of the Chiawa and Zambezi Rivers, this luxurious lodge inside the park was the first in the Lower Zambezi. As…

  • Bushman's Baobabs

    Malawi

    The former Chinguni Hills Lodge is a fun place to experience a night in the bush and a safari. In an accessible location in the south of the park, Bushman…

  • Lukwe EcoCamp

    Malawi

    This serene, tasteful permaculture camp is about being part of the environment and the community: helping local farmers and being completely self…

  • Sausage Tree Camp

    Zambia

    Overlooking the Zambezi, deep inside the national park, Sausage Tree is wonderfully unconventional. Traditional safari decor is rejected in favour of cool…

  • Iharana Bush Camp

    Northern Madagascar

    Although not far from Ambilobe, this gorgeous lodge is perfect for exploring Réserve Spéciale Ankarana. Wattle and daub bungalows are widely spaced for…

  • Mushroom Farm

    Malawi

    Perched on the edge of the Livingstonia escarpment (aka an abyss!), this permaculture ecolodge and campsite is worth the arduous journey for the warm…

  • Royal Zambezi Lodge

    Zambia

    The epitome of luxury bush mixed with a colonial-era vibe, Royal is only a short drive to the eponymous airstrip as well as Chongwe Gate. Despite its…

  • Chelinda Lodge

    Malawi

    Sitting on a hillside in a clearing of pine trees, upmarket Chelinda is a traveller's dream. The main building crackles with fires at every turn,…

  • N’Kwazi Lodge

    Namibia

    On the banks of the Okavango, about 20km from Rundu’s town centre, this is a tranquil and good-value riverside retreat where relaxation is a by-product of…

  • Mayukuyuku

    Zambia

    This rustic bush camp, small and personal, is in a gorgeous spot on the river with a well-landscaped camping area and four tastefully furnished thatch…

  • Pousada Roça São João

    São Tomé

    This budget charmer is the best roça to stay in on the island. It's a classic administrator's house, with two stories of wraparound veranda and endless…

  • Opuwo Country Lodge

    Namibia

    Far and away the area’s swankiest accommodation option with lovely rooms, the hilltop Opuwo Country Lodge is an enormous thatched building (reportedly the…

  • Riad Azoulay

    Marrakesh

    The restoration of this 200-year-old mansion, once home to the wealthy Azoulay family, advisors to the royal family, was a labour of love for Italian…

  • Kara O’Mula

    Malawi

    Hidden up a dirt track right beneath Mt Mulanje, this delightful eyrie cloaked in lush vegetation has a swimming pool (fed by fresh water from a small…

  • Mvuu Camp

    Malawi

    Run by the excellent Central African Wilderness Safaris, Malawi's premier safari operator, Mvuu sits on the river in the realm of myriad hippos and crocs…

  • Masoala Forest Lodge

    Eastern Madagascar

    Staying here is akin to a high-end safari, including luxury tents (with hot water). Located on a 100,000-sq-metre forest reserve, there are just seven…

  • Mosetlha Bush Camp & Eco Lodge

    North West Province

    Madikwe’s second-oldest lodge is also the reserve’s only non-five-star option, but Mosetlha’s relatively low rates are not its only attraction. With nine…