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…
Must-see hotels in West Africa
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…
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…
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…
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,…
Malabo
Malabo's only boutique hotel, this is a superb choice in the upmarket suburb of Paraíso. It has swish modern decor, king-size beds and an excellent…
Liberia
Run by Californian surfers in conjunction with community initiatives, this blue-and-yellow beach house offers pleasant, breezy rooms with wooden four…
Loango National Park
This impressively remote and high-end lodge operated by the National Parks Board is a wonderful option if you want to visit the northern end of the Loango…
São Tomé
At the remote southern end of the island, this ecolodge has been a great success due to its excellent management, which pays attention to details. Nicely…
São Tomé & Príncipe
This beautifully renovated and fast-expanding roça is the best of its kind in STP. High up on a hill, it affords marvellous views of the coastline from…
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…
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…
Senegal
Perched over a wave-battered stretch of coastline, Sobo Badè has the wondrous look of a Gaudì creation, with its imaginative brickwork, shell-lined…
São Tomé
STP needs more of this! Trailblazing entrepreneur Yves has built five fantastic beach cottages on a cliff overlooking the sea, with spectacular views from…
São Tomé
The budget traveller's salvation, this hotel performs its role perfectly. It feels like a cabin, with a large wooden balcony on the 2nd floor, and…
Sierra Leone
Experience life in a rural Sierra Leonean village at this excellent, community-run initiative, where guests are invited to take part in daily village life…
Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts
Much loved and fussed over by its owner, the Ngala Lodge has 24 bright, spacious handsomely furnished suites, the best of which have original artwork and…
Republic of Congo
The jewel in the crown of the Odzala camps, this magical place is located deep in the rainforest within easy walking distance of two groups of habituated…
Sierra Leone
Run by a British–Sierra Leonean couple, this little guesthouse, surrounded by flourishing tropical gardens and local farms, is the perfect antidote to…
Sierra Leone
Near enough to Freetown for an overnight visit, yet deep enough in the mountains to feel as if you're lost in the wilderness, Tacugama is a wonderfully…
Sierra Leone
A tranquil place with gorgeous views over River No 2, this guesthouse has four lovely thatch-roof bungalows. Two are traditional round huts, and two are…
Ghana
Beautiful and ecofriendly, Escape3points is one of the nicest places to stay along the coast. The stilted bungalows are rustic yet stylish. They're…
Malabo
Don't be put off by the tacky lobby, this place gets better upstairs, and there's a lift. The rooms are very comfortable and have tiny balconies, a fridge…
Liberia
With pretty, solar-powered huts (named after endangered Liberian species) on the edge of the forest, Libassa makes for a gorgeous weekend retreat near…
Ghana
Colourful huts and dorms are set on a hillside in dreamy tropical gardens at this sociable lodge. Across the small dirt road at the bottom of the property…
Lagos
This charming boutique hotel, beautifully decorated with paintings and sculptures by local artists, serves as the hub of the vibrant art and cultural…
Benin
Looking for a night at some place extra-special? Make a beeline for this lovely property, the pride and joy of affable Mathieu Yélomé, a young Beninese…
Casamance
Created by the Senegalese musician Youssouph Cissoko, this sprawling, high-end property is the go-to destination for music lovers, with weekend concerts…
Cabo Verde
Guests feel right at home in this friendly Swiss-run spot with bright, comfortably furnished rooms. The roof terrace, with its grand views, is a great…
Abidjan
French-Ivoirian couple Alain and Pascale run this fusion of hotel and restaurant, which offers impeccable style, local art and artists, the most exquisite…
Cape Coast
All profits from this charming guesthouse go to the Baobab Children Foundation, which runs a school for disadvantaged children. The simple rooms are…
Ghana
Bright and cosy bungalows, some handcrafted using traditional techniques, sit on a beautiful lawn with views down to the lake. A wonderful place to relax…
Santo Antão
In the last roadside village (Chã de Manuel dos Santos) up the valley road from Vila das Pombas is this adorable Spanish-run option housed in an orange…
Sal
In a very local neighbourhood 500m from the beach, Sal's most atmospheric B&B has stylish rooms that come in different sizes and pretty colours, and with…
Mindelo
In a pretty yellow building near Praça Amilcar Cabral, Kira's earns rave reviews for its well-equipped, handsomely furnished rooms and kind-hearted…
Ghana
This pretty, ecofriendly haven gets rave reviews from travellers, and rightly so: spotless huts are set beneath palm trees on a gorgeous stretch of beach,…
The Gambia
This beautiful ecofriendly property on the south coast has nine cheerfully decorated en-suite roundhouses which surround a freshwater swimming pool, along…
Ghana
The nicest place to stay in the area is Biakpa Mountain Paradise, a former government rest home converted into a mountain hideaway near the village of…
St Josephs School for the Hearing Impaired
Sierra Leone
You'll get a warm welcome at St Josephs, by far the nicest place to stay in town. It's set in a beautiful old colonial building, which has a wraparound…
Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts
This impressive family-run complex has a mix of B&B rooms and self-catering apartments, with attractively designed lodgings set with modern furnishings…
