Our Top Five Hotels in Africa
2026/27

Well, what can we say? Beho Beho is certainly a camp that is in the top three in East Africa if not…

Classified as a “classic plus” camp by Wilderness Safaris, Kwetsani is certainly not a huge step down in luxury from the flagship…

As you walk over a wooden bridge to Mara Plains, the first glimpse of the camp is a very luxurious and sleek…

Sat just north of the Nsefu region in the South Luangwa National Park, is Remote Africa’s Tafika Camp. This intimate camp, which…

As part of the Governor’s Collection, and owned by a community trust, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is sat in the foothills of the…

A great choice of accommodation for those looking for a more quiet and remote area of Bwindi Forest in the south-western part…

Arguably, along side destinations such as the North Island in the Seychelles, Mnemba Lodge holds the accolade of being one of the…

Finished in June 2012, Nomad’s Lamai had been a pretty long time coming but the wait has definitely been worthwhile. Located on…

Sitting between Amboseli and Tsavo East National Park, Ol Donyo is a timeless favourite! Offering ten private cottages and a range of…

Designed along the lines of a luxury safari camp, Toka Leya sits approximately 30 minutes drive upriver from the famous “smoke that…

A welcome addition to the stunningly beautiful Jao Concession, Pelo Camp offers great value for money as a true “wet” camp in…

This is certainly the most luxurious choice of accommodation in Nyungwe National Park, if not all of Rwanda! Nyungwe House has everything…

A sister property to the nearby Breezes Hotel, Baraza Resort & Spa is still fairly young and sits nicely in the top…

Well…what to say about Greystoke Mahale (once known as Zoe’s Camp)? Every so often we come across a camp that just gets…

Lake Manze Camp is set right in the heart of the best game area in the Selous, and is, arguably, one of…

One of a new breed of property that has opened up in the corridor that runs between Lake Manyara National Park and…

The Highlands Camp is one of a kind! Inspired by the shape of the traditional Maasai homes (called bomas), eight dome tents…

Although it has been open for almost two years now, Ikuka Camp is one of the newer properties to make base in…

Naibor Camp is a luxury tented camp in the heart of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. On the banks of the Talek…

As one of the first hotels on this stretch of Zanzibar, Breezes has long been the benchmark for other properties of this…

Of the &Beyond properties Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is probably our favourite. It might not have the sheer wow factor of the…

Without doubt our favourite camp in Ruaha, Mwagusi Camp is a rare occurrence these days…a camp where the owner is to be…

Named after the infamous guide and naturalist, Paul Oliver, Olivers Camp really is a camp to savour. Originally located a little further…

Located right at the southern end of the white sand that runs from Matemwe to Chwake, Pongwe Beach Hotel has, we would…

Located right up on the Mara River, Sayari Camp is definitely one of our favourite camps in the Serengeti and is perfect…

The sister property to both the Breezes and Baraza, The Palms was the first truly high end property on Zanzibar and, while…

Displaying breath-taking views of Lake Kivu and offering a more personal and intimate experience on the shore of the lake is Cormoran…

Voted as the best safari lodge in Zambia by Conde Nast Travel, this luxury lodge is definitely one to consider when you…

Located off to the west of the Jao concession, in the north western corner of the Okavango Delta, Tubu Tree Camp and…

This little lodge is a gem in the heart of Kibale National Park. Offering 16 rooms situated in the lush green rainforest,…

For those looking for total seclusion, a really high level of service and something a bit out of the ordinary for their…

The sister camp to Sayari, Olakira Migration Camp is the roving alternative and, like Nomads, is a mobile tented camp. With this…

Opened in 2007 Singita Sasakwa Lodge and its sister camps, Faru Faru and Sabora, really shook the higherarchy of the Serengeti up…

A brand new addition to the safari circuit of the northern Serengeti, Lemala Kuria Hills offers a very realistic and slightly less…

Located over to the eastern edge of the main game viewing area, Selous Impala Camp is still privately owned and, especially in…

The stunning, luxury villas of White Sands sit on the picturesque coast of Zanzibar, offering a private and peaceful experience. Located on…

Kinondo Kwetu is a home away from home; a stunning family-run lodge on the idyllic Kenyan coast. The lodge has maintained its…

This five-star hotel is the pick of the bunch when it comes to accommodation in Rwanda’s capital. Located just ten minutes from…

Meaning “big cats” in Swahili, Namiri Plains Camp is the perfect place to see the wild predators of the Serengeti. The area…

Located on the island of Pemba, Manta Resort is a remote and luxurious hotel, famed for its underwater room that allows guests…

Owned and run by the Cummings family (who also run Chiawa Camp further to the west), this small and intimate camp is…

Looking out to the Mushika Flood Plains and the Zambezi River in the distance, Anabezi Camp is a great choice for those…

Sitting on the Savuti channel (which is, in effect an overflow for the Linyati and Selinda Spillways (fills in April from Selinda…

This lodge is one of most luxurious in all of Bwindi (we would say on par with Bwindi Lodge). The property feels…

Tarangire Treetops is a cool and quirky property and is our pick of where to stay at the top end around Tarangire….

Angama Mara and its views are certainly one of the picks of the properties in the Masai Mara! Balanced on the rim…

Meaning “slowly” in Swahili, Pole Pole is the perfect retreat for those looking for exactly that…to enjoy the slow and relaxed pace…

Xanadu Villas sits on the south-east coast of Zanzibar island, just 50 minutes from the UNESCO world heritage capital, Stone Town. Xanadu…

As one of the only camps in North Luangwa National Park, Remote Africa’s Mwaleshi Camp is our pick of the bunch for…

Nsefu Camp homes history and exceptional wildlife. Built in 1956 by Norman Carr, this was the first safari lodge to occupy the…

One of two “water” camps in the Jao Concession, Jacana Camp is situated in the south eastern corner of the Jao Concession…

Silverback Lodge offers simple accommodation but with a great location and price tag! It’s a good option for those who want to…

Now established as one of the top properties on Zanzibar, Kilindi Beach Resort really has raised the bar as to what can be…

Ol Seki is a luxury tented camp in the Naboisho Conservancy adjacent to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The camp, which…

The only camp that is set right at the bottom of the park, Jongomero Camp, sister camp to the great Siwandu Camp…

The first of the camps catering to the top end of the market, LABA LABA Siwandu Camp (formerly Selous Safari Camp) offers…

As with Mdonya’s sister camp, Lake Manze, in the Selous, Mdonya Old River Camp is a simple and elegant camp that offers…

Nestled in the shadow of the Moru Kopjes, in the southern centre of the Serengeti, Dunia Camp offers great migration viewing in…

As the flagship Norman Carr property in South Luangwa, Chinzombo goes above and beyond in terms of its luxury accommodation. Sat on…

Mchenja Camp is part of the Norman Carr Bushcamp portfolio which works perfectly in a stand-alone itinerary, or combined with the more…

Sat on the banks of the Zambezi River in the Lower Zambezi National Park, Chiawa Camp is a small and intimate camp…

This small camp is the perfect option for those looking for something with a cosy safari ambiance, as well as the luxurious…

The Royal Livingstone Hotel is the most famous hotels out of all of the Victoria Falls properties. It sits on the Zambian…

The acclaimed jewel in the crown of the concession, Jao Camp has certainly had no expense spared in either the design or…

This independent lodge sits high up in the Ugandan Great Crater Lakes region. With only nine small cottages, Papaya Lodge is a…

A lovely little property on the south eastern coast of the island, Boutique Hotel Matlai manages to tick almost all of the…

The grand dame of the Selous Safari circuit, along with Beho Beho, Sand Rivers Selous is the longest running safari camp and…

One of the original small, boutique hotels on the island, the Shooting Star Lodge has still managed to maintain a great ambience…

Alex Walker’s Serian Camp is certainly how we would opt to spend our time in the bush. Hosted and occasionally guided by…

Roho ya Selous breaks the mold for safari camps in Nyerere National Park to a certain degree as the camps is located…

Sat in its own private conservancy, facing Africa’s largest mountain, is Tortilis, one of our favourite properties in Amboseli. With a lifetime…

Since opening its doors in February 2017, Katambuga House has become a firm favourite just outisde of Arusha, sat in a desirable…

Located in a private conservancy in the western Serengeti, Faru Faru boasts an exclusive and ultimate luxury safari experience. While the price…

Tena Tena has long been a safari favourite in South Luangwa National Park and as the original Robin Pope Safari Camp, it…

If you are looking for complete luxury, with coffee machines, private plunge pools, huge rooms and air conditioning, this is the place…

This is a charming bush camp in the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park. The camp can accommodate a total of…

The main draw to Waterberry Lodge is that it provides the most calming atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of Victoria…

Located right on the other side of Chobe National Park to the much busier Kasane region, Muchenje Safari Lodge has long been…

Mahogany Springs is a small independent lodge that sits in Bwindi National Park in the south-west of Uganda. The lodge is owner-run…

This lodge is flagship of the Wild Places portfolio of Uganda. Sitting at a height of 2,000 metres above sea level, it…

The only other camp in Katavi of real note, Chada Camp, as the name suggests, looks out onto the Chada floodplain and…

As discussed in the Ngorongoro Sopa review, often the choice at the crater is whether to pay for the view (by staying…

Serengeti Migration Camp is situated in the thin column of the Serengeti that runs between the Seronera, in the centre, and the…

Sat in a peaceful and game-abundant conservancy bordering the Masai Mara Reserve, Naboisho Camp offers an intimate and authentic safari experience. The…

Chongwe River Camp is a luxurious camp that sits on the confluence of the Zambezi and Chongwe River. Although the camp is…

Islands of Siankaba is a unique luxury lodge located on islands on the Zambezi River. As it is around 45 kilometres from…

Located at the end of the run of properties that stretch out along the Chobe water front from Kasane, Chobe Game Lodge…

As this property is part of the Tanganyika Wilderness portfolio, it is no surprise it offers a great experience for a great…

Set up on the northern most point on the island, Essque Zalu is a modern and chic addition to the island. Featuring…

Set right on the northern most point of Matemwe, Kasha Boutique Hotel has brought something slightly different to the beach hotels on…

We really can’t speak more highly of Katavi National Park and, even if you were to sleep in a tent (not that…

Of the accommodations around Lake Manyara and along the Rift Escarpment, Kirurumu Tented Lodge stands out for its views, the personal touch…

Kichaka Expeditions are definitely one of our favourite camp collections and a “top tip” for anyone wanting to get away from the…

Konokono Beach Resort is definitely one of the best kept secrets of Zanzibar. With an expansive white sand beach and positioned in…

Sat in the northern area of the Selous, Jabali Ridge is the latest Asilia property which opened its doors in September 2017….

This stunning private island sits on azure waters and isolated beaches. Located a short boat ride from the airport at Songosongo island…

Contrasting against the larger beach hotels and resorts along the Diani beach coast, Afrochic is the jewel of the crown, offering an…

Located on Kenya’s Diani Beach, guests at Alfajiri are able to enjoy a peaceful stroll barefoot along the beach, with views of…

The newest, and most luxurious of the mountain lodges, Bisate, opened its doors in June 2017. Bisate Lodge, which is Wilderness’ latest…

Gorilla Mountain View Lodge, which boasts stunning views of the volcanic mountains of the Virunga Massif, is conveniently located only 3 kilometres…