Introducing Africa’s Best Luxury Safari Lodges (According to Y Travel)

Welcome to the definitive Y Travel guide to the top safari lodges and high-end accommodation offerings in Africa. From Botswana to Tanzania, Africa is home to the best luxury safari stays in the world. The continent's famed national parks and game reserves offer some of the most incredible wildlife experiences imaginable, and its vastness means there’s a huge variety of choice when it comes to where to stay.  

If you're looking for a little extra comfort and luxury during your adventures, the following safari lodges provide the perfect balance between exploring the wild and relaxing in style. We've handpicked some of the very best lodges, with private villas, gourmet meals, and attentive staff that will make your African safari unforgettable.

As you’ll see though, there’s a mind-boggling offering, which is why we’re here to be your guides (accommodation only, we’ll save the wildlife for the real experts). Africa is not a destination you can book alone, it’s simply too huge, so if it’s on your horizon, reach out and we’ll make sure we create the perfect itinerary for YOU.

Tswalu the Motse

South Africa Greater Kruger – Kruger Park is the largest and oldest of 21 national parks in South Africa and it’s the ideal place to experience the untamed African wilderness. In this region we would recommend our luxury clients consider Londolozi, Royal Malewane, Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, and for extra wow factor, Kubil House. All these properties offer a unique take on luxury and place guests in the thick of the action.

Kalahari – In our opinion, if you want to visit the Kalahari Desert and stay in luxury, the one and only place worth considering is Tswalu the Motse by &Beyond. It is a visionary conservation project with sustainability at its core. Nestled at the foot of the Korannaberg Mountains and overlooking the vast grasslands of the Kalahari, the nine spacious suites of Tswalu are built of local stone, rich red clay, and traditional Kalahari thatch. The epitome of elegant, understated luxury, each suite is spacious and offers private sun decks that gaze out onto a watering hole and its attendant wildlife.

Namibia – Oh Namibia, such a special desert destination, with its ancient landscape and record-breakinging high sand dunes. Again, there’s some divine accommodation here for high-end travellers but our top choices are Sonop and Serra Cafema, which is a gorgeous wilderness property, as well as &Beyond Sossusvlei.

Botswana – Given its landlocked position on the African continent, and its diverse landscape, which is famous for natural highlights such as the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, Botswana is a strong contender for safari enthusiasts. We advise our lovers of luxury to think about staying at Xigera, Duba Plains, and &Beyond Sandibe for an extra touch of ‘special’ in an already spectacular destination.

Belmond

Zambia – Time + Tide Chinzombo and Lolebezi, which offers African bush camps, are two brands we love in this part of Africa. For those unfamiliar with Zambia, it is another landlocked country in south-central Africa. It is situated on a high plateau and takes its name from the Zambezi River, and most importantly, it’s home to an abundance of wildlife and natural wonders.

Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe’s key attraction from a natural perspective is Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls and a habitat for several unique species of plants and animals. For this reason, we generally recommend Matetsi River Lodge at Victoria Falls. Set on a pristine 55,000-hectare Matetsi private game reserve, the 5-star lodge offers a safari oasis and idyllic accommodation retreat from which to visit the renowned falls.

Matestsi River Lodge

Tanzania – Singita is amongst the most renowned offerings in Tanzania but there are also some really cool, really different brands operating in the Ruaha National Park, such as Asanja Ruaha and Jabali Ridge. They’re totally worth checking out if you’re after a lesser-known experience.

Kenya – In the Mara, we love Angama Mara and Ishara. If you can make it to Laikipia, it is the cultural heartland of Kenya and it has some extraordinary private options, including Lengishu, Ol Jogi, Sirai House and Arijiju. If you don’t require a private resort, some great options are Segera and Sirikoi.

Lengishu

Rwanda – Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda's stunning scenery and warm, friendly locals, as well as its famed gorilla population, make it a popular choice for travellers.. Surrounded by swaying eucalyptus trees, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest encapsulates the wild spirit of the country, encouraging guests to gaze into its rich story through eye opening encounters with majestic mountain gorillas. Other luxury options we adore in Rwanda are One&Only Nwungwe House and Singita Kwitonda.

Uganda – Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is an intimate luxury retreat set in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park known as the Nkuringo Sector. This Wild Places operation is remote, beautiful, intimate and at over 2,000 metres above sea level, it’s Uganda's highest lodge. We are particularly fond of this property because we know Wild Places are conscious of their impact on local environs, cultures and communities and do their best to invest in each location in Uganda in a meaningful way.

Singita

PREFERRED PARTNER PERKS: Evidently there are some blow-your-safari-sandals off brands operating across the African continent, as well as some impressive independents. We love working with them all, because they each have something different to offer our clients and it’s our understanding of that nuance that makes us your go-to travel specialists. Another benefit of booking your African escapades through Y Travel is that we have preferred hotel partners all around the world. In Africa, our friends at Belmond have three beautiful properties in Botswana and a fantastic highlight itinerary. Ask us for the details.

Y TRAVEL HOT TIP: Did you know you don’t have to travel as far as Africa to experience an incredible safari? Destinations like Sri Lanka and India are now up and coming destinations for incredible Safari adventures. Chat to our team about your next wild getaway now!