Africa’s wild and wonderful natural spaces have compelled generations of adventurers to seek them out. But gone are the days when going on safari meant roughing it in the wild. With a wide array of opulent safari lodges to choose from, today’s safari-goers have little more to worry about than ticking off the Big Five and deciding whether to order red or white with dinner; all without losing the romance and adventure of days gone by. It’s here, in some of the far-flung corners of incredible African reserves, that you’ll find some of the world’s most luxurious safari lodges.
If you’re looking for luxurious lodges with incredible service, comfort, and indulgence, you could do a lot worse than checking yourself into one of the best and most luxurious safari lodges from my list below. Note that because I simply can’t decide which lodges are the best, I’ve gone alphabetically by country!
1. Mombo Camp
Okavango, Botswana
The award-winning Mombo Camp sits amongst the trees on Chief’s Island in the game-packed Moremi Reserve. This is ultimate luxury in the best game viewing area of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Mombo really raises the bar for safari lodges with its combination of fantastic game viewing experiences and the incredible luxury and service in camp. Nine plush tents with private plunge pools will have you relaxing in no time at all. In between game drives, relax in your thatched gazebo and watch buffalo and impala graze on the flood plains below. At night dine under the stars.The camp is committed to conservation, with much of the power provided by a solar farm and a portion of your rates going toward their preservation projects.
2. Angama Mara
Masai Mara, Kenya
Two 15-tent camps dot the edge of an escarpment about 300 yards above the game reserve at Angama Mara. The location on a hilltop overlooking the plains is breathtaking and unbeatable, with the views over the Great Rift Valley so sensational that you’ll be tempted to just stand and stare, without ever leaving your room. The floor-to-ceiling glass-fronted suites, with handcrafted and designer furniture, and the Masai Mara plains stretching out below you as far as the eye can see, make this a really special place and an exciting addition to the classic tented camps in Kenya.
3. Mahali Mzuri
Masai Mara, Kenya
Said by many to be the best safari lodge in Africa, the Richard Branson-owned Mahali Mzuri brings together every element you could ever wish for in your safari experience. Set within the private 33,000-acre Olare Motorogi Conservancy (part of the Masai Mara ecosystem but outside the national park boundaries), the 12 luxury tents, interconnected by walkways, sit on the edge of a gentle rise, looking out over the beautiful landscape. You’ll have a front-row seat, not just to the migration, but also to the abundant game you can see all year round, with monkeys scrabbling in the trees, giraffes wandering through to nibble on acacia trees, and perhaps a leopard stopping to drink from the rocky stream that runs below the camp. Being outside the national park means you get all the richness of wildlife to yourself, with no other cars in sight and no jockeying for position when out on a drive or the annoying chatter of other safari-goers.
4. Little Kulala
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Situated in a private reserve with exclusive access to the iconic Sossusvlei sand dunes and salt pans in the Namib Desert, the world’s oldest desert, Little Kulala has 11 climate-controlled, thatched “kulalas” (meaning sleep) which blend perfectly into the desert landscape, each with their own private plunge pool and rooftop bed for star-gazing. The décor is stunning and takes its inspiration from the incredible surroundings with neutral colors, gorgeous textures, and expert use of the natural light.
5. Bisate Lodge
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Built within an eroded volcanic cone, Bisate was the first lodge in Rwanda to combine world-class luxury with a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking experience. The lodge’s one-of-a-kind design pays homage to traditional hut design, while the sumptuous interiors offer comfort, warmth, and luxury with fantastic amenities like cozy fireplaces and a well-stocked wine cellar. Bisate Lodge is one of Africa’s most talked-about camps, not only because of the great mountain gorilla viewing opportunities but because of its incredible design, with the rooms resembling giant bird’s nests.
