Luxury lodges offer high levels of comfort, service, and exclusivity, typically in prime wildlife areas or scenic locations. These properties often feature spacious suites, premium facilities, and highly personalised service, along with excellent guiding in safari areas.
What qualifies as "luxury" varies by destination. In South Africa, this may include a wide range of high-end lodges, while in more remote regions like Botswana, most lodges fall into the luxury category due to their location, limited access, and higher operating costs.
As a result, safari pricing is not directly comparable across countries. A luxury lodge in South Africa may cost the same as a mid-range lodge in Botswana, so these categories should be understood relative to each destination rather than as fixed price bands.
Not sure how luxury lodges compare across different destinations? See our Safari Accommodation Price Guide.
Situated on the winding banks of the Mara River, Governors' Camp offers authentic luxury tented accommodation inside the heart of Kenya's flagship safari destination, the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Famous for the Great Migration, the Masai Mara has plenty of year-round resident game to ensure an unforgettable safari experience.
Gorah Elephant Camp is a luxury tented safari lodge set on a private concession within Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa's third-largest national park and a top malaria-free Big Five destination. With its grand colonial manor house, panoramic views, and frequent elephant sightings at the waterhole, Gorah offers a top-notch safari experience rooted in history and romance.
This safari company has been going for 30 years in Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park and it consistently gets rave reviews. It's owned and run by ‘Stretch’ Ferreira, one of southern Africa’s most experienced and legendary guides. By all accounts, he seems to be an ‘elephant whisperer', able to communicate and develop relationships with individual wild animals and get really close to them and other dangerous game.
Giraffe Manor is one of Nairobi's best-known lodges. Full of character and steeped in history, its ivy-clad buildings are set in 12 acres of private land and are surrounded by 140 acres of indigenous forest. Reminiscent of its 1930s "Out of Africa" heydays, it is named for its resident herd of Rothschild giraffe that often pop in for a visit.
Sitting unobtrusively on a hillside overlooking the Savuti plains below, Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge is an intimate, luxury lodge. Completely solar-powered and designed to sit gently within its environment, you'll enjoy unsurpassed 180-degree views over the game-rich surrounds.
Finch Hattons Camp in Tsavo West is named for Denys Finch Hatton, one of the early British explorers, conservationists and safari pioneers. This luxury bush camp is found on a 35-acre concession in the southern corner of Tsavo National Park. The camp overlooks three spring-fed pools that attract some of the many game in the area, from herds of buffalo and elephant, to pods of hippo, lion and leopard.
Entim Camp is a luxury tented safari camp situated on the edge of the riverine woodlands that overlook the Mara River. From its prime location inside the heart of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Entim Camp guests can witness the wildlife drama of thousands of wildebeest crossing the crocodile-infested Mara River right from the comfort of the veranda of their tent.
Named for Joy Adamson's famous lioness, Elsa's Kopje in Meru National Park reflects Joy's "Born Free" legacy and era. The park is wild, remote and wonderfully uncrowded. Situated in a very scenic part of Kenya, just 10 km north of the equator, between Mount Kenya and the Nyambeni Mountains, its landscape is incredibly diverse, ranging from open plains to dense thickets and wooded grasslands, which also attracts a surprising variety of game.
Eagle Island Camp is a luxury lodge nestled within the Okavango Delta on Xaxaba Island, overlooking the Xaxaba Lagoon. The lodge has 11 air-conditioned safari tents and an exclusive luxury suite for those looking for supreme privacy. The Fish Eagle Bar at Eagle Island Camp was voted one of the most romantic bars in the world by the New York Times. The area surrounding Eagle Island Camp offers exceptional wildlife and bird sightings all year round. A special treat is the scenic helicopter flight over the Okavango Delta, which is included in your stay.
DumaTau Camp is an intimate, luxury safari tented camp overlooking an enormous lagoon in Botswana's northern Linyanti area. Bordered to the east by Chobe National Park, DumaTau enjoys an abundance of wildlife and birds, as it's close to the Linyanti marshes and the source of the Savute River, near the confluence of the Kwando and Linyanti rivers. Its remote position offers a private, unhurried safari experience in one of Botswana's pristine conservation areas.
Totally modern with every luxury, comfort and convenience, Dulini River Lodge offers you old-fashioned luxury, indulgence and personalised service. Its six luxurious suites are elevated to look over the perennial Sand River and its bushveld surrounds.
Dulini Moya is an exclusive and intimate private game lodge in the Sabi Sand Reserve, sharing unfenced borders with the Greater Kruger Park. The area offers superb game viewing and is renowned for its common sightings of the Big 5. A maximum of 12 guests can be accommodated in six luxurious stone and thatch cottages, each with a view over the seasonal Mabrak River.
Dulini Leadwood Lodge is the perfect choice if you're looking for something that's intimate, exclusive and luxurious. The lodge's three river-facing suites (four when booked exclusively) are well-spaced apart for privacy, making it the ultimate honeymoon or discerning small group destination.
Aptly named, Desert Rhino Camp has the largest number of free-ranging black rhino in Africa. Set in the sprawling, rocky Palmwag Concession, Desert Rhino Camp enjoys spectacular scenery and a surprising abundance of desert-adapted wildlife.
Chobe Under Canvas is an intimate, luxurious mobile tented camp in the northern half of the game-rich Chobe National Park in Botswana that provides guests with a unique and unforgettable safari experience. The six spacious tents accommodate a maximum of 12 guests.
Chobe Savanna Lodge is a luxury establishment overlooking the Chobe River in Namibia's Eastern Caprivi. The lodge offers spectacular views of the Chobe River and the vast floodplains of the Chobe National Park's Puku Flats, with its abundance of wildlife.
Chobe Game Lodge sits on the banks of the Chobe River in Botswana's diverse Chobe National Park and is the only permanent game lodge in this area. Its 44 rooms all overlook the Chobe River and Caprivi floodplain. For those looking for ultimate exclusivity, there are four luxury suites, each with its own private plunge pool and viewing terrace. Chobe National Park is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Africa and offers spectacular game viewing all year round.
Chitwa Chitwa is one of the top safari lodges in the northern Sabi Sand Game Reserve, part of the famous Greater Kruger National Park. It overlooks a large watering hole that often sees wildlife activity. This recently upgraded, luxury safari lodge accommodates guests in gracious, modern African style suites with stunning view overlooking the waterhole.
Chief's Camp is an idyllic luxury safari camp and one of only two lodges situated on Chief's Island in Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta – the only place in Botswana where rhinos can be found in their natural environment. The area around Chief's Island is seasonally submerged by floodwaters and offers exceptional game viewing all year round. Chief's Island is home to the Big Five and is known as the "predator capital of Africa".
Chiawa Camp was the first safari camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park. It is still owner-run by a descendant of the pioneering Cumings family. Offering superb luxury, beautiful surroundings, an unusually varied array of game-viewing activities, some of Africa's finest guides and wonderful hosting and service, it's easy to see why Chiawa has won so many awards over the years.
The Cape Grace is a multi-award winning 5-star hotel, perfectly located on its own private quay in the heart of Cape Town's vibrant V&A Waterfront. Set against the backdrop of iconic Table Mountain, the Cape Grace embodies its name in history, elegance and sophistication. Enjoy all the creature comforts you'd expect from such a world-class luxury hotel and a range of unexpected extras that will pleasantly surprise you.
This luxurious boutique hotel offers a relaxed and elegant stay in one of Cape Town's favourite areas. As part of the More group of hotels, you can expect a warm welcome, superb service and personal attention to ensure your every comfort.
Camp Xakanaxa is well-established, popular tented safari camp accommodation in the Moremi Game Reserve, built in a prime location overlooking the Xakanaxa Lagoon in Botswana's Okavango Delta. It's one of the few Okavango lodges that offers year-round water- and land-based activities in a superb game-viewing area.
Camp Okavango, situated in the heart of Botswana's Okavango Delta on the secluded Nxaragha Island, is a wetland paradise offering excellent game viewing all year round. This luxury tented camp accommodates 24 guests and each room has its own private deck overlooking the Okavango. The main lodge is built from thatch and lethaka (reed) and offers a cocktail bar, a wildlife reference library and dining room which leads onto a spacious open patio.
Why not chat to one of our safari experts who can answer all your questions and help you design your dream trip to Africa.
