Wild & Wonderful: Africa’s Most Luxurious Safari Lodges
Treetop canopies, open plains and majestic wildlife are the foundations of Africa’s most luxurious lodges, offering unforgettable safari-style adventures.
Being at one with the wild no longer means having to compromise on luxury. Spanning savannahs, national parks, wetlands and UNESCO-listed sanctuaries, these opulent lodges ground themselves in sensational wildernesses while offering pristine beauty, wellness activities and extraordinary animal encounters.
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge – Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa
Carved into a slope in South Africa’s Sabi Sand, Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge feels less like a camp placed in the bush and more like an extension of the landscape. Curved lines, natural textures, sculptural timber and considered use of light define the lodge, while each suite opens onto a private plunge pool and views of the surrounding wilderness.
Days begin with game drives through the Greater Kruger ecosystem, followed by cocktails at the lodge’s Day Bar (your feet dipped in the bar’s ankle-deep running water), treatments at Amani Spa or long lunches inspired by the surrounding landscape. Come evening, settle in for fine dining or make your way to the lodge’s expansive underground wine cellar.
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest – Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Succumb to the call of the wild at the prestigious One&Only Gorilla’s Nest retreat, home to luxury lodges in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. It’s the ultimate base to experience a once-in-a-lifetime, personal encounter with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat with an immersive experience hiking the bamboo forest, organised by the retreat (under Rwanda’s park authorities and guides). Find inner peace at the serene spa, which showcases a rich wellness program and features traditional African remedies. The Forest Treehouse rooms offer the best forest views in front of crackling fireplaces, while the suites bring the outdoors in with spacious decks and floor-to-ceiling bifold doors. Dining at the lodge draws upon the colours, scents and textures of the land. The Nest restaurant serves seasonal plates with wilderness views, while the refurbished Jack Hanna Cottage offers charming heritage features.
Wow. Could not have had a better experience when going to trek with Gorillas. O&O Gorillas Nest was just incredible. The rooms, the art, the food, the service, all top tier. Could not have wanted anything more during our stay in Kinigi. We loved our room, they made sure we were always prepared for our Gorilla treks, and they helped us with anything else we needed. Bravo and Murakoze.
10.0
Christopher Y.
Amazing landscape with amazing staff in a beautiful country. Fit for a king and they make you feel like one! Meals are executed perfectly in tune with the property offerings. You taste the abundance of Africa and it is glorious!
10.0
michelle s.
Where do I start? This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience at an exceptional property. The service was beyond anything I have experienced in any other luxury property. Gorilla trekking was phenomenal. Don't even consider staying anywhere else. This place is magical.
10.0
Caroline M.
Extraordinary. A++. Truly spectacular. Everything was amazing.
Shoutout to just a few standout employees for making our experience so special – James serving us beautiful meals, Chiton for a refined coffee tasting experience, Etienne on expert bartending, John teaching us archery. U all are spectacular at what u do!
Olare Mara Kempinski Masai Mara – Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Kenya
Olare Mara Kempinski Masai Mara pairs safari-style tents with five-star luxury for the ultimate wilderness escape. The boutique accommodation is home to only 12 tents, spaciously peppered throughout the golden savannah. Kenya’s spectacular wildlife puts on a show for visitors seeking the glory of nature – take a guided safari tour through the Olare Motorogi Conservancy to spot giraffes, lions and elephants in their natural habitat.
Visit a local Maasai village to see a Maasai home, learn the Maasai way of life and immerse yourself in their dancing and singing traditions. End your day in the main safari-style dining room, lit by candles and traditional campfire, while you listen to the distant roar of the pride.
We had the most amazing stay at Olare Mara. Everything was absolutely perfect, and we loved every moment of it.
All of the staff were incredibly kind, welcoming, and always willing to help. The game drives were beyond amazing, and thanks to Erick we were able to see everything we had dreamed of. He was an exceptional guide and made our safari truly unforgettable.
The camp itself was beautiful, comfortable, and exceeded all of our expectations. It gave us the most incredible honeymoon experience, creating memories that we will cherish forever.
Thank you to everyone for making our honeymoon so special. We can’t wait to come back one day!
10.0
M. F.
Beautiful hotel and great location. We saw lions, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, giraffes, ostriches, wildebeests, zebras, a variety of antelopes and much more in a 3 night stay. Could hear hippos right outside our rooms at night, but always felt protected/safe. Sunrises and sunsets were amazing. The vastness and beauty of the landscapes was breathtaking. The staff were all outstanding and too many to name them all. James, Alfred, Hilary, Moses, Nate, Frank, Hezron and Kelvin were some of the standouts to meet and be cared for by them.
10.0
Shlok A.
Without a doubt one of the most special safari experiences we’ve ever had.
Olare Mara Kempinski is an ultra exclusive 12 tent luxury camp set inside the private Olare Orok Conservancy, and the intimacy of the property is exactly what makes it so magical. We stayed in the Honeymoon Suite and every single detail felt premium yet deeply connected to the wilderness around us.
The food and drinks were exceptional throughout the stay, exactly what you would expect from a Kempinski property. The staff were warm, attentive and genuinely hospitable, making the camp feel incredibly personal rather than corporate.
But the real highlight of the trip was our game driver, David. He went far beyond just driving us around for sightings. His knowledge of the conservancy, patience, warmth and genuine passion for the wildlife completely elevated the experience for us. He made every drive feel immersive and personal, and honestly became one of the biggest reasons this trip was unforgettable.
If you want a luxury safari experience that still feels authentic, intimate and deeply connected to nature, Olare Mara Kempinski is truly one of a kind.
10.0
Samuel L.
The Olara Mara Kempinksi staff, along with the physical property, made my safari truly a trip of a lifetime.
From the moment I arrived on property to the moment I departed the Masai Mara, everything was taken care of. The staff is extremely professional and goes the extra mile to enhance the overall experience (including arranging flights after an airline issue – thank you Dominick).
The most basic room was huge and spotless, food was exceptional (breakfast / lunch / dinner), pool was great, and game-drives were exceptional (shoutout to Danza).
Property was right on the reserve – there was no need to travel to the game-drives which was extremely convenient.
I had an absolutely incredible experience and am already looking to rebook for next year.
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat – South Africa
Wilderness and wellness are made for each other. Journey to South Africa’s Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat to discover the magic of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cape Floral Region. A three-hour drive from Cape Town, this five-star oasis is recognised as one of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World and set in a 7,500-hectare private reserve with immaculate views of the open plains. Straight from the organic garden comes authentic Cape cuisine, served in extraordinary locations across the property, including on the banks of Boontjies River and within the historic walled gardens.
Xigera Safari Lodge – Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
All-inclusive African luxury awaits at the Xigera Safari Lodge, nestled in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Okavango Delta. This majestic gem overlooks the lively wetlands of the Moremi Game Reserve, with 12 lodge suites laying beneath the canopy of indigenous bushland and above seasonal floodplains alive with wildlife. The design of the lodge is inspired by the wildness of the landscape and wonderful Botswana culture and dedicated to celebrating African art and creativity. Sleep beneath the glistening stars in the Baobab Treehouse and observe majestic animals on a sightseeing safari.
Nyungwe Tea Forest Resort – Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda
Previously called One&Only Nyungwe House before its addition to the rare finds collection of one-of-a-kind stays, his ultra-lux wilderness retreat is blanketed beneath jungle greenery and rests on the fringes of Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park. The lodge exemplifies understated luxury, leaving the wow factor to the impressive scenery, while the rooms boast pared-back African elegance. Explore the heart of Rwanda with tailored hiking adventure programs through the jungle terrain, keeping an eye out for resident chimpanzees. Discover the secret to the perfect cup at the resort’s boutique tea plantation by picking, plucking and brewing leaves with your own hands. By doing so, you are supporting conservation efforts and community programs. Relish in the farm-to-plate menu, sourced from the onsite farm, at the Dining Room for a creative introduction to local flavours.
Our 2 night stay at One and Only Nyungwe was too short! We absolutely loved the resort. Gorgeous setting, beautiful rooms and impeccable service and food. Our family of 5 loved every minute of our stay and were sad to leave. We got up early one day to see the Chimps nearby and enjoyed the rest of our time taking advantage of resort activities – including Archery, Spear Throwing, E biking, tea tasting and the spa. Excellent resort, Excellent food and service and very well run. Kudos to the GM and staff. We have stayed at many luxury resorts around the world and this was among the very very best.
10.0
Primates S.
I had an amazing experience with Primates Eyes Safaris! Everything was well organized, and the team was professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. My stay at One&Only Nyungwe House was exceptional, offering luxury, comfort, and breathtaking views of Nyungwe Forest. The entire trip exceeded my expectations, making it a truly unforgettable experience. I highly recommend Primates Eyes Safaris to anyone looking for a memorable and well-planned adventure in Rwanda.
Review from our guest thank you one&only nyungwe house staff
10.0
Fatmah A.
Hotel and spa
Amidst forests and tea plantations
Perfect for relaxation
Exceptional in every way
Luxurious and wonderful
2.0
Di N.
We had an absolutely appalling situation during our stay. We checked in and my mom fell hard almost straight away in her room, the floor was so slippery on the room, like I have never ever seen before. She injured her ankle badly and also has scratches, I called for reception to ask if they have doctor or someone or take a look and if they have smth to disinfect the quite deep scratches. Some time after someone comes and behaves like a doctor, and then he puts a really hot towel on the ankle and starts doing super painful massage. Which pretty sure it made the whole thing even worse. This person turned out to be a housekeeper. Why on earth housekeeper did that i will never know. Some time after that a physician came and was shocked that hot and not cold was put on the injury. And we were so shocked of the whole situation that we did not stop him. Again thought it is someone who knew what he was doing. After that I fell as well, because the floor was just a freaking skate ring if you are barefoot or in socks. The manager’s response was that they suggest that people wear rubber slippers all the time. Firstly we were not told that, secondly, what kind of hotel room is that. And if you forgot and walk up at night, could have been injured even more seriously. The hotel did pay the handlers to take my mother to see the chimps, but those 200 dollars absolutely did not cover all the pain and stress. And when we came back from the chimps soaking wet they were waiting but with no buggy to take my mom to the room, she could barely walk. Waited and waited and then had to walk after all through pain. Like they could not even do that.
Apart from this horrendous situation, the room was quite small compared to other hotels in Rwanda, the territory was nice but the service was also quite poor even though there were just a few people staying in the hotel.
