If you have never been to Africa, or, you return as often as you can, have a look at the list we have compiled. These are what we consider to be the most stylish safari lodges in Africa. These lodges should have you reaching for your passport! No matter where they are we are positive you will experience the same awe as we did.
Angama Mara, Masai Mara, Kenya
“Floating in mid-air” is the meaning of this lodges name in Swahili. Perched on the edge of the Olololo Escarpment Angama Mara commands sweeping views of the Mara Triangle. Here guests will find a lodge where everything is as it ought to be: two intimate camps of just fifteen tented suites each, a private airfield and access to the Mara below, tailor-made safari days and a famously warm Kenyan welcome. The Mara Triangle is a mere 10 minute drive from the lodge, and guests can experience hot air ballooning, walking safaris, cultural visits to neighbouring Maasai villages – or simply do nothing at all.
Never mind being one of the most stylish safari lodges, Angama Mara is the epitome of luxury in this wildlife heaven.
Royal Chundu Island Lodge, Victoria Falls, Zambia
Voted as the 4th Best Resort in Africa and 9th Best Resort in the World in the Condé Nast Traveler’s 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards. Royal Chundu sits on the banks of the Zambezi River. This paradise hugs the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Tranquility blends seamlessly with romance and adventure. Further downstream lies the iconic Victoria Falls, only 30km away.
Built on Katambora Island it’s a collection of four private suites with stunning views over the river waters. Surrounded by ancient Jackalberry trees and iconic Baobabs it is the perfect place to see Africa’s river dwellers. Serene in their natural habitat, not least during a daily sunset cruise, Hippo, Crocodile and Baboon all stare solemnly as you move past. A shared living area and dining boma are perfect for relaxing after a long day exploring Zambia’s incredible wildlife and the Victoria Falls. Birding on the banks of the Zambezi is nothing short of fantastic!
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, Sabi Sand, South Africa
Earth Lodge is a sanctuary that is symbolic of a new era in luxury South African safari lodges. Sculpted into a slope of the earth, almost invisible in the landscape, the lodge uses texture, light and space to present a lodge like no other. It’s has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa.
The unexpected entrance opens to a panorama of uninterrupted bushveld. As in nature, everything at Earth Lodge exists in harmony and you are immediately aware of a sense of calm and a restoring of spirit. Home to 13 ultra-luxurious suites including the Amber Presidential Suite, the lodge breaks with traditional bush lodge style to create a masterpiece of artistry and innovation
The interiors are just as impressive and ecologically-conscious. Bespoke furniture, made from trees washed up in local floods. Each suite has it’s own plunge pool, Earth Lodge shows how modern design and traditional safari can come together to create something totally unique. The service and amenities are of a world class standard and game viewing is prolific.
Londolozi Private Granite Suites, Sabi Sand, South Africa
Londolozi’s Private Granite Suites are a celebration of elegance and Elephants in a remarkable river setting. The lodge offers an extraordinary experience for the exclusive use of six guests.
The lodge is flanked by an extrusion of granite rocks, an effect echoed by the décor’s bold materials and silver, charcoal and Elephant grey palette. The suites convey Africa’s raw essence with a contemporary and elegant flavour. A sunset river bar and sunken cocktail lounge are suspended high above the Sand River, where breeding herds of Elephants wander over the ancient river ways.
Out of the five Londolozi camps, the Granite Suites are undoubtedly the most impressive, each coming with its own private, heated pool from which to spot the animals enjoying a drink in the watering hole just metres away.
This luxury safari lodge is for the discerning traveller who appreciates the finer details. The suites can be booked individually or as a private camp for six guests, making it ideal for honeymooning couples or small groups celebrating special occasions. This lodge does not accommodate children under the age of 16. Contact us to book this unforgettable experience.
Singita Lebombo, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Singita Lebombo is suspended high above the N’wanetsi River, Lebombo offers incredible views of eastern Kruger National Park. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a unique vantage point give these lofty open-plan suites a bright and airy feel. Wherever possible the design looks to connect guests with their incredible surroundings. Amid the indigenous Euphorbia trees, each of the 13 suites comes with an outdoor shower for a morning routine with a difference and an outdoor bed – perfect for stargazing or an afternoon nap.
Surrounded by Singita’s 33,000-acre private concession, the lodge boasts communal areas that extend seamlessly into rocky outcrops dotted with giant Euphorbia trees. Features include a roof terrace, multimedia room, library, interactive kitchen, espresso bar and an all-day ‘bar-deli’. The exclusive-use villa – comprising two 2-bedroom suites, each with their own private pool – is set apart from the lodge and offers a full staff complement, private boma, open-plan kitchen and airy living areas that spill onto inviting outdoor spaces with an expansive pool. This is one of the most stylish safari lodges we have ever encountered.
Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Namibia
Scenically nestling in the valley where the two tributaries of the Hoanib River meet, the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp offers guests a surprisingly rich diversity of wildlife in a stark yet beautiful landscape. Located in one of the most remote areas of the Kaokoveld in the northern part of the private Palmwag Concession, only seven twin-bedded tents and one family unit make up this intimate and luxurious camp. Each stylish tent features an en-suite bedroom along with a shaded outdoor deck to enjoy the remarkable views.
Flanked by rugged hills, the camp offers breath-taking scenery and the chance to enjoy sightings of Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, Giraffe, Gemsbok, Springbok, Kudu, and even magnificent desert Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Cheetah in a truly unique environment.
The Skeleton Coast, nicknamed ‘the land God made in anger’ was feared and revered in equal measure by sailors. Hidden away in this stark-yet-beautiful 300,000-hectare (740,000-acre) concession, Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is a modern take on a traditional nomadic settlement and one of the few places to enjoy a coastal safari in style. You’re just as likely to see Whales as you are Elephants or any of the other ‘big five’. Set on an island in a dry river bed and only accessible by plane, this is one of the remotest lodges on the planet and perfect for anyone looking for an authentic safari experience.
Chitwa House, Sabi Sand, South Africa
Chitwa House isn’t the most innovate or interesting design on the list, but ticks all the boxes when it comes to luxury and location. Perfectly positioned beside a popular watering hole, guests can wait and watch wildlife come to them while enjoying all the amenities you’d expect from a 5* lodge. Exclusivity is what you’re paying for here – it was originally a private retreat for the Brink family. This small lodge (only two private suites) shows how big things can come in small packages.
Chitwa House consists of two beautifully appointed en-suite rooms with private decks and outdoor showers. The common areas include a spacious common lounge and dining area and a lake-view deck with swimming pool. You can go on exciting Big 5 game drives in your own private safari vehicle with a guide and a tracker.
Enjoy delicious meals, either served by us or a private chef who can cook up delights in Chitwa House’s fully equipped kitchen. During siesta time, enjoy drinks from the fully stocked mini-bar and coffee/tea facilities or watch the private television in your lounge.
&Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Situated on a private concession in the magnificent Okavango Delta, &Beyond Sandibe boasts exclusive traversing rights over a vast stretch of land adjacent to the wildlife-rich Moremi Game Reserve. Inspired by nature and celebrating its stunning setting, the lodge features the best the Delta has to offer in terms of outstanding design, wildlife viewing and warm local hospitality.
Set in a cool forest canopy of wild palms and gnarled fig trees, this flagship lodge blends seamlessly with one of Africa’s most breath-taking landscapes. Behind the lodge, golden-grassed floodplains inhabited by a staggering variety of wildlife stretch into the distance, framed by lush palm islands and the spires of giant termite mounds. A channel of clear, cool waters runs directly in front of the elevated guest suites, offering unrestricted views over the shimmering beauty of the Delta.
Each of &Beyond Sandibe Okavango’s eight private suites comes with its own plunge pool looking out onto the expansive terrain below.
Great Fish River Lodge, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Elegant, intimate and contemporary, the Great Fish River Lodge boasts plush furnishings and majestic views of the reserve. Perched along the lush green banks of its namesake, Great Fish River Lodge has been designed to showcase the seemingly endless landscape in which it is set. Expansive viewing decks allow for a fully immersive experience in nature and is the perfect spot to enjoy an African sunset.
One of five lodges in the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, its colonial-style decor transports you back to a time when guests would travel the shrublands via horse-drawn carts. Each of its nine private suites comes with its own plunge pool and uninterrupted views of the reserve.
Don’t be surprised if you spot hippos drifting past on the river, or baboons playing in the trees. A shared living area, warmed by an enormous central fireplace is perfect for unwinding with a drink after an enthralling day spotting big game.
Singita Serengeti House, Grumeti Reserve, Tanzania
The Grumeti reserve was created by the Tanzanian government in 1994 to protect the path of the annual wildebeest migration and indigenous biodiversity. Singita Serengeti House is one of the finest lodges on offer in the expansive 350,000-hectare (865,000-acre) wilderness, with a pool within touching distance of the shrubland in which big game roam and views of a watering hole from all of its four private suites.
Designed for exclusive use, Serengeti House allows families or friends the opportunity and space to enjoy shared experiences in nature. It caters for discerning travellers seeking privacy and flexibility. All activities and meals are tailor-made as guests decide on the day-to-day pace of their vacation. The full staff complement ensures that every need is catered for intuitively and includes a Field Guide, chef and host.
Kapama Karula, Kapama Game Reserve, South Africa
The name Kapama Karula translates as ‘the place of peace’. For the most tranquil of experiences, stay in one of the lodge’s twelve spacious Superior Suites that offer unparalleled privacy and the feeling of camping out under the stars. Set on the banks of the Klaserie River this is also a place to spot birds as well as the ‘big five’ that roam one of South Africa’s largest private game reserves.
You can find many of the lodges mentioned above at African Safari Experts, we can also assist you with tailor-made African travel experiences.
If you like panoramic views of the bush then explore Ulusaba Safari Lodge for a luxurious and exclusive safari for couples, honeymoons and families.