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A safari – with its incredible landscapes and wildlife viewing – is one of the best travel experiences you can have. Your accommodation will set the tone for your trip, so I’ve rounded up the best luxury safari lodges in Africa.
The Ultimate Safari Travel Guide
To plan the rest of your safari, check out my safari packing list, the best months for an African safari, what to budget for a safari, and things to consider when selecting a safari lodge.
Here are the best luxury safari lodges in Africa!
Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve, South Africa
This private game reserve is located along South Africa’s famous Garden Route. It’s managed by the Gondwana Conservation Foundation, which helps conserve threatened and endangered wildlife. The reserve is very eco-friendly, with several accommodation options for every budget and preference.
Tongabezi Lodge
Victoria Falls, Zambia
Located upstream of Victoria Falls, this secluded lodge is a nature lover’s dream. This lodge is on the banks of the Zambezi River, offering you activities at Victoria Falls, game drives, bush walks, and boating trips. There are open-air dining decks, stunning pools, private homes, and river cottages.
Closest Hotels To Victoria Falls
Mahali Mzuri
Masai Mara, Kenya
This 12-suite lodge is on a secluded hilltop, giving you incredible views from every window. You’ll love the world-class dining, infinity pool, and private bungalows. Located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, this lodge is part of the Masai Mara, but it’s outside the national park, which means the only safari vehicle in sight will be yours.
Desert Homestead Lodge
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Get ready to fall in love with one of my favorite accommodations EVER! This stunning property has multiple pools, incredible dining, spacious private bungalows, and an on-site watering hole for wildlife viewing. Plus, you’ll be close to the famous Sossusvlei salt pan and dunes.
Top Safari Lodges in Namibia
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
With “Four Seasons” in its name, you know this lodge will be the epitome of luxury. You’ll love the property’s location, game drives, cultural activities, secluded guest rooms, spa, infinity pool, and on-site waterhole for wildlife viewing.
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
This wellness retreat is in the lush rainforest near Volcanoes National Park. Your room will be a luxurious one or two-bedroom treehouse-inspired suite with a private terrace. Between gorilla treks, you can lounge by the pool, enjoy the spa, and dine at the resort’s world-class restaurant.
Victoria Falls River Lodge
Zambezi National Park, Zimbabwe
Located inside Zambezi National Park, this riverfront lodge is perfect for wildlife viewing and seeing Victoria Falls from the land, air, and water. Your villa will have a private plunge pool, river views, and one of the dreamiest bathtubs you’ll ever find. The property’s amenities, bar, dining, staff, and activities are the best in the area.
Incredible Safari Lodges in Zimbabwe
Jack’s Camp
Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana
You’ll love this authentic, old-world-styled tented camp. There’s an on-site museum, shop, pool, and dining. Activities you can do here are interact with habituated meerkats, walk with Bushmen Guides, do game drives to see unique desert wildlife, and visit Chapman’s Baobab – one of the oldest and biggest trees in Africa.
The Best Safari Lodges in Botswana
Shop My Safari Essentials
What do you think are the best luxury safari lodges in Africa? Share with us in the comments!
For Planning The Rest Of Your Safari
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The Best Luxury Safari Lodges in Africa
Frequently Asked Questions
Which African country is best for safaris?
The Best Safari Destinations in Africa:
1. South Africa
2. Botswana
3. Kenya
4. Tanzania
5. Zambia
6. Zimbabwe
7. Namibia
8. Rwanda
9. Uganda
10. Mozambique
Pro Tip: go on safari in the dry season when wildlife is easier to find around water holes.
How much does a high end African safari cost?
High-end African safaris at luxury all-inclusive lodges can start at $5000 a night per person and go up from there.
Safaris aren’t cheap. Even walking safaris where you camp in the bush aren’t very budget-friendly. This is just the reality of a safari. You have to get to a relatively remote destination, and the cost of your lodging also goes towards conservation efforts in the national parks and game reserves you’ll be visiting.
I would budget around $1000 per night per person for a safari. This will allow you to stay at a nice lodge with great dining and activities while ensuring your safari lodge is putting some of your rate directly back into their conservation efforts.
What color should you not wear on safari?
As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid dark blue and black clothing, socks, and shoes on safari. These colors attract tsetse flies. If you’re doing a walking or riding safari where you’re not in a game vehicle, you should avoid white clothes. White will get VERY dirty VERY quickly, and it will make you extremely visible to wildlife.
What is the best safari in the world?
The Best Safari Destinations in Africa:
1. South Africa
2. Botswana
3. Kenya
4. Tanzania
5. Zambia
6. Zimbabwe
7. Namibia
8. Rwanda
9. Uganda
10. Mozambique
Pro Tip: go on safari in the dry season when wildlife is easier to find around water holes.
What is the best month to go on an African safari?
The best time to go on safari in almost every safari destination is the dry season from June – October. This is when wildlife will be most visible and easy to find because they’ll congregate around water holes. These are the winter months, so bring warm clothes and layers.
If you want to see a specific wildlife event – such as The Great Migration – you’ll have a narrow window of time when you can witness this, and it’s always one of the most expensive and crowded safari sights to see.
If you’re going on safari for birding, the month immediately after a destination’s rainy season is usually the best time to visit.
Is Serengeti better than Masai Mara?
The Serengeti and Masai Mara are both incredible safari destinations, and they will give you very different scenery and experiences. The Serengeti has more concentrations of wildlife than the Masai Mara, but the Masai Mara is less spread out than the Serengeti. I highly recommend visiting both of these places!
How much does a 7 day African safari cost?
Safaris aren’t cheap. Even walking safaris where you camp in the bush aren’t very budget-friendly. This is just the reality of a safari. You have to get to a relatively remote destination, and the cost of your lodging also goes towards conservation efforts in the national parks and game reserves you’ll be visiting.
I would budget around $1000 per night per person for a safari. This will allow you to stay at a nice lodge with great dining and activities while ensuring your safari lodge is putting some of your rate directly back into their conservation efforts.
Is Kenya or South Africa better for safari?
Kenya and South Africa are both incredible safari destinations, and they will give you very different scenery and experiences. I highly recommend visiting both of these countries!
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This article about the best luxury safari lodges in Africa is not a sponsored post, and the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Some of the links in this post about the best luxury safari lodges in Africa are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission from this post about the best luxury safari lodges in Africa.
