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Luxury in South Africa
Luxury in South Africa
Luxury in South Africa
Luxury in South Africa
Luxury in South Africa
Luxury in South Africa
Luxury in South Africa
Luxury in South Africa
Luxury in South Africa

Luxury safaris in South Africa

Our favourite lodges for a luxurious holiday in South Africa

South Africa is an amazing place to experience a luxury holiday. Here you can relax on incredible beaches with the famous Table Mountain as a backdrop or hike through unique mountain fynbos and enjoy the view from above. Accommodation ranges from colonial hotels with a nostalgic ambience to contemporary properties with modern facilities.

Many will offer relaxing spa treatments, superb wine tasting, gourmet dinners and – occasionally – even top-notch game-viewing. Regardless if you are looking for a luxury safari providing a high standard of service or an exclusive stay in the vibrant city of Cape Town, here you can find great choices for very luxurious holidays in South Africa.

Ecca Lodge

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge successfully melds modern comfort of a luxury lodge with inventive architecture and trendy, yet thoughtful details. Add to this: superb service and food, highly flexible staff and first-rate guiding; this is truly a luxury escape in a pristine private wilderness.


Cape Grace

This luxury hotel combines modern comforts with traditional Cape culture in an exclusive waterfront setting. At Cape Grace you can expect individually-designed rooms with sumptuous beds and extravagant throws. Flamboyant décor and colonial artworks complete the luxurious feel.

The Marine

From fresh seafood, fine wines and an impeccable dining atmosphere, to browsing through exquisite jewellery at the hotel’s boutique and relaxing in luxuriously appointed and individually decorated rooms; the attention to detail at the Marine is apparent in every aspect.

Tsala Treetop Lodge

Set in the forest canopy of the Western Cape, Tsala Treetop offers unique and opulent accommodation with a bird’s eye view of the treetops. A luxurious choice for your holiday, the lavish offerings include wraparound decking and private infinity pools for each suite.

The Franschhoek

The Last Word Franschhoek’s location in the French corner of the Cape proves to be a perfect setting for an idyllic, luxurious holiday. High levels of personalized service and comfort in a region with a fine tradition of wine-making make this a perfect base for wine lovers.


Garden Lodge

Enjoy panoramic views of the sparkling distant ocean and unique fynbos vegetation whilst relaxing on sumptuous canopy beds or at the swimming pool. Grootbos Garden Lodge provides an exceptional level of comfort and luxury set amidst beautiful and interesting scenery.

Bushmans Kloof

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness brings great luxury with emphasis on guest comfort and generous hospitality. Indulge yourself at the award-winning spa and enjoy delicious organic cuisine in special and unusual locations; Bushmans Kloof’s offers a first-class experience in a beautiful setting.

Babylonstoren

Once a farmhouse, now a luxury hotel; Babylonstoren’s sprawling grounds are beautifully manicured offering an abundance of impressive gardens and vineyards. From contemporary, modern décor to inspired, fresh food from their own gardens, this hotel is unique and full of character.


Cellars-Hohenort

Cellars-Hohenort is the perfect place for those seeking an idyllic holiday with a luxurious feel. Its delightful, old-fashioned character combined with high-quality furniture/furnishings and unique features like its own vineyard, add to its exclusive ambience.


Cape Grace

This luxury hotel combines modern comforts with traditional Cape culture in an exclusive waterfront setting. At Cape Grace you can expect individually-designed rooms with sumptuous beds and extravagant throws. Flamboyant décor and colonial artworks complete the luxurious feel.


Mount Nelson Hotel

Timelessly elegant with English colonial décor, Mount Nelson Hotel is perhaps South Africa’s top hotel and offer classic luxury in a tranquil setting. The hotel’s soft pink exterior, heated swimming pools and indulgent afternoon teas highlight the hotel’s attention to detail.

Victoria Falls Hotel

The furnishings and décor of the Victoria Falls Hotel evoke an era of Edwardian gentility, whilst functioning well with efficient modern amenities. For true indulgence, stay under the high ceilings of The Stable Wing, or in one of the hotel’s large and luxurious suites.

Luxury elsewhere in Africa

Our top ideas and inspiration for Luxury in other countries.


Luxury in Botswana

Botswana

Botswana’s tourism policy aims for high value, low impact tourism. This results in high prices, ...

Luxury in Kenya

Kenya

Kenya is distinguished by the diversity of its landscapes, wildlife and culture – but there’s an ...

Luxury in Malawi

Malawi

There are only a small number of high-end lodges in Malawi, but these are small, intimate and very ...

Luxury in Mozambique

Mozambique

Mozambique is off the beaten track. The tourism industry is currently still developing and many ...

Luxury in Namibia

Namibia

Wide-open spaces, seemingly endless wilderness and a sense of solitude almost guaranteed: Namibia ...

Luxury in Rwanda

Rwanda

Rwanda offers striking scenery, diverse wildlife and great cultural experiences – but until recently, ...

Luxury in Seychelles

Seychelles

With the sun reflecting on the deep blue Indian Ocean, palm-fringed beaches and lush forests, the ...

Luxury in Tanzania

Tanzania

When it comes to luxurious accommodation, Tanzania isn’t short of beautiful camps and lodges offering ...

Luxury in Zambia

Zambia

Zambia has plentiful wildlife across huge areas and many very experienced guides. Although as its ...

Luxury in Zanzibar

Zanzibar

With endless palm-fringed beaches, turquoise waters and accommodation built with world-class comfort ...

Luxury in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

With great game viewing, vast national parks and some stunning scenery, Zimbabwe is fantastic to ...

Where to see wildlife species in Africa

Maximise the chances of seeing your favourite African animals based on traveller sightings reports from the field.


Buffalo

Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

One of the ‘Big Five’, buffalo earned a fearsome reputation in hunters’ tales. By contrast, big herds of these sociable bovids are placid, but mount formidable defences against predators.

83% SUCCESS

2,472 sightings from 2,982 observations

Where to see buffalo in Africa

Cheetah

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

The cheetah is the fastest land animal and the only cat that hunts by pure speed. Found largely in open grasslands, its slim, elegant form is today an increasingly rare sight.

33% SUCCESS

1,008 sightings from 3,047 observations

Where to see cheetah in Africa

Elephant

Elephant

Loxodonta africana

By far the biggest of the so-called Big Five – indeed, the largest land animal on the planet – the elephant shapes the very landscape it inhabits and is a defining presence on any safari.

91% SUCCESS

3,504 sightings from 3,850 observations

Where to see elephant in Africa

Oryx

Oryx

Oryx sp.

Oryx are impressive antelopes, with a powerful physique and elegant markings set off by rapier-like horns. They cut a distinctive dash in some of Africa’s harshest landscapes.

70% SUCCESS

1,272 sightings from 1,823 observations

Where to see oryx in Africa

Giraffe

Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

The world’s tallest land mammal, giraffes are herbivores which have evolved many unique adaptations. Their iconic outlines tower above the bush in many of Africa’s wildlife areas.

86% SUCCESS

3,374 sightings from 3,911 observations

Where to see giraffe in Africa

Hippo

Hippo

Hippopotamus amphibius

The territorial calls of the hippo create a signature soundtrack to Africa’s rivers & wetlands. Despite an endearing smile, this aquatic herbivore has a notoriously aggressive disposition.

89% SUCCESS

2,562 sightings from 2,875 observations

Where to see hippo in Africa

Spotted Hyena

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

The spotted hyena may be thought of as ‘ugly’ and ‘cowardly’. In fact, this versatile and intelligent carnivore is one of Africa’s most fascinating and warrants attention on any safari.

55% SUCCESS

2,098 sightings from 3,799 observations

Where to see spotted hyena in Africa

Brown Hyena

Brown Hyena

Parahyaena brunnea

This largely solitary scavenger is one of the more elusive and little-known of Africa’s carnivores. Shaggier than its spotted cousin, it occurs only in the arid southwest of the continent.

17% SUCCESS

239 sightings from 1,448 observations

Where to see brown hyena in Africa

Leopard

Leopard

Panthera pardus

The most numerous of Africa’s big cats, leopard occur across many habitats, from wild tracts to populated areas. Their grace and their elusive nature make them a unique safari drawcard.

47% SUCCESS

1,875 sightings from 3,986 observations

Where to see leopard in Africa

Lion

Lion

Panthera leo

Lions are at the top of the food chain and also most safari wish-lists, but with their numbers falling fast, any encounter with these majestic apex predators always feels like a privilege.

82% SUCCESS

2,934 sightings from 3,600 observations

Where to see lion in Africa

Black Rhino

Black Rhino

Diceros bicornis

The black rhino is the smaller and rarer of Africa’s two rhino species but has the more fearsome reputation. Shy and heavily persecuted, it tends to stick to cover.

31% SUCCESS

607 sightings from 1,963 observations

Where to see black rhino in Africa

White Rhino

White Rhino

Ceratotherium simum

The white rhino is the largest and most numerous of the world’s five rhinoceros species. They are larger, easier to see and generally more approachable than the black rhino.

44% SUCCESS

476 sightings from 1,083 observations

Where to see white rhino in Africa

Wild dog

Wild dog

Lycaon pictus

African wild dogs are among the continent’s most compelling animals. Much misunderstood, these rare, tie-dyed canids are amazingly efficient hunters with a fascinating social life.

31% SUCCESS

840 sightings from 2,672 observations

Where to see wild dog in Africa

Wildebeest

Wildebeest

Connochaetes sp.

Superficially bovine in appearance, wildebeests are known for their spectacular migrations sometimes in huge numbers. These resilient animals are some of Africa’s most successful herbivores.

68% SUCCESS

2,383 sightings from 3,524 observations

Where to see wildebeest in Africa

Pangolin

Pangolin

Smutsia sp.

Pangolins appear to be more pine cone than animal in their unique armoury of scales. These nocturnal, ant-eating oddities are not only highly elusive but also increasingly rare.

2% SUCCESS

52 sightings from 3,201 observations

Where to see pangolin in Africa

Aardvark

Aardvark

Orycteropus afer

The aardvark is one of Africa’s most bizarre and enigmatic animals. A shy, nocturnal termite-eater, signs of its presence may be scattered about the bush whilst sightings remain elusive.

2% SUCCESS

67 sightings from 3,205 observations

Where to see aardvark in Africa

Eland

Eland

Taurotragus oryx

Africa’s largest antelope, eland are culturally important from prehistoric rock art to modern game farms. Though widespread, they are also shy so sightings are uncommon and often fleeting.

49% SUCCESS

1,405 sightings from 2,877 observations

Where to see eland in Africa

Meerkat

Meerkat

Suricata suricatta

These highly sociable little mammals have an endearing appearance and comical antics. Found in the drier areas of Southern Africa, close encounters are a sought-after experience.

22% SUCCESS

85 sightings from 395 observations

Where to see meerkat in Africa

Zebra

Zebra

Equus sp.

The zebra is a quintessential African animal: the horse in stripy pyjamas at the end of every child’s A–Z. There are three species, of which the plains zebra is much the most common.

84% SUCCESS

3,684 sightings from 4,366 observations

Where to see zebra in Africa

Roan antelope

Roan antelope

Hippotragus equinus

Africa’s second largest antelope and one of its most handsome, with a powerful build and distinctive markings, roan are wary of people, but renowned for their bravery against predators.

23% SUCCESS

457 sightings from 1,958 observations

Where to see roan antelope in Africa

Sable antelope

Sable antelope

Hippotragus niger

Perhaps Africa’s most beautiful antelope, sable are renowned for their combative nature, even holding off lions. Shy and restricted in range, sightings of sable are always special.

22% SUCCESS

436 sightings from 1,952 observations

Where to see sable antelope in Africa

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