Safari

Along a quiet stretch of the Zambezi River in Mana Pools National Park, Nyamatusi Camp places guests in one of Africa's most rewarding safari regions. The camp's six tented suites each feature private plunge pools and views across the river, while days are spent exploring with some of Zimbabwe's most experienced guides. Walking safaris are a particular highlight, offering a closer connection to the wildlife that gathers around the park's permanent water sources, alongside game drives, canoeing and seasonal fishing excursions.

On the edge of Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Bwindi Lodge provides one of the closest bases for tracking the region's mountain gorillas. Looking out across a dense canopy of rainforest, the lodge feels deeply connected to its surroundings while remaining within easy reach of the trekking starting points. Eight bandas are tucked into the hillside, each with a private veranda and forest views. Alongside gorilla trekking, you can join guided walks, visit nearby Batwa communities and return to the spa for a restorative treatment after a day in the forest.

Life at Chiawa Camp revolves around the Zambezi River, where elephants regularly wander through camp and wildlife is never far from view. Family-owned and operated, the camp combines warm hospitality with some of the Lower Zambezi's most rewarding safari experiences, from game drives and walking safaris to canoeing and river cruises. Nine tented suites are positioned along the riverbank beneath mahogany and acacia trees, each enjoying uninterrupted views of the water, while the camp's elevated viewing deck provides a wonderful vantage point for watching the ever-changing rhythm of the river.

Eight canvas-and-stone suites sit in Damaraland's vast Palmwag Concession, home to one of the last free-roaming black rhino populations on Earth. At dawn, set out on foot with Save the Rhino Trust trackers to find them, walking the same red rock terrain the rangers patrol year-round. Each suite has its own stargazing deck, and evenings gather around the campfire as the desert's silence settles back in.

Overlooking a patchwork of crater lakes, rolling hills and distant views towards the Rwenzori Mountains, Kibale Lodge provides a peaceful base for exploring western Uganda. Located within easy reach of Kibale National Park, it is particularly well placed for chimpanzee trekking, while guided walks, community visits and birdwatching offer a deeper connection to the region. The lodge's collection of handcrafted bandas features fireplaces, private terraces and indoor-outdoor bathrooms, while a swimming pool and spa provide a welcome place to unwind between adventures.

Mara Plains offers seven canvas suites stood on raised decks above the Ntiakitiak River, deep in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy where big cat sightings run higher than anywhere else in Africa. There's no set schedule here: game drives and meals flex around the wildlife in front of you. After dark, Maasai warriors walk you back to your tent as leopards call and hippos surface in the river below.

Ancient San rock art, dramatic sandstone formations and wide-open wilderness define Bushmans Kloof, a private reserve in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa, around three hours from Cape Town. Days here can be spent hiking, mountain biking, canoeing or exploring one of the largest collections of ancient rock art sites in the region, while game drives reveal the reserve's unique wildlife and landscapes. Rooms and suites look out across the mountains, and dining takes place in a variety of memorable settings, from fireside dinners to secluded outdoor locations amongst the reserve's extraordinary scenery.

Perched high on the Nkuringo Ridge in the southern reaches of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge enjoys sweeping views across the forested valleys below. Guests can walk directly from the lodge to the trailhead for treks to the Nkuringo gorilla family before returning to one of eight stone cottages, each featuring a fireplace, separate lounge area and generous space to unwind. Community visits provide a deeper understanding of the people and traditions that shape this remarkable corner of Uganda.

On the Xudum River in the southwest Okavango Delta, Kanana's private concession istrue surrounded by islands of palm, fig and ebony. Seven safari tents sit raised on teak decks that rise with the annual floods, bringing water within metres of your veranda. Explore by mokoro and motorboat past Southern Africa's largest heronry, or track lion, leopard and wild dog on game drives through the surrounding bush.

Reached by light aircraft into the Khwai Concession, Machaba Camp sits at ground level along the Khwai River, shaded by sycamore figs and looking across the Moremi Game Reserve. Ten tented suites, styled on 1950s safaris, offer private verandas facing the water. Spend days on game drives, mokoro rides and walking safaris, ending with sundowners as elephant herds gather at the waterhole.

Combining a private wildlife reserve with easy access to Victoria Falls, Matetsi offers one of Zimbabwe's most complete safari experiences. Days can be spent exploring the Zambezi by boat, heading out on game drives or visiting the falls, before returning to spacious riverside suites overlooking the water. Thoughtful service, excellent guiding and a peaceful setting make it an exceptional base in the region.

Cross a swinging suspension bridge over the Mkulumadzi River to reach one of Africa's greatest conservation stories. Hidden among leadwood trees at the joining of two rivers, eight chalets open onto private decks over the Shire River, where elephant and hippo pass close by. Swim in the infinity pool, dine on the terrace or by the lapa fire, then spend a night on the star bed before tracking black rhino across the reserve.

Six East African-style tents sit above the Mussicadzi River at Muzimu, each with a private deck looking out over Gorongosa National Park's restored wilderness. Spend your days tracking the park's returning lion and elephant populations by vehicle, before settling around the fire pit or beside the pool, with candlelit dinners drawing on the rich flavours of Mozambican cuisine.

Set on a small islet along the Thu Bon River, just a short boat ride from Hoi An's Ancient Town, Namia River Retreat offers a quieter side of central Vietnam. Its 60 private pool villas are surrounded by water, nipa palms and tropical gardens, creating a peaceful retreat close to the heart of the action. Days can be spent cycling through nearby villages, cruising the river at sunset or enjoying the daily spa treatments and traditional herbal therapies included with every stay.

In the eastern Serengeti, Namiri Plains occupies a region that was closed to tourism for two decades to support cheetah conservation, creating one of the most rewarding areas in Tanzania for big cat sightings. Hidden among a small stand of fever trees, the camp looks out across open grasslands where lion, leopard and cheetah continue to thrive. Just eight canvas suites keep the atmosphere intimate, each positioned for uninterrupted views of the plains. Alongside game drives, you can join walking safaris, bush picnics and conversations with resident researchers who know this landscape exceptionally well.

Choose your own way across Kenya's Laikipia plateau at Ol Malo: on horseback alongside zebra and giraffe, by camel with Samburu warriors, or by helicopter into the Great Rift Valley's Suguta corridor. Spend a night in the treehouse or the Leopard Hide, learn to throw a spear, then soak in your room's outdoor bathtub as elephant calls drift up from the valley below.

Otahuna is set against an ancient volcanic cone and surrounded by 30 acres of pristine and prestigious gardens. Join the chef to pick vegetables from the potager garden for that evening's four-course dinner, or forage for mushrooms in season. Days might otherwise mean croquet on the lawn, a massage in the Woodland Studio, or a helicopter flight straight from the Great Lawn into the Southern Alps.

Stone cottages with private verandas and open fireplaces sit in gardens at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes, twenty minutes from Volcanoes National Park's headquarters. Rise early for the trek to habituated gorilla families, then return to views across misty peaks and farmland below. Every stay here also funds the surrounding community directly, with Sabyinyo becoming Rwanda's first community-owned lodges.

At the edge of Botswana's Nwetwe Pan, seven billowing white tents rise from the Makgadikgadi's salt flats, shaded by scattered desert palms with nothing but flat white horizon beyond. Track habituated meerkats by day, learn desert survival from Zu/'hoasi bushmen guides, and watch the night sky fill with more stars than seems possible.

Resting on the slopes of the Mathews Mountains at Sarara, six tents overlook Namunyak's 850,000 acres of Samburu wilderness. Swim in the natural rock pool as elephants gather at the waterhole below, or ride out with Lenewalla, the camp's Samburu horseman, in search of giraffe and gerenuk. As night falls, the sounds of the bush enclose the camp, and the wild feels closer than ever.

At Selinda Camp, wake to elephants drinking from the Selinda Spillway, visible from your tent's private veranda as the reserve's resident herds pass through the 130,000-hectares of private wilderness in their thousands. Just three suites mean rare privacy even by safari standards, each with its own plunge pool overlooking the water. Track the resident lion pride by day, or fall asleep to hippo calling across the spillway at night.

Suites at Singita Kwitonda sit right on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, each with a heated plunge pool and floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes. Built from volcanic rock and hand-fired terracotta by local artisans, the lodge draws produce straight from its own farm garden for dinner. After a morning trekking gorillas through the forest, return to an indoor and outdoor fireplace, or a massage beside your own private pool.

Singita Pamushana offers a refined safari experience in Zimbabwe's Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, an extraordinary wilderness known for its thriving rhino populations, diverse landscapes and exceptional wildlife viewing. Inspired by Shangaan culture, the lodge combines bold design with a strong sense of place. Spacious suites, attentive service and sweeping views across the reserve create an elegant base for exploring this remarkable corner of southern Africa.