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Southern Africa Safari Stays – My Top Recommendations

27 items

Cornelia Van Zyl

As a South African who has explored a few of these breathtaking safari lodges myself, I’ve handpicked these stays for their incredible wildlife encounters, luxurious comforts, and unforgettable landscapes. Whether you’re after a romantic retreat, fam...

Map

Sections

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa

Okavango Delta, Botswana

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Etosha National Park, Namibia

Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Kruger National Park, South Africa

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Kruger National Park a couple of times. Spanning nearly two million hectares, it’s home to the Big Five, and offers both guided and self-drive safaris. Whether you're seeking budget-friendly camping or luxurious lodg...

Explore the beauty of what the Kruger National Park can offer with so many accommodations on offer you will be spoilt for choice from budget to luxury

Kruger National Park

For an unforgettable safari in Kruger, Nyati Safari Lodge blends luxury and adventure. Nestled along the Olifants River, enjoy private terrace views of wildlife, game drives, bush walks, and sundowners. With spacious thatched villas, fine dining, and...

Nyati Safari Lodge, Hoedspruit (updated prices 2025)

Located in the eastern part of the park, this lodge offers contemporary suites with panoramic views of the N’Wanetsi River. Guests can enjoy guided game drives and walking safaris.

Lebombo Luxury Lodge & Safari | Kruger National Park | Singita

For an unforgettable safari, I highly recommend Tomo Safari Lodge, offering the perfect mix of luxury and adventure on the edge of Kruger National Park. With spacious suites, stunning views, and exceptional service, it’s the ideal retreat after thril...

Tomo Safari Lodge, Hoedspruit (updated prices 2025)

“Kruger Shalati was truly one of the most unique stays I’ve ever experienced. Sleeping in a luxuriously restored train carriage suspended above the Sabie River felt surreal. I’ll never forget sipping my morning coffee on the deck while watching eleph...

Kruger Shalati - Train on The Bridge & Garden Suites

Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa

Having visited Sabi Sand a few times, I can confidently say it's one of the best places for leopard sightings in the wild. The reserve's off-road game drives offer truly intimate wildlife encounters, and with fewer tourists, it feels much more privat...

Sabi Sand Game Reserve offers an exceptional safari experience with luxurious lodges and incredible wildlife sightings, including the Big Five. Known for off-road game drives, it provides intimate wildlife encounters in a private, exclusive setting. ...

Sabi Sand Nature Reserve

This luxury lodge provides intimate suites with private plunge pools. Guests have reported exceptional wildlife sightings, including the Big Five, within hours of arrival

Dulini Moya | Dulini

Okavango Delta, Botswana

I highly recommend the Okavango Delta, this UNESCO World Heritage site for its unique wildlife and stunning waterways. Experience wildlife from a mokoro canoe, offering a tranquil yet thrilling way to spot elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and countless...

The Okavango Delta is a true natural wonder, a lush oasis in the heart of Botswana that promises an extraordinary safari experience. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a unique ecosystem where crystal-clear waterways weave through sprawling floodplai...

Okavango Delta

Opening in 2025, this camp offers a blend of historical charm and modern luxury in a wildlife-rich area of the delta. You will not want to miss this!

Mbamba Camp

Xigera Safari Lodge is a jewel in the heart of the Okavango Delta, offering a luxurious and immersive safari experience like no other. This eco-conscious lodge combines contemporary design with the untamed beauty of its surroundings, providing an int...

Xigera Safari Lodge,Ngamiland East 2025

AndBeyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp is a luxurious escape nestled in the heart of Botswana's Okavango Delta, offering an authentic safari experience with unparalleled comfort. The camp's elegant tented suites blend seamlessly into the surrounding ...

&Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp | Chobe National Park, Botswana

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

South Luangwa is a must-visit for anyone seeking a unique safari experience. Known for its walking safaris, you’ll explore the African bush on foot, guided by expert trackers. The park’s high concentration of wildlife along the Luangwa River offers s...

South Luangwa National Park in Zambia is a wildlife lover’s dream, renowned for its incredible biodiversity and walking safaris. With its lush landscapes, abundant wildlife, and the meandering Luangwa River, it offers an authentic and intimate safari...

South Luangwa National Park

Camp Sabali offers a serene and authentic escape in the heart of Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. Nestled along the banks of the Luangwa River, this intimate camp combines rustic charm with warm hospitality, providing a true bush experience. Wit...

Camp Sabali & Safaris, Mfuwe (updated prices 2024)

Sungani Lodge is a hidden gem in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, offering a perfect blend of luxury and wilderness. Set in a pristine riverside location, the lodge provides stylish accommodations, exceptional service, and unforgettable wildlife...

Sungani

Etosha National Park, Namibia

Centered around a vast salt pan, Etosha National Park offers unique landscapes and excellent game viewing opportunities. The park's waterholes attract a plethora of wildlife, including elephants, rhinos, lions, and numerous bird species. Self-drive o...

Etosha National Park in Namibia is one of Africa's premier wildlife destinations, renowned for its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife. Here are some recommendations for visiting Etosha: 1. Best Time to Visit Dry Season (May to October): This i...

Etosha National Park - Namibia

Etosha Mountain Lodge is a hidden gem nestled in the rugged hills just outside Etosha National Park. This luxurious lodge offers a perfect blend of comfort, adventure, and breathtaking views. With its unique location, you can enjoy panoramic vistas o...

ETOSHA MOUNTAIN LODGE - UPDATED 2024 Reviews & Price Comparison (Etosha National Park, Namibia) - Tripadvisor

Ohorongo Tented Camp offers a serene and intimate safari experience on the edge of Etosha National Park. Nestled in a private nature reserve, this eco-friendly camp combines luxury with adventure, featuring spacious tents, stunning views, and close e...

OHORONGO LUXURY TENTED CAMP - UPDATED 2024 Campground Reviews & Price Comparison (Fransfontein, Namibia) - Tripadvisor

Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

As Zimbabwe's largest game reserve, Hwange National Park is home to a vast array of species, including significant populations of elephants, giraffes, lions, and wild dogs. The park's diverse habitats, from woodlands to savannas, support a rich biodi...

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest and most iconic wildlife sanctuary, home to over 100 mammal species and 400 bird species. Famous for its massive elephant herds, it also offers incredible sightings of lions, leopards, wild dogs, and more. W...

Hwange National Park

Located in a game-rich private concession, this camp features luxurious tents with modern amenities and excellent game viewing opportunities.

WILDERNESS LINKWASHA CAMP - UPDATED 2024 Campground Reviews (Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe) - Tripadvisor

Elephant Eye Elevated Chalets offers a unique and luxurious safari experience in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Perched on stilts, these eco-friendly chalets provide stunning panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness, allowing you to spot elepha...

HIDEAWAYS ELEPHANT'S EYE, HWANGE - Lodge Reviews (Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe) - Tripadvisor

Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Owned by luxury safari operator &BEYOND, Phinda encompasses over 70,000 acres with seven distinct habitats, including rare sand forests. The reserve offers intimate safari experiences with limited lodges and vehicles, ensuring exclusive wildlife encounters. Visitors can expect to se...

Phinda Private Game Reserve is a world-class safari destination in South Africa, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and exceptional wildlife encounters. Spanning 28,000 hectares, Phinda boasts seven distinct ecosystems, offering sightings of th...

&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve | South Africa Safari

Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

Located near the Botswana border, Madikwe is a malaria-free reserve ideal for families. The reserve boasts a rich diversity of wildlife, including the Big Five, cheetahs, and the endangered African wild dogs. With fewer visitors, Madikwe offers a qui...

“Mateya Safari Lodge is pure elegance in the heart of the wild. When I visited, I was blown away by the attention to detail—from the handcrafted African art to the gourmet meals. The private plunge pool overlooking the bush was my favorite spot for q...

Mateya Safari Lodge - Madikwe Game Reserve - Tripadvisor

Jamala Madikwe is a luxurious safari lodge nestled in the heart of Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa. Known for its intimate and exclusive atmosphere, Jamala offers five-star accommodations, including private villas with plunge pools and stunning bu...

JAMALA MADIKWE -

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa & Botswana

A unique transborder park that spans South Africa and Botswana, offering a striking desert landscape. Famous for its black-maned Kalahari lions, cheetahs, leopards, and large herds of springbok and oryx. The open terrain makes for excellent predator ...

Why Stay at !Xaus Lodge? Pronounced "Kaus" (with a click sound at the beginning), !Xaus Lodge is a unique and culturally rich safari destination in the heart of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. Owned and operated by the local Khomani S...

!XAUS LODGE - (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa) -

Kalahari Sands Exclusive Lodge offers a luxurious escape in the heart of Namibia’s captivating Kalahari Desert. This intimate lodge combines modern elegance with the raw beauty of the desert, featuring spacious suites, a sparkling pool, and breathtak...

THE KALAHARI SANDS EXCLUSIVE SAFARI LODGE - Reviews (Kuruman, South Africa) - Tripadvisor

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Located within the Okavango Delta, Moremi combines lush waterways with dry savannah, providing a diverse wildlife experience. One of the best places to see African wild dogs, as well as elephants, hippos, leopards, and a variety of bird species. Offe...

Why Stay at Camp Moremi? Nestled in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Camp Moremi offers an unforgettable safari experience in one of Africa’s most pristine wilderness areas. Known for its diverse wildlife, including elephants, lions, and leopa...

CAMP MOREMI - UPDATED 2025 Lodge Reviews (Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana) - Tripadvisor

Why Stay at Ker & Downey Camps? Ker & Downey offers some of Africa’s most exclusive and luxurious safari experiences, with camps in prime locations like Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. Known for their impeccable servic...

OKUTI - KER & DOWNEY BOTSWANA - Lodge Reviews (Moremi Game Reserve)