Masai Mara, Kenya

Walk on the wild side: The world’s best safari destinations

10 Sep 2024 | | By Annie Lewis

A back-to-nature experience in its truest form, here’s where to stay to spot the Big Five in one trip

Derived from the Arabic verb meaning ‘to make a journey’, the safari has adapted and evolved since its inception, having inspired and impressed all walks of life, from literary greats to British nobility and Hollywood stars. While the concept dates back centuries, recent years have seen luxury hoteliers team up with conservation organisations and local guides to create unforgettable stays that allow guests to get up close and personal with untouched and protected wildlife. So, where to go? From the forest-flanked national parks in Sri Lanka that offer eye-opening encounters with Asian wildlife, to trips guaranteeing glimpses of the Big Five in Africa, here are the best safari destinations in the world – and the luxury lodges and hotels to book while you’re there. 

Victoria Falls, Zambia

victoria falls zambia

Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, draws visitors year-round with its beauty and adventurous activities. The falls, spanning more than a kilometre wide, cascade into the Zambezi gorge with tremendous force, creating a misty fog visible from miles away and giving the nearby Mosi oa Tunya (‘the smoke that thunders’) National Park its name. Here, visitors have the opportunity to see the endangered white rhinoceros. Distinguished by their broad, flat mouths adapted for grazing on grass, white rhinos are the larger of the two rhino species found in Africa. These animals are closely monitored and protected within the park, making it one of the few places in Zambia – and the world – where wildlife watchers can catch a glimpse. 

Where to stay: Royal Chundu

royal chundu zambia

Consisting of two intimate lodges, Island Lodge and River Lodge, Relais & Châteaux property Royal Chundu offers an exclusive retreat in the heart of Zambia. The lodges are elegantly designed, with spacious suites that blend African chic with modern comforts, while activities are tailored to provide a holistic safari experience, including guided river safaris to explore the local wildlife and surroundings. Unwind at the river-front spa, indulge in a private picnic along the Zambezi, book a sunset cruise, and enjoy gourmet meals featuring fresh, native ingredients. Plus, the crash and roar of Victoria Falls is only 30km away. 

From £927 per person per night. 

Welgevonden Game Reserve, South Africa

shambala private game reserve

One of South Africa’s top safari getaways, the enormous Limpopo province lies in the country’s most northern corner, flanked by undisturbed bushveld dotted with baobab and acacia trees. Here, you can access the Welgevonden Game Reserve nestled within the UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere, one of South Africa’s malaria-free Big Five wildernesses. Welgevonden, meaning ‘well found’ in Dutch, is home to more than 65 mammal species, including the famous Big Five alongside rare and unusual species such as the cheetah, brown hyena, aardwolf, aardvark and around 300 different birds. Ancient bushman rock art can be found across the reserve, offering a unique cultural experience too. 

Where to stay: Shambala Private Game Reserve

Situated on a whopping 10,000 hectares in the Limpopo Province, Shambala Private Game Reserve is preparing to emerge from a two-year renovation and unveil its newly-designed chalets, lodge, and restaurants. In the heart of the home of the Big Five, this hotel offers an unparalleled safari adventure expertly guided by Shambala’s seasoned professionals with options for beginners, families, and safari aficionados alike. Pick from luxurious chalets at the Zulu Camp fringed by the bush, or book one of six elegant suites at the Nelson Mandela Villa, where the former president would take up residence for some peace and solitude. From bush picnics crafted by Shambala’s renowned chefs, to afternoon game drives, fishing, stargazing, and sunset cruises on the 30-hectare Douw Steyn Dam, where hippos, crocodiles, and indigenous fish thrive, trust us when we say you’ll never get bored here. 

From £1,025 per night.

Masai Mara, Kenya

Located in East Africa’s big cat territory, the Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most famous safari destinations in the world, offering explorers rolling plains of savannah wilderness along the Tanzanian border. It’s home to two major migrations: the famous annual southern migration of more than one million animals from the Serengeti, typically in July and August, and the green season migration from Loita Plains in the spring, when more than 100,000 zebras and wildebeest arrive from the northwest. Elsewhere, you’ll be able to spot lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhino, African buffalo,  giraffes and many more animals in their natural habitat, unconfined and free to roam the vast Kenyan wilderness.

Where to stay: Mara Toto Tree Camp

One of Great Plains Conservation’s – a leading tourism conservation organisation – most astonishing properties to date, Mara Toto Tree Camp is located within a forest canopy in the Masai Mara, accommodating up to eight adults in four luxurious suites. Boasting a secluded location overlooking the Ntiakitiak River, and with private access to the 26,000-hectare Mara North Conservancy, the romantic safari era-inspired camp’s interiors emulate life in the trees, from the woodpecker door knobs to lightbulb-grasping monkey statement lamps. 

Guests of Mara Toto Tree Camp are spoilt for choice when it comes to wildlife spotting. All safari drives seat up to four guests plus a private guide in Mara Toto Tree Camp’s three open-sided Land Cruisers. Offering a 360-degree view, guests can find high-quality binoculars and a full professional Canon camera set in their suite, with all photos taken during their adventure downloaded onto a keepsake memory stick upon departure. 

From £1,105 per night. 

Nambiti, South Africa

Just two and a half hours from Durban and four hours from Johannesburg, the Nambiti reserve is regarded as one of South Africa’s most ambitious conservation initiatives and one of the few reserves where the majesty of the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) and more than 50 species of wildlife can be experienced free from the threat of malaria. Set in KwaZulu-Natal on 23,000 acres, this reserve is centred by its biodiversity, featuring savannah, thornveld, riverine bush, acacia trees and extensive grasslands often found in central Africa. Book during South Africa’s dry winter to spot animals gathering around watering holes, while clearer conditions as the sun sets pave the way for hours of magical stargazing. 

Where to stay: The Homestead

The last safari lodge allowed to open in Nambiti for conservation reasons, The Homestead is a 12-suite eco-conscious lodge located in the heart of the South African wilderness. The hotel aims to redefine eco-luxury through innovative architecture that seamlessly blends into its surroundings and combines new buildings with original 19th century structures and state-of-the-art sustainability integration, offering guests the ultimate destination for discovery, reflection and connection. While many safaris focus solely on game drives, The Homestead offers a range of experiences and adventures, from animal photography classes and hiking through the Drakensberg to stargazing and camping high in the mountains. Plus, as the five-star hotel is equipped with almost silent, upcycled electric 4x4s, those venturing into the Nambiti can get closer to the surrounding wildlife than ever before. 

From £2,550 per night. 

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

South Luangwa National Park is renowned as the birthplace of the walking safari, a unique opportunity for seasoned safari-goers to get on foot in the bush. This park is particularly famous for its thriving population of leopards, which are often spotted lounging in trees or prowling through the bush, giving the area its nickname Valley of the Leopard. Along the Luangwa River, observe large pods of hippos and sunbathing crocodiles, as well as plenty of elephant herds that come to drink from the water. Visitors to South Luangwa National Park can also see the rare Thornicroft's giraffe, which is unique to this region of Zambia. These giraffes have distinctive patterns, with irregular star-shaped patches that are lighter in the centre, setting them apart from other giraffe subspecies. 

Where to stay: Chikunto Safari Lodge

Chikunto Safari Lodge

Just a 50-minute game drive from the national park's Mfuwe gate, Chikunto Safari Lodge is home to five exclusive tented suites, each elevated for optimal views of the rolling landscape beyond, including views over the Luangwa River. The boutique, eco-friendly camp features a central bar for those all-important sundowners, a saltwater swimming pool and a waterhole that attracts wildlife, providing great game viewing. Elsewhere, personalised service, gourmet dining and expertly guided safari activities make Chikunto Safari Lodge an unmissable hotel in South Luangwa National Park. 

From £463 per night. 

Kalahari, Namibia

The Kalahari desert is one of the largest in Africa, sprawling into Botswana and South Africa with expansive sand dunes, salt pans, and diverse wildlife. As water sources are scarce, wildlife congregates around the remaining waterholes, making it easier to spot animals on safaris. You will not be able to spot the Big Five here, but the black-maned Kalahiri lion, as well as cheetahs, hyenas, leopards and springboks all reside here in abundance. The desert is also the spiritual and physical home of the San/Bushmen, who have lived here for approximately 20,000 years and can be visited during specially-curated excursions arranged by locals.

Where to stay: Our Habitas Namibia

habitas namibia

Guests arrive at Our Habitas Namibia in a cloud of burning myrrh (part of a locally-inspired welcoming ritual), which is a sign of what’s to come during your stay. Set against the backdrop of the panoramic savannah, the forward-thinking hotel is located on a 50,000 hectare private wildlife reserve just 45 minutes from the Windhoek airport. The property features 40 stylishly designed tents that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, alongside a serviced lounge, outdoor pool, and a wellness centre to enhance relaxation and connection with the environment. While you’re guaranteed to be awed by giraffes, elephants and rhino, also enjoy listening to bushmen from tribes across Namibia swap stories over braais and cocktails, be swaddled in the Himba people’s red-ochre body paint in the spa, and stargaze up at an unimpeded canopy. It doesn’t get more immersive than this.

From £300 per night.

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Sitatunga Private Island

Botswana’s Okavango River is famous for the Okavango Delta, which is one of the largest freshwater inland deltas in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This network of interconnected waterways and untouched islets is renowned for its unique ecosystem, home to antelope, elephant, crocodile, hippo, and a dazzling variety of birds. Protected in part by the Moremi Game Reserve, the delta is also the playground for astounding numbers of plains game – think impala, warthog, springbok, and blue wildebeest – plus unusual antelope like puku, sitatunga and red lechwe. It is also a world-famous stronghold for predators as well as many sought-after bird species like Pel’s fishing owl, bee-eaters and kingfishers.

Where to stay: Sitatunga Private Island

On an isolated island amid the delta’s natural biome is Relais & Châteaux’s Sitatunga Private Island. Providing the perfect base to discover fascinating wildlife, guests are invited to join expert guides and board flat-bottomed boats or a traditional fisherman’s canoe to set off on safari. Inside, the property consists of two raised suites and a villa, all crafted in canvas and each with a private verandah designed to hang in bamboo and wooden structures inspired by fishing baskets as a nod to the local fishermen. A post-safari massage is a must, and can be performed in the comfort of your own suite, before heading to a starlit dinner on the floating terrace or at the foot of a towering, ancient baobab tree. 

From £1,200 per night. 

Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Those looking for a true sense of adventure in untouched wilderness need look no further than Yala National Park, nestled deep within the jungle in Sri Lanka’s southern forest and grassland. Home to leopards, elephants, sloth bears, spotted deer, crocodiles and more than 200 species of wild bird, including the rare black-necked stork, it’s best to visit Yala during the dry season between February and June, when there’s less foliage and it's therefore easier to spot wildlife. Also within the 979km park is Sithulpawwa, an ancient Buddhist monastery, as well as nearby caves featuring ancient rock paintings. 

Where to stay: Uga Chena Huts

Comprising just 18 thatch-roofed cabins – each with its own private deck and pool and with plenty of room for the whole family – Uga Chena Huts provides a bucket-list worthy opportunity to immerse in nature. Overlooking a beach where sea turtles come to lay eggs by moonlight and elephants wander down from the nearby forest to play in the surf, Chena Huts is fringed on one landward side by tropical jungle and on the other by a saline lake where ibises, painted storks and eben flamingos may be seen wading in the shallows. Elsewhere, guests can also enjoy world-class dining at the property’s Basses restaurant, sundowners at the poolside bar and spoiling spa treatments from the comfort of their residence. 

Those with little ones in tow needn’t worry that youngsters might tone down the safari experience, as Uga’s custom jeeps are designed to fit families with children aged six and above. Book the Junior Ranger Programme for your little one to learn about conservation via a series of fun and informative activities, such as guided nature walks, interactive games, and educational workshops, giving junior rangers a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

From £966 per night. 

Serengeti, Tanzania

Deep in the heart of the world’s most celebrated wildlife reserve, where the Big Five run free across the endless, untamed landscape, the Serengeti is one of the oldest ecosystems in the world. The UNESCO-listed national park is home to ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, otherwise known as the Great Migration, which sees more than two million wildebeest, zebra, impala and gazelle cross the Mara River in a thundering mass in search of greener pastures. Elsewhere throughout the year, adventurous spectators can spot wildebeest dodging stalking predators like lions and leopards, while huge clouds of migrating birds fly overhead. As the site of the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, it’s a destination not to miss. 

Where to stay: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti offers a luxurious retreat for travellers eager to immerse themselves in the Serengeti's wonders while enjoying modern comforts. Delight in exhilarating game drives, soar high in the sky on a hot-air balloon safari and experience unique opportunities to engage with local culture. Post-excursion, rejuvenate for your next adventure at the Four Seasons Spa, which comprises six treatment rooms overlooking the picturesque plains.

Perched on a series of elevated platforms and walkways, the lodge sits next to an animal watering hole, where you can watch a family of elephants stop for their morning drink as you sip your own out on your room’s private balcony. The lodge offers 77 private guest rooms, but for an unforgettable experience boasting privacy and luxury, consider the Presidential Villa. Including a dedicated butler service and offering sweeping views of a lively animal watering hole, this is how to safari in style. 

From £1,240 per night. 

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