Luxury Safari in Africa

As a broad guide, a high-end private safari can cost around USD 1,500 to USD 3,500 or more per person per night, depending on the destination, season, and level of exclusivity.

There's a considerable difference between adding a private vehicle to a lodge stay and reserving an entire camp or villa. Exclusive-use properties are often priced for the whole party, so travelling with family or friends can change the per-person cost. We'll explain the different options and help you understand what the extra privacy would add to your experience.

Only ten? You're asking us to choose favourites from some of the most extraordinary places to stay on the continent. That's a debate that could go on for days in our Cape Town office. And technically, many of Africa's finest safari properties are intimate lodges and camps rather than traditional resorts. 

But if we absolutely had to narrow it down, these ten would certainly be in the conversation: Silvan Safari, Londolozi Private Granite Suites, Malewane Lodge, Jao Camp, Duba Plains Camp, Angama Mara, Mahali Mzuri, Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Bisate Lodge, and &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

And as for ranking them? Absolutely not. How on earth do you compare leopard sightings in Sabi Sand with gorilla trekking in Rwanda or waking up above the Maasai Mara? You can't, and frankly, we wouldn't want to. The real question isn't which lodge deserves the number one spot, but which one deserves a place on your itinerary. Now, that's a conversation we'd happily have.

There's no single safari that consistently earns the highest ratings across Africa. Reviews are useful when assessing accommodation and service, but guiding quality, reserve access, and seasonal wildlife conditions are equally important.

South Africa's Sabi Sand is particularly well regarded for leopard viewing, Botswana's Okavango Delta for remote wilderness exploration, and Kenya's Maasai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti for big cats and The Great Migration. The best safari for you will depend on what you most want to experience.

Comfortable clothing in neutral colours, layers for cool morning game drives, closed shoes, a sunhat, sunscreen, and binoculars are all sensible additions to your safari bag. A warm jacket is especially useful during the Southern African winter.

Most luxury lodges offer laundry services, so you can usually pack considerably less than you think. If your safari includes light-aircraft flights, soft-sided luggage and specific baggage limits may apply. We'll send you detailed packing advice suited to your destinations and travel dates. For further tips, take a look at our blog: What to Pack for a Safari in Africa 

Start with your priorities. Perhaps it's seeing the Big 5, following The Great Migration, spending time in a remote wilderness area, or enjoying a beautiful lodge with your family. Your travel dates and ideal trip length will help determine which destinations make the most sense.

From there, we'll recommend suitable safari regions, explain the differences between lodges, and shape an itinerary around your interests and preferred pace. We'll also arrange the necessary transfers, flights, and activities, so everything works together.