THE PERFECT CORPORATE TRIP
23 April 2025
WHAT IS A PRIVATE SAFARI?
24 April 2025THE PERFECT CORPORATE TRIP
23 April 2025WHAT IS A PRIVATE SAFARI?
24 April 2025SOUTH AFRICA'S BEST LUXURY LODGES
Where Wilderness meets Luxury
South Africa is spoilt for choice when it comes to luxury safari lodges, from the riverbanks of the Sabi Sand to the red sands of the Kalahari and the rolling hills of the Eastern Cape. But with so many options, how do you choose? Whether you're chasing the Big 5, craving remote wilderness, or simply want to indulge in out-of-this-world luxury, this roundup covers 5 standout lodges worth putting on your bucket list.
SINGITA BOULDERS LODGE
SABI SAND GAME RESERVE, GREATER KRUGER
Nestled along the Sand River, Singita Boulders Lodge feels as though it emerged from the landscape itself. This lodge isn’t just in nature, it’s part of it. Designed to reflect the textures and shapes of the riverbank, Boulders is a sanctuary of stillness and connection.
The lodge’s open, earthy design invites you to slow down and truly take in your surroundings. Earth tones, natural materials, and seamless indoor-outdoor spaces create a sense of calm that’s hard to put into words. Every element, from the hand-crafted furniture to the warm, grounding interiors, mirrors the natural world beyond.
Each suite is a private retreat, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Your own wooden deck curves alongside the river, leading to a heated plunge pool with uninterrupted views. It’s luxury in its purest form: quiet, sensory, and deeply restorative.
TSWALU TARKUNI LODGE
TSWALU KALAHARI RESERVE NORTHERN CAPE
Tarkuni is Tswalu’s exclusive-use homestead, set in a quiet valley beneath the Korannaberg mountains. Designed for families or a group of friends, it sleeps up to 10 guests in five spacious suites. With a private safari vehicle, guide, tracker, host, and chef, every detail is personalized, from daily game drives to sunset dinners and lazy afternoons by the plunge pool.
Sustainably redesigned, Tarkuni features generous indoor and outdoor living areas, a shaded veranda, a fire pit for sundowners, and an intimate boma for starlit barbecues. Guests can enjoy spa treatments, relax in the gazebo, or explore The Gallery, Gym, and Photographic Studio at nearby Motse.
This is a space for total freedom, where barefoot luxury meets wild Kalahari beauty. Tarkuni isn’t just a lodge; it’s a home in the wilderness, crafted for meaningful moments and deep connection.
PHINDA FOREST LODGE
PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE, KWA-ZULU NATAL
Tucked within the enchanting Sand Forest of KwaZulu-Natal, Phinda Forest Lodge is a sanctuary of quiet luxury and deep connection to nature. Set in &Beyond’s 30,000-hectare private game reserve, this eco-sensitive lodge offers front-row access to Africa’s Big Five and over 430 bird species, all within one of South Africa's most biodiverse regions.
Designed to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, the lodge’s 16 glass-walled, air-conditioned suites seem to float above the forest floor. Elevated on stilts and shaded by a dense canopy, they offer total privacy and uninterrupted views of the forest. A newly added family suite ensures both comfort and space for those traveling with children.
Phinda Forest Lodge is more than just a retreat, it’s a model of sustainable tourism. Its Zulu-zen design, eco-conscious footprint, and intimate connection to its environment make it a truly exceptional safari experience.
KWANDWE ECCA LODGE
KWANDWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE, EASTERN CAPE
Perched above a scenic valley in the heart of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Ecca Lodge offers a vibrant indoor-outdoor lifestyle that fully embraces the African wilderness. With sweeping views of rugged shale cliffs and open plains, the lodge’s main deck is the perfect place to take in the beauty of the reserve.
Contemporary, bold, and relaxed, the lodge’s décor draws inspiration from the textures and tones of the surrounding bush. With just six spacious suites, Ecca Lodge offers an exclusive, laid-back atmosphere. Each suite features a private plunge pool, outdoor shower, and expansive living spaces designed to blur the lines between inside and out.
Ideal for couples or families, private suites include a dedicated guide and private safari vehicle. Whether you're soaking in the views or tracking wildlife, Ecca Lodge delivers a stylish and soulful safari experience for all ages.
LONDOLOZI TREE CAMP
SABI SAND GAME RESERVE, GREATER KRUGER
Elevated in the canopy of Leadwood trees, Londolozi Tree Camp is an intimate haven of refined luxury and quiet connection to the wild. Deeply rooted in Londolozi’s 40-year relationship with free-roaming leopards, the camp is a tribute to these elusive icons and the wilderness they call home.
Days are spent lounging on the deck with a glass of champagne, watching elephants meander through the riverbed below. As dusk falls, Tree Camp transforms, glowing with lantern light and echoing with fireside stories and laughter.
With just a handful of suites, the camp’s elegance is expressed through thoughtful details: Ralph Lauren-inspired interiors, plaited leather beds, plush sofas, and natural fabrics that reflect the textures of Africa. Each suite includes a private plunge pool and sala, offering stillness and solitude.
South Africa is home to some of the most extraordinary safari lodges in the world, each offering its own unique blend of luxury, location, and soul-stirring wilderness experiences. Whether you’re drawn to the quiet elegance of a glass-walled suite in a sand forest, the raw beauty of the Kalahari, or the timeless magic of Big Five country, these lodges are more than just places to stay, they’re places to reconnect, to slow down, and to see the natural world in a whole new way. Wherever your safari journey takes you, one thing is certain: the memories made in these wild, beautiful spaces will stay with you forever.
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