Africa’s boundless beauty, diverse landscapes, and goosebumps-inducing wildlife encounters have long drawn adventurers and luxury seekers alike. As 2025 beckons, the travel zeitgeist leans heavily towards sustainability, immersive experiences, and the utmost luxury. Whether you’re craving an opulent safari, a serene desert retreat, or a private island escape, take a look at our curated list of the top places to stay in Africa in 2025.
Explore our top places to stay in 2025, Image Credit: Sanctuary Olonana
1. Silvan Safari – Greater Kruger, South Africa
The World’s Leading Luxury Lodge, Silvan Safari, is found in the heart of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. It’s well-known for its prolific Big 5 sightings, and this boutique retreat gives new meaning to a luxury safari experience in the Greater Kruger.
Each lavish suite features a private plunge pool and a spacious deck, perfectly positioned to showcase the natural surroundings. The lodge’s distinctive design, inspired by the ancient trees and wildlife of the region, creates a stunning visual masterpiece.
Beyond the aesthetics, Silvan Safari delivers tailored game drives, intimate bush walks, and evenings under the celestial canopy. A staunch advocate for conservation, the solar-powered lodge operates sustainably, investing in preserving this extraordinary ecosystem for future generations.
Silvan honours the complex way in which all life is connected, Image Credit: Silvan Safari
Why Choose Silvan Safari Lodge for 2025?
Silvan Safari’s renowned innovation in hospitality and its award-winning service guarantee a superior safari experience. Moreover, it has recently earned its place among the prestigious Relais & Châteaux association – a sure sign of its top-tier status and one of the finest places to stay in Africa in 2025.
Insider Tips
- Perfect for: Safari goers seeking luxury in the wilderness, couples or honeymooners, photographers and artists.
- Value: Ultra-luxury; rates start from approximately USD 2,000 per person per night.
- How to Get There: Fly into Hoedspruit or Skukuza Airport, followed by a short road transfer to the lodge. Alternatively, private shuttle flights are available to a dedicated airstrip located within the reserve.
- Best Time to Visit: May to September (dry season) for optimal game viewing, as wildlife congregates around water sources and vegetation is less dense.
- Weather and Travel Seasons: Dry winters (May to September) offer prime wildlife spotting. Wet summers (October to April) bring lush vegetation and dramatic skies.
From its very inception, Silvan Safari was envisioned as a transformative sanctuary
2. Tintswalo Atlantic – Cape Town, South Africa
Tucked away at the base of Chapman’s Peak Drive, Tintswalo Atlantic offers a serene oceanfront escape within arm’s reach of Cape Town’s vibrant energy. Its individually themed suites draw inspiration from iconic islands around the globe, each telling its own story.
Bask in views of the Atlantic Ocean, enjoy gourmet meals on a private deck, or take a leisurely walk along the coastal paths. Sustainability takes centre stage here, with the property embracing eco-friendly practices and supporting local artisans.
Its secluded location on the water’s edge provides solitude near city life, Image Credit: Tintswalo Atlantic
Why Choose Tintswalo Atlantic for 2025?
Tintswalo Atlantic delivers personalised, five-star service, including gourmet dining tailored to guests’ preferences. Its secluded setting on Hout Bay’s shoreline, paired with proximity to Cape Town’s attractions, makes it a perfect mix of tranquility and accessibility.
Insider Tips
- Perfect for: Travellers seeking a luxurious, tranquil retreat surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, ideal for romantic getaways and special celebrations.
- Value: Ultra-luxury; rates starting from approximately USD 520 per person per night.
- How to Get There: A 35-minute drive from Cape Town International Airport.
- Best Time to Visit: December to February for warm weather; September to November for fewer crowds and blooming flora.
- Weather and Travel Seasons: Sunny, dry summers (December to February) and cooler, wet winters (June to August).
Savour spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, Image Credit: Tintswalo Atlantic
3. Grootbos Garden Lodge – Grootbos, South Africa
Situated within the Cape Floral Kingdom, Grootbos Garden Lodge offers an immersive experience in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. You’ll awaken to panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the fynbos-covered hills.
Here, you can partake in marine safaris, whale watching, or horseback rides through the reserve. As one of the standout places to stay in Africa in 2025, the lodge’s eco-luxury suites provide a haven of understated elegance, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that invite the natural surroundings indoors.
Grootbos Nature Reserve is home to 3,500 hectares of hills and valleys covered in fynbos, Image Credit: Grootbos Garden Lodge
Why Choose Garden Lodge for 2025?
As a leader in eco-tourism, Grootbos Garden Lodge offers immersive nature experiences that are both luxurious and meaningful, allowing you to contribute to impactful conservation and community projects.
Insider Tips
- Perfect for: Nature enthusiasts and families seeking eco-luxury experiences amidst unique flora and fauna.
- Value: High-end eco-luxury; from USD 800 per person per night.
- How to Get There: Approximately a two-hour drive from Cape Town along the N2 and R43 highways.
- Best Time to Visit: August to October for prime whale watching and blooming fynbos.
- Weather and Travel Seasons: Spring (September to November) showcases vibrant flora; summer (December to February) offers warm temperatures; winter (June to August) is cooler with increased chances of rain.
Where the interior celebrates the exterior, Image Credit: Grootbos Garden Lodge
4. Motse Lodge – Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa
For those seeking seclusion and exclusivity, Tswalu Motse Lodge is an oasis in the Kalahari. Located within the Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve, this intimate lodge features only nine suites, each crafted from natural materials inspired by the surrounding desert landscape.
Days are spent exploring the dunes on horseback, tracking rhinos on foot, or spending a night under the stars at the Malori sleepout. With a focus on conserving the delicate Kalahari ecosystem, Tswalu has become synonymous with responsible luxury.
Surrounded by vast open spaces and red dessert soil, Image Credit: Tswalu The Motse
Why Choose Motse Lodge for 2025?
At Tswalu Motse Lodge, you’ll be swept away in the stunning Kalahari landscapes of South Africa’s largest private reserve. Add groundbreaking conservation efforts like the Kalahari Endangered Ecosystem Project, and you have more than just a getaway – you’ve found one of the most meaningful places to stay in Africa in 2025, where your visit contributes to preserving this incredible wilderness.
Insider Tips
- Perfect for: Luxury safari enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, and conservation-minded travellers.
- Value: High-end luxury; rates start from approximately USD 2,100 per adult per night, based on double occupancy.
- How to Get There: Scheduled charter flights are available from Johannesburg or Cape Town directly to Tswalu’s private airstrip.
- Best Time to Visit: May to September (dry season) for optimal game viewing and comfortable temperatures.
- Weather and Travel Seasons: Dry winters (May to September) offer prime wildlife spotting with cooler temperatures; wet summers (October to April) bring lush landscapes and occasional thunderstorms.
A different vantage point of Tswalu’s landscapes and wildlife, Image Credit: Tswalu Kalahari
5. andBeyond Benguerra Island – Mozambique
Step into a barefoot paradise on Benguerra Island, part of the Bazaruto Archipelago. andBeyond Benguerra Island offers refined cabanas blending African and Portuguese styles, all just steps from Mozambique’s beautiful beaches.
Dive into crystalline waters for a marine safari, enjoy traditional dhow cruises, or savour the island’s culinary delights. Here, you can soak in Afro-Portuguese-inspired elegance – all while enjoying enriching cultural experiences.
Languidly spend their days in a tropical Indian Ocean paradise, Image Credit: andBeyond Benguerra Island
Why Choose andBeyond Benguerra Island for 2025?
With solar-powered energy and a commitment to marine conservation, andBeyond Benguerra Island ensures your stay leaves only footprints in the sand.
Insider Tips
- Perfect for: Beach lovers, scuba divers, honeymooners, and those seeking relaxation and adventure.
- Value: Luxury; rates start from approximately USD 1,100 per person per night.
- How to Get There: Fly into Vilankulo Airport, followed by a helicopter or boat transfer to Benguerra Island.
- Best Time to Visit: May to September for pleasant weather and excellent marine activities.
- Weather and Travel Seasons: Dry season (May to September) offers cooler temperatures; wet season (October to April) is warmer, with the potential for rain and cyclones.
Lush forests spill out onto pearly sands and into effervescent waters, Image Credit: andBeyond Benguerra Island
6. Sossusvlei Desert Lodge – Namibia
Set against the dramatic backdrop of Namibia’s Namib Desert, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge offers breathtaking views of towering dunes and starlit skies. Its state-of-the-art design mirrors the desert’s barren beauty, creating a luxurious oasis of serenity.
Recognised as one of the most remarkable places to stay in Africa in 2025, it offers scenic drives, guided nature walks, and hot-air balloon rides over the surreal landscape. The lodge’s sustainability efforts, from solar power to water recycling, ensure minimal impact on this fragile ecosystem.
A surreal quality against the backdrop of the spectacular Namib Desert, Image Credit: andBeyond
Why Choose Desert Lodge for 2025?
For solitude seekers, this lodge offers luxury amid nature’s most surreal wonders. Fancy gazing at the Milky Way from your bed? Sossusvlei…
