Top luxury resorts in South Africa

Top luxury resorts in South Africa

South Africa has a selection of the best luxury resorts in the whole of Africa. Discover with us the top of these resorts as ranked by travellers on the biggest travel accommodation websites.

andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve - Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

This private game reserve covers 70560 acres. It is located in northern KwaZulu-Natal, not far from the Indian Ocean on the east coast of South Africa. It is undoubtedly one of the finest luxury resorts in South Africa. What's more, it offers several andBeyond lodges on site. These include: Phinda Forest Lodge, Phinda Mountain Lodge, Phinda Rock Lodge, Phinda Vlei Lodge, Phinda Zuka Lodge and Phinda Homestead. Phinda Rock Lodge offers breathtaking views of the surrounding ecosystem. From the six suites with private deep pools, this lodge offers the ideal opportunity to see the Big Five from afar. Meals are served on an open terrace. In fact, it's a classic way to enjoy an aperitif. You can also listen to the striking sounds of the forest, such as the chatter of the monkeys or the song of the Tongan red squirrels.

Tintswalo Safari Lodge - Manyeleti Game Reserve, South Africa

Sharing a border with the famous Kruger National Park, the luxurious Tintswalo Safari Lodge (located on the Manyeleti Private Game Reserve) is one of our readers' favourite places to see wildlife in South Africa. The suites are decorated with rich Persian rugs, four-poster beds, clawfoot baths and thatched terraces with private deep pools overlooking the reserve's waterhole. When not on safari, refresh with a complimentary spa treatment or stargaze with local Shangaan guides. It's an experience not to be missed in Africa's luxury resorts.

Londolozi - Sabi Sands, South Africa

Londolozi sits on 6 million acres of pristine wilderness. It is owned and managed by the Varty family for over 90 years. The word londolozi comes from the Zulu language and means "protector of all living things". Once endorsed by Nelson Mandela, who described it as "a dream I cherish as a model for the preservation of nature in our country", it is one of the best places in the world to see leopards in the wild. Some of Londolozi's most popular features are its state-of-the-art photographic studio and healing house. Breeding herds of elephant and buffalo roam throughout Londolozi. While concentrations of white rhino and lion are among the highest on the African continent.

Lion Sands Game Reserve - Sabi Sands, South Africa

This is one of the luxury resorts on the banks of the Sabi River. This 10,000-acre luxury resort comprises four lodges and a family camp. The Ivory Lodge rooms, made from ebony and ivory, offer views of the reserve and its animals from private terraces with deep pools, while the cream and beige River Lodge rooms have freestanding bathtubs and indoor and outdoor showers. After seeing elephants and lions on open-air jeep rides, enjoy a traditional Boma meal. The unique tree houses couldn't be more romantic. Lanterns, candles, stars and the moon create sumptuous lighting. After a picnic, settle in for a night surrounded by the safe distant sounds of hippos, hyenas, leopards and lions.

Singita Sabi Sand - Boulders Lodge - Sabi Sand, South Africa

Singita Sabi Sand is home to three luxuriously appointed resorts: Ebony Lodge, Castleton Camp and Boulders Lodge. All offer an elegant base from which to bask in the natural beauty of one of South Africa's most renowned game reserves. Boulders Lodge takes its name from the ancient rocks scattered along the banks of the Sand River, and the rocks also inspired the design of the resort.

The 12 glass-enclosed suites have cleverly pared-down interiors, complete with fossilised tree stumps and other found objects. But you can still expect luxurious colonial touches. For example, there are private pools and four-poster beds. But the main attraction here is, of course, the wildlife. Yet you may not be on a guided tour of the game. Don't worry. Because you can discover African wildlife at every turn. Indeed, it could be seeing crocodiles from your terrace. Or even hearing hippos snorting out of your room at night.

Read also: The best African countries to visit on holiday in 2020