Travel

YOUR INSPIRATION TO EXPLORE THE WORLD

Top Lodges in Africa

Michaela Atiae, Staff Writer

We write about what we love at Galavante. All our editorial is carefully curated by the Galavante team. When you purchase through a link on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

5 days ago

For a while there, Japan was the “it” place to be. You couldn’t call yourself a world traveler without a Lost in Translation moment for your Gram’. But as the jet-setting crowd tends to do, they’ve moved on. And this year, you can expect to see a heck of a lot of Africa on the feeds. So yes, your friends who are in the know, are indeed donning their safari best – and we predict it’s going to be an Out of Africa kind of year. So, these are the lodges and spots on the continent that are the definition of lifetime goals.

Singita Lodges

South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda

Singita Lodges is one of those brands that, while luxurious, has a wholesome quality. It’s probably because the business’s foundation is conservation and family. The Bailes family turned the 30,000-acre property, once used for hunting, into a safe haven for wildlife precisely a decade later. The different locations across Africa offer lodges, camps, and private villas. In Zimbabwe, eight suites come equipped with private plunge pools at Singita Pamushana Lodge, while Singita Lebombo Lodge overlooks the N’wanetsi River from a cliffside. Regardless of your location, the game will be on the menu—for viewing. Watching large herds of buffalo, leopards, and hippopotami live in harmony with hotel guests brings the Singita name to life: the Shangaan translation meaning “Place of Miracles.”

andBeyond Mnemba Island

Mnemba Island

You’re over the crowded places, and seeing your hotel surrounded by a handful of identical spots. andBeyond takes solitude seriously, and it’s not three blocks over to the next hospitality company’s property. In fact, the entire island of Mnemba is reserved for andBeyond’s Mnemba Island’s twenty-six guests. The limited capacity is in your favor, because it makes for intimate tours and customizable itineraries. The area is known for its spice history, and a walk through the Zanzibar Archipelago might make you feel like you’ve walked past an open kitchen window, when the scent is coming straight from the source—mother nature. When you’re not using your Swarovski Optik binoculars to spot your favorite spice or hot air balloon, canopy beds and inviting indoor-outdoor Bandas make it feel like you never completely have to say goodbye to the outside.

The Silo Hotel

Cape Town

This one’s for you art snobs (we’re just kidding). You can’t help but have good taste, and staying above Africa’s most extensive collection of Contemporary African art will only add to your art history credentials. Not everyone wants a safari, and The Silo Hotel is your urban escape. Instead of a gazelle or giraffe, you can enjoy spotting the V&A Waterfront and Table Mountain from your room. We’re talking marble bathrooms, chandeliers, and signs of civilization if the great outdoors is not for you. There’s no FOMO here; you can find vibrant colors and animal prints in the furniture and decor. As though having an art collection and a museum underneath the property weren’t enough, The Vault is a third space for art viewing. The hotel picks two emerging artists to collaborate with the hotel for exhibitions in the secret space.

Ellerman House

Cape Town

It’s alright if magenta and bold patterns do not match your vibe. Ellerman House is another Cape Town spot, but minimalist. The thirteen rooms are warm and cozy, with shades of caramel, bronze, and charcoal greys. You can also stay at a Villa accommodating up to ten people, with a private chef (because you’re on vacation, and it isn’t vacation if you’re not a bit spoiled). And spoiled you will be, with a restaurant sourced with local seasonal produce and a 24-hour pantry filled with homemade cakes, cookies, South African candies, quiches, wraps, and tarts. So when you fall victim to the midnight munchies, an entire pantry of goodies will await you. When the wine cravings hit, 9,000 labels should suffice (including complimentary wine tastings daily).

La Residence

Franschhoek Valley

A private estate perches between 30 acres of mountains and vineyards in the Franschhoek Valley. It would be wrong not to mention La Residence for a whimsical offering. The hotel is on the eclectic, maximalist side. The rooms are the epitome of charm, with darling dresser knobs, carpeted floors, shutters, and statement headboards. It’s also set in the Cape floral kingdom, meaning there will be many rare flowers in the region. Horse rides through the vineyards and orchards only add to the fairytale essence of La Residence.

Sirai Beach

Kenya

Sirai Beach might be as intimate as it gets. On one end, you have thick tropical gardens, and on the other, a view of the Indian Ocean. The Beach House accommodates twelve people. If you’re after the master suite, you can expect a grand entrance, as a dramatic staircase will lead you into the atrium. The suites have indoor and outdoor showers, a private roof terrace, and garden access. You can also enjoy the property’s foliage during a meal on the al fresco dining terrace. The tables’ custom-made ice trench will even impress that friend who studied abroad in France for a semester and has taken on the title of connoisseur ever since.

Mwiba Lodge

Tanzania

The Mwiba Lodge sits atop boulders surrounded by ancient coral trees, which gives you that tree-house feel. There are ten suites, and each has a private deck. While the suite’s exterior is tent-like, the inside has a polished look with light wood, gold accents, and cream-colored linens. Deep soaking tubs and highly thatched roofs also make for luxurious features. If you find yourself at the pool (and you will), it overlooks a natural spring where you can watch the wildlife sip the water. That way, you don’t have to find the wildlife; it comes to you.

Six Senses Zil Pasyon

Seychelles

“I don’t want to stay on this private island,” said no one ever. Six Senses Zil Pasyon makes it possible. Six Senses is committed to the animal inhabitants that came before. The hotel group nurses the Coral beaches and endangered plants back to health by planting new seeds and ridding the island of invasive species. With the environment at peak performance, your meals will be abundant with nutrients. The Ocean Kitchen is the epitome of clean eating, offering dishes with fresh fish caught by the local and sustainable fisherman, and the produce comes from the island’s organic farms. Seychelles has seen a blend of cultures on its shores; this translates to the food with African, Chinese, French, Creole, and Indian influences. The spa also considers the region’s history, incorporating treatment villas, themed by the elements of nature on the island and African energy cleansing ceremonies.

Cheval Blanc Seychelles

Seychelles

Cheval Blanc Seychelles is a wildlife sanctuary of its own. However, the animals you may encounter here are on the tamer side. You might see a fruit bat in the distance, geckos in the neighboring jungle, and crustaceans and turtles during your beach escapades. The starting accommodation is a villa with private infinity pools, and it’s only up from there, with large private residences. The indoor-outdoor open concept combined with the beachy decor and signature Jungle Chic perfume, satisfies the beach lover and tree-hugger equally.

FAQs

Q: Is the La Residence property child-friendly?

A: Children must be over the age of ten to stay at the main hotel of La Residence, while the Vineyard Suites and Franschhoek House allow children of all ages.

Q: Is there a dress code or recommended attire for game drives and safari walks with Singita Lodges?

A: The Singita Lodges recommend neutral colors and cotton-breathable clothing.

Q: What is the name of the museum underneath The Silo Hotel?

A: Zeitz MOCAA is the museum’s name; MOCAA stands for Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.