Luxury Safaris in Africa
Help Me PlanRecommended Luxury Safari Packages
A luxury safari is synonymous with intimate camps, romantically secluded lodges, and vast wildernesses that stretch as far as the eye can see. African Sky has offered sound advice and luxury safari packages for over 25 years. Start planning your dream travel experience today. We believe that the perfect holiday is not only wild and adventurous but also soothing to the soul and restorative in nature.
Explore Botswana's three top safari areas - Chobe National Park, the Okavango Delta, and the Savute Channel - during this luxurious wild adventure.
This extraordinary escape provides unique luxury safari experiences in Sossusvlei and the Greater Etosha National Park in Namibia.
Experience South Africa's two premier private game reserves while enjoying luxury safari accommodation at two of the finest lodges imaginable.
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Top Luxury Safari Destinations
All the top luxury safari destinations in Southern Africa lie in or adjacent to National Parks. In all instances, small luxurious lodges provide accommodation in these remote wildernesses.
Other Destinations
Though not as well known, these safari areas offer unique safari activities from luxury safari lodges & camps.
Chobe
Botswana's Chobe National Park is the country's third-largest national park. The bountiful waters of the Chobe River - for which the park is named - draw a spellbinding profusion of wildlife to its fertile shores, particularly astonishing numbers of elephants. Despite its size, Chobe boasts only a tiny handful of upscale lodges and mobile 'glamping', ensuring an intimate luxury safari experience.
Shamwari
Shamwari Private Game Reserve is located in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, a few hours' drive from the famous Garden Route region. Shamwari is favored amongst families who wish to travel to malaria-free wilderness areas but not compromise on the delightful indulgence of a luxury safari. The lodges are divided between child-friendly and adult-only, ensuring a choice for all.
Madikwe
Like Shamwari, Madikwe also offers luxury Big Five safaris in a malaria-free wilderness. That's where the similarities end, however. While Shamwari is green and lush, Madikwe straddles two drier eco-zones - bushveld and Kalahari - creating a unique environment. Animals that are rarely spotted elsewhere in South Africa - such as the brown hyena - may be encountered in Madikwe.
Welgevonden
Welgevonden skirts the majestic Waterberg, a convenient distance from Johannesburg and Pretoria. This Big Five-bearing wilderness is characterized by towering ocher mountains and rolling valleys, carpeted with bushveld and semi-arid vegetation. Neighboring Marakele National Park hosts another sumptuous safari lodge - Marataba - in a private concession.
Phinda
Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province boasts a wilderness unlike any other. With seven distinct ecosystems, your game drives are characterized by constantly shifting landscapes that host the Big Five and a wealth of different species. The reserve's lavish lodges are defined by their surroundings, from the treed groves of Forest Lodge to Rock Lodge's idyllic perch.
South Luangwa
South Luangwa National Park in Zambia spans a great wilderness area of riverine beauty and oxbow lakes. It is known as the birthplace of the walking safari, and there is no finer place to unwind after a day of exploring than in the venerated villa of a luxury safari lodge. The lodges blend handsomely into their bewitching surroundings, ensuring a seamless transition from bush to abode.
Experiences to Savor on a Luxury Safari in Africa
Spa Treatments
Spa treatments at luxury lodges typically take place either in a private sala or on your suite's private deck. Regardless of the location, you will enjoy beguiling bush views and unwind to the scents of locally sourced products and the sounds of the wilderness.
Delectable Cuisine
Luxury safari lodges employ world-class chefs to ensure that mealtimes become more like events rather than necessities. Many lodges will include 'wild' options on the menu, like kudu sirloin, impala salad, or springbok carpaccio. These meats are naturally lean and delicious and are cooked to perfection.
Sounds of the Wild
It is quite something to turn out the lights at night, nestle into the rich linens of your king-sized bed, and then jerk awake to the blood-curdling roar of a lion beyond the snug confines of your suite. As plush as your environment may be, this is still the bush - loud, wild, and wonderful.FAQ
Opting for a luxury safari does not mean your safari experience will be any less authentic. The lodges are located in spectacular wilderness areas - inherently wild - and your game drives and bush walks will cede unforgettable sightings.
Some of the more exclusive lodges offer personalized butler services to guests. Upon your arrival, an individual dedicated to your personal needs is assigned to you.
Often - and somewhat ironically - the more luxurious the lodge, the more blurred the lines where the property and the wilderness meet - this ensures a truly immersive experience, and it also means that wildlife occasionally wanders through the grounds. Be sure never to approach any wild animals, and never roam around unaccompanied at night - it is still perfectly safe.
Despite the plush surroundings, most luxury safari lodges are more intent on your comfort and relaxation rather than imposing a dress code for dinner. Often guests will opt to head straight to dinner after their afternoon game drives, which is perfectly acceptable. A small handful of lodges, like Rattray's on Mala Mala, require semiformal attire for dinner. Be sure to check beforehand.
Yes - many lodges have private safari vehicles available at an additional daily rate (and subject to availability - if the lodge is full and all vehicles are in use, it would naturally not be possible).
All-inclusive typically means that all your safari activities, three meals daily, game drive refreshments, coffees, teas, soft drinks, and local beers, wines, and spirits are included in the price. Occasionally, more luxurious lodges have laundry services as well. The price will not include Premium spirits, imported wines, and spa treatments.
The outdoor shower, though quite an exotic concept to some visitors, is a means to immerse yourself in your wilderness experience. It can be a rather relaxing affair to hear the call of birds and wildlife - or even observe them in the distance, should the shower be open to the bush - while cleansing yourself. However, all lodges have an indoor shower for those who may be uncomfortable with the idea.
South Africa's luxury safari lodges are easily accessible by commercial flight and overland transfer. However, if you would like a more exclusive experience, charter flights are also available directly to the lodges. In other Southern African countries, charter flights are the norm.
The absolute cream of the crop of safari lodges in Southern Africa lies tucked away in the Sabi Sand (including Londolozi) and Mala Mala private game reserves.
The Kruger National Park is Southern Africa's premier safari destination, offering prolific game viewing and a wide range of accommodation options.
Combine your love of the great game with safaris in Africa's most inspirational safari areas and other regional highlights.
The Big Five are the continent's most impressive animals, ranging from the elusive leopard to the mighty elephant.
The African lodges included in our choice collection of properties are perched in unique locations like private islands and ancient forests.
