When you’re taking the trip of the lifetime, why not splurge? Going on an African safari is a great time to treat yourself – like royalty! There are properties across Africa that offer incredible exclusivity and luxury, making for an even more unforgettable vacation. Some are so unique they are chosen by monarchs for their own private getaways and others that we agree meet the same standards. We explore five of our favorite luxury safari accommodations below.
If you’ve set your sights on one of the continent’s most iconic destinations, Serengeti House in Tanzania is the private retreat for you. Set on the slopes of a hill with spectacular views of Africa’s endless plains, Serengeti House also has views of a nearby waterhole where wildlife regularly visits to drink. This modern, private home includes a 25-yard-long rim-flow pool, expansive outdoor dining decks and fire pit – allowing you to blend your days and nights with the wilderness of your surroundings.
With four expansive guest suites – each stunningly appointed – along with a private kitchen, media room, fully-equipped fitness center, tented massage treatment suite and tennis pavilion, you will want for nothing during your stay. A full private staff will attend to your every need.
During your stay, you will have private access to an untouched wilderness on the annual wildebeest migration route. You can enjoy game drives, community visits, safari walks, an anti-poaching observation post visit, spa treatments, yoga and fitness; as well as sampling wines from one of Africa’s most sought-after private reserves – including exclusive release, limited single vineyard and rare auction wines – from the extensive cellar.
Serengeti House is an East African sanctuary like no other.
Named one of CNN’s ‘Places Not to be Missed’ and ‘Top Twenty Places to go in the World’ by the New York Times, Segera Retreat is set on a private 50,000 acre conservancy in the foothills of Mount Kenya that is home to lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and buffalo, as well as endangered species such as reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and African wild dog. You’ll have the chance to look for these species along with myriad plains game animals and up to 150 bird species during game drives in your private open-sided safari vehicle with your expert guide. Surrounded by a living cactus fence, Segera’s gardens are alive with birds and a riot of plant life, while its homes, villas and other spaces are teeming with incredible art.
In addition to daily game drives, you can gather wild honey in bee suits, walk with tracker dogs and meet with East Africa’s first female ranger teams, talk with the inspiring women from a local beading collective, enjoy a scenic helicopter excursion, take a cooking class (while sampling wines from the private cellar) or go shopping at the colorful local market.
You can also take an African art tour with Segera’s in-house expert who will introduce you to one of the world’s greatest contemporary African art collections. If you want to focus on wellness, be sure to visit the spa and gym or laze at the pool (we recommend booking Villa Segera or Segera Retreat so that you have your own private pool). Another favorite experience is an exhilarating sleep out under the stars in the ‘Nay Palad Bird Nest’ – a special once-in-a-lifetime experience!
We recommend traveling to and from Segera by private helicopter charter from Nairobi to start and end your stay like a royal. Segera’s private homes are the perfect getaway where you can be pampered like royalty.
South Africa is a popular destination for combining cosmopolitan city pleasures like fine dining, wine tastings and private touring with the wonders of safari. Lion Sands Game Reserve offers guests the chance to lose themselves in more than 30,000 acres of untamed African wilderness while enjoying exceptional service, accommodations and safari experiences.
With just eight luxury suites, Ivory Lodge is private and intimate. The staff at Ivory Lodge is exceptional – no request is too much trouble to attend to and you will be pampered to your heart’s desire during your stay. You’ll feel like a royal with the incredible, highly personalized service. Your suite is luxuriously appointed, so it’s effortless to pop open the Champagne from your maxibar when a glass of bubbly strikes your fancy before you stroll out for a dip in your private plunge pool. Lion Sands Ivory Lodge is definitely fit for royalty!
If you’re interested in art, be sure to spend a bit of time in Ivory Lodge’s gallery where you can visit with the artist in residence to hear about what is inspiring their work and explore their creative process. The cuisine at Ivory Lodge is an exploration of both food and the property. You can dine in myriad beautiful and secluded spots while enjoying fantastic wines and delicious flavors. If you are an omnivore, we recommend a venison tasting during your visit! If you are not – every dietary requirement (and every craving!) can be satisfied by the top notch kitchen team.
If you are particularly adventurous (but still love your luxuries), enjoy a magical night under the African sky at the Kingston Treehouse – a luxurious wooden and glass sleepout structure complete with a full bathroom and a king size bed.
If you’re traveling with friends or family, ask your Journey Specialist about the beautiful two-bedroom Fish Eagle Villa, which offers the ultimate in private luxury and personalized service. Facilities at the villa include a private swimming pool and spa, personal chef, field guide and game viewer vehicle. Fish Eagle Villa can accommodate up to four adults and two children.
Botswana is known for its low tourist densities, making for an exclusive safari experience every time. For an over-the-top expression of this exclusivity, we recommend a stay in the Duba Plains Suite, an exquisite two-bedroom tented suite located on the 81,000-acre private Duba Concession. This safari camp is tucked into the world renowned Okavango Delta, a pristine wilderness teeming with iconic African wildlife.
This private two-bedroomed suite has a wrap-around private veranda complete with two private plunge pools and shaded outdoor seating areas. Each bedroom offers guests beautifully appointed en-suite facilities, including indoor and outdoor showers and a luxurious bath. Fans and a solar-powered air-conditioning system over the guest’s bed area ensure that the tent’s design maintains a comfortable climate. In addition, the suite comes complete with the services of a personal butler, chef, private safari vehicle and wildlife guide. The entire space has a luxurious yet distinctly African feel.
Duba Plains Suite is a member of Relais & Châteaux, one of only four properties in Botswana included in this exclusive group.
If you’re a keen photographer, you’ll be excited to try out the suite’s professional camera and selection of lenses for your complimentary use during your stay. At the end of your safari, your wildlife images and video footage are downloaded for you to take home. You will also have access to high-quality binoculars throughout your stay.
Duba Plains Suite is the perfect spot for a totally private and exclusive stay in Botswana’s Okavango Delta – a safari fit for royalty!
North Island in the Seychelles is the exclusive private island retreat that Prince William and Kate chose for their honeymoon. Notably, it was a return trip for them. They had visited before they were married and loved it so much that they chose it once again. While you might not arrive by private jet or choose a full island buyout (though both can be arranged), you will still feel like royalty as a guest. Tucked away in the far north of the Seychelles archipelago, North Island is the ultimate in barefoot luxury and privacy.
With just 11 private villas, each guest is offered ultimate discretion and unparalleled space. You can choose from a range of activities on offer including scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, surfing and cycling – or you can just enjoy the extremely private and breathtaking setting – a true escape from the hustle and bustle of real life. A full service spa and gym are also available onsite.
North Island offers multiple dining destinations – from The Piazza in an unforgettable oceanside setting and the Sunset Bar with its tapas-style cuisine to in-villa private dining and private destination dining around the Island (including the very romantic Honeymoon Beach). You can experience something different every night while enjoying the freshest cuisine prepared just for you. North Island is truly a royal retreat.
Contact a Journey Specialist to start planning your own customized ‘royal’ safari and subscribe to the newsletter below to keep in touch.
Photos courtesy Segera Retreat, Serengeti House, Lion Sands, Duba Plains and North Island Seychelles,