There are of course different standards of luxury under the topic of Luxury African Lodges and, of course, the very word “luxury” means different things to different people. For some, just having hot water on safari is a luxury. But we are talking serious bush luxury here: luxury camping safaris (yes it is very possible) where the tented rooms are enormous and the bathrooms fully ensuite (hot and cold water and flush loos) and then, as one works up the scale from the already lovely to the uber-chic, extraordinary lodges complete with double sized bedrooms, air conditioning, hairdryers, shoe shining kits,  trendy toiletries, private lounges, verandahs with enormous vistas, salas, private plunge pools, unrivalled scenery, private butlers and staff and private game drives. All this in the middle of nowhere! Some of our favourite luxury African lodges include the following:

In Rwanda there is the exceptional Sabyinyo Lodge.  Situated amidst plantations the lodge sits in the foothills of the mighty Virunga Mountains with seven volcanoes stretching out into the distance. On each volcano one can trek to see mountain gorillas which is a privilege in itself.

View From Sabyinyo - Luxury African Lodges With AfricanExplorations.com

Just over the border into Uganda is Clouds Lodge, in the Nkuringo area of Bwindi. Again this is a very comfortable haven (only eight rooms) from which to explore the area, and do gorilla trekking. At night one can also see the glow of the active Nyiragongo volcano in the Congo (DRC).

Luxury African Lodges do not come better than in Botswana and Abu’s Camp is an obvious example. Located in a very beautiful sector of the Okavango Delta and surrounded by islands and crystal clear waterways, the camp sits in a private concession covering 180,000 hectares. The camp was named after a bull elephant called Abu and is situated in a grove of magnificent hardwood trees on the edge of a large lagoon with a resident school of hippo. The property features rooms shrouded by canvas, held in place by pale coloured poles in an Afro-Bedouin style. There are elegant furnishings and fittings and the whole is surrounded by sycamore and jackalberry trees. The six tents, which are raised on wooden plinths, have their own private verandahs and high airy ceilings and are simply lovely. What makes Abu’s Camp stand out – apart from its luxury – is the specialist interaction with the elephants and their mahoots.

Abus Camp - Luxury African Lodges With AfricanExplorations.com

Also in Botswana there is Jack’s Camp in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. A visit to the pans is always a joy and the Colonial-styled tents are furnished with Persian rugs, copper basins and high canopied beds.  One of the highlights is afternoon tea, in the separate tea tent, where one indulges in homemade pastries and cookies whilst lounging on giant cushions and Persian carpets under swaths of creamy canvas and curtains blowing in the wind – something completely special and quite glorious.

But we can only skim the surface in a quick blog – have a look at our “Accommodation Guide” pages for a wider look at Luxury African Lodges.

What is being “at peace”? A series of gentle-but-fleeting impressions or experiences that linger to make a lasting, more integrated, whole? Quietly sharing a special moment with family, wife, husband, partner, parent?  Being able to spend time doing what you wish in an environment that takes one back to one’s evolutionary roots? How and where to find “Peace” is, of course, a variable feast for all of us with a million-and-one possibilities but a luxury African holiday can provide this sought after, overlooked and (regrettably) often-ephemeral spiritual commodity.

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And, then, how to define luxury?!? To me, as I sit writing this, it would be luxury to just be in the bush; flycamping in Katavi or, perhaps, at Sosian knowing the camels are safely “done” for the night. Or to sit and watch Wild Dog for an hour that might stretch to several. Cantering down a sandy track in South Africa or (yes, I know, off subject on an African website but why not?) to be camped by a river in Canada with the call of the loon and wolf nearby are also, to me, simple, effervescent, life-enhancing luxuries. Thus, to myself (I hear my colleague, the wonderful Hashim, agreeing) the “luxury” is obtained from the experience per se rather than the accoutrements of where I stay. Again this is (and can only be) a highly personal opinion and I fully accept that, to many, “luxury” is Egyptian cotton sheets and towels in the middle of the bush or champagne for sundowners. Make no mistake about my own motives here, either, I’d say “Why not, indeed!” to such luxury and I certainly wouldn’t turn it down; we all have differing ideas and I have no axe to grind at all with whatever your own definition of “luxury” may be. But I do think that there is a peace that comes from being somewhere you really want to be, in an environment with which you connect, that gives you an inner feeling of luxurious satisfaction that is common to all these experiences.

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There’s a point to these musings and I’m not going to even elaborate here on excellent food, great guiding (crucial) or super-comfortable beds in huge en suite tents in the most extraordinarily lovely locations, let alone stunning wildlife. That’s for other blogs and my point is this: I often get asked – sometimes in roundabout ways – to create a “luxury” African holiday.

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But we know that luxury is different things to different people so, in order to do my duty to you, oh esteemed client, I need to know who you are! What makes you tick? What is it about Africa that entices you – perhaps for the second, third or fourth time? Can I empathise with your own feelings, desires and passions so that I can create exactly the right safari or holiday for you, with all the right nuances? For this, to me, is another luxury; in the process of creating exactly the right balance within a holiday I have the privilege of conversing with (and, sometimes, getting to know rather well) a wide range of very special, often talented, individuals. Most have skills I can only dream of and all are totally different yet have a single unifying desire: to go to Africa. What a luxury…….

Luxury African Holiday - Life's Special Moments With AfricanExplorations.com

Singita is a name synonymous with luxury – whether one stays at their luxurious lodges in South Africa or their luxury lodges in the Serengeti in Tanzania – quality is the hallmark!

Singita with AfricanExplorations.com

New to Singita Serengeti is the luxury mobile safari – starting off at their beautiful camp Faru Faru and then going on a luxury private mobile safari, just for you or a group of friends. There is no better way of being on safari! The guiding of course, is quite superb and all creature comforts have been thought of!

Then for those who enjoy horse riding, we can include for you to either ride whilst at Singita in the Serengeti or for those who are more experienced, to go on a proper horse riding safari for three days and up to a week!

We are specialists from Tanzania and South Africa, so call us for further details!