Best Luxury Safari Lodges
With plenty of options to choose from, selecting your safari accommodation isn't easy. Different lodges can offer different experiences depending on what you are after from your holiday. Some lodges will only have small guest occupancy and offer intimate experiences, whereas other camps will cater for larger groups.
Camps can also be mobile meaning that they are not permanent structures and they will relocate depending on the season and where the animals are most likely to be. Due to the accommodation manoeuvring regularly, these camps are normally made up from a number of luxury tents. These tents however, dispel all traditional myths of what may come to mind if you think of camping. Their furnishings are luxurious and all your needs will be met. Their placement is also extra-close to the action and will certainly make you feel more at one with nature. If you have the opportunity to stay in these mobile camps, do it.
Best Beach Hotels
Just like the safari camps, there are many varying options when it comes to accommodation by the beach. Generally the more you pay, the more intimate and luxurious your accommodation will be, however we have options that can cater for all budgets. The beach hotels we offer can either be the base for a perfect romantic getaway or for an ideal adventure and activity filled holiday.
Best Safari Lodges
It is very hard to rank Africa lodges with one simple measure! Our ranking is subjective and tries to reflect value for money as well as overall quality. Therefore we may award just three stars to certain 'five star' lodges in the hotel, or five stars to some superb, unashamed 'three star' hotels that are great value for money.
Our View
Since it has recently changed hands, Kitich Camp has moved away from the once very rustic experience it was with Guilio. There is still no compromising on the experience, but with electricity throughout the night it is has a slightly softer feel. The onus is still, however, very much on getting out into this stunning region with walking a particular recommendation. If you are looking for a touch of utter wilderness and a great place to relax….the only drawback is getting there!Our View
If you have been looking on this web site for which of the beach lodges we think is the best….you may have just found it! With its relaxed feel and spacious rooms, Kiwayu is definitely up there with the best beach lodges in Africa. This region is such an untouched paradise that the World Wildlife Fund has a post here to study the turtle that are to be frequently found flapping their way up the beaches at night (best season being April to September and December to February).Our View
With its conservation credentials such as using solar paneling to heat water, the lodge ticks quite a few boxes in our view. Mary Jo and Louis are charming hosts and regale many an interesting tale about their years spent in Africa and the areas they have seen. With rooms larger than plenty of London flats, the feel inside is of an airy and calm space and are perfect to relax and forget about the rest of the world. The main issue that they have is a lack of pool, but, with good swimming year round in either the sea or the nearby channel this is not a huge issue. At the price it is offered, this really is a bargain and, as such, will be difficult to get into. A perfect combination with a stay in the nearby Shela village.Our View
Kizingoni Kabanas offer complete tranquility and seclusion, whose ethos is barefoot luxury. The kabanas are very accomodating and comfortable, but maybe lack the finnesse of some other possible luxury Indian Ocean retreats. Saying that though, it is still luxurious - not due to it's decor and flamboyant additions, but due to it's amazing beach and complete privacy.Our View
The houses are a relatively new addition to the Lamu coastline but offer a great alternative to private houses of Lamu and Shela. Each of the houses has been built to a very high standard and, with the luxury of having staff to pick up groceries from Lamu and, if you are not in the mood for cooking, to cook, a stay in one of the houses is fantastic.The only drawback that we can mention is that the plot they have, while benefitting from being around the point, is not in as good a location as the nearby Kizingo.Kleins is one of our favourite Serengeti camps, as it offers a wide range of safari experiences, including night drives and walking safaris, with superb guides. Fabulously positioned half way up a valley, the camp overlooks the valley floor which fills with the migrating herds when they come back in October and early November. Even when the migration isn’t around, safaris at Kleins are simply fantastic due to it being a private concession with excellent resident game and walking and night drives options.
Food and Service are the areas they need to improve (as you warned us). For the most part it is okay and they are really trying to offer 5 star western service but the staff do need more training to give them the confidence to carry out service competently and efficiently. Breakfast and dinner service was efficient but we did wait 30-40 minutes for our lunch. I think this is due to the kitchen being at the back of the property away from the beach. It came down to you wrapped in tin foil but wasn’t that warm when it arrived. I know you had said they have an extensive wine list but they only ever offered one white and one red at dinner and when we asked for the list they said they didn’t have one. Breakfast was fruit, pastries and cooked breakfast or pancakes but sadly the latter was not good. They did have cereal on the menu but I never saw it out and when I asked they only had rice krispies! We did have it delivered to our villa twice and it was nice to sit on the verandah looking out to sea. They also bring fresh fruit and afternoon cake and biscuits to the room every day which is a nice touch. Dinner was a set menu with a cold starter, followed by a strange soup which was always brown and gruel like(!) and then a choice of 2 main courses and then a dessert. The main courses were varied but the dessert was often a cold mousse/pannacotta chilled style pudding that often didn’t taste of much.
I know I have pointed out several negatives about KK but we really did have a nice stay and it is the place to go if you want to relax and do nothing.
- J Howitt
Our View
A good value camp in Sossusvlei - Situated on over 21, 000 hectares of private property and bordering the Namib Naukluft Park, Kulala Desert Lodge lies in the heart of the Namib and offers magnificent views of the famous red dunes of Sossusvlei as well as magnificent mountainous scenery and vast open plains.your budget and travel dates, and your money is protected
by our ATOL bond.