South Africa luxury travel map & highlights

Our South Africa luxury travel highlights take you from the literal highs of Table Mountain and its eponymous national park, to the natural highs of seeing whales off the coast of Hermanus. You can also lead the high life, staying at some of the country’s finest boutique hotels, such as in the Winelands or on the Cape Peninsula. You will feel high after seeing the Big Five at Kruger National Park, staying in high end luxury on nearby private wildlife reserves such as Sabi Sands or Madikwe. And for families who want to throw in some serious beach bliss, combine a trip to Kruger with a flight up to neighbouring Mozambique. High fives all round.

Amanda Marks, co-director of World Responsible Tourism Award-winning Tribes Travel: “A luxury safari will generally mean sharing your wildlife experience with fewer people, and possibly having a vehicle and guide (usually of high quality) to yourself. It can also mean less road travel (choosing flights instead, to use your time to be on safari). Depending on the reserve, it can also mean having more diversity in the types of activities you can choose from.”

Amanda Marks, from our supplier Tribes Travel: “South Africa has a lot of choice when it comes to accommodation. There are some luxury camps and lodges which are wonderful both in terms of service and hospitality in the lodge and with regard to the level of wildlife guiding. You also get a very personal service – usually hosted by a camp manager which gives a feel of a house ‘party’; high quality food; a variety in terms of where you dine (in a dining room, around a fire, by a river); a room which has everything you need including niceties such as good quality toiletries, perhaps sherry, possibly a butler (yes really), a lot of space and very comfortable beds; privacy; often a small plunge pool. A butler doesn’t do it for me personally, but privacy and space, preferably with great views and everything you need in terms of plugs, fans for keeping cool are all worth paying for.”

Simon Mills, from our supplier Native Escapes: “The luxury lodges are set up for families. With plenty to do, specific meal times and food options and loads to keep them interested; kids are so well looked after – when we went with my daughter she felt like a princess – and when kids are happy, the parents are happy. You also have some luxury safari lodges in malaria free reserves, so one less headache for families. Lodges like Marataba in the Waterberg is great for families. The little touches here for families are special and the breakfast options are a thing of beauty.”