World’s Best Hotels – 2014

Listed amongst the top 50 World’s Best Hotels 2014

Singita Sabi Sand game reserve comprises two lodges with interiors by emerging African designers: Boulders, a stylish rustic property built into the landscape, and Ebony, a lodge that puts more of a vintage spin on safari. Spend an indulgent night indoors—well-stocked wine cellars and private outdoor showers come standard—or embrace your adventurous side with a mountain-bike ride through the bush or a photography-focused safari. For once-in-a-lifetime views of elephants bathing in the Sand River, book Ebony Lodge’s Suite 1.

Londolozi Game Reserve, Kruger national Park – Five family-run lodges on 42,000 acres of South African wilderness make up this Kruger camp known for its frequent leopard sightings. All 32 rooms and 12 spacious suites have access to the destination’s five restaurants and bars, but we recommend booking Villa No. 1 in the newly built Pioneer Camp. Set among 500-year-old ebony trees along the Sand River, it’s the perfect secluded spot to get away from it all. After you’ve had your fill of traditional game drives, visit a local village, women’s cooperative, and school on the property’s Four Pillars of Hope tour.

Singita Kruger Park – Two lavish lodges (Lebombo and Sweni) with treetop suites and riverside rooms make up this Singita property. The glass-walled Lebombo Lodge overlooks the plains and the Lebombo Mountain Range, while the Sweni Lodge is nestled among trees along the Sweni River. Request a guided walk through the hills along the Mozambique border for a chance to see zebras, giraffes, and impalas, or get the kids involved with a specially designed safari. Want to feel even more in touch with nature? Staff will set up an outdoor bed complete with turndown service—just one example of the tailor-made amenities available.

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve – At Bush Lodge, the flagship of Sabi Sabi’s collection in Kruger National Park, thatched suites are decorated in earthy color schemes and courtyards feature sculptures created from uprooted trees and salvaged wood. Twice-daily game drives, firelight dinners, and spa treatments keep parents occupied, while kids can enroll in the EleFun Centre, a program offering conservation activities and outdoor fun.