BOTSWANA
KENYA
MAURITIUS
MOROCCO
Palais Namaskar
MOZAMBIQUE
SEYCHELLES
SOUTH AFRICA
Royal Malewane
TANZANIA
ZAMBIA
Abu Camp
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Six stylish tented suites with antique beds and private balconies along the edge of a lagoon in the private 450,000-acre Abu Concession. Daily excursions include mokoro trips through reed-lined waterways and elephant-back safaris atop the reserve’s resident herd. ($1,780–$2,580 per person, all inclusive) www.abucamp.com
Zarafa Camp
Selinda Reserve, Botswana
Bordering a lagoon in the private 320,000-acre Selinda Reserve, this four-tent camp co-owned by the National Geographic filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert is the essence of eco-friendly luxury. Photograph lions, leopards, elephants, and other big game with the camp’s cache of Canon DSLR cameras and lenses. ($1,440–$2,250 per person, all inclusive) www.greatplainsconservation.com
Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Colonial elegance on a 6,000-acre private Maasai Mara concession bordering the Serengeti and Loliondo reserves. Spot Big Five wildlife on daily game walks and drives before retiring to one of 10 tented suites attended by personal butlers. ($520–$920 per person, all inclusive except alcohol) www.cottars.com
Segera Retreat
Laikipia Plateau, Kenya
The German philanthropist Jochen Zeitz brings art and wildlife together at this eight-villa safari retreat set on 50,000 acres of privately owned savanna. More than 150 contemporary African artworks greet guests returning from game drives to sight endangered patas monkeys and Grevy’s zebras, as well as endemic reticulated giraffes. ($970–1,800 per person, all inclusive) www.segera.com
St. Regis Mauritius Resort
La Morne Brabant, Mauritius
Opened in November 2012, this glamorous beach resort sets a new standard in the island nation of Mauritius, with 172 guest rooms and suites, six restaurants (including one helmed by the Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar), a 16,000-square-foot pool complex, and a cinema. ($1,480–$20,200)www.stregis.com
Palais Namaskar
Marrakech, Morocco
A tribute to Marrakech’s roots, this Oetker Collection resort opened in 2012 in the upscale Palmeraie district on the city’s outskirts. The 12-acre grounds are home to massive reflecting pools, intricate gardens,and 41 accommodations that include three gold-domed palaces. The resort’s 14-seat private jet is available for transfers from Casablanca. ($490–$12,000) www.palaisnamaskar.com
Azura Benguerra Island
Benguerra Island, Mozambique
An intimate beach retreat located 14 miles from the mainland, offering 16 thatch-roofed villas with private plunge pools and attentive butlers. After a day of reef diving or big-game fishing, watch the sun set at the open-air Star Bar. From July to September, glimpse a passing parade of migrating humpback whales. ($550–$4,950 per person, all inclusive) www.azura-retreats.com
Frégate Island Private
Seven beaches, two swimming pools, two restaurants, a spa, and just 17 villa accommodations make up this private retreat set on a 740-acre jungle-covered island in the Indian Ocean. Claim your own beach by turning over the “do not disturb” sign at Anse Macquereau. ($5,360–$17,410, all inclusive except alcohol) www.fregate.com
North Island
Enjoy flawless barefoot luxury and top-notch service at this Seychelles private-island resort. The 519-acre hideaway includes just 11 villas—each with a butler and an expansive sundeck—plus a spa, a dive center, four beaches, a library, and a conservation center for its few guests to enjoy. ($3,510–$5,545 per person, all inclusive) www.north-island.com
Birkenhead House
Hermanus, South Africa
Perched grandly above Walker Bay, this Royal Portfolio property redefines South African coastal luxury with 11 opulent rooms rich with leather, marble, and silk. From June to December, the resort terrace affords views of migrating southern right whales. ($325–$525 per person, including meals) www.birkenheadhouse.com
La Residence
Franschhoek, South Africa
The narrow road that leads to La Residence’s circular entrance meanders past rippling rows of vines, meadows filled with gleefully bucking springbok, and a glass-like pond frequented by wild birds. But the quaint bucolic spectacle at this South African wine-country resort ends at the door. Inside, a medley of eclectic international styles overwhelms the senses: Enormous crystal chandeliers hang from triple-height thatch ceilings, Persian rugs stretch across travertine tile floors, and French and Chinese antiques mingle with local works of art. The decor is no less elaborate in the 11 suites and five villas, which include the Maharani Suite (featuring golden accents and paintings of tigers and maharajahs on the walls) and the Tang Suite (with large Chinese scrolls and rich red and green fabrics). Guests can drink in the exquisite scenery by venturing out in the Cape Winelands—top vintners including La Motte and Boschendal are a short drive away—or, back at their suite, by relaxing with a bottle of La Residence’s own blend on a private vineyard-view terrace. (Suites $315–$630 per person, villas $650–$1,800, including breakfast) www.laresidence.co.za —Jackie Caradonio
Royal Malewane
Thornybush Reserve, South Africa
Set in a private 30,000-acre reserve within Greater Kruger National Park, this exquisite game lodge is known as much for its A-list clientele as its exceptional wildlife. A collection of antiques and art embellishes the 10 suites; the six-bedroom Africa House is perfect for families. (Suites from $1,260 per person, Africa House from $11,900, both all inclusive) www.royalmalewane.com
Singita Castleton
Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa
Safari goers enjoy absolute privacy at this new exclusive-use farmhouse retreat set within a 45,000-acre reserve bordering South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Six cottages and a main house sleep as many as 12 guests; amenities include a swimming pool and tennis courts. (From $6,740 for as many as eight guests, all inclusive) www.singita.com
Singita Grumeti
Serengeti, Tanzania
Three lodges, a mobile camp, and a private villa on a 350,000-acre Singita-managed concession add up to what is arguably Africa’s most luxurious safari destination. Twice-daily game drives offer the chance to see lions, elephants, and, from June to August, the great migration. (From $995 per person, all inclusive) www.singita.com
Chinzombo Camp
South Luangwa, Zambia
Travelers intent on witnessing the abundance of wildlife in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park have traditionally been limited to mobile safaris and other intrepid options. That changed last year with the opening of Chinzombo Camp, a six-villa Norman Carr Safaris lodge set within a 60-acre private reserve along the banks of the Luangwa River. Designed by the South African architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens (best known for creating the Seychelles’ North Island resort), the camp comprises a series of elevated white pavilions adorned with canvas campaign furniture, sawhorse tables, and steamer trunks. Each of the six accommodations features a private plunge pool on a spacious wooden deck with an unobstructed view of the river. Rech and Carstens’s design for the open-air dining area pays tribute to Carr—a conservation hero and safari pioneer in Zambia—with vintage photos and curios from his explorations. Most alluring, however, is the unrivaled access to South Luangwa’s wildlife, which includes pods of hippopotamuses that populate the water and banks just below the camp. (From $875 per person, all inclusive) www.normancarrsafaris.com —Joe Yogerst
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