South Africa has some of the most beautiful properties and experiences in Africa, from ultra-luxurious safari lodges with spas to treehouses beneath the stars. Consider going wine tasting on a private train, swimming with elephants in Kruger National Park, or relaxing in a spa hideaway with views of Table Mountain. On top of that Mandela’s rainbow nation is a must-see location that should be on every traveler’s bucket list, thanks to its diverse population’s great friendliness. Travelers are raving about more than just the breathtaking natural environment. South Africa also has some of the world’s finest and most luxury hotels and resorts, which complement the stunning nature. We’ve put together a top ten list of our favorite hotels and lodges in South Africa to help you choose the perfect place to stay. Enjoy this list of top 10 most luxurious hotels in South Africa.
10- The Munro Boutique Hotel | Johannesburg
Overview
Perched on a hill, The Munro Boutique Hotel is a magnificent hotel full of charm and character. The magnificent foyer leads to an infinity pool and tumbling gardens with a breathtaking view of Johannesburg.
Location
A Rolls Royce is parked outside the door and can take you anywhere in Johannesburg (for a fee). Although the hotel appears to be in the middle of nowhere, it is only 2.5 miles from the city center and close to the best shopping districts. Refrigerators and complimentary snacks, as well as coffee and tea, are available in the rooms. There is no gym, but there is a pool and a sauna in the Presidential suite.
Average Cost
Year-round, double accommodations start at 190 USD. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available for free.
If you are looking for an affordable luxury hotel in Johannesburg, look no further as this hotel is one of the most luxurious hotels in South Africa at an unbelievable price tag.
9- Dorp | Cape Town
Overview
Meaning “village” in Afrikaans, located on the slopes of Signal Hill with unrivalled Table Mountain views, Dorp Hotel is a fantastic area to stay. It features a magical garden as well as unusual areas. It is done by a creative maverick, and it’s unlike any other hotel you have seen.
Location
High on the slopes of Signal Hill, Dorp has some majestic views of Cape Town. If the amazing views aren’t fascinating enough during the day, they would impress anyone at nights when the city turns into an ocean of lights. You would want to take another photo every few seconds, yet a single frame won’t do the scene right.
Average Cost
Dorp is more of an unofficial club for creative misfits and other like-minded people, not those who are looking for spa treatments, a gym, or a tennis court. In low season, double rooms start at 3800 South African Rand (280 USD); accommodations with a view start at 5800 South African Rand (430 USD). Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available for free. Liquor is not sold on site, but it will be stocked at no extra charge.
If you are looking for a niche luxurious hotel, Dorp is calling you as it is among the most luxurious hotels in South Africa.
8- Compass House | Cape Town
Overview
Compass House is a hidden gem that combines the standards of a boutique five-star hotel with the relaxed intimacy and personalised attention of a well-staffed private residence. Views and atmosphere so captivating that it’s worth foregoing the day’s sightseeing. Why look elsewhere when everything you need is right here?
Location
Perched high above the cliffside community of Bantry Bay, virtually cantilevered off Kloof Road, Compass House has the same jaw-dropping vistas as nearby Ellerman House and Clarendon: palm palms cut out into a large sparkling ocean beneath a big blue sky, into which the summer sun sinks daily.
The sole disadvantage is that nothing is within walking distance, but cabs are easy to get by, and the top attractions and restaurants are only a five- to 15-minute drive away. So, if you are looking for an unforgettable stay at one of the most luxurious hotels in South Africa, Compass House is your place to visit.
Average Cost
In low season, double rooms start at 3,500 rand (280 USD); in high season, they start at 4,500 rand (360 USD); and in peak season, they start at 6,000 rand (485 USD). Breakfast is included, as well as sundowner beverages and canapés. Wi-Fi is available for free.
7- Tintswalo Atlantic | Cape Town
Overview
Tintswalo is the only luxury Cape Town hotel within Table Mountain National Park: nestled at the base of the steep Chapman’s Peak, it is also the city’s only hotel on the beach, offering breathtaking ocean views, great dining, and genuine, kind service.
Location
The resort is almost completely secluded from view, with only 11 deceptively modest wooden and glass bungalows set between milkwood trees with the ocean as their constant lullaby. The city may appear to be a million miles away, but all of the city’s major tourist attractions are within a 20- to 45-minute drive.
Average Cost
Double suites start at 500 USD (R8,520) on average, including breakfast and dinner. Wi-Fi is available for free. It’s not inexpensive, but it’s well worth it given the exclusivity and culinary standards. But if you are looking for one of the most luxurious hotels in South Africa with gorgeous views away from the city, yet close to it, Tintswalo is the right choice.
6- Rhulani Safari Lodge | Madikwe Game Reserve
Overview
One of the great hidden gems of South Africa. Rhulani is located in the rugged Madikwe Game Reserve, which is exclusively accessible to guests staying on-site. With epic vistas and a superb location amidst a huge swath of wildlife-rich bush, the lodge is beautifully constructed in native wood, stone, and thatch.
Location
This lodge’s location doesn’t get any better than being in the middle of South Africa’s fifth-largest game reserve, which is home to the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino – as well as an unspoiled environment that is closed to day visitors.
Average Cost
Game-watching is limited to official guided vehicles only, and with the closest town, Zeerust, over 60 miles (100 kilometers) away, staying at this lodge is a truly off-the-beaten-path trip.
5- La Residence | Franschhoek
Overview
This boutique hotel, built on a working farm surrounded by mountains, boasts stunning 360-degree views, a calm setting, magnificent accommodations, and exceptional food, but it’s the service that really sets it apart. It’s no surprise that it appears on annual lists of the world’s best hotels.
Location
La Residence is a charming boutique hotel on a 30-acre property on the western flank of this narrow valley, with panoramic views of mountains, vineyards, and orchards from every direction. The high street is a 20-minute walk down the hill, but for local visits, a complimentary vehicle is available (four minutes by car). Bicycles are another excellent mode of transportation, with vehicles available to pick you up whenever you run out of steam.
Average Cost
In low season, double rooms start at 10,800 South African Rand (875 USD); in peak season, they start at 16,600 South African Rand (1,900 USD). Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available for free. In-room snacks, laundry, and a minibar are all included. If you are down for staying at a remote, yet among the most luxurious hotels in South Africa, La Residence is your best bet.
4- Delaire Graff Estate | Stellenbosch
Overview
Intelligent, intuitive service – the kind that appears to anticipate your needs. From the great movie selection to the fine-dining sundowner canapés; the blankets and champagne waiting on the golf cart to the unique method in which their sommelier tailors the wine match to your specific taste, this is hospitality at its finest. Delaire Graff Estate is one of the best hotels out there.
A pool with a breathtaking view, a movie room, a magnificent spa, two fantastic restaurants, an outstanding wine tasting experience, and gorgeous gardens are among the state-of-the-art amenities.
Location
With a drive that sweeps uphill through a gorgeous garden to arrive at what is undoubtedly the Cape’s most spectacular mountain view, this is more of an experience than a hotel. Graff deserves credit for attracting superlatives in all areas of the business, including art, design, wine, eating, and service.
Average Cost
In low season, double rooms start at 12,940 rand (950 USD), whereas in peak season, they start at 18,570 rand (1,350 USD). Breakfast is provided, as well as newspapers, a minibar, daily trips to Stellenbosch, laundry, wine tasting, and evening canapés. Wi-Fi is available for free.
3- Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge | Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Overview
The modern low-rise shape of this established eco-loving lodge of 13 stand-alone rooms blends in harmony with its bushveld surroundings, living up to its name in great drama. The knowledgeable guides make getting up extra early for your safari trips a breeze.
Location
Fly from Johannesburg to the thatch-roof, open-air Skukuza airstrip in approximately 30 minutes, and then be picked up in an open-top 4×4 and driven to the unfenced 60,000-hectare private biodiversity refuge on the outskirts of Kruger National Park. On the short journey to the resort, you’ll barely make it out of the little airport before seeing at least one of the Big Five.
Not only is game-viewing one of the joys of a luxury safari, but so are moments like pausing to have a morning coffee or your favourite aperitif put up in the most elegant of ways right beside your jeep. An early morning expedition in an open vehicle with your in-the-know (and armed) ranger and eagle-eyed Shangaan tracker, followed by an afternoon outing, which may include walking safaris. Sabi Sabi’s spirit is as enticing as the love of nature, and speaking with the personnel reveals that the majority of the crew is second generation. There’s also wellness, and the treatments at Amani Spa are fantastic, and the air-conditioned bush-view gym offers nice cardio equipment. The business sells high-quality, locally manufactured souvenirs.
Average Cost
Based on sharing a suite, prices start at ZAR 21,900 (1,550 USD) per person, per night, which includes transfers. The all-inclusive price is fantastic value when you consider the luxury of being able to witness such a colourful ensemble of personalities with a devoted, highly skilled guide. Don’t judge a night based on the cost of a bed; this package includes morning and afternoon open-vehicle safaris with highly qualified rangers and Shangaan trackers, environmental awareness walking safaris, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, selected soft drinks and South African wines, and transfers from the Sabi Sabi airstrip.
2- Royal Malewane | Thornybush Private Nature Reserve
Overview
This tiny boutique resort blends colonial and contemporary design, as well as exquisite cuisine and exceptional service. Spectacular animal sightings are right on the doorstep, but it’s the first-rate guides, the most experienced in Africa, who keep tourists – and celebrities – coming back.
Location
The safari begins as soon as you land, 45 minutes from Hoedspruit airport or 10 minutes from a private airstrip. The Thornybush Private Nature Reserve, which is part of Greater Kruger National Park, is bordered by the Kruger National Park, which is free of fences, allowing wildlife to travel freely. There’s a lot of territory to explore and just a few of vehicles every sighting, so you won’t have to leave the lodge to see elephants at the drinking hole right in front of the terrace.
Personal, refined, but unpretentious service. Two safari drives each day are offered – four guests per vehicle up to a maximum of six, or you may pay extra for a private vehicle – and over 16s can participate in bush walks. With a combined 350 years of expertise, the guiding here is second to none. They may also arrange for helicopter trips and other activities. Relax with The Royal Thaba Massage at the award-winning spa before working off the culinary delights in the tiny gym or the 25-meter heated lap pool. There’s a library with glossy animal literature, or head to the store for Patrick Mavros’ African-inspired jewellery, handicrafts, and colourful kaftans for some retail therapy.
Average Cost
In low season, double rooms start at ZAR 49,000 (3,550 USD), and in high season, they start at ZAR 51,900 (3,750 USD), including all meals, drinks, laundry, and two daily drives. Wi-Fi is available for free.
1- Singita Lebombo Lodge | Kruger National Park
Overview
Singita is Africa’s most acclaimed safari brand thanks to its contemporary elegance, top-notch amenities, smart service, and outstanding gastronomy. But it’s the setting that seals the deal: in a secluded and wild concession with thrilling lion sightings, this is as good as it gets in the Kruger.
Location
Owner Luke Bailes allegedly had his pick of Kruger concessions, with this being his first option. He constructed Lebombo on a hilltop overlooking the N’wanetsi River, which is home to a variety of birds and animals, and is framed by the Lebombo Mountains. Sweni, the younger sister, arrived later and lives just above the banks. This 33,000-acre concession, which borders Mozambique’s Parque Nacional do Limpopo, is home to only 24 guestrooms. It’s secluded and wild, with the added bonus of rarely-seen sightings and incredible lion experiences. The lodges are 45 minutes from Satara airport and three hours from Hoedspruit airport, and are managed separately yet within walking distance of each other.
Average Cost
Rooms start at ZAR 60,500 (4,000 USD) for a double room. All meals, beverages, gaming activities, wine tasting, laundry, and Wi-Fi are included in the rates. Much of the money is put back towards conservation.
Having worked at a luxury hotel, I do have a bit of a moral issue with them. They charge more than what the general population makes in a year, and they can get away with shady employment while throwing workers a lot of benefits that are generally useless
I hear you. I used to be a tour guide at a luxury hotel when I was a teenager and they weren’t the best at treating employees fairly. But to my surprise, in South Africa, most luxury hotel workers whom I talked to (three different places) liked their job.
Thank you for your comment! 🙂
Sounds like South Africa is doing something right. I hate luxury hotels in London. They totally screw their workers
Well, if I want to look at it from another perspective, some of the luxury hotel staff in there are recruited from low-income neighborhoods with high crime rates. Maybe some of them compare themselves with their peers and feel blessed for having a stable job at a prestigious place and don’t focus too much on how their managers treat them (but I did not ask them with a different wording like this as I wasn’t planning on having a travel blog back then! lol).
Yeah, that kind of makes me wonder if other stuff is going on. Although, in London, no one complained either. If you did, you were bullied
That’s scary! I remember my American colleague at work saying the same thing. He said it was unofficially unacceptable for the workers to take their two-week vacation at his previous company!
I’m not surprised of high attrition rates in hospitality and the Great Resignation