Africa’s most exclusive safari lodges

January 31st 2025 | Family Safaris, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe | by Tansy Shingleton

Aardvark Safaris senior travel expert Sophie has handpicked a selection of Africa’s most exclusive safari lodges in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. If you’re a large family or group of friends planning a safari together but are unsure where to begin, this blog is just what you need. These exclusive-use safari lodges come with a dedicated team and an impressive list of activities curated on a private basis and tailored just for you. These extraordinary experiences are so special you’ll be raving about them long after your trip – and trust us, this style of travel is easy to fall in love with.

Kenya

Wild Hill

This private villa sits on the Kileleoni Hill – the highest point of the Masai Mara in Kenya – and offers expansive views of the Mara plains. It combines phenomenal wildlife viewing with an emphasis on wellness for the ultimate restful and rejuvenating safari. Your every need is taken care of by your private host, chef and wellness specialist.

The Wild Hill property offers fantastic views over the Masai Mara

Cabanas Lamu

A collection of beautiful bare-foot luxury villas on the quiet yet picturesque Kizingoni beach on the south side of Lamu. If you are a lover of tasty food, then this is the spot for you. The talented chefs create mouthwatering meals from the freshest local cuisine. Top this off with watching the sun descend combined with a gentle coastal breeze rolling in, its Robinson crusoe, with a snippet of luxury.

The Cabanas, seen perched amongst the trees, on the beach edge

Lolldaiga House

An historical house stay within the picturesque Lolldaiga Hills of Kenya. Still privately owned, this house is perched on one of the hills within the reserve with views over the semi-arid northern frontier. It is still a working cattle ranch and has a fascinating history to boot. It is perfect for families or multigenerational trips. You will have your own guide who will dance to the songs that you sing whilst staying here, ensuring you have a fantastic time and go home with incredible memories.

The dining room with views out onto the garden at Lolldaiga house

Laragai House

A perfect private family escape within Borana conservancy. Sleeping up to 16 guests, Laragai comes with your own house staff and guides to ensure your holiday is one of the comfiest you have ever been on. Enjoy wildlife drives, walking safaris, tracking rhino on foot, paddle boarding in one of the local dams, mountain biking and horse riding to name but a few of the activities available here. The perfect time to go would be over February half term as the weather is warm and there are not as many people around.

Laragai House pool with views across the Borana conservancy

South Africa

Leobo

South Africa is the perfect location for exclusive use stays, but the award winning Leobo takes it one step further with its very own 20,000-acre private reserve. Offering activities from helicopter rides to mountain climbing to skydiving, there is almost nothing you can’t do here. Its quirky design includes a domed observatory for expert star-gazing.

Leobo House and star gazing obsevatory

Samara The Manor

The epitomy of luxury and located within the stunning Karoo Reserve is Samara The Manor. With four spacious suites and a 21 metre infinity pool, incredible views beyond, this is the perfect private escape to relax after your adventure along the Garden Route in South Africa. Taken on a completely exclusive use basis it is perfect for groups of friends and family, looking for the ultimate in privacy. Indulge and relax as you are waited on hand and foot by your own personal host, chef and guide.

Infinity pool with stunning views of the surounding mountain range

Tanzania

Mkombe House

As the only private house in the Serengeti, Mkombe House offers the ultimate exclusive experience. Named after Mkombe Mniko, a cherished guide with a passion for the surrounding area and family experiences, this lodge was built with children in mind. Little ones are welcome on a range of activities, from bush walks to wildlife drives.

Mkombe house nestled in to the hillside

Entamanu Private

Perched on the side of the Ngorongoro Crater rim is Entamanu Private. Everything is completely tailored around what you would like to do, from wildlife drives down into the crater floor, to walking to the local Masai village to learn more about their culture and ways of life. The location of this camp is well away from the busy exits and entrances to the crater itself and perfect for listening to the night time chorus of hyenas as they howl during the night, the noise reverberating around the amphitheatre of the crater walls.

Entamanu House on the edge of Ngorongoro Crater

Jabali Private House

A home away from home, with all the bells and whistles attached! Jabali Ridge Private house located in southern Tanzania’s stunning Ruaha. Relax in your own private pool trying to spot resident wildlife meandering past. Head out on day and night drives, or tread the paths of the elephant highways on a walking safari with your own private guide.

Jabali Private house in remote Ruaha National Park

Zambia

Chongwe House

Zambia is a great country for a family safari and Chongwe House in the Lower Zambezi is a fun place to stay for all ages. Designed with a termite mound in mind, it blends seamlessly with its wild surroundings. The lower Zambezi National Park has some of Zambia’s best wildlife, but you can also watch elephants, warthogs and more while taking a bath in the open-fronted bedroom.

Chongwe house bathroom with views out onto the river

Luangwa Safari House

Located in the stunning South Luangwa, famed for its herds of elephant and even more so wild dog. With a maximum of eight guests, this is a really exclusive home from home. Perfect for a family of four travelling with a second family or a multi-generational holiday.

Elephants stroll past Luangwa Safari House

Zimbabwe

Khayelitshe House

Set in the heart of the stunning Matobo Hills National Park, this is the perfect property for discerning travellers who really want ultimate privacy and relaxation. Surrounded by a beautiful jumble of granite kopjes intermingled with deep valleys where you can walk with rhinos, visit incredible rock art and immersive yourself within the fascinating history of the area. A place to go year-round, in the dry and green season, although June must be the best month as the views from the top of the kopjes are breathtaking.

The sun sets on Khayelitshe House

Malilangwe House

The crème de la crème in terms of luxury, perched atop a sandstone ridge overlooking the Malilangwe Dam, Malilangwe House oozes elegance and is the ultimate in restorative retreats. It is perfect for a multi-generational stays with complete exclusivity – your own chef, butler and guide to ensure your stay is not only relaxing but topped with extra special touches. It is at the top end of the budget but you certainly get what you pay for when staying here.

Malilangwe House with stunning views

We hope this collection of Africa’s most exclusive safari lodges has sparked your inspiration. Whether you’re traveling with family, grandparents, or celebrating a special occasion, these private lodges promise an enhanced safari experience and unforgettable memories.

What next?

Get inspired and sign up to our free Insiders Guide to Africa. We would be delighted to help with planning your perfect safari holiday, whenever you want to travel. Our team of experts has travelled widely throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean and can offer expert advice. Do get in touch – chatting to people by phone or email is what we do best. We listen, we explain, we answer all sorts of questions even those you didn’t know to ask, and finally we make suggestions. If this is your first time to Africa or your twenty first, we have a team standing by to help make the planning easy and the journey the best ever. Please get in touch whatever stage you’re at.

More about the Author

Tansy Shingleton

Travel Expert

Having studied travel and tourism at college and International Tourism Management at university Tansy has always had an interest in the industry. Tansy’s African travel so far has been a month spent in Southern Africa including a safari in Kruger National Park, cultural experiences in Eswatini, and some time on the beach in Mozambique.

Having studied travel and tourism at college and International Tourism Management at university, Tansy has always had an interest in the industry. So she was delighted to join the Aardvark Safaris team in June 2019 as a sales administrator and to be able to put to good use her knowledge of the tourism industry. Tansy now works as a Travel Expert and has travelled across Kenya, Namibia and Botswana, ending in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls for a short stay to visit some of Aardvark Safaris’ favourite properties. She previously spent a month in Southern Africa, including a safari in Kruger National Park, cultural experiences in Eswatini, and some time on the beach in Mozambique.

Favourite African experience

A moment of personal enjoyment came to me one morning in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. I watched the sun slowly rise above a watering hole (African skies never fail to disappoint). So beautifully calm, egrets and herons wading, a mother hippo with her calf slowly padding out in search of a deeper water channel as the heat of day kicks in, zebra and wildebeest with their necks bowed and in the near distance giraffe and elephant. A perfect African scene.

Favourite African animal

Cats of any kind but recently I particularly enjoyed watching lions. They’re the only cat to live in groups (pride) and I loved the way their ferocity can easily be forgotten as they greet each other so affectionately, gently rubbing their battle-torn faces together.

Favourite camp

I'm going to cheat and say the best camp for me is any mobile safari camp. It doesn’t matter where it is, but there is no greater luxury, or thrill, than enjoying a morning brew made with water heated over the fire’s embers and having fresh bread daily cooked in the open air in tins. The tents might not be as big as a luxury safari camp, and the bathroom facilities are necessarily more simple, but mobile camps hark back to the days of pioneers and make me feel like an explorer.

African countries visited

Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe

On arranging holidays

The joys of putting together a tailor made holiday is that you can plan your client the perfect trip for them. Taking time to get to know your client and drawing on your own knowledge and experiences of Africa to ensure any recommendations are best suited for their preferences whether it be a romantic hideaway for honeymooner, a luxury villa for a multi-generational trip or something a little unusual for those wanting to experience something outside of their comfort zone. Clients come to us for their first safari saying this is a once in a lifetime trip but more often than not they’re soon back in touch ready to explore what Africa can offer next, a true testament for perfectly curated trip.

+ 44 (0) 1980 849160

tansy@aardvarksafaris.com

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