Africa Luxury Trips – The Best Places for 5-Star Safaris & Round Trips

Exclusivity and privacy, attentive service and adventures that take your breath away – on a trip to Africa you'll experience luxury in a whole new way.

After all, Africa luxury trips place less emphasis on opulent furnishings and gadgets and instead focus on exclusive experiences, personal retreats and remote destinations away from the well-trodden tourist paths.

In today's blog, we want to talk about what awaits you on a safari like this, where the journey could take you and which of our tours might suit you.

What does luxury mean on an African holiday?

Feel the vastness, the silence and the special quality of every encounter. Africa welcomes you with open arms, far from the everyday and close to the essential.

Enjoy exclusive accommodation that is in harmony with nature, personal attention and experiences that get under your skin while respecting and protecting the environment.

More time at your destination, less time travelling – fly-in safaris

Each of the countries recommended in this blog is considerably larger than Germany, Austria and Switzerland combined. Overland travel times between individual destinations can therefore be very long.

A fly-in safari shortens travel time and therefore lengthens your time at your destination, especially in the most remote areas. Light aircraft take you to all parts of the country that are interesting for tourists. They fly not only to official airports but also to the airstrips of private lodges and game reserves.

This also takes you to areas that are difficult to reach by car and often uninhabited. As a result, you have more time for your adventure, can watch wildlife for longer and enjoy the exclusivity of your accommodation more fully.

Fly-in safaris are also a very comfortable and spectacular way of getting around during your Africa luxury trips. Not only are you travelling for a short time, you'll also fly at eye level over breathtaking nature and fascinating wildlife.

Would you like to find out more about Africa trips?

We'll be happy to advise you. Get in touch!

A trip for individualists – you decide what you see on your Africa luxury trips

A luxury trip in southern and eastern Africa gives individualists the chance to shape their trip according to their own ideas. You decide what you see and who comes along.

You can take your cue from fully developed tours. Or you can put together your own tour entirely according to your own wishes and ideas.

If you are looking for a unique adventure, then an Africa luxury holiday to the continent's fascinating safari regions is just the thing for you!

Here you get tailor-made experiences, first-class service and adventure aplenty.

A wide range of individual activities is available. These include, for example, hot-air balloon rides over the Serengeti or Masai Mara, private boat trips on the Okavango Delta or exclusive hikes in South Africa's Drakensberg.

After your exciting adventures in nature and unforgettable encounters with African wildlife, you can then relax in many luxury lodges with first-class wellness and relaxation offerings. Treat yourself to massages or yoga classes in breathtaking settings and recharge your batteries.

Exclusive and intimate camps and lodges – Africa luxury trips offer comfort and privacy

An Africa luxury trip through the east and south of the continent is more than just a safari. It is an exclusive experience full of privacy, comfort and unforgettable moments.

Whether in a remote lodge in Kruger National Park, an elegant camp in the Serengeti or an intimate property in a private conservancy – here nature and luxury merge into a one-of-a-kind experience.

Many luxury lodgings are located in extraordinary places. They have few rooms and very personal service in spectacular natural surroundings. That can be right on a secluded beach, in the midst of remote wilderness or in the path of migrating wildlife.

They create unforgettable moments on every level of experience. Ideal for romantic honeymoons, unforgettable family holidays that bring people together, or for rekindling the love on a special anniversary.

If you are interested in honeymoons, I recommend the blog “Honeymoons in Africa”.

Often the location of the camps and lodges alone leaves travellers in disbelieving awe. But that's not all, because the thoughtful combination of local architectural styles with modern luxury also constantly inspires lasting admiration.

The lodgings focus on sustainability and environmental awareness. They are therefore often fairly unobtrusive, blend harmoniously into the landscape and seem at one with nature. Add to that the unmistakable service with culinary highlights under the open sky or spa treatments in the bush.

Luxury trips in southern Africa:

In southern Africa, particularly in countries such as South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, luxury travel is above all about exclusive safari experiences. Here travellers can stay in state-of-the-art lodges and camps, which are often located amid unspoilt nature and offer breathtaking views of the wildlife.

• In South Africa, the Western Cape, especially Cape Town, entices with exquisite hotels, gourmet restaurants and wine regions such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
  
  The Garden Route combines picturesque coastal landscapes with luxurious accommodation and offers a perfect mix of nature and comfort.
  
  In Kruger National Park and even more so in private game reserves such as Sabi Sand, you can watch the Big Five from exclusive lodges, often with their own pools and wellness areas. With your privacy, of course, fully respected.
  
• In Namibia, luxury safaris seek adventure in the dramatic desert landscapes of the Kalahari and the Namib with their red sand dunes such as Dune 45 near Sesriem and Deadvlei.
  
  Comfortable lodges offer guided tours, dune drives and stargazing under the clear night sky.
  
  And you'll find spectacular wildlife there beyond the famous Etosha National Park with its fascinating salt pan, too.
  
• Botswana is known for its strict conservation policies, its immense wildlife populations in the wild and the paradise-like seasonal changes of the Okavango Delta.
  
  Luxury camps offer intimate safari experiences on land and on water with modern comfort in one of the finest wilderness regions in Africa.

Luxury trips in eastern Africa:

Luxury trips in eastern Africa, particularly in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, are shaped above all by remote national parks, private conservancies and the Virunga conservation area with its mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda.

• In Tanzania, the Serengeti is synonymous with the Great Migration of animals. Here luxurious lodges and camps, often close to the Great Migration, offer exclusive safari experiences.
  
  The Ngorongoro Crater is a collapsed caldera formed when a volcano fell in on itself. It is an ark of wildlife and allows fantastic wildlife viewing.
  
  For top luxury safari experiences, Tanzania also offers a variety of lesser-known parks that provide exclusive experiences far from the usual tourist trails. Here you'll find unspoilt nature in which you can gather extraordinary experiences.
  
• In Kenya, the Masai Mara National Reserve is famous for its spectacular wilderness, especially during the migration. It is the place where masses of migrating herds cross the Mara River and many of them end up between the mighty jaws of the crocodiles.
  
  But Kenya has even more exclusive experiences in store. In the private conservancies, away from the well-visited national parks, true luxury awaits you. Luxury shaped by a deep connection to nature and a commitment to species conservation.
  
  Visitor numbers are deliberately limited here, and activities such as horse rides and accompanying a lion conservation team are offered. In this authentic form of luxury, it is not glamour that counts, but the connection to nature and the protection of wildlife.
  
• Uganda and Rwanda are known for the opportunity to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Here you can book exclusive gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Volcanoes National Park and look the mighty silverbacks in the eye.
  
  The starting point for such an unforgettable adventure is often luxurious accommodation, which is the icing on the cake of this moving experience.

My top 8 locations for Africa luxury trips

The possibilities are almost limitless. All the locations described below can be combined with other breathtaking destinations within the respective countries, or even across borders, on an Africa luxury trip.

On a fly-in safari like our “Stylish Botswana” tour, you'll be amazed for 10 days.

Or you can create your very own route, your personal luxury trip, together with our travel experts, perhaps visiting Mahale National Park in Tanzania and then travelling on to remote Ruaha or Nyerere National Park.

Perhaps you would also like to extend your luxury trip to another country and visit Kenya's private conservancies before rounding off your trip with a dream beach holiday on the Swahili Coast.

Contact our Africa experts. Together you'll find your dream luxury trip.

Eastern Africa

• Samburu National Reserve, Kenya:
  Samburu National Reserve is known for its unique wildlife. This includes the Samburu Special 5, which comprise the oryx, Grevy's zebra, the rare gerenuk, reticulated giraffe and the blue-grey-legged and -necked Somali ostrich.
  
  When the rain comes, the pink desert rose also blooms in the breathtaking landscape. Grass savannahs and gentle hills provide a perfect backdrop for unforgettable safaris and luxurious lodges.
  
• Masai Mara, Kenya:
  Together with the Serengeti, the Masai Mara forms a vast ecosystem and is famous for its impressive Great Migration and the diversity of wildlife. From July to September you can see the famous Great Migration here, bravely crossing the Mara River in search of fresh grass.
  
  The neighbouring private conservancies, such as Mara North or Mara Naboisho, offer exclusive safari experiences with fewer tourists, bush walks and off-road drives. Luxurious lodges and tented camps allow you to enjoy the beauty of the African savannah in comfortable surroundings.
  
• Mahale National Park, Tanzania:
  Remote Mahale National Park on Lake Tanganyika is a real insider tip. Surrounded by mountains and tropical forest, it offers exclusive lodges and unforgettable encounters with wild chimpanzees.
  
  Reachable only by light aircraft and boat, this place remains a true adventure off the beaten track.
  
• Kogatende, Serengeti, Tanzania:
  Kogatende is a remote part of the Serengeti known for its spectacular animal migrations. Here, mainly in July and August, you'll see the migrating wildebeest venture down into the gorges of the Mara River.
  
  Luxurious camps offer exclusive safari experiences all year round, where you can experience the impressive wildlife up close.

Southern Africa

• Okavango Delta, Botswana:
  The Okavango Delta is a unique inland delta that offers rich wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. Luxurious lodges and tented camps allow you to experience wildlife viewing by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) or on foot.
  
  The unspoilt nature and the diversity of ecosystems make it a unique destination.
  On a fly-in safari you can experience it from above as well.
  
• Onguma Nature Reserve, Namibia:
  Onguma Nature Reserve lies on the eastern edge of Etosha National Park. It is home to impressive wildlife in a picturesque setting on the edge of the Kalahari.
  
  Luxurious accommodation and private safaris give you the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Namibian landscape while watching elephants, lions and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
  
• Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert, Namibia:
  Sossusvlei is famous for its spectacular red sand dunes and the surreal landscapes of the Namib Desert, such as Dune 45 or Deadvlei.
  
  Luxurious lodges allow you to explore the impressive dunes at sunrise and experience the unique flora and fauna. It promises to be an unforgettable adventure.
  
• Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa:
  Sabi Sands Game Reserve borders Kruger National Park. It is famous for its first-class wildlife viewing, especially of the Big Five.
  
  Luxurious lodges offer first-class service and exclusive safaris. They are your starting point for experiencing the wildlife up close in the enchanting landscapes of one of Africa's best private game reserves.

How do I plan a luxury safari in Africa?

If you are planning a luxury safari in Africa, start by choosing your destination. Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia or Botswana, for example, are known for their impressive wildlife.

Or you think about what you would like to experience and then get advice from a specialist tour operator such as Elefant-Tours.

We specialise in luxury safaris in Africa and will gladly put together your tailor-made experience.

Let our trip suggestions inspire you:

The experienced travel experts will tell you about the best times to travel for your chosen country and the best ways to make your desired experiences a reality.

You can get as involved as much or as little as you like.

They will also help you choose exclusive lodges or luxury camps that offer first-class service and comfort. Pay attention to the activities on offer, such as guided safaris, boat trips, hot-air balloon flights or cultural experiences.

Work with our Africa specialists to create an itinerary that includes various national parks and reserves so that you see a wide variety of wildlife. They also take transfers between locations into account to ensure a smooth trip.

All of our travel experts have travelled the destination regions extensively on several occasions; some of us live locally in Cape Town and Swakopmund. With subsidiaries in Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, we can plan your trip in detail – because we have direct contact with our teams on the ground.

Of course, you can also put together cross-border luxury safaris with our travel experts. Why not visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe while you're travelling in Botswana? Or stand on both sides of the Mara River, in Tanzania and Kenya, with the Great Migration of animals in the Masai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem?

Don't forget to find out about the malaria situation, check vaccinations and visas, and take out travel insurance. And then it's time to head off on your luxury holiday!

Verdict – Is an Africa luxury trip worth it?

Yes, Africa luxury trips are worth it. They combine comfort with nature experiences and offer an exclusive way to discover the diversity and beauty of eastern and southern Africa.

You stay in exclusive lodges in spectacular places, enjoy first-class service and experience safari adventures far from the hustle and bustle. Personal attention, sustainability and authentic encounters with people and animals make every trip unique, deeply moving and unforgettable.

They are ideal for travellers looking for extraordinary adventures, peace and quiet, privacy and authentic insights into African nature and culture.

The combination of impressive wildlife, spectacular landscapes and remote places makes Africa one of the most sought-after destinations for luxury travellers worldwide.

If you have further questions or special requests for your luxury holiday in Africa, we are happy to help! And beyond that:

Anyone who still has questions or needs support planning an Africa trip, whether on a guided group tour, a guided tailor-made trip or a self-drive tour, is welcome to contact us.

Thanks to our close contact with our subsidiaries in Africa, we always know the current situation well.

So get in touch! Your dream, our expertise – your very own individual Africa experience.