Curated, not aggregator-scraped
Hotels & Lodges
From a 12-room owner-run safari lodge in the Luangwa to a beachfront villa in Mozambique to a riad in Marrakech, African accommodation runs the full range. Seven categories cover what travelers actually book.
Seven types of stay
Rates are indicative ranges — actual pricing varies wildly with season, location and inclusions.
Safari lodge
USD 350–1,500 per person per night, all-inclusive.
Permanent lodges inside or bordering national parks. Built rooms or stilted tents, all-inclusive rates, expert guides on staff.
Best for. First-time safaris and travelers who want comfort with proximity to wildlife.
Mobile / tented camp
USD 400–800 per person per night.
Lighter footprint canvas camps that move with the season — Botswana, the Serengeti, Mana Pools.
Best for. Repeat safari-goers who want a deeper-bush feel.
Beach resort
USD 200–900 per room per night.
Coastal and island properties — Zanzibar, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Seychelles.
Best for. Combining with a safari for a beach finish, or honeymoon trips.
Boutique city hotel
USD 150–500 per room per night.
Smaller, design-led hotels in Cape Town, Nairobi, Marrakech and Cairo.
Best for. Urban stopovers and pre/post-safari nights.
Guesthouse / B&B
USD 60–200 per room per night.
Family-run accommodation with character, often the best value on a route.
Best for. Self-drive trips, road-trip overnights, slow-travel budgets.
Eco-lodge
USD 250–1,000 per person per night.
Low-impact lodges with strong sustainability credentials — solar, water harvesting, community ownership.
Best for. Travelers who want their stay to feed local economies, not extract from them.
Luxury private camp
USD 1,200–3,000+ per person per night.
Exclusive-use properties — your own staff, vehicle, chef and guide. Often in private concessions.
Best for. Families, multi-gen trips, off-grid celebrations.
Choosing well
What actually separates the great from the average
Star ratings and Instagram photography hide more than they reveal. Four things matter more than any glossy brochure.
Location, then everything else
A great lodge in the wrong part of the park is worse than an average lodge in the right place. Wildlife density, river access and traverse rights matter more than thread count.
Guides are the product
Two lodges side by side can deliver wildly different trips depending on guide quality. Ask about guide tenure, certifications (FGASA, KPSGA), and the lodge's training program.
Inclusions vs surprises
All-inclusive should mean meals, drinks, laundry, all activities, transfers and park fees. Confirm before you book — some "all-inclusive" rates exclude premium activities.
Footprint and ethics
Ask about energy, water, waste and community employment. The best lodges publish these openly.
Booking windows
Lead time by category
The best safari camps and beach properties sell out 9–12 months ahead in peak season (June–October across most of Sub-Saharan Africa). City hotels are more flexible — three to four weeks is usually enough outside peak periods.
- Safari lodges (peak)9–12 months
- Safari lodges (shoulder)4–6 months
- Mozambique islands6–9 months
- City hotels2–4 weeks
- Guesthouses1–2 weeks
Get matched
Looking for a specific lodge?
Tell us your country, dates and the kind of stay you want. We'll suggest two or three properties we'd send our own family to.