Africa’s top 5 private houses

Private safari houses in Africa do not have to cost the earth, but certainly give you one of the best safari experiences in the world. Whether it’s just yourself and a loved one, or your family and friends these private safari houses provide you with your own slice of Africa – and come accompanied with exceptional private chefs, private guides and fully staffed so you can have the independence we all crave when on luxury holidays. Many are located in some of the most breathtaking areas of Africa and are such an enchanting experience that guests return year after year bringing more and more of their friends and family. Here are Africa’s top five private luxury safari houses, all waiting for you to have the holiday of a lifetime: Sirikoi House, Lewa, Kenya Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Northern Kenya was made famous as one of the first conservancies to pioneer black and white rhino conservation. It is heart-breakingly beautiful and offers guests the chance to experience remote and wild game viewing with very few other vehicles. Sirikoi House is adjoined to the exclusive Sirikoi Camp and has been decorated with such style and taste that you’ll never want to leave. It is homely yet incredibly luxurious so you certainly know you’re on holiday – the food is delicious and the setting tranquil and relaxing, with elephant often grazing beneath your own private deck used for lunches and dinners. The guides at Sirikoi have been expertly trained by owners Willie and Sue Roberts, two famous names in the safari industry. Sirikoi House also has access to some of the best excursions one could do in Kenya, anything from quad biking to remote fly camping locations, to mobile safaris with Willie and his amazing team, to helicopter flights to remote lakes or to meet remote tribes. Sirikoi House can sleep six, with other guests being accommodated in the cottage or camp itself, if you decide to take absolutely everyone with you! Mkombe’s House, Serengeti, Tanzania Mkombe’s House is the newest offering from Nomad Tanzania, the best safari operator in Tanzania. This luxury house can sleep ten and is done with all the understated comfort of the its sister camp Lamai Nomad. It is the only private house in the Serengeti which can boast guaranteed good game viewing, especially when the Wildebeest Migration passes through anytime between July and October. Mkombe’s is exclusive and huge, with plenty of space for everyone to relax, chill out, and then come together when needed. The guides here are at the top of the game and Mkombe’s comes into its own between January and June when tourists in this areas are non existent, but game viewing is still exceptional. Tswalu Tarkuni, Kalahari, South Africa Tswalu Kalahari is one of the most unique properties in South Africa – it takes a couple of hours to reach by private light aircraft from Cape Town or Johannesburg and is as remote as they come. Here you will see meerkats, black maned Kalahari lions and vistas that are the stuff of dreams. The Kalahari can change in an instant and if you are lucky enough to be there for a rain storm you will see the landscape change dramatically, with wild flower meadows and streams popping up everywhere. Tarkuni was originally the owners house and although it has just been completely refurbished and opened up to individual visitors it is still best suited to being a private safari house, with its remote location and five exceptionally spoiling suites. Every suite now has its own star bed so you can sleep out under the stars and enjoy the freedom to watch the milky way as you drift off. Zarafa Dhow Suites, Selinda, Botswana The Zarafa Dhow Suites were launched last year to much acclaim and they are every bit as beautiful as they seem. With stunning views of the lagoon stretching before you you will often see game and other species from your very own deck. Here the food really is gourmet and you have an enormous tract of land to explore with your private guides. The Dhow suites are all about exclusivity and for your family of four or five you can experience what is surely one of the most exclusive private house experiences in the world. Chitwa House, Sabi Sands, South Africa The Sabi Sands is already famous for being one of the best places in all of Africa to see leopard, and imagine having your own extremely luxurious private house within this beautiful area. Chitwa House is owned by a famous South African artist and as a result has the most wonderful décor and furnishings – everything is quirky, unique and fun and the house also comes with a gourmet chef, expert guide and friendly staff. This area is petty unbeatable when it comes to game viewing and although you may see the odd other vehicle it’s all terribly civilized and the leopard viewing more than makes up for it. Rose Hipwood is Managing Director of The Luxury Safari Company. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.