South Africa’s most luxurious safari

South Africa is blessed with a huge range of attractions, incredible natural beauty, and extremely high quality accommodation and service, making it Africa’s most popular holiday destination! It literally has something for everyone and, with its malaria-free safari regions, this includes families with young children. Cape Town is an exciting and picturesque cosmopolitan city that really has it all. From natural wonders and beaches, to museums and world-renowned shopping and cuisine, there is an endless list of things to do! Hike or take a cable car to the top of the iconic Table Mountain, visit the resident colony of penguins at Boulder’s Beach, take a boat over to historic Robben Island, or enjoy the spectacular scenery at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden or the Cape of Good Hope. Just an hour’s drive away, the Winelands are home to centuries-old historic wine estates, producing some of the best wines in the world, as well as boasting some of the top restaurants in Africa, all set in the most breathtaking scenery the country has to offer. Ellerman House is Cape Town’s most exclusive and luxurious property. It is a stunning, award-winning boutique hotel, fabulously located in the prestigious Bantry Bay residential area – this is 10 minutes from the heart of the city and within walking distance of Clifton beach. This elegant Cape Edwardian mansion boasts amazing views over the city, as well as one of most beautiful ocean views in South Africa! The stylish property has 11 rooms, 2 suites, and 2 three-bedroom villas, most of which have ocean views, as well as several communal areas, including lounges, dining terraces, a contemporary art gallery, and a Champagne cellar! Each of the spacious rooms is individually and lavishly decorated with a classic, sophisticated feel. The personalised service is excellent and of a very high standard – this is the place to stay for those wanting comfort, luxury, and style. It really is the pick of accommodation in Africa, let alone Cape Town! For safari, South Africa’s Sabi Sand region is the most exclusive of the Kruger private reserves, containing some of the most luxurious lodges on the continent and certainly providing the best game viewing in South Africa. Animals can move freely across the unfenced border between the reserve and Kruger National Park, while two rivers provide water all year round, making this one of the finest Big Five safari areas in the whole of Africa! The plentiful game is easy to spot, and seeing all of the Big Five during the course of a safari (or even a single day) is almost guaranteed. In particular, this area is renowned for its leopard, both because of their high concentration and due to the impressive quality of viewing. Not only is the safari superb, but the quality of the lodges is outstanding and extremely lavish. Singita, meaning ‘Place of Miracles’, is a collection of luxury lodges and camps in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. The very best locations and seriously good game viewing are complemented by sumptuous accommodation, world-class service, and fabulous cuisine! This is the ultimate safari experience – exclusive and intimate, Singita’s low number of guests leads to reduced impact on the environment and also makes for unique, up-close experiences on safari. Singita Boulders is a magnificent lodge overlooking the Sand River, located within the Sabi Sands’ private Singita Reserve. One of the finest properties in Africa, it is stunningly luxurious and extremely stylish, with 12 spacious, plush suites, each with a rock fireplace, indoor and outdoor showers, and its own private heated pool. The main area is decorated with fine African art and has a large decking space boasting scenic views of the river and the plains beyond. The food and service is exceptional and there is also an impressive 12,000-bottle wine cellar! Spectacular game viewing is possible at any time of the year, and guests can enjoy game drives, walking safaris, mountain biking, and archery. There is also a spa with a fully equipped gym. Singita Boulders shares its reserve with just one other lodge, which guarantees a level of exclusivity and privacy that is unrivalled in the Sabi Sands. Singita Lebombo is located in the Lebombo concession area on the opposite side of the Kruger National Park, adjacent to Mozambique. This is a very remote area and the game viewing is brilliant, making this an even more exclusive safari. The lodge itself has a dramatic setting, perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the N’wanetsi River below. Ultra-luxurious and contemporary in design, it has 15 sumptuous glass-and-wood suites with fantastic views, inside and outside showers, and large glass sliding doors leading to a private deck and decadent day bed (which can also be used to sleep out under the stars). Spacious, open plan, and very modern, the whole lodge is hugely stylish and the communal areas include a spa, a gym, and a swimming pool. Delicious food, a huge wine cellar, and first-rate service and hospitality complete the package to form one of South Africa’s most opulent safari destinations! Julian Carter-Manning is a Co-founder and MD at Yellow Zebra Safaris. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.