The 5 Best Safari Lodges in South Africa
A tented suite with a heated plunge pool, a lodge with a bush spa or a villa for the whole family: among the safari lodges in South Africa, our travel advisors will personally help you find the house that fits your safari – from the Greater Kruger to Zululand. Anyone booking through suitespot also receives breakfast for two, a room upgrade subject to availability, hotel credit and VIP service – a package of more than €500.
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Safari lodges in South Africa at a glance
Planning a safari in South Africa? Here you can see all five lodges in private reserves at a glance, with location, suitespot Score and nightly rate. Our tip: Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve for couples, andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve for families and Savanna Private Game Reserve for a tented camp with just nine suites.
| Hotel | Location | suitespot score | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve | KwaZulu-Natal | ★ 4.6/5 | – |
| Savanna Private Game Reserve | Sabi Sands | ★ 4.6/5 | – |
| Kapama Private Game Reserve | Maruleng Ward 1 | ★ 4.0/5 | – |
| Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve | Greater Kruger | ★ 4.8/5 | 3053 € |
| Shambala Private Game Reserve | – | ★ 4.5/5 | 1288 € |
Your guide to the safari lodges in South Africa
Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve · Greater KrugerWhich luxury safari lodge in South Africa suits you depends on your trip. For couples and food lovers, we recommend Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve: every suite has its own deck with plunge pool, and the house holds three Michelin Keys. Traveling with children? Book andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, with a kids' club and the family-friendly Mountain Lodge. For real privacy, stay at Savanna Private Game Reserve, a tented lodge with just nine suites. And if you want a malaria-free reserve three hours' drive from Johannesburg, Shambala Private Game Reserve is the right choice.At no extra cost: booking through suitespot costs the same as booking direct with the hotel – the benefits come on top, free of charge.
Greater Kruger, Zululand or Waterberg: where the safari lodges in South Africa are
Greater Kruger: Three of the lodges are in the Greater Kruger, the network of private reserves around Kruger National Park. Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve lies in the Thornybush reserve near Hoedspruit in Limpopo province, an unfenced part of the Greater Kruger with about 15,000 hectares for game drives. Savanna Private Game Reserve is in the Sabi Sand and has traversing rights over more than 10,000 hectares; the waterhole in front of the lodge is floodlit at night. Kapama Private Game Reserve covers 15,000 hectares near Hoedspruit, and its Karula lodge sits on the Klaserie River.
Savanna Private Game Reserve · Sabi SandsKwaZulu-Natal: In Zululand, in the north of the province, andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve lies between Mkuze Game Reserve and iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reserve covers 29,866 hectares, including 790 hectares of critically endangered sand forest, and counts 436 bird species. andBeyond runs six lodges here, from the family-friendly Mountain Lodge to the glass-walled suites of Forest Lodge.
Waterberg: About three hours' drive north of Johannesburg, Shambala Private Game Reserve sits in the Waterberg mountains near Vaalwater, also in Limpopo. The private Big Five reserve covers almost 10,000 hectares and is malaria-free, a plus for families and short trips. Only a few vehicles are out on the reserve.
Lodge or tented camp: suites, pools and privacy at the safari lodges in South Africa
If you want the tented-camp feeling without compromise, stay at Savanna Private Game Reserve: the privately owned lodge has only nine tented suites, each with a heated plunge pool on its own patio and an outdoor shower. From the main pool you look across the garden to the waterhole, and the loft has a library and equipment to back up your photos. The larger reserves have tented camps too: Masiya's Camp belongs to Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve, and Buffalo Camp, with ten raised luxury tents, to Kapama Private Game Reserve.
Kapama Private Game Reserve · Maruleng Ward 1Our tip for couples is Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve: all suites and villas have a private deck with plunge pool. At Malewane Lodge, fully renovated over five months in 2026, the pools are heated, and there are new bathrooms and underfloor heating; the Royal Suites have their own courtyard entrance. At andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, every suite and cottage at Mountain Lodge has its own plunge pool, and the Rock and Vlei Lodge suites also have private pools. At Kapama Private Game Reserve, each of the twelve Superior Villas at Karula comes with a heated pool.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
For families and groups of friends, a villa of your own is worth it. At Shambala Private Game Reserve it is currently the only option: the Nelson Mandela Villa, once a retreat for Nelson Mandela, has five bedrooms plus a presidential suite, a dining table for 14 and a heated indoor-outdoor pool on a deck above its own waterhole. andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve offers Phinda Homestead for up to ten guests, and Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve has three villas served by a private chef.
Shambala: villa only until February 2027
Zulu Camp at Shambala Private Game Reserve is being rebuilt and reopens on February 1, 2027. Until then, you can only book the entire Nelson Mandela Villa for one group. Traveling as a couple? Plan Shambala for later, or let our travel advisors recommend a lodge in the Greater Kruger.
Game drives, bush walks and spa: how to experience the safari lodges in South Africa
At Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve you head out twice a day with guides holding the top FGASA qualification; the team includes two of the world's 11 living Master Trackers. andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve adds night drives and guided bush walks, and at Savanna Private Game Reserve a guide and tracker accompany each of the two daily drives. Nature decides which animals you see: all five lodges are in Big Five country, but none can guarantee a sighting.
andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve · KwaZulu-NatalWith children, we recommend andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve: there is a kids' club and babysitting, and in the open kitchen at Mountain Lodge kids make their own dinner at the pizza oven. Families who want to avoid malaria head to Shambala Private Game Reserve.
Beyond the vehicle: at Shambala Private Game Reserve you glide across the 30-hectare Douw Steyn Dam by boat at sunset, plus bush walks, bush picnics, stargazing and fishing. At andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve you get to know conservation projects for rhinos, elephants and pangolins.
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
In the evening, Savanna Private Game Reserve sets the table in the bush by lantern light, and private candlelit dinners under the stars are possible too. At andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve you dine in a stone-and-reed boma, and Kapama Private Game Reserve hosts boma nights with a barbecue and has a sundowner bar in the bush.
For the hours after the morning drive, we recommend the Royal Waters Bush Spa at Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve: treatments with mineral-rich water from an underground stream, a heated 25-meter lap pool, and since 2026 a sauna and cold plunge. Kapama Private Game Reserve has two spas with hydrotherapy, the one at River Lodge with a lap pool overlooking a dam.
On safari with children
At Kapama Private Game Reserve, children from age six join the game drives, and younger ones go on the Bumble Drive. Buffalo Camp does not take children, so as a family ask for Southern Camp or the family villas at Karula.
Safari and beach: getting to a safari lodge in South Africa
Via Hoedspruit: A complimentary transfer takes you from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, which borders the reserve, to Kapama Private Game Reserve; Southern Camp is about 30 minutes away. Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve is a 35- to 45-minute drive from there, and charter flights also land on the lodge's own airstrip. Kapama's own Pilatus PC-12 also flies from Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Shambala Private Game ReserveSafari and beach: For this, we recommend andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. Scheduled Federal Air flights from Nelspruit land daily on its own airstrip, with connections via Johannesburg; by car it is about 3.5 hours from Durban. The beaches and coral reefs of Sodwana Bay are close by.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
From Johannesburg to the Waterberg: Shambala Private Game Reserve is about a three-hour self-drive via the N1 and Modimolle. It is quicker by charter flight to Vaalwater or by helicopter, which lands in about 30 minutes at the helipad near the lodges. For the nights before and after your safari, see our guide to the luxury hotels in South Africa.
What a luxury safari in South Africa costs: rates and suitespot benefits
A lodge rate covers more than a city hotel rate: meals, game drives and often drinks.
In this selection, a night starts at 1,287 € at Shambala Private Game Reserve and goes up to 3,052 € at Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve. For Phinda, Savanna and Kapama, our travel advisors will quote the rate for your dates. You will find all houses with availability in the hotel list below.
| Hotel | Rates from | Park/reserve | suitespot benefits (selection) | suitespot score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shambala Private Game Reserve | 1,287 € | Shambala reserve, Waterberg | Breakfast for two, Leaders Club points | ★ 4.5/5 |
| Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve | 3,052 € | Thornybush reserve, Greater Kruger | All-inclusive for two, USD 100 gift or donation | ★ 4.8/5 |
| andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve | on request | Phinda reserve, KwaZulu-Natal | All-inclusive for two, welcome gift | ★ 4.6/5 |
| Savanna Private Game Reserve | on request | Sabi Sand, Greater Kruger | All-inclusive for two, massage or Shangaan Village Tour | ★ 4.6/5 |
| Kapama Private Game Reserve | on request | Kapama reserve, Greater Kruger | Two game drives daily, full board, transfer from Hoedspruit | ★ 4.0/5 |
What the lodges include: All-inclusive for two is part of the suitespot benefits at Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve, andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and Savanna Private Game Reserve. At Kapama Private Game Reserve, two game drives a day, full board with high tea and snacks on the drive, and the transfer to and from Hoedspruit are included. An upgrade on arrival plus early check-in and late check-out are available, subject to availability, at four of the five lodges.
Personal luxury travel adviceOur travel advisors personally accompany your booking – 365 days a year, from the first offer to late check-out. Reach the suitespot VIP service via email or WhatsApp.Phone: +49 30 81452346 · hotel@suitespot.comExtras: At Savanna Private Game Reserve you choose a massage or a Shangaan Village Tour for two; in the Savanna Suite, stays of two nights or more add a lunch or dinner for two, not combinable with promotions. At Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve you choose between a USD 100 gift from The Royal Portfolio and a donation of the same amount to the house's foundation.
Points and status are available at Shambala Private Game Reserve: give your Leaders Club number when booking and you earn the regular points.
The hotels in South Africa at a glance
What sets the hotels in South Africa apart – from their opening year to the spa:
Earn points & use your status in South Africa
Among the five lodges, Shambala Private Game Reserve belongs to the Leaders Club: give your number when booking and you earn the regular points – on top of the suitespot benefits.
| Program | Hotels | Examples in South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Leaders Club | 1 hotel | Shambala Private Game Reserve |
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Explore all luxury hotels in South Africa or browse nearby destinations:
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FAQ: safari lodges in South Africa
How much does a night at a safari lodge in South Africa cost?
In this selection, from 1,287 € at Shambala Private Game Reserve to 3,052 € at Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve. For Phinda, Savanna and Kapama, our travel advisors will quote the rate for your dates. Meals are usually included at the lodges, and at three houses all-inclusive for two is part of the suitespot benefits.
Are you guaranteed to see the Big Five at the safari lodges in South Africa?
No, there is no guarantee, because the animals roam freely. All five lodges are in Big Five reserves, and the rangers and trackers know their terrain: Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve has two Master Trackers on the team, and andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve adds night drives. The more nights you stay, the more game drives you get.
Which safari lodge in South Africa is best for families with children?
Our tip is andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, with a kids' club, babysitting and a kitchen where children make their own pizza. At Kapama Private Game Reserve, children from age six join the drives and younger ones go on the Bumble Drive; Buffalo Camp does not take children. Shambala Private Game Reserve is malaria-free.
Are there malaria-free safari reserves in South Africa?
Yes. Shambala Private Game Reserve in the Waterberg mountains is a malaria-free Big Five reserve, about three hours by car or 30 minutes by helicopter from Johannesburg. Until February 1, 2027, only the Nelson Mandela Villa can be booked there, for one group.
Which safari lodges have suites with a private pool?
At Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve, every suite has a deck with plunge pool, and at Savanna Private Game Reserve each of the nine tented suites has a heated plunge pool. At andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, all Mountain Lodge suites have their own pool, and at Kapama Private Game Reserve the Superior Villas at Karula have a heated pool.
Can I earn points at the safari lodges in South Africa?
Yes, at Shambala Private Game Reserve: the Leaders Club applies if you give your number when booking. The other four lodges are not part of a loyalty program. Because suitespot books at direct rates, you keep your points and status benefits at Shambala.
How do I get to the lodges?
For Kapama Private Game Reserve and Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve, fly to Hoedspruit Eastgate; from there it is 30 to 45 minutes, and Kapama's transfer is complimentary. andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve has its own airstrip with daily flights from Nelspruit. Shambala Private Game Reserve is about three hours' drive from Johannesburg.
Can a luxury safari in South Africa be combined with the beach or Cape Town?
Yes. andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is close to the beaches and coral reefs of Sodwana Bay. And Kapama Private Game Reserve flies its own Pilatus PC-12 from Cape Town and Johannesburg, so you can easily add a few days in the city to your safari.
Which lodge can you book all to yourself?
At Shambala Private Game Reserve, the Nelson Mandela Villa with five bedrooms and a presidential suite; at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, Phinda Homestead for up to ten guests; and at Royal Malewane Thornybush Private Game Reserve, three villas with a private chef.
