 One & Only Cape Town
Cape Town
Travelers expect perfection from One&Only and they will get nothing less at their latest Cape Town resort. Situated on the chic Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with stunning views of Table Mountain, the One&Only Cape Town is arguably the city's most magnificent property. Equipped with renowned restaurants (Gordon Ramsay's open-kitchen Maze and legendary Nobu topping the list), a world-class spa, 24-hour personalized butler service, and stylish palatial-sized rooms finished with dark wood, clean lines, adorned with local artwork to celebrate colorful South Africa, the One&Only Cape Town is nothing short of spectacular.
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 Cape
Grace
Cape Town
Overlooking the yacht basin in the heart of the fashionable Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the Cape Grace is perfectly located for touring and relaxing, and it is Cape Town's most well-known address for visitors. Recently the subject of a major "refashioning," the refreshed rooms are spacious and elegantly furnished, with thoughtful extras like fresh flowers, a selection of African themed books, and fresh milk delivered every morning. The hotel also has an exceptional spa, featuring African-inspired healing treatments, reflexology, facials, and more. It also has its own luxury sailing vessel; a delicious restaurant, Signal; and a fleet of cars that offer a complimentary transfer to guests within the city.
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 Ellerman
House
Cape Town
Once a stately private residence, the Ellerman House has been meticulously
restored and transformed into a luxury boutique hotel with modern amenities
and unrivaled hospitality. Staying true to its elegant history, the library,
dining room and hallways are decorated with tasteful antiques and South
African art, giving the hotel the feeling of a very luxurious home away
from home. Eleven rooms are each individually designed with antique furnishings,
draperies and the finest linens. The Ellerman Suite is by far the most exclusive
room, providing guests with their own private wraparound balcony offering
a panoramic ocean view and direct access to the garden terraces and pool
area.
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 Samara Private Game Reserve
Great Karoon/Eastern Cape
Covering 70,000 acres in South Africa's malaria-free Eastern Cape, Samara Private Game Reserve is dramatically ringed by the Sneeuberg Mountains. Rooms have large verandahs and are decorated in a classic safari style: four-poster beds and enamel claw-foot bathtubs are accented with zebra skin rugs. The game at Samara is plentiful, roaming through the sprawling Plains of Camdeboo, a vast flat grassland in the Great Karoo that includes areas like the ominously-named Valley of Desolation. Visitors to Samara can expect to see eland, kudu, giraffe, black wildebeest and meerkats; white rhino and cheetah are somewhat more elusive but are regularly spotted. At the lodge, guests enjoy the wide, inviting verandah, excellent spa, tennis courts, and pool.
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 The
Saxon
Johannesburg
Upon his release from imprisonment, Nelson Mandela chose to seek refuge
at the Saxon -- perhaps he was pleased to be surrounded by the contemporary
African décor and ethnic art, or maybe he simply appreciated the deep luxury
and serenity offered by this deluxe boutique property. Indeed, the Saxon
has become the hotel of choice for visiting luminaries and local dignitaries.
Set in six acres of landscaped gardens, the modern exterior of the hotel
is an elegant gray that belies the bright, open interior. Inside, the rooms
have an airy, sun-drenched feel with light-colored fabrics, honey-blond
wood floors, and large bay windows offering expansive views. Guests can
enjoy the cigar lounge, spa, restaurant, or the truly impressive 920 square
meter infinity swimming pool.
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 Birkenhead House
Hermanus
Only an hour and a half from Cape Town,
Birkenhead House perches delicately on the cliffs of Walker Bay in nearby Hermanus. Designed
to showcase the beauty of the coastal setting, most of the spacious sea-facing
suites offer ocean views and each is individually decorated with maritime
antiques. The super-deluxe honeymoon suite has a private pool and patio
area with panoramic vista and ocean views. The dual-level main swimming pool
is located in a sheltered courtyard and a spa features an array of massage,
reflexology, and aromatherapy treatments. Guests can feast on fresh daily
seafood and world-class cuisine with a variety of fine South African wines
served in the elegant dining room or on the open-air terrace.
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 Londolozi
Within Sabi Sands Game Reserve are the five distinct lodges of Londolozi. Praised by Nelson Mandela, and regularly winning a dizzying array of international awards, Londolozi's camps are the standard by which all other lodges are measured. For the traveler seeking superb wildlife viewing in a setting of unparalleled luxury, Londolozi is a profound and sublime experience. Each camp has its own special features: the private verandahs and plunge pools at Bateleur Camp; the air conditioned suites at Tree Camp, the Olde Worlde charm of Pioneer Camp, and the exclusive intimacy of Safari Camp - whatever you are looking for, Londolozi can provide.
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 Royal
Malewane
The fact that the word "royal" is in its name should be a giveaway: guests
here are literally treated like kings and queens. Along the western edge
of Kruger National Park, the luxurious Royal Malewane has played host to
a bevy of celebrities and rock stars who, like every guest, appreciate the
privacy, opulence, and discreet attention they receive. A maximum of 20
guests at one time can enjoy the colonial splendor of the accommodations,
which feature Persian carpets, crisp embroidered linens, antique furniture,
and high four-poster beds draped with airy mosquito netting. A gym and
spa are available, and each private suite has a wood terrace,
thatched gazebo, private plunge pool, Victorian-style bath, and indoor and
outdoor showers.
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 Lion
Sands Ivory Lodge
Family-owned and managed since 1932, the Ivory Lodge is an exclusive luxury
retreat on the Sabie River. The interior of the lodge was decorated using
old African-style décor in a minimalist fashion while incorporating the
most advanced modern amenities. The six indulgent suites each have an en-suite
bathroom, outdoor and inside shower, courtyard, lounge with fireplace, wooden
viewing deck, patio and private plunge pool, where you can take a dip outside
and observe the wildlife or a stunning African sunset. All common areas
and suites of the lodge are linked by a raised wooden walkway, which gives
a bird's eye view onto the Sabie River.
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 Singita
Singita’s five lodges, sprinkled through the Sabi Sand Reserve and the Lebombo concession, have garnered a great deal of attention in the press, but they manage to exceed even the high expectations that result from such coverage. Lebombo is Singita's newest property and it is the only Singita lodge that actually lies within the borders of the Kruger National Park, a key advantage that allows the closest proximity to game. Boulders is smaller and more intimate, but has a contemporary, airy feel and holds to the same high standards. Ebony Lodge is the most traditional of the group, with a classic safari style, and Castleton Camp, once a private home, now caters to small groups and families. Sweni Lodge has six suites nestled into the banks of the Sweni River and maintains an intimate, cozy feel.
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 La Residence
Franschhoek
This former fruit-packing shed in the Winelands was purchased in 1999 and has slowly and lovingly been transformed into a beautiful and charming country chateau. The five guest rooms have been decorated with care and style, and there is a sense of intimacy about La Résidence that makes it seem almost more like being a guest in a private home than a hotel. Fine antiques and lush Persian carpets adorn the house, and a private pool and home movie room are available for guests to use as they wish. The hotel managers are notably attentive, anticipating the desires of guests almost as they happen. Cheese tasting, mountain walks, trout fishing, and wine tasting is all arranged for those who wish to explore the area. La Résidence is a perfect choice for those looking for a truly unique retreat during their South Africa wine region touring.
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Limpopo
Even among the crowded landscape and stiff competition of luxury lodges in Africa, Marataba stands out. Located on a large private concession in the heart of Limpopo’s Marakele National Park, Marataba offers exquisite luxury, excellent game viewing, and sensational views of the Waterberg Mountains in a malaria-free environment. We love the many private spots that Marataba offers guests to sit down, nap, read, and enjoy the landscape; the exquisite, adventurous menu (we had Ethiopian food while there!); the relaxed but very professional attitude of the staff; and the rare game that we saw -- including the famously elusive wild dogs -- during our visit. Marataba is a truly outstanding lodge that deserves every bit of the high praise it receives.
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 Tswalu Lodge
Kalahari Desert
Exclusivity is the emphasis at this stylish game reserve located on the edge of the Kalahari Desert and surrounded by the rugged Koranneberg Mountains. The reserve has two camps: Tarkuni, in a private area and ideal for a small group or family, and Motse, which translates to ‘African village' and has 8 luxury suites. Designed to blend seamlessly with the desert surroundings, each of the clay, stone and thatched-roof suites has a spacious bedroom, en-suite bathroom with both indoor and outdoor walk-in showers, large private lounge with an open fireplace and a private sun deck overlooking a waterhole. The main area features an outdoor heated swimming pool and pool terrace, well-stocked wine cellar and a cozy library. |
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 Karkloof Spa
Kwazulu-Natal
A boutique lodge and a “wellness and wildlife retreat,” Karkloof is essentially a destination spa nestled in the rolling hills of Kwazulu Natal’s Midlands region. Its old-world colonial style is lightened with contemporary accents – vaulted ceilings create a sense of airiness and soft couches beside fireplaces invite guests to linger in the common areas. There are 16 gorgeous private villas sprinkled on the grounds but the real showstopper is the extensive spa facility: airy and enclosed in glass, the spa allows guests to absorb the stunning landscape while on one of five “spa journeys” designed by the staff. As with many spas, the food is a major consideration and Karkloof does not disappoint: the fare is nourishing and healthy, featuring many locally grown vegetables. |
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 Delaire Graff Estate
Winelands
Recently reopened after a complete revamp by diamond tycoon Laurence Graff, the Delaire Graff Estate sets new standards for South Africa's vineyards, restaurants and hotels. Perched on the Helshoogte Mountain Pass, the exceptional setting is just one reason to visit this state-of-the-art property. Every detail has been carefully considered to ensure maximum comfort and glamour: the striking combination of classic and indigenous architecture; the handpicked South African artwork adorning the walls from Graff's private collection; one of the most advanced wine cellars in the southern hemisphere; environmentally-conscious construction; and a creative and the "sunshine inspired" restaurant that pleases the most refined palettes. With only ten suites ensuring pristine privacy, the Delaire Graff Estate will please the most discerning clientele. |
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 Molori Safari Lodge
Madikwe
Once a secret meeting place for African heads of state, the Molori Safari Lodge still embodies a distinguished vibe with only five open-air suites, each of them oozing ultimate sophistication while keeping a warmth that makes guests feel like old-time friends. The intimate setting loans itself to personalized touches; every detail from personalized greetings by name to daily conversations about customized meals make this a unique place. Stylish touches ranging from Fendi chaises to the Shanghai Tang trunk that doubles as the bar, make Molori an interior designers playground. Our favorite part? The personalized telescopes in every suite, and the floor-to-ceiling glass wall that automatically fold away should you want to get closer with your surroundings. And make sure not to miss the observatory: home to one of the largest privately owned digital telescopes in Southern Africa and a fully retractable roof in the heart of the bush makes for an unforgettable experience. |
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