At Nziza Hospitality we are always thrilled when our favourite lodges get the recognition they so richly deserve. Nearly 165 000 Travel + Leisure readers rated their favourite safari lodges on their rooms/facilities; location; service; food; and overall value. Coming out on top of Travel + Leisure Readers’ 10 Favourite Safari Lodges in 2023 is Mfuwe Lodge in South Luangwa, Zambia, where a wild mango tree next to the lobby entices local elephants to stroll right through the lodge in November in search of fresh fruit (pictured above). “Two gorilla-trekking lodges made the top ten” adds Travel + Leisure’s Heather Richardson, “further suggesting that once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters can make a place unforgettable for T+L readers.” This is something highly prized by our Nziza Hospitality guests too, who tell us that their biggest luxury is having a full-immersion wildlife experience.
Here is the full list of Travel + Leisure’s 10 Favourite Safari Lodges in Africa of 2023:
Number 1: MFUWE LODGE, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia (reader score: 98.93)
Number 2: VIRUNGA LODGE, Burera District, Rwanda (reader score: 98.48)
Number 3: ELEWANA SERENGETI MIGRATION CAMP, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania (reader score: 98.40)
Number 4: ROYAL MALEWANE, Thornybush Private Game Reserve, South Africa (reader score: 98.13)
Number 5: MOUNT GAHINGA LODGE, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda (reader score: 97.87)
Number 6: andBEYOND BATELEUR CAMP, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya (reader score: 97.75)
Number 7: THORNYBUSH GAME LODGE, Thornybush Private Game Reserve (Greater Kruger National Park), South Africa (reader score: 97.60)
Number 8: GIBB’S FARM, Karatu, Tanzania (reader score: 96.57)
Number 9: andBEYOND NGORONGORO CRATER LODGE, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania (reader score: 96.00)
Number 10: ANGAMA MARA, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya (reader score: 95.24)
When it comes to hotels and lodges throughout the world, Africa garnered top honours in Travel + Leisure’s global rankings too! An impressive 11 of our favourite hotels and lodges throughout East and southern Africa made the prestigious Travel + Leisure Readers’ 100 Favorite Hotels in the World for 2023.
2nd in the world: MFUWE LODGE, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
14th in the world (tie): BABYLONSTOREN, Simondium (Cape Winelands), South Africa
17th in the world: VIRUNGA LODGE, Burera District, Rwanda
19th in the world (tie): ELEWANA SERENGETI MIGRATION CAMP, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
24th in the world: MOUNT NELSON HOTEL, Cape Town, South Africa
31st in the world (tie): MATETSI VICTORIA FALLS, Matetsi Private Game Reserve, Zimbabwe
33rd in the world (tie): ROYAL MALEWANE, Thornybush Private Game Reserve, South Africa
46th in the world (tie): MOUNT GAHINGA LODGE, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
49th in the world (tie): andBEYOND BATELEUR CAMP, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
58th in the world (tie): THORNYBUSH GAME LODGE, Thornybush Private Game Reserve (Greater Kruger National Park), South Africa
79th in the world (tie): BIRKENHEAD HOUSE, Hermanus, South Africa
Our safari designers like nothing better than planning your bespoke safari of a lifetime. We put together every element of your trip, from ticketing, transfers and accommodation to tailormade solutions to your individual needs. At Nziza, we ensure your vacation is seamless and carefree from touch-down to take off. Speak to us for a customised itinerary for your dream safari.