The annual Conde Nast readers awards are out and I must say this years winners are WITHOUT exception, exceptional (and this is exceptional as most years the lists have a good number of dubious properties noted – many with excess corporate pull). But no so this year – all wonderful and many are our favorites we have visited and vetted numerous times…

Singita did particularly well and as we often tell clients you absolutely cannot go wrong with a Singita property on your itinerary:

#1 in Africa Resorts: Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Grumeti, Tanzania – if you want to feel like the president of your own banana republic this manor house, high up on the hill, is ideal… one small quibble you are removed from the wildlife on the plains far below.
#2 in South Africa Resorts: Singita Boulders Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa – Big 5 in an afternoon and overall my favorite lodge rooms in Africa.
#5 in Africa Resorts: Singita Pamushana Lodge, Malilangwe, Zimbabwe – off the beaten path and OH SO WORTH IT. I first visited in the early 90s and still love it!

Zambia is also rocking the top 10 list – long time coming and well deserved for this wildlife rich country which is not often in the spotlight!

Top Resorts in AFRICA
#1 Singita Sasakwa – lording over the Serengeti plains – stay for 2 weeks…it is that good!
#2 Chamilandu – way to go Bushcamp Company! Great little camp in Zambia’s South Luangwa!
#3 Bisate – Super cool rooms at this gorilla lodge in Rwanda. A hot bath in front of a crackling fire after trekking is sublime.
#4 Olivers – great old school tented camp in Tarangire, Tanzania – only 2nd to Serengeti for game in Tanzania.
#5 Pamushana – close to my heart… lots of great memories. Hilltop location like Sasakwa in a hauntingly beautiful area. Big 5!
#6 Crater Lodge – Masai meets Versailles – perched on the edge of Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater. I make sure to stay every time I am in Tanzania.
#7 Sand River Masai – on the Sand River in the Masai Mara – wildebeest on your doorstep!!!
#8 Angama Mara – Some of the Mara’s best game on the plains below.
#9 Serengeti Under Canvas – luxury Serengeti mobile camp recipe done perfectly!
#10 Bilimungwe – another Bushcamp Company property in South Luangwa – cozy spot with great waterholes for wildlife viewing.

Top Hotels in AFRICA
#3 Giraffe Manor – most requested property in Africa and typically fully booked more than a year in advance (2022 already filling up)
#8 Gibbs Farm – my first safari property ever in the late 80s! Still in love. Grab a bag of organic coffee on us! Tanzania is the best.
#9 Ellerman House – rockstar luxury hideaway in Cape Town, South Africa… discreet.
#10 Oyster Box – if you find yourself in Durban, South Africa it is a required to stay here. Charming in every way.

Top resorts of the WORLD
#7 Singiti Grumeti – Singita has transformed this area and the wildlife I am sure are as thrilled as the guests.
#9 Chamilandu – the essence of a safari! Way to go Zambia!
#10 Bisate – couldn’t be happier for the team at Bisate who totally deserve this! Go Rwanda!

Stay well,

Ian Proctor
Ultimate Africa President
“I first visited Africa in the late 1980s. I came face to face with a wild elephant, and fell in love with being on safari! I made it my goal to create an African travel company that was all about authentic wildlife experiences. Many years later we are one of the top African travel companies in the Americas – known for arranging custom safaris to East and Southern Africa; personal trips, no cookie cutter stuff.”