Thinking of luxury safari holidays in the African wilderness? When it comes to safari expeditions, the usual names like Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Kruger tend to dominate the spotlight. However, if you are focusing on luxury and exclusivity you need to look beyond the popular options. For those who are selective, there are many other places that you can explore offering luxurious safari experiences.
If you are seeking exclusivity, intimacy and a deeper connection to the wild, there are lesser-known places in Africa that are worth exploring. From the remote riverbanks in Zimbabwe to quiet conservancies in South Africa, there are plenty of gaming reserves and national parks that can offer you immersive wildlife experiences.
With Sundowner Holidays you can have a great time with tailor-made holidays and hand-picked boutique hotels and luxury hideaways. In this guide, we spotlight 7 lesser-known yet incredibly luxurious safari destinations across Africa. These are perfect for seasoned safari-goers or first-time explorers who want to skip the crowds and indulge in the wild with all the trimmings.
Not many safari holiday lists begin with a focus on Zimbabwe, but if you are looking for something exclusive Zambezi National Park will not disappoint. Not too far from the thunderous Victoria Falls, this national park can provide you with an immersive wildlife and safari experience. What makes this park particularly appealing for luxury travellers is its seamless blend of wild beauty and boutique comfort. You can stay in riverside villas that come with private plunge pools, and evening cruises along the Zambezi River.
While you are here you can spot herds of elephants wading across channels, buffaloes grazing in the open and predators like lions and leopards as well. The park’s ecosystem, split by the Zambezi River, is rich in biodiversity. Birdwatchers can have a great time here with more than 400 species of birds including the elusive African finfoot and vibrant kingfishers, call this region home.
Beyond game drives, guests can enjoy serene canoe safaris, guided walking tours, or sunset boat rides with champagne in hand. With far fewer crowds than other Southern African parks, Zambezi offers the intimacy and tranquillity that most luxury seekers crave.
There is no doubt that the Okavango Delta gets a lot of visitors, but if you are seeking luxury and exclusivity you need to look elsewhere. Tucked within the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve delivers a refined safari experience steeped in serenity and spectacular biodiversity. This makes it one of Africa’s most beautiful reserves blessed with lush floodplains, mopane woodlands, and winding waterways, all teeming with wildlife.
With limited guests, you can spot everything from lion pride and leopards to endangered African wild dogs and massive herds of elephants. If you are into birds, you can bring your binoculars along to spot more than 500 species, including the majestic wattled crane and African fish eagle.
Unlike other areas of the Okavango Delta, Moremi offers an exclusive network of fly-in lodges and mobile safari camps that offer a deep immersion into nature without sacrificing comfort. For exclusive outdoor activities, you may glide through channels in a traditional mokoro canoe or embark on a game drive at golden hour. When you are done enjoy personalized services and relish candlelit dinners under acacia trees.
When you are thinking of safari holidays in South Africa, you would immediately think of Kruger and Golden Gate Highlands National Park which is where most visitors go. However, you can always look beyond the top national parks in South Africa for an immersive safari experience. Nestled between the coastal dunes of KwaZulu-Natal and the lush Lebombo Mountains, Phinda Private Game Reserve is a lesser-known safari destination in South Africa.
Known as “Seven Worlds of Wonder” for its rich tapestry of landscapes, this private game reserve offers rare sand forests and wetlands to savannah and woodland ideal for exclusive safari experience.
Phinda is renowned for its conservation-first approach and intimate game viewing. This is where you can spot the Big Five, track cheetahs on foot, or witness endangered black rhinos in their natural habitat. This place has over 400 bird species and this means that with a network of expert guides, you can have an immersive experience spotting some of the rare birds.
The reserve is home to selective luxury lodges designed for maximum privacy and comfort. These accommodations come with private pools, butler service and even in-room spa treatments. Guests can indulge in outdoor bush dinners, sunrise breakfasts in the wild, or optional scenic flights to nearby coastal marine reserves.
Rwanda has quickly become one of the emerging destinations for safari enthusiasts and nature lovers. Once nearly written off due to poaching and instability, Akagera National Park has made a remarkable comeback offering luxury safari experiences. The park now stands as one of Africa’s most inspiring conservation success stories.
Located in eastern Rwanda, along the Tanzanian border, Akagera is the country’s only savannah park and the best place to enjoy a traditional Big Five safari in Rwanda. If you are looking for luxury, comfort and exclusivity you can make the most of the suites that offer intimacy and eco-consciousness overlooking Lake Rwanyakazinga.
The park’s landscape is surprisingly diverse, with rolling hills, open plains, lakes, swamps, and woodlands. Guests can expect to spot elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, and rhinos, as well as giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and an astonishing variety of birds, including the shoebill stork and papyrus gonolek.
For exclusive outdoor activities guests can enjoy sunrise game drives, sunset boat cruises, and world-class hospitality in a setting that feels far from the crowds. Apart from this, there are plenty of things to do in Rwanda that would allow you to make the most of your safari experiences in this African country.
While Serengeti National Park gets all the adoration and love, Katavi National Park often stays under the radar. For those who believe true luxury lies in isolation, Katavi National Park is the safari of dreams. Tucked deep in western Tanzania, Katavi sees fewer than 1,000 visitors a year, making it one of Africa’s most untouched and exclusive wilderness areas.
During the dry season, this remote park can offer you dramatic wildlife action when thousands of hippos crowd shrinking mud pools. Similarly, you can also spot crocodiles retreating on riverbanks and herds of buffalo, elephants, and zebras roaming the plains. You can also spot predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas stake their claim across the landscape.
The terrain here is wild and open, with floodplains, woodlands, and seasonal lakes offering a cinematic, unfiltered safari experience. You can stay at various luxury lodges that offer stunning views of the landscape combined with Persian rugs, open-air dining, and impeccable service with just a handful of guests at any time.