Fauna Journal / December 1, 2024
Best African Villas: A Simple Family Safari
People assume an African safari itinerary has to be complicated. While there are numerous places you’ll want to visit, a simple one-stop safari can be just as satisfying – especially for larger family groups. While it decreases the breadth of your trip, it provides an incredible depth to the experience. Sharing wildlife encounters with those you love will make memories that last a lifetime. Below, we’ve selected some of our favorite African villas to take a slow safari.
Why book a simple trip with Fauna? Unlike longer itineraries, single villa bookings do not incur a planning fee. We’ll find a property that fits your family’s unique needs, check availability, connect you with special offers, and arrange any transfers to make it seamless.
If you’re looking for a single place that delivers unparalleled luxury and wildlife, Cheetah Plains is one of the best villas in Africa. Nestled in the renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa, the lodge delivers an elevated safari experience with a modern style. Guests can enjoy one of three exclusive four-bedroom villas, each designed to offer true privacy as a base for exploring the rich wildlife of the Greater Kruger region. Each villa is elegant, with thoughtful staff, while the wildlife encounters and activities provide unforgettable experiences for guests of all ages.
Cottar’s Bush Villa is among the best places for groups in the Maasai Mara – especially if you are interested in the Great Migration. The property lies on a 7,608-acre private conservancy on the National Reserve’s eastern border. As Africa’s longest-standing safari family, the Cottars bring dedication to conservation, community, and the timeless spirit of safari. With professional guides, excellent community connections, and a commitment to authentic luxury, guests are immersed in stunning wildlife and wilderness experiences reminiscent of a bygone era.
Tswalu, a groundbreaking conservation initiative in South Africa’s largest private reserve, is dedicated to sustainable tourism and preserving the natural habitats of the Kalahari. Their Tarkuni villa offers incredible privacy and immersion in the wilderness. Guests enjoy private safari vehicles with expert guides and trackers, creating flexible, authentic experiences like tracking the rare black-maned lion, desert black rhino, and elusive animals such as the brown hyena, aardvark, and pangolin. By staying at Tswalu, visitors actively support its habitat and biodiversity restoration mission, helping protect the land for future generations.
Private Wilderness is a brand new, exclusive-use safari lodge from Lewa Wilderness, one of the best safari options in Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau. The lodge is a little over a mile from the original property and runs independently. It consists of five charming, thatched cottages lining the Eastern Marania River. Each cottage offers stunning views of the surrounding hills and includes an en-suite bathroom with double or twin bed configurations, comfortably accommodating up to ten guests. The main lodge is set along the valley’s lower edge, with an open-front design that overlooks the river, a communal dining area, and a swimming pool, creating the perfect setting to unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature with your family.
Lower Zambezi National Park is a favorite park among safari enthusiasts for its diversity of wildlife and atmospheric settings. Time + Tide Chongwe House sits along a serene stretch of the Chongwe River, a tributary to the Zambezi along the border of the National Park. This massive two-story house offers four bedrooms and four bathrooms, seamlessly blending with the natural contours of the surrounding terrain. It accommodates four to eight guests and boasts open-air bathtubs, waterfall showers, a spacious pool, and indoor and outdoor lounge areas perfect for shared meals and relaxation. Guests can enjoy more activities here than other safari areas, including game drives, walking safaris, canoeing, boat cruises, and tiger fishing.
Spanning 55,000 acres of pristine African wilderness, the Chem Chem – Burunge Wildlife Management Area preserves a crucial migration route linking Tarangire National Park to Lake Manyara. This setting offers an ideal space to embrace the vast Tanzanian wilderness and engage in a profoundly authentic safari experience. The idea of a Slow Safari was pioneered at Chem Chem, emphasizing a richly immersive safari where guests can step beyond the vehicle to fully sense, touch, and smell the African bush. With Forest Chem Chem’s exclusivity comes complete freedom—the chance to experience a private bush camp and some of the country’s densest wildlife populations. Each double tent offers a king-size bed (which can be converted to twins), and the double-sized family tent provides both a king and a twin bedroom. The private camp accommodates up to eight adults and two children.
In the far north of the Maasai Mara region, House in the Wild recently unveiled Wild Hill, a private villa with one of the most epic views in Africa. Situated on the top of Kileleoni Hill, the tallest point in the Mara, the villa boasts five spacious thatched rooms with panoramic views and a large infinity pool. Guests will enjoy a dedicated staff that includes a host, chef, housekeeper, wellness specialist, and a private safari guide with vehicles. There is also an on-site fitness center and wellness facilities, including a sauna and cold plunge. Situated in the private Enonkishu conservancy, Wild Hill is an exclusive safari experience unlike any other.
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