The Best New Safari Camps of 2025

Africa, cradle of humankind, is home to a quarter of all mammal species and the world’s largest surviving populations of terrestrial megafauna. For many, the chance to experience an African safari is simply an unforgettable vacation—empty-nesters looking to feel like honeymooners; solo travelers on a mental detox; families making intergenerational memories. But for others, entering the continent’s primal wilderness sparks spiritual connection, a preternatural sense of coming home. As Dereck Joubert, wildlife documentary maker and co-founder of Great Plains Conservation, puts it: “These species have evolved with us for thousands of years. When you look into the eyes of an elephant, there is a tangible sense of commonality. This connection, this recognition of a shared sense of ancient wisdom, is without equal.” No matter which camp you fall into, these are the most exciting new safari openings to know in the continent’s best game-viewing regions.

Read our list of the Best Places to Go in Africa in 2025 here.

Chichele Presidential — South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Suites at Chichele are designed to offer sweeping views from both bedroom and bathroom.

Elsa Young/Chichele Presidential

South Luangwa is leopard central, but it’s also a birder’s paradise.

Elsa Young/Chichele Presidential

On a site on Chichele Hill chosen by the late Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda for his private bush retreat, this new lodge enjoys one of the best locations in one of southern Africa’s loveliest parks. With enormous suites that are cleverly positioned to offer angled views from both bedroom and bathroom, you’re guaranteed those sweeping views. Aside from making the most of the location, Zambian owners Grant and Lynsey Cumings mandated the designers to create the most luxurious lodge in Zambia (hitherto better known for low-key tented camps), and set to achieve this in spades, with a spa, gym, infinity lap pool, and more. South Luangwa is not a Big Five destination (no rhino) but game viewing is one of the best in Africa. In fact, it’s dubbed Valley of the Leopards thanks to the virtually guaranteed sightings of the typically elusive cat, with plentiful lions and cheetahs, too, if you’re lucky. With over 400 recorded species South Luangwa is also a birder’s paradise, but it’s really the sense of untouched wilderness that makes this such a special safari destination. (Worth noting also that the Cumings plan to open new Lolelunge Private Reserve towards the end of 2025, an excellent stepping stone into Zambia’s vast Kafue National Park.)

Singita Milele & Kilima — Greater Serengeti, Tanzania

Singita’s recent foray into exclusive-use lodging will bring its standard-setting service to luxury digs—all against the backdrop of Grumeti in the Serengeti.

Singita Kilima

Ask a luxury safari specialist for their favorite Singita property is like asking a parent their favorite child—each unique, all loved. So when Singita announces a new property, you know not only what to expect, but that expectations will be met. And isn’t that the very definition of happiness? Responding to the ever-increasing demand for exclusive-use options, Singita built two privately located five-bedroom “retreats” into the ridge-line of Sasakwa hill, separate from the existing lodge but with the same gobsmacking views across the vast grassland plains. This is Grumeti—the unfenced western section of the Serengeti ecosystem, Africa’s most magnificent wildlife region and vying with Botswana’s Okavango Delta (where Singita is entering in 2026) as the ultimate destination for the well-heeled safari traveler. The first to open, Kilima, is designed in such a way that it can be used by a smaller group, and welcomed its first guests in November. Milele, which opened in June, is the bigger of the two. Both offer a peerless experience: infinity pool, heated plunge pools, cinema room, fitness room, excellent wine tastings, and a highly personalized and emotionally intelligent approach to service that really is the standard-bearer in hospitality.

Mbamba Camp — Okavango Delta, Bostwana

Ralph Bousfield of Jack’s Camp will lend his nostalgia-laced style and wilderness prowess to Mbamba Camp come April 2025.

Mbamba Camp Botswana

Having wowed us with the May 2024 opening of Tawana Camp in the coveted heart of the Okavango Delta (well worth including on your radar, if you can find space), Natural Selection will open Mbamba next in a 220,000-acre concession north of the Vumbura and Duba Plains, west of the central channeling of the Okavango river. It’s another collaboration with Ralph Bousfield, the man behind Jack’s and San Camps in Makgadigadi, and the perennially popular Duke’s. With a lifetime in the bush and a degree in conservation, Bousfield’s skills as a wilderness guide are uncontested, and his safari aesthetic unmistakable. Comprising 12 ensuite tents, Mbamba features his trademark African Raj-style tents—scalloped edges, interiors lined with printed cotton, here in saturated orange—and filled with a mix of campaign-style furniture (made by his team in Francistown), as well as antiques, and ethnographic and natural artifacts collected from India and Morocco. Bousfield’s romantic evocation of camping in a bygone era in a game-dense area is a winning combination—in high season (starts April) it’s virtually impossible to find a bed at Duke’s; Mbamba should help alleviate the pressure.

andBeyond Suyian — Laikipia, Kenya

Each suite at andBeyond Suyian is the size of a small apartment and designed with an aesthetic that mimics the landscape of the vast Laikipia Plateau.

&Beyond

Rising like clustered boulders on a ridge in the unfenced 44,500-acre Suyian Conservancy, this is shaping up to be the most luxurious safari experience on the vast Laikipia Plateau, a well-watered landscape of grassland, savanna, and woodlands, bounded by the Rift Valley to the west and Mount Kenya to the east. Inspired by the granite kopjes it overlooks, the lodge comprises a series of organic shapes and curves, clad in local stone to mirror the landscape, and indigenous flora planted into rock fissures. The interior palette is inspired by the mottled pelts of the semi-resident African “painted” wild dogs, after which the lodge is named in the local Maa language. Comprising 14 suites, each the size of a small apartment and sharing a large spa and wellness centre, fully-equipped gym and several dining options, including an inviting “house kitchen”, wine cellar, and open-air courtyard for flame-grilled cooking and al fresco dinners. Like Samburu, Laikipia augments well with much busier Masai Mara, offering the opportunity to encounter rare and endangered species such as African wild dog, and the magnificent melanistic leopards that roam through the now protected Rock Sanctuary.

Mpala Jena Private Villas — Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

At Mpala Jena Private Villas, you can combine Victoria Falls with a safari—without having to move.

Mpala Jena Private Villas

The beautiful suites at Mpala Jena are dressed in earthy tones and natural textures.

Mpala Jena Private Villas

In a grove of ebony trees fringing the Zambezi River, three miles upstream from Mpala Jena Camp, two gorgeous villas are taking shape. Drawing inspiration from the trulli architecture of Alberobello, both villas feature conical thatch roofs and locally-sourced stone, designed to ensure cool comfort in summer and a warm, cosy ambience in winter. Each comprises three river-facing suites, dressed in earthy tones and natural textures, with considered detailing, as befits a property handpicked and punted by African Plains Conservation’s Dereck and Beverly Joubert. It’s an elegant solution for the time-poor, offering that most marvelous baptism—a visit to the thunderous downpour of the Victoria Falls—alongside a safari in the 56,000-hectare Zambezi National Park, home to more lions per km² than any other Zimbabwean park, with high concentrations of buffalo and elephants June to October. In addition to private drives and walks, private boat cruises are included—no better sunset moment than floating into the molten waters of the Zambezi. (Worth noting here that Great Plains Conservation has recently taken over Shompole Camp; ideal for landscape safari enthusiasts with access to the flamingo-rich Lake Natron, the totally revamped camp is scheduled to open at the end of 2025.)

Asilia Kokomo Camp — Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

Kokomo’s en-suite tents are designed to keep very little between you and the dense wilderness of Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park.

Asilia Africa

For some, this is the ultimate luxury: tucked up in a proper bed under a star-spangled sky, with nothing but a canvas wall between you and a vast, dense wilderness; alone, bar the lucky few you invited, and a small professional team attending to your needs. Kokomo’s three en-suite tents— with retractable roofs designed for star gazing—are set up under a filigreed canopy of fig, sausage, and jackalberry trees, and overlook the Mwagusi riverbed. Located in Ruaha National Park—part of a four-million-hectare unfenced ecosystem, with one of the continent’s healthiest predator populations (second-largest lion numbers after the Serengeti)–safari doesn’t get more authentic that this. You get your own guide and vehicle, so the pace and plan is yours to set—from early morning picnics under ancient baobabs, to sundowners overlooking palm-lined rivers of sand. Created by a company that pioneers sustainable conservation initiatives in vulnerable wilderness areas, this is what a safari is meant to be, and at the 2025 rates, a bargain.

Masiya’s Camp — Greater Kruger, South Africa

Masiya’s will bring all the trademark lavishness associated with The Royal Portfolio’s hospitality ventures—and guaranteed Big Five sighting.

The Royal Portfolio

The Royal Portfolio’s Liz Biden doesn’t do small, and she sure doesn’t do dull. Masiya’s, her latest camp on the 37 000-acre Royal Malewane concession is described as “under canvas”, but with floor-to-ceiling glass, ceiling speakers, and pop-up television, it’s not what you’d call a tent. Each of the six suites is 100m2; double that if you include the deck. It’s a complete retreat, with heated plunge pool, sala, and private dining. If you prefer to socialize, the communal area invites with a central heated pool, lounge, green-tiled bar, and interactive kitchen, and cooking experiences; Biden’s bold use of color and contemporary art is sure to be in evidence. Dining is entirely bespoke—whether you’re on a specific diet or want a six-course paired menu—and wines, available by the glass, one of the quickest way to tour some of the Cape’s best. Guiding is also exemplary—this is one of the most qualified teams in Africa; in fact, the camp is named in honor of the late Wilson Masiya, first recognized Master Tracker in Greater Kruger. Not the continent’s most beautiful reserve, and fairly busy, but for guaranteed close-up encounters, it can’t be beat.

Sarara Wilderness — Samburu District, Kenya

Sarara won’t disappoint with the game-viewing, but the highlight here is that it is owned and operated by the Samburu people who will facilitate a deeper connection with the land.

Ben Kirby/Sarara Wilderness

This exclusive-use mobile camp is the latest in the lovely Sarara portfolio of ecolodges—a 2.5 hour drive from Sarara Camp, Sarara Treehouses or Reteti House—all within the 850,000-acre Namunyak conservancy. Comprising up to six en-suite Meru-style tents, this is old-school safari—feet in the sand around a campfire; al fresco bucket showers; the unfiltered nocturnal sounds of the bush—but with luxuries like Wi-Fi, a massage therapist, and mobile pool. A superb example of community-driven conservation, Sarara is owned and operated by the Samburu who have had to share resources in this semi-arid region with wildlife for centuries. Watered by the palm-lined Ewaso Nyiro River—a magnet for desert-adapted species you won’t find in Masai Mara, as well as the usuals (other than rhino) —game viewing won’t disappoint. Other highlights include the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, and visiting a Samburu manyatta (traditional village). It’s a blend that makes this one of the most exciting openings for Rose Hipwood, founder of The Luxury Safari Company. “For a small group wanting an exceptional experience, it’s an adventure like no other. It’s remote, it’s raw, and it connects you to both the land and its people.”

Gorilla Forest Lodge — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda

Gorilla Forest is still the only luxury lodge located within the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and for that alone it’s a bucket-list stay.

Andrey Gudkov/Getty

The green heart of Africa must be vibrating, what with the slew of new openings slated for 2025 and 2026 (including Asilia’s first foray into the country with Erebero Hills), but when it comes to location and history, it’s hard to beat Gorilla Forest Camp, razed and rising anew as Gorilla Forest Lodge by A&K Sanctuary in 2025. The first camp to be opened in Bwindi by founder Geoffrey Kent, who mooted the idea of a National Park to protect the dwindling mountain gorilla population to General Museveni, it welcomed its first guest in 1986, five years before its proclamation as a National Park. Bwindi is now home to more than 450 mountain gorillas—almost half the world population— and Gorilla Forest is still the only luxury lodge located within the Park; a five-minute stroll and you’re at the start of the Buhoma trailhead. The new lodge will offer 10 generously-proportioned, zen-like suites, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private decks, minimal clutter, natural materials, and organic textures—clay-look plaster; woven banana ceilings—to cocoon you in comfort. An expanded spa, fireplaces, and bath tubs soothe post-trek muscles, alongside the knowledge that your presence has directly contributed to the ongoing protection of Africa’s gentle giants.

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