We shine a spotlight on the best luxury experiences in Tanzania, South Africa and Morocco

We can’t talk about South Africa without mentioning one of the best things to do here – going on a safari! And why not tick off this bucket list activity in style? 

Shamwari Game Reserve is one of the best places in South Africa to see wildlife including the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinoceros) thanks to its award-winning commitment to conservation. All animals are viewed from a safe and respectable distance. 

Another big reason why we recommend Shamwari Game Reserve is you can stay here in five-star luxury at Bayethe Tented Lodge.

It’s no ordinary glamping experience. Accommodation comes in the form of beautiful cabins with large bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, cosy lounges and balconies with a view of the African bush. 

In-lodge dining features international fare and there’s even a spa for when you need a quiet moment to relax. Bliss!

Did you know you can traverse South Africa on your very own luxury five-star hotel on wheels? Called the Blue Train, this decadent train has seen the likes of royalty and world-leaders languish in its grand 19th-century carriages – and you can too. 

Book yourself into a sumptuous De Luxe Suite with a spacious lounge and a softly lit bedroom. Underfloor heating and a gold and marble bathroom with a bathtub are also included. 

On the train, you’ll also find a glamorous fine-dining car, conference car and observation car – and oh, what a view to observe! 

The standard routes the train travels are between Pretoria and Cape Town or Pretoria and Kruger National Park. Outside the generous windows, you’ll see South Africa’s diverse landscapes flash by and perhaps even spot the likes of lions and elephants on your very own rail safari. 

And if that wasn’t enough, you can even charter the entire train for you and your party. Now that’s luxury!

Want to have an epic South Africa holiday without worrying about every bit of the itinerary? We offer a range of luxury South Africa tours. One of our favourites is the Adrenaline Adventure and Beach Time Holiday, a 14-night tour that includes both South Africa and Seychelles. 

Get your holiday off to a thrilling start with a six-night stay at The Oyster Box Durban where you can get a private safari experience at Hluhluwe Game Reserve.
 
Afterwards, take a Coastal Scenic Helicopter Tour before finding your beach paradise at Constance Lemuria in the Seychelles. 

Experience a blissful eight-night stay complete with an 18-hole golf course, spa, four restaurants and uninterrupted beach views. 

Another great reason to visit South Africa? The wine! Just fifty miles north of Cape Town is the mountainous Cape Winelands where vast stretches of fertile land have been turned into vineyards. Thanks to its pleasant Mediterranean style climate, it’s the perfect location for producing world-class wines. 

If you’re a wine lover, why not drink from the source on a Cape Winelands tour? We can help you create a self-guided itinerary which hits all the best wineries and towns in the region such as Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Cape Agulhas and Paarl with a private chauffer so you can get those tastings in. 

If you want a touch more of the wow factor, Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town offers classic car chauffeured tours, off-piste wine tasting jeep adventures, and for real excitement, a whale watching helicopter tour followed by a bespoke wine and food tasting experience!

The fourth largest city in Morocco, Marrakech is a cacophony of colour from its busy souks to its dazzling palaces and gardens. 

Africa’s first official capital of culture is one you’ll definitely want to explore, and you can do it in pure luxury at Four Seasons Resort Marrakech. 

This glamourous five-star hotel is right in the beating heart of the city, providing both an oasis of calm and a base for your urban adventures. 

Tropical gardens surround you and plenty of swimming pools give you ample opportunities to cool off amid the Moroccan heat. There’s also a kids’ club to keep little ones safely entertained. 

When you’re refreshed and ready to see the city, choose from a selection of fabulous excursions recommended by Four Seasons. 

We love the tour of Yves Saint Laurent eclectic home where you can see Morocco’s influences behind the legendary fashion designer’s work. 

If you want to delve into the opulent world of souks, Four Seasons can help you tailor a custom shopping itinerary to browse the very best spice stalls, carpet fairs, concept stores and outdoor malls. 

For cooler Moroccan holidays, the Atlas Mountains are calling. Here, you’ll find authentic hospitality and delicious food in the traditional Berber villages. 

In late spring the Atlas Mountains are at their most beautiful. The foothills are lush with crops and flowers. During the summer, the higher ground offers a much-needed refuge from the heat as temperatures tend to be 15 degrees cooler than the rest of the country. 

While a day trip from Marrakech is certainly possible, you can also stay in sumptuous comfort at Kasbah Tamadot. 

Owned by Sir Richard Branson, this award-winning luxury hotel has an exclusive 28 bedrooms housed within a traditional red brick property. There’s a pool, spa and restaurant with beautiful mountain vistas to accompany your meals. 

For a little added adventure, don your walking boots and admire the beautiful Azzaden Valley or climb North Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Toubkal with a guide. 

Sit back and let us create your perfect Morocco tour for you. One of our favourites is Moroccan Nights, a seven-night itinerary based in Marrakech. 

You’ll stay at the gorgeous Mandarin Oriental in the heart of the city centre. From there, you’ll embark on some magical excursions, including a hot air balloon ride over the Sahara Desert and a private tour of Marrakech, Casablanca and Rabat. You’ll have exclusive access to a private transfer throughout. 

Golf lovers will enjoy our selection of golfing tours and tee off in some of Morocco’s most luxurious destinations. 

Choose from a five-night tour with a stay at Four Seasons Marrakech and three rounds of golf or a seven-night tour with a stay at Pullman Mazagan Royal Golf & Spa. 

There’s nothing quite as magical or as romantic than spending a night under the stars, and you can do just that in a luxury camp in the Sahara Desert.

Itran Royal Camp is one of the most luxurious Merzouga luxury desert camps in Morocco. Positioned at the foot of burnt orange sand dunes, the selection of ten spacious luxury tents come equipped with Wi-Fi, double and single beds, private ensuite bathrooms and air conditioning (and heating in the winter…).

There’s even a spa and restaurant serving up mouth-watering food.  In the middle of the Sahara? Now, that’s impressive! 

Itran Royal Camp is highly rated for its extensive range of thrilling activities including camel rides and quad biking. Evening entertainment is often in the form of music around a flickering campfire. 

Tanzania is another exceptional safari destination. We recommend staying at Four Seasons Safari Lodge in the heart of Serengeti National Park. This luxury retreat gives you direct access to some of the best safari adventures around. 

You can spot the Big Five from a 4x4, hot air balloon or even on foot (don’t worry, you’re perfectly safe). Safari adventures take you through the famous Serengeti, but you can also go further afield to Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera. 

For something different, Four Seasons runs excursions to Maasai Boma village at the entrance to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You’ll see the Maasai watching over their cattle and learn about Maasai culture in the village before heading over to Olduvai Gorge. 

One of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world, the fossilised findings at Olduvai Gorge has been instrumental in helping scientists understand human evolution. 

Tanzania is the home of Africa’s highest mountain in Africa and the highest freestanding mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbing it is a bucket list but it’s certainly no easy feat. 

If you like a challenge, we recommend trekking to the summit with Adventure Consultants, high altitude expedition experts that tackle mountains all over the world (including Everest!). 

With this tour operator, you don’t have to scrimp on luxury. It runs a Kilimanjaro Luxury Trek for individuals or groups wanting the highest degree comfort possible on the mountain. 

Throughout the nine or fourteen-day experience, you’ll get heated mess tents, walk-in sleeping tents with beds, showers and bathrooms, bottled mineral water and delicious food. You can even add on a luxury safari tour for an all-round epic Tanzania holiday. 

Another reason why we love Adventure Consultants is that the tour operator supports the Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Program. It ensures the ethical treatment and working conditions of all porters on the trek. 

No trip to Tanzania is complete without visiting the beautiful Zanzibar Archipelago. Known as the Spice Islands, this tropical paradise lies 35 kilometres off the coast of Tanzania. The biggest one in the group is officially named Unguja but it’s colloquially referred to as Zanzibar Island. 

So, how do you explore this playground of beaches and colourful towns? By chartering a yacht, of course! Zanzibar Yacht Charter offers luxury crewed live aboard holidays as well as day excursions and overnight trips. 

Set sail through the archipelago on a catamaran and enjoy delicious food, as well as activities like snorkelling, diving, fishing, whale watching and beach hopping. Finish off the day on the deck with a cocktail or two as you watch the sun dip below the horizon. Magic. 

Yacht charters can be booked for couples, groups of friends, weddings, honeymoons and corporate events. And when you want to get back on land again, stay at Baraza Resort and Spa on Zanzibar for some relaxation and pamper time. 

Nothing quite matches the fully immersive experience of a boat safari. In Nyerere National Park (formerly known as Selous Game Reserve) you can do just that. 

This national park is the largest protected game reserve on the African continent and it’s renowned for its hippos, rhinoceros, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, crocodiles and abundant birdlife. Unsurprisingly, this important habitat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

So, while you can bundle into a jeep and tour this magnificent reserve, a more unique experience is a boat safari on the meandering Rufiji River. 

As you float peacefully along, you’ll notice all manner of different animals coming to drink and cool off on the water’s edge. Look out for white-crowned plovers busying themselves on the backs of crocodiles, listen to the chatter of blue samango monkeys and watch hippos yawning in the water. 

This boat safari is an experience you’ll never forget. And another thing? The park only has a handful of small camps and safari tours, so you’ll have it almost entirely to yourself.