A Luxury Rail Journey Through Africa

Situated on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, One&Only Cape Town is an invitation to experience the Cape Town at its most captivating. With uninterrupted views of Table Mountain and direct access to the marina’s cosmopolitan energy, this retreat blends exclusivity with the pulse of Cape Town’s thriving cultural scene. Set amidst a network of tranquil private waterways, the hotel offers an extraordinary sense of seclusion, yet remains just steps from the city’s premier design boutiques, acclaimed restaurants and lively bars. Step onto your private balcony to take in spellbinding views including Table Mountain’s rugged silhouette bathed in golden light at sunrise and the serene waters of the marina shimmering at dusk. Dining at One&Only Cape Town is a celebration of South Africa’s culinary diversity. At Ochre, the flavours of the Cape are reimagined in dishes that honour tradition while embracing modern sophistication. Just steps away, the sunlit terrace of Isola invites you to linger over fresh salads, colourful poke bowls and crisp wood-fired flatbreads, all accompanied by the gentle soundtrack of rippling water. For an exquisite evening, Nobu Cape Town, the only African outpost of the legendary Nobu Matsuhisa, offers an elevated take on Japanese-Peruvian fusion. One&Only Cape Town’s Wine Loft is a sanctuary for oenophiles. Immerse yourself in the artistry of winemaking with expert guidance and rare, sought-after bottles. Hidden within the hotel’s private waterways, the One&Only Spa is a secluded island of tranquility. Twelve serene treatment rooms await, where ESPA-trained therapists create bespoke wellness journeys. Afterward, recline in the spa’s lush garden, where relaxation is paired with nourishing refreshments. For those seeking more movement, the One&Only Fitness Centre is a state-of-the-art space offering high-energy boot camps and kettlebell training as well as personalised yoga sessions on the summit of Table Mountain. You can also embark on a guided hike up Lion’s Head, where panoramic views reward your climb with a breathtaking perspective of the city below.

With only three suites the very smart Pioneer Camp, like the Granite Suites, offers a highly personal service and safari experience. It’s also the most secluded of all the lodges at Londolozi Reserve thanks in part to a canopy of 500-year-old ebony trees. Then there are the wonderful views of the river. Even though recently renovated this camp has still not forgone its name and initial purpose, so its design falls more in line with the classical era of the adventurer. The overall feel is a sumptuously modern one but the use of old travelling chests, gramophones, nostalgic colonial antiques and more traditional-style furniture romantically reminds you of how safaris were first forged. For families and small groups, the entire Pioneer Camp can be exclusively hired and its connecting sky walkways mean that the three suites can be turned into one bush home

Tinga Lodge is a remote and beautiful camp situated on the bank of the Sabie River in a private concession of the Kruger, bordering the Lion Sands Reserve. Its grand, African design gives the lodge a feeling of spaciousness and true luxury, while its phenomenal location guarantees you a superior safari experience. Accommodation is composed of nine luxury en suite rooms, in private spots overlooking the river. Each feature indoor and outdoor showers, separate lounge areas with minibars, private plunge pools and decks and 24 hour air-conditioning. The communal areas of the lodge are sophisticated and serene with a large open lounge and dining area complete with a fireplace, a central public pool and wooden decking. Surrounded entirely by bush and sky, Tinga Lodge is one of only seven private concessions in the Kruger National Park and is a year-round safari destination. The Kruger National Park boasts the highest concentration of Black Rhino in the whole of South Africa, and the lodge offers both morning and evening game drives in open safari vehicles, bush walks and a whole host of other activities – such as nights out in the Tineyeleti Treehouse – to give you a safari experience like no other.

Award winning Selati Camp calls on the nostalgic romance and opulence of the colonial era. Eight thatched suites are surely sculpted with all classical charm and dressed with the traditional trimmings of antique travelling chests, oil lanterns, mahogany and rattan furniture, vintage pieces and Persian rugs. The historical railway theme extends throughout the lodge and creates a charming and authentic home in wilderness. Selati has a close bond with the local community and has set up a multifunctional educational centre and a sports initiative which funds more than a dozen teams at nearby schools.  Each air-conditioned suite boasts a gorgeous en-suite bathroom and private alfresco shower nestled in the trees. In the communal areas you can lounge by the swimming pool, or relax on the wooden viewing decks and watch wildlife drinking at the nearby waterhole. The Ivory Presidential Suite is a favourite with a private terrace, plunge pool and its own homely fireplace. There’s a lovely little outdoor boma for dinner under the stars lit by lanterns after a day out on safari in Sabi Sabi Reserve. On colder evenings the world-class meals are served in the dining room that resembles a very cozy farmhouse kitchen.

Set on a quiet secluded spot some distance up the Zambezi river. Royal Chundu is a place to come and relax by the river. There are two lodges, the River Lodge of ten suites and the Island Lodge of four large villas. Located on a very quiet stretch of the Zambezi this lodge is extremely luxurious with an excellent spa facility and fine-dining in camp. Activities here are a mix of river-based relaxation and adventure as well as visits to the Falls.

A historic landmark and an attraction in itself, the ‘grand old lady of the Falls’ still packs as much colonial flair and character as she always has, and has long been one of the most magnificent places to stay here. The stately Edwardian style building has been here since 1904 and still commands the atmospheric appeal of the age of adventurer, standing at the rendezvous point where many pioneers have chosen to meet over the last century. Of course outfitted with the modern comforts and demands, the hotel has kept up with the times and all of its 176 well-equipped rooms are proof of this. Furthermore there are a phenomenal level of facilities here to spoil you right in the middle of untamed Africa, and their wonderfully manicured and tropical gardens are lovely to take a stroll around. One of the best things about the Victoria Falls hotel is its position, being seated just ten minutes’ walk away from the cascades along one of the hotel’s private pathways. There is nothing quite like taking afternoon tea on the Stanley Terrace, listening to the muted roar of the falls, and a royal view of the rising mist from the ‘smoke that thunders’ and the silhouette of the Victoria Falls bridge that links Zimbabwe with Zambia. If you choose to stay here, you’ll be following in many a royal family’s footsteps and those of many a famous figure, that aside you can’t fail to the feel the history and enduring elegance of this hotel.