Conde Nast Traveller has unveiled its 2022 Best New Hotels list – and in it feature some of Africa’s newest and most stunning tented suites, safari camps, luxury BNBs and boutique hotels for the perfect escape.
Here are the hotels that made the cut:
Wilderness Safaris DumaTau, Botswana
The latest premiere camp from luxury outfitter Wilderness Safaris is a fresh take on a familiar name. The new DumaTau is a collection of eight oversized tented suites overlooking the elephant-rich Osprey Lagoon, each with its own living area, shaded sundeck, plunge pool, and outdoor shower. A new wellness spa, The Osprey Retreat, and menus chock-full of locally sourced ingredients reflect the desires of today’s travellers to languish in nature and indulge mindfully while on safari. The combination of land- and water-based game viewing amplifies the immersive experience, as does the chance for close encounters with elephants, wild dogs, and rare-bird life.
https://wilderness-safaris.com/our-camps/camps/dumatau-camp
Fairmont Taghazout Bay, Morocco
One of the first luxury resorts to debut in the windswept fishing village of Taghazout, this beachfront property – studded with gnarled olive trees and backed by the Atlas Mountains’ moss-green foothills – deftly melds the Fairmont’s stalwart service and amenities galore with a distinctly laid-back vibe. The interiors are filled with locally sourced fabrics and bold accents of inky Moroccan blue, while floor-to ceiling windows afford views of the surfers (and occasionally a sauntering camel) on the beach. The 146 rooms are modern and sun-drenched, and the 15,000-square-foot spa – billed as Morocco’s largest – offers gob-smacking ocean vistas and transportive treatments.
https://www.fairmont.com/taghazout/
Eden Nairobi, Kenya
Fashion designer Anna Trzebinski transformed her longtime Nairobi home into this art-filled boutique hotel, close enough to the city’s action while still feeling like a quiet retreat. It has everything you’d expect from a larger-than-life designer: rustic-chic decor in the nine rooms, mirrors framed by colourful blown-glass installations, a stylish bar hidden behind a curtain of ostrich eggs, and paintings and sculptures provided by Trzebinski’s own children. The serene hideaway really does feel like Eden, and both Nairobi residents and jet-setters are already fans. On any given weekend, expect to see posh Kenyans on a weekend staycation and international crowds hosting destination weddings.
Sterrekopje Farm, South Africa
This is a deeply nurturing, therapeutic retreat on a 125-acre working farm; but rather than a farm stay or spa, think of it as a soft landing for the soul. Restorative rest is seen as the foundation for all healing to take place, as reflected in the 11 rooms – each a uniquely decorated, calming, meditative sanctuary. Harvesting fruits and vegetables with the chefs is a daily ritual, and the wholesome, organic food is honestly reason enough to book a stay here. Whether you stick with homemade herbal teas or try the handcrafted local wines, abundance rather than abstinence is the Sterrekopje way.
Sussurro, Mozambique
Long before it even opened, Sussurro had developed a following almost exclusively through Instagram, tapping into a tribe of design-savvy, planet-loving creatives desperate to travel more consciously. The six bungalows encourage mindfulness with hand-stitched bathrobes, organic soaps, and heritage antique pieces. Everything on the restaurant’s seasonal menu aims to maximise support for local fishermen and traders, and the drinks have a similar sense of place – think cocktails made with tropical fruits and fair-trade coffee grown on the slopes of Mount Gorongosa. Whether you curl up on a Zanzibari daybed with a book from the library or join one of the dhow sunset cruises, it’s all extremely chill here.
Mango House Seychelles
Mango House Seychelles is the former family home of Milanese fashion photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri, now operating as a 41-key boutique resort under LXR Hotels & Resorts. Its ultra-scenic seclusion on Mahé is the epitome of a laid-back yet luxurious Seychelles getaway: One can honestly gaze at the stunning bay views—from the beach, the two pools, or one’s own balcony – for hours and feel revitalised. And the championing of local artisans and suppliers makes one feel particularly connected to the location. The interiors inside each room read contemporary sea-breeze luxury, but you will be venturing out often for the resort’s lauded upscale food and drink venues.
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Via https://www.cntraveller.com/
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