At a Glance
- Africa’s top hotels blend luxury, heritage preservation, conservation, and long-term investment value.
- Properties attract billionaires, executives, and elite travelers seeking privacy, culture, and experiential travel.
- Premium hotels now anchor tourism growth, regional branding, and Africa’s global luxury positioning.
Africa’s luxury hotels are redefining high-end travel, turning the continent into one of the world’s fastest-growing premium tourism markets. From palace-style riads in Morocco to ultra-private safari lodges in East and Southern Africa, the region’s most exclusive hotels now compete directly with Europe and the Middle East.
These hotels serve a diverse clientele: global executives seeking discretion, ultra-high-net-worth individuals pursuing experiential travel, and leisure guests drawn to Africa’s natural capital. What unites them is scale of ambition, heritage preservation in Marrakech, eco-luxury conservation in Kenya and Tanzania, and mega-resort developments redefining West Africa’s hospitality landscape.
Many of these properties are owned or backed by powerful entrepreneurs, family offices, and institutional investors who understand that premium hospitality in Africa is both a lifestyle play and a long-term economic bet.
Together, these hotels reflect Africa’s rise as a serious luxury destination, competitive with Europe and the Middle East, yet grounded in local identity.
Shore Africa has profiled 25 of Africa’s most premium hotels, each defining excellence in its market.
1. Royal Mansour, Morocco – Moroccan royal-owned palace hotel blending handcrafted riads, privacy, and unmatched service standards in Marrakech. The Royal Mansour Marrakech, ranked 13th best hotel in the world in the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025, wins the Best Hotel in Africa award. Owned and designed by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, the Royal Mansour was conceived as a city within a city
2. La Mamounia, Morocco – Historic Marrakech icon marrying Moorish architecture, lush gardens, and global luxury hospitality pedigree. It has been renowned as one of the world’s finest, leading in high design, ultra-luxe interiors and best-in-class hospitality. La Mamounia, located in the heart of Marrakech, is a five-star hotel in Marrakesh, Morocco, opposite the Kutubiyya Mosque.
3. Ellerman House, South Africa – Ultra-exclusive Cape Town mansion offering panoramic Atlantic views and museum-grade African art. Situated in the heart of one of the most exclusive suburbs, Bantry Bay, just ten minutes away from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Ellerman is a living art gallery. Ellerman House is home to the most significant collection of South African art in the country.
4. Mount Nelson, South Africa – Timeless pink landmark anchoring Cape Town’s luxury hospitality for over a century. One of the top luxury resorts in South Africa, Mount Nelson was purchased in 1988 by Orient-Express Hotels, which is now Belmond. The over 125 years hotels is one of the top luxury resorts in South Africa.
5. Delaire Graff Estate, South Africa – Wine estate luxury combining hospitality, art, vineyards, and elite lifestyle branding. Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch, jewel of the Cape Winelands, has achieved what owner and globally renowned visionary Laurence Graff, Chairman of Graff Diamonds International, had in mind when he acquired this magnificent Cape Winelands property in 2003 and vowed to transform it into South Africa’s most desirable art, hospitality and wine destination.
6. The Oyster Box, South Africa – Classic Indian Ocean-facing hotel blending colonial charm with modern luxury experiences. The Oyster Box is a luxury five-star hotel in uMhlanga, just north of Durban, South Africa. An award-winning 5-star luxury boutique hotel and spa, and a member of Leading Hotels of the World in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
7. Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Tanzania – Ultra-luxury safari lodge delivering private conservation-driven experiences in the Serengeti. Built in the style of a stately Edwardian manor house, refreshed with a light and airy atmosphere, Singita Sasakwa features nine private cottages, providing an unparalleled wildlife safari experience on the Singita Grumeti Reserve.
8. Serengeti House, Tanzania – Singita’s private-use safari retreat designed for ultra-high-net-worth family and group travel. Basking on the slopes of Sasakwa Hill in the Serengeti’s sprawling Grumeti Reserve, Singita Serengeti House, a private-use villa in Tanzania’s Grumeti Reserve is also a 5-star luxury villa in Serengeti that accommodates 8 guests with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.
9. Giraffe Manor, Kenya – An iconic boutique hotel where endangered giraffes roam freely among guests. An exclusive, world-renowned boutique hotel famous for its resident herd of endangered Rothschild’s giraffes that visit guests during breakfast and afternoon tea. Located in the Lang’ata suburb, this 1930s manor offers a unique, luxury experience where guests can feed giraffes from windows.
10. Alfajiri Villas, Kenya – Private cliff-top villas emphasizing conservation, privacy, and bespoke Indian Ocean experiences. Alfajiri Villas in Diani Beach, Kenya, is an award-winning, ultra-luxurious collection of three private, exclusive-use villas (Cliff, Garden, and Beach) overlooking the Indian Ocean.
11. The Oberoi Beach Resort, Mauritius – Secluded Indian Ocean retreat offering spa-led luxury and refined beachfront living. Set along a white-sand beach on the Indian Ocean, this sophisticated resort with thatched buildings is 5 km from Mauritius Aquarium and 10 km from Maheswarnath Mandir hindu temple. With over 20 acres of lush sub-tropical gardens on an idyllic bay on the northwest coast, the Oberoi Beach Resort, Mauritius is a wonderful beachfront hotel situated in Turtle Bay on the North West coast of Mauritius.
12. North Island, Seychelles – Ultra-exclusive private island resort catering to global billionaires and royalty. An exclusive private island located in the north of the Indian Ocean archipelago, North Island is a secluded sanctuary of breathtaking flora and fauna.
13. Babylonstoren, South Africa – Farm-based luxury estate integrating hospitality, agriculture, sustainability, and heritage preservation. A historic wine and farm estate in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, blends heritage with modern design under the care of media tycoon Koos Bekker and his wife Karen Roos.
14. Cairo Marriott Hotel, Egypt – Former royal palace transformed into a landmark luxury hotel on the Nile. The Cairo Marriott Hotel is a large hotel located in the Zamalek district of Gezira Island in Egypt and is just west of Downtown Cairo.
15. Four Seasons Nile Plaza, Egypt – Modern luxury hub serving Cairo’s elite business and diplomatic circles. Located on the 6th to 30th floors of the Nile Plaza complex along the legendary corniche of the River Nile, the 366 guest rooms and suites blend Egyptian elegance with modern comforts in the Garden City district downtown, a rooftop pool towering over the Nile River, and a drive from the Pyramids of Giza.
16. Rock City Hotel, Ghana – Mega hospitality and entertainment complex reshaping West Africa’s luxury tourism narrative. Rock City Hotel, located in Nkwatia Kwahu in Ghana’s Eastern Region, is positioned to become Africa’s largest hotel and resort, featuring over 600 operational rooms with plans to expand to 2,700. Owned by Bryan Acheampong, it is a luxurious, sprawling destination offering attractions like a water park, zoo, aquarium, and golf course.
17. Azalaï Hôtel, Côte d’Ivoire – Business-focused luxury hotel anchoring Abidjan’s commercial hospitality ecosystem. The Azalaï Hotel Abidjan is a prestigious 4-star hotel located on Boulevard Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in Marcory, in the heart of Côte d’Ivoire. Offering 176 rooms and suites, it features an outdoor pool, a fusion restaurant, a spa, and free shuttle service, making it ideal for business trips. Azalaï Hôtel in Côte d’Ivoire is owned by the Azalaï Hotels Group, founded and led by Malian businessman Mossadeck Bally. Established in 1994, the group operates as a major pan-African hotel chain in West Africa, with the Azalaï Hôtel Abidjan being part of its network.
18. Noom Hotel Dakar Sea Plaza, Senegal – Formerly the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar Sea Plaza, this iconic beachfront property has been rebranded under the Noom Hotels banner. Overlooking the Atlantic, Noom Hotel Dakar Sea Plaza combines premium facilities with coastal charm, enhancing Teyliom’s presence in Senegal’s key hospitality market. The hotel, controlled by Senegalese business mogul Yerim Habib Sow, founder of Teyliom Group, remains a top destination for tourists, high‑profile events and luxury stays.
19. Transcorp Hilton, Nigeria – Abuja’s most powerful hospitality asset serving political, diplomatic, and corporate elites. The Transcorp Hilton Abuja is a premier 5-star hotel and a landmark in Nigeria, recognized for its luxury, extensive business facilities, and prime location in the nation’s capital. As one of the largest hotels in Sub-Saharan Africa, Transcorp Hilton Abuja is owned by Transcorp Hotels Plc, the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group), which is controlled by Nigerian investor Tony Elumelu. It serves as a central hub for international visitors and high-profile events, boasting 667 rooms.
20. Radisson Blu Anchorage, Nigeria – Lagos’ premier waterfront business hotel catering to executives and investors. The Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Lagos V.I. is a modern, 4-star luxury hotel located on the waterfront of Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria. It offers 170 stylish rooms and suites with scenic views of the Lagos Lagoon, featuring Scandinavian design, an outdoor infinity pool, a spa, and multiple dining options, catering to both business and leisure travelers
21. Victoria Falls Hotel, Zimbabwe – Colonial-era luxury hotel overlooking one of the world’s natural wonders. The Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe is a historic 5-star Edwardian-style hotel built in 1904, renowned as the “Grand Old Lady of the Falls” and located within Victoria Falls National Park. It is a premier luxury destination with stunning views of the Victoria Falls Bridge, offering Edwardian-style charm and a private pathway to the falls.
22. Royal Livingstone Hotel, Zambia – Riverfront luxury property offering exclusive access to Victoria Falls experiences. The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara is a luxury 5-star colonial-style hotel situated on the banks of the Zambezi River within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia. Known for its prime location, it offers guests exclusive, direct walking access to Victoria Falls and often features roaming wildlife like zebras on the grounds.
23. Miavana by Time + Tide, Madagascar – Ultra-remote island retreat combining conservation and extreme luxury. Miavana by Time + Tide is an ultra-luxury, eco-conscious private island resort located on Nosy Anko off the northeast coast of Madagascar. Accessible only by helicopter, it features 14, one-to-three bedroom ocean-front villas with private, sustainable design, butler service, and direct beach access.
24. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Africa (Tangier) – Mediterranean-facing luxury property anchoring Morocco’s northern elite travel market. is a legendary luxury hotel located in Antibes, on the French Riviera, France, not in Tangier, Africa. It is considered one of the finest hotels in the world and has been a glamorous retreat for the rich and famous since it opened in 1870.
25. Palais Faraj Suites & Spa, Morocco – Restored 19th-century palace delivering refined luxury in historic Fez. Palais Faraj is an extraordinary luxury hotel in Fes, Morocco, decorated in the somptuous, authentic style of a 19-th-century Moroccan palace
