New luxury safari lodges throughout Africa | News

It is incredibly exciting to see how many new safari lodges are opening across Africa in the coming months. Zambia in particular is seeing some very exciting new developments. A number of new properties will be launched this year as the travel industry anticipates the recent OurAfrica.Travel digital trade show, this week at We Are Africa in Cape Town and next week at Indaba in Durban. New openings include:

Mount Ceder Under Canvas Shelters in the Cederberg in South Africa

Mount Ceder has recently launched its new Under Canvas Hideaways, located on a beautiful family-run olive farm, hidden in the Cederberg Mountains, approximately 3 hours drive from Cape Town. The three new Hideaways, which welcomed their first guests on March 1, 2026, each offer no less than 70 m2 of understated luxury under canvas, complete with beautiful ensuite bathrooms, glass fronts, beautiful terraces and a private wood-fired hot tub. They are named after iconic constellations (Orion, Scorpius and Crux) in honor of the very little light pollution in this wilderness area at night, where velvet skies provide the perfect canvas for vibrant stars as the Milky Way blazes its path in all its glory. A perfect escape from night tourism! Activities on site include a wide range of self-guided walks and half- and full-day guided walks, mountain bike trails, Olive Grove Tours and tastings and sunset walks. There is also Junior Ranger Adventures for young people, where they can enjoy the outdoors, learn about the San and Khoi petroglyphs, make a bow and arrow, fish in the pond and enjoy fun treasure hunts. The Grootrivier, the eternal river that meanders through the estate, is safe for swimming and ideal for canoeing. The birding is also fantastic, and the region is known for its wildflowers in season.

Nzovu Rundu luxury camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia

Proudly Zambian Shearzone Safaris will launch their second property, Nzovu Rundu Luxury Camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park, in June 2026. This is a follow-up to the success of Mozhi Bush Camp in Zambia’s Kafue National Park. The new lodge overlooks the tranquil Nkalange Channel on the mighty Zambezi River, where guests can expect exceptional wildlife sightings. The name pays tribute to the elephants that roam this area, as well as the striking escarpment that forms the dramatic backdrop to the lodge. The new camp will have 10 chalets, including 8 luxury suites and 2 spacious family units. Each unit features a private plunge pool, air conditioning and outdoor showers, combining comfort with the natural beauty of the landscape. A varied selection of activities are offered, including game drives, canoeing on the Zambezi and boat trips. There will also be a luxurious spa and an impressive wine cellar, ensuring that both adventure and relaxation are at the heart of the guest experience. Shearzone is also proud to operate its private fleet of Cessna aircraft and provide reliable charter services throughout Zambia, going beyond just seamlessly connecting its own camps. Looking ahead, Shearzone will also launch Achikunda Luxury Camp in 2027 and Old Njati Luxury Camp in 2028.

Carmines River Lodge in South Luangwa in Zambia

Launching in July 2026 in South Luangwa, Zambia, Carmines River Lodge consists of three elegant two-bedroom villas, each with its own vehicle. The lodge will soft-launch to the trade and media in June. The lodge’s bird name pays tribute to the property’s unique location, which is home to the world’s largest Carmine Bee Eater colony, directly opposite the lodge on the Luangwa Wafwa. This intimate, family-run luxury lodge has an enviable location on an island, between two rivers, on 54 hectares of private land. Initially accommodating just 12 guests (18 with extra beds) spread across 3 beautifully appointed two-bedroom villas, each elevated and nestled among ancient 6 meter high ebony trees and strategically spaced to not only minimize footprint and disturbance to nature, but also take advantage of the lodge’s prime location overlooking the Msandile River. The lodge is less than a 10-minute drive, via a neighboring pontoon, to the South Luangwa National Park and 20 minutes to the Nsefu Game Reserve.

Warangi Ridge, central Serengeti in Tanzania

However, Warangi Ridge, launched by The Wilderness Collection in September 2025 (so just missed our 2026 launch list) in the central Serengeti, unveiled its fully equipped gym in January 2026 – designed to help guests stay active while on safari. Located just below the main lodge next to the striking rock infinity pool, the gym offers a range of equipment suitable for both general fitness and strength training. Guests have free entry and can enjoy beautiful bush views while exercising, creating a truly unique fitness experience in nature. For those seeking relaxation and mindfulness, an open-air salad area, nestled among the acacia trees, provides a serene environment for spa treatments, while a dedicated terrace provides the perfect space for yoga and meditation. The new spa opens later this year, so we thought it would qualify for this list!

New animals joining the Bushtops herd in East Africa

This year, Bushtops celebrates 20 years of redefining ‘wild luxury’ and marks the milestone with a transformative enhancement that sets a new standard in the guest experience. They recently announced that by 2026, every suite booked will have its own 4×4 safari vehicle, guide and spotter at no extra cost. Couples, families and small groups can now enjoy the freedom to explore the area at their own pace, without having to book or pay extra for an exclusive vehicle. To meet the growing demand for exclusivity, Bushtops is expanding its fleet and welcoming new professional guides and spotters to its team. In addition, a further three 6×6 “Bushtops Beests” will join the “herd”/safari fleet of luxury Game Viewers in June 2026, ready for the peak migration season. These luxury safari vehicles will be replicas of the original Beast prototype, complete with heated seats, refrigerators with freezers for personal drinks, wireless chargers, fold-out sundowners bar and fully functioning kitchens with running water. Two of the new Beasts will be based in Mara Bushtops and the third will join the original Beast in the Serengeti.

Lone Palm in the Livingstone Region of Zambia

Lone Palm is a new 10-bedroom, family-run tented lodge launching late this year by The Ultra Portfolio. Located on the banks of the Zambezi River, approximately 12km upstream from the world-famous Victoria Falls, Lone Palm will introduce a fresh, intimate, purpose-driven lodge experience to the Livingstone region when it opens in late 2026.

Guests are invited to slow down and reconnect through yoga, guided river moments, nature walks and mindful experiences, while knowing their stay contributes to meaningful conservation and community projects in the surrounding region.

Jaci’s Private Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa

Following last year’s floods, Jaci’s Lodges in South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve will be relaunched on July 1, 2026 as Jaci’s Private Lodge, featuring 10 newly designed Safari Suites with private terraces overlooking the river, tranquil sunken lounges and soothing interiors inspired by the rich colors and textures of Madikwe. The lodge’s exclusive use villas, namely Kubu Villa, Nare Villa and Jaci’s Madikwe House, have also been elevated. Each villa offers three to five bedrooms, a private pool, expansive living areas and a dedicated team, complete with a private chef, host and ranger.

Lolelunga Private Reserve in Zambia

Owned by Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection – Lolelunga Private Reserve is a 30,000 hectare private game reserve in the Kasempa area, approximately 30 kilometers north of Kafue National Park. The lodge had a soft launch in August 2025, but will officially open to guests on May 10, 2026. It is a place where conservation, exclusivity and contemporary safari design come together in a very compelling way.

Other new safari openings in 2026 include:

Laba Ngorongoro Lodge – Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania (February 2026)
Sediba Sa Rona – Khwai Concession, Okavango Delta (March 2026)
Bupenyu Lodge – Batoka Gorge, Zimbabwe (March 2026)
Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp – Kafue National Park, Zambia (April 2026)
Thitaka Lodge – Bwabwata National Park, Namibia (May 2026)
Wilderness Mara – Mara Triangle, Kenya (June 2026)
Shisaka & N’weti Camps, Sandringham Private Game Reserve, South Africa (June 2026)
Erebero Hills – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda (August 2026)
Lwenge River Camp – Kafue National Park, Zambia (August 2026)
Singita Elela – Okavango Delta, Botswana (December 2026)
**All launch dates are subject to change, especially due to recent heavy rains in Africa

“Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is the worst of them all” – Brian Jackman

Once you set foot in the African wilderness, chances are you’ll want to return. The good news is that there are always new places to visit, unknown locations to explore and an abundance of sublime new lodges to discover.