Southern Africa New Safari Lodges 2025

We recently wrote about new lodges that are opening up in East Africa for 2025, here are our top picks for new safari properties in southern Africa. If you share our excitement, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of our safari specialists, to see if they can fit a new camp or safari lodge into your future vacation plans.

In Botswana, in northern Okavango, through a partnership with the Bukakhwe Bushman tribe who live in the Village of Gudikwa, Maxa Camp opens on 20 March. Ideally situated in a rich mix in vegetation and ecosystems, the area features a network of permanent and seasonally inundated channels and lagoons, meaning that access to and from Maxa will be by helicopter from Shinde airstrip. Accommodating up to 12 guests, the tented rooms are practical, yet comfortable, with four beautifully designed stretch canvas tents on decks, comprising an ensuite indoor bathroom as well as full outdoor open-air bathroom.
Launching 1 April 2025, Onguma will be offering Namibia’s First Walking Trails Camp near Etosha . The intimate, eco-friendly glamp-camp offers a 2-night walking trail experience that can be extended to 3 nights, delivering a perfect balance of adventure and Onguma-style comfort. With just four en-suite glamping bell tents, the camp accommodates a maximum of eight guests. Guests can unwind in front of their tent or in their private wood-fired hot tub, soaking in the sights and sounds of the wilderness.
Mbamba Camp will open in April 2025 in the Okavango Delta. It will include 12 solar-powered, air-conditioned luxury tents with en-suite bathrooms and private verandahs nestled among Leadwood trees. The main area will offer amenities such as a library, lounges, a dining area, a swimming pool, and a fire pit. Guests will enjoy activities like helicopter rides, visits to the Tsodilo Hills UNESCO World Heritage Site, and guided safaris in Botswana’s untouched wilderness.
Also opening in April, in honour of Wilson Masiya, a legendary master tracker at Royal Malewane, South Africa, a new tented camp is set to capture the essence of his fearless spirit and intimate connection with the African wilderness. Masiya’s Camp will offer guests a luxurious, immersive under canvas safari experience, combining world-class comfort with profound respect for nature. Six ultra-modern tented suites each with a heated plunge pool, outdoor lounge, sala and private dining decks, and modern conveniences such as a mini-bar, air conditioning, ceiling fans, underfloor heating and Wi-Fi connectivity
Machaba’s Monachira Camp, will be opening in May 2025 on the edge of the Monachira channel in the northeast Moremi Game Reserve. Accessible only by helicopter, the camp will offer motor boating excursions, peaceful mokoro rides, island nature walks, and short game drives for a fully immersive bush experience. Guests will enjoy exceptional wildlife viewing and will also be close to the famous Gudigwa Heronries, a nesting ground for herons, egrets, and storks. Explore the permanent channels of the Monachira River and keep an eye out for elephants, lions, leopards, and the rare sitatunga, as well as the elusive Pel’s Fishing owl.
Opening in June 2025, on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls, the Waterfalls Lodge, is set to offer the perfect base to explore one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Just minutes from the thundering falls and lush rainforest, this 60-room lodge is an ideal retreat for couples, families, and adventurers alike.
In August 2025, two new, 3-bedroom Mpala Jena Private Villas will open.
Six Senses Victoria Falls is set to open late in 2025. The property’s innovative design, featuring stilted wooden structures connected by raised walkways and bridges, ensures a minimal environmental footprint while offering a luxurious and immersive experience. With 22 lodges, including 15 deluxe lodges with suspended pools and 17 individual pool villas—nine of which have multi-bedroom accommodations—guests can enjoy both privacy and stunning views. The tree-level lodges are designed to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, offering a “bird’s-eye” perspective on the surrounding wildlife.
Holding South Luangwa’s prime vantage point, 360 degree views, and in a prime wildlife location with rivers, streams, floodplains and forests at its feet, the landmark Chichele Presidential Lodge is set to reopen its doors on March 7th. Once a private retreat for Zambia’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda, the lodge is undergoing a complete transformation and will re-emerge with ten Vista Suites, seamlessly blending stunning views of the surrounding wilderness and the contemporary aesthetics with the lodge’s rich history. The lodge’s communal areas will include a swimming pool, gym, and spa and a culinary team to delight guests with a variety of farm-to-table feasts, from sizzling Boma barbecues and tapas evenings to delectable lawn dinners and made-to-order pizzas from a wood-fired oven. Activities will include stargazing, birdwatching, and cultural experiences.
Anantara’s Kafue River Tented Camp in Zambia’s vast Kafue National Park is also set to open in 2025. The camp features 12 private luxury tents, including a 600-square-metre Presidential Villa with plunge pools and exclusive boat access. Anantara Kafue provides intimate luxury amidst the wilderness in its guest accommodation and facilities, which include a restaurant, bar, traditional African boma, and a wellness area with a pool.