From remote South American outposts to exclusive over-water African safari lodges, these eight new properties offer stays that are worth the trip alone.

The greatest adventures are always rooted in an extraordinary place to stay. With that in mind, we’ve included some of the most exciting new African safari lodges and South American accommodations we can’t wait to show you this year.

Usawa Serengeti Tented Mobile Camp, Tanzania

Campsite in the Serengeti, Tanzania
Relax after a day of game drives with a night around the firepit. Image courtesy of Wilderness

Wilderness is going all out for its first foray into Tanzania with the Usawa Mobile Camp. The camps are mobile and can move at short notice between seven sites (the most in the Serengeti), offering unrivaled access to the thrill of the great migration routes while steering clear of the Serengeti’s high-density tourist areas—a unique alternative to traditional safari lodges. A front-row seat to the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle is all but guaranteed, with Wildnerness able to move you to the camp closest to the herds before you’ve even left camp.

Our Habitas, Atacama, Chile

Outdoor Pool Area in Atacama, Chile
A view of an outdoor pool area with a wooden deck, sun loungers, and a covered patio seating area surrounded by natural landscaping in Atacama, Chile. Image courtesy of Our Habitas Atacama.

The perfect place to unleash your inner explorer, Our Habitas Atacama offers exceptional access to Chile’s otherworldly Atacama Desert. Between hiking through untamed nature and star-gazing (it’s actually one of the best places in the world for stargazing) beneath some of the clearest skies on earth, take a quiet moment to recharge in one of its 51 peaceful, earthy rooms or with a traditional treatment in the spa. We love its restaurant, Almas—which means soul in Spanish—for its seasonal, locally sourced menu. Bonus points for the timeless flavors of woodfired cooking.

Loapi Tented Camp, Kalahari, South Africa

Tented Camp in the Kalahari, South Africa
Luxurious tented camp in the Kalahari, with warm lights illuminating the canvas structures and outdoor seating area against a backdrop of a richly colored sky and rugged terrain. Image courtesy of Andrew Morgan.

Immerse yourself in the Southern Kalahari‘s sprawling savannas and endless skies at Tswalu Loapi, where blissful solitude and a profound connection with the surrounding wilderness combine to make a truly special stay. With six contemporary canvas-tented homes spaced 165 feet apart for privacy, you’ll feel like you have South Africa‘s largest private game reserve all to yourself, unlike many safari lodges (which is why we only choose the best luxury safari lodges in South Africa). Drink in the immense energy of this tremendously important rewilding project while you relax between game drives in the plunge pool and enjoy sundowners around the fire.

Pristine Iguazu Luxury Camp, Iguazu Falls

River view at sunset in Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Tranquil morning on a riverside deck in Iguazu Falls, Argentina. Image courtesy of Pristine Iguazu Luxury Camp.

A six-room eco camp enclosed by a sprawling nature reserve and overlooking the deep green waters of the Paraná River, Pristine’s Iguazu Luxury Camp in Argentina almost feels as if it grew out of the surrounding jungle. A big part of that is down to the camp’s sustainable blueprint—natural materials and tree canopy views create harmony between outside and in. It’s a calming respite not far from the might of Iguazu Falls—one of the best things to do in Argentina. Keep an eye out for tapir and jaguar lurking nearby.

Sitatunga Private Island, Northern Okavango Delta, Botswana

Rustic luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
A luxury safari lodge with a traditional thatched roof, polished wooden flooring, and an intricate lion sculpture crafted from wood, set in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Image courtesy of Grear Plains.

Set among the serene waters of the Northern Okavango Delta, perched on a spacious raised deck made entirely from recycled materials, Great Plains Conservation’s Sitatunga Private Island immediately became one of Botswana‘s most exclusive lodges upon its opening in mid-2023. The entirely water-based camp is the brainchild of Dereck and Beverly Joubert (who have created some of the best luxury safari lodges in Botswana), and we love that Sitatunga is deeply rooted in its surroundings—the region’s indigenous fishermen inspired the two elegant tents encompassed by a giant bamboo fishing basket.

Kibale Lodge, Kibale, Uganda

View of lakes and mountains in Uganda.
Enjoy sweeping lake and mountain views from this luxury lodge in Uganda. Image courtesy of Kibale Lodge.

Volcanoes Safaris has extended its luxury primate experience to Kibale with the opening of its latest lodge in May 2024. Complete with their always-exceptional, sustainable, high-end approach to wildlife tourism, the lodge is within easy reach of the forest’s 1,500-strong chimpanzee community (as featured in Netflix’s Chimp Empire). The lodge has eight rooms plus a villa, pool, and spa, fitting seamlessly into any safari lodge circuit in Uganda and Rwanda.

Atzaro, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Green wetlands and a luxury camp set in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
A view of the lush, green wetlands of the Okavango Delta with a luxury camp set amidst the trees and a herd of elephants wading through the water near the camp in Botswana. Image Courtesy of African Bush Camps.

Savannah meets delta at African Bush Camps’ new state-of-the-art safari lodge in Botswana. There’s a lot to love about Atzaro, but its peaceful waterfront location in the Okavango Delta might just top the list—enjoy a cocktail on the deck while game wallows in the water below. The on-site spa, gym, and 66-foot pool add a level of exclusive luxury you won’t find in many other luxury safari camps in Botswana.

Pristine Camp in El Calafate, Argentina

Geodesic dome by a lake with snowy mountains in El Calafate, Argentina
Geodesic dome beside a calm lake with reflections of snow-capped peaks at dawn in El Calafate, Argentina. Image Courtesy of Pristine Camps.

Newly opened in December 2023, Pristine’s newest camp in Argentina is one we’re really excited about. Overlooking the towering ice cliffs of Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate, the camp’s six futuristic domes are both supremely comfortable and wonderfully contemporary. Outdoor hot tubs let you bathe with widescreen lake views, and a long list of seasonal activities will suit everyone from hardcore hikers to curious gastronomes. It’s one of the best places to go glamping in South America.

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