I have to admit, I have never stepped foot in South Africa.  Yet.  But if I ever get to spend the money and make the trip, I hope to find myself spending a day at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, body surfing off the little known Diaz Beach at Cape Point, and laying my pretty little head down at one of these fantastic luxury hotels for at least one night of my stay.

Top Luxury Hotels in South Africa

1.  Mount Nelson Hotel – Cape Town, South Africa

Penthouse Suite in Mount Nelson Hotel - Cape Town, South Africa

The Mount Nelson Hotel can host as many as 400 guests at a time, but maintains a feeling of seclusion with four distinct, separate wings. The hotel is set in the middle of South African wine country and offers wine tours, as well as kid friendly nature excursions. Did we say kid friendly? Yep – they even offer babysitting and enclosed gardens for children to play!

2. Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa - Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

View from Twelve Apostles Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa

Guests are greeted with sparkling wine upon arrival at The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. Conde Nost Traveler named it one of the best places to stay in the entire world. While past travelers rave about exceptional service and luxury accommodations, I can’t help but think that their biggest selling point is the breathtaking view.

Photos courtesy of Mount Nelson Hotel and Twelve Apostles Hotel.

There is accommodation at several price-points in South Africa‘s Kruger National Park.  If The Ultimate Safari Package from Lagoon Beach Hotel wasn’t enough for you, here are five ways you can sleep with the elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards and buffalo. Oh my.

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With plenty to do, Cape Town in South Africa is a mecca of beauty, culture and excitement.

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Staying at the Daddy Long Legs Boutique Backpacker Hostel in Cape Town, South Africa is like being part of an interactive art exhibition. Local artists, poets, photographers, designers, and musicians were given free reign to create a unique decor for each of the hostel’s 13 rooms, resulting in a collection of hotel rooms that are an adventurous, humorous (and sometimes ironic) representation of Cape Town’s contemporary cultural landscape.

"Do Not Disturb" has multiple mikes and a karaoke setup

The "Emergency Room" is red all over with a medical theme

The funky, fun decor begins in the reception area, where overstuffed leather sofas and colorful beanbag chairs mingle around a large screen TV, and the restroom is constructed of one-way see-through glass (fortunately the occupant of the bathroom can see out but those on the outside cannot see in). Individual rooms are even wilder. The “Do Not Disturb” room is a fantasy sound studio, stage and bedroom all rolled into one, where five microphones await your entertainment. One is in the shower, which Read More »