South Africa — Travelrags

Condé Nast TravelerJul 10, 2026

13 Hotels in Cape Town That Are as Bold and Beachy as the City Itself

With proximity to the beach and views of Table Mountain, these properties are prime spots to settle down in the Mother City.

33 things in this story

Table MountainSightmountainous peninsula curls like a claw into the ocean
Mount Nelson, A Belmond HotelHotelCape Town's grande dame dating back to 1899
One&Only Cape TownHotelurban resort with prime Waterfront location
BabylonstorenHotelluxury farm stay with whitewashed Cape Dutch architecture
Company’s GardenGardenhistoric heart of the city between mountain and garden
V&A WaterfrontSuburblively area, 20-minute drive north of hotel
Sea PointSuburbpopular stretch of seafront, 11 minutes away by car
Camps BaySuburbtrendy area with cold Atlantic waters and promenade
Twelve ApostlesSightdramatic mountain range backdrop to Camps Bay
OmriRestaurantVoguish Lebanese restaurant attracts discerning locals
Morea House, Autograph CollectionHotelcontemporary, angular facade faces right out onto the beach
Cape Grace, A Fairmont Managed HotelHotelprivate quay on edge of V&A Waterfront district
HeirloomRestaurantsleek new venue led by executive chef Wesli Jacobs
The LibraryRestaurantlong a favorite for book club meetings, coffee dates
BasculeTrailpopular subterranean bar with most extensive whiskey collection
Two Oceans AquariumAquariumnext door to the hotel
The Water ShedMarketindoor market filled with local designer brands
Vista Bar and LoungeRestaurantsocial heart of the hotel serving cocktails, high tea
SoetmelksvleiPlaceinteractive 1890s farmstead for immersive guest experiences
Pod Camps BayHotelhip, 17-room boutique hotel run on green principles
Ellerman HouseHotelsplendid Edwardian mansion with views of swimming coves
Bantry BaySuburbexclusive area with hillside gardens and sea views
Cape Cadogan Boutique HotelHotelelegant 15-room Georgian-era townhouse in Gardens
Lion’s HeadSightbeckons from the neighborhood
Cape GraceHotel
CamissaHotel
Table Mountain National ParkNature reserve
DorpHotel
Signal HillSight
Devil's PeakSight
ArcadiaHotel
Rose CottageRestaurant
OnderdorpHotel

Read the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →

National GeographicJul 10

Planning a safari? Here’s what you should know before you go.

Asking a few pointed questions will help reveal whether your trip is funding conservation and local communities, or just paying for a view.

20 things in this story

Maasai Wilderness Conservation TrustPlaceoperates an air safari service and three lodges
African Leadership UniversityPlaceEmpowering future leaders with world-class Bachelor's degree programs, leadership training, and a global education…
Ecotourism KenyaPlaceprovides ratings for lodges
International Union for Conservation of NaturePlaceglobal authority behind the Red List
Virgin Limited EditionHotelhotel portfolio
Maji Moto Maasai Cultural CampHoteltourism revenue funds a school and widows' village
Maasai MaraSightarea with declining lion population density
Laikipia PlateauSightadjacent conservancies operate at low-density benchmarks
Lewa Wildlife ConservancyPlaceUNESCO World Heritage Site and IUCN Green List
Lewa WildernessHotelranch turned into a conservancy in the 1980s
Ol JogiHotelprivate conservancy with an exclusive-use model
Borana LodgeHotelallows four vehicles on 32,000 acres
Borana ConservancyPlaceconservancy with 32,000 acres
Reverie SafarisPlacecurates safaris across 13 African countries
B CorpPlaceB Lab is the global nonprofit behind Certified B Corporations, a community of businesses that meet verified social,…
1% for the PlanetPlaceJoin a global network of businesses committing 1% of sales to environmental causes.
The Long RunPlaceJoin The Long Run, a global network for sustainable tourism.
Nkuringo SafarisPlaceoffers Uganda walking safaris
Shamwari Private Game ReservePlaceprivate game reserve in South Africa
Salaton Ole NtutuPlace

Read the full piece at National Geographic →

Condé Nast TravelerJun 18

At Africa's Oldest Gay Bar, Queer Cape Towners Are Still Finding a Home

Cafe Manhattan has been a social lifeline for South Africans seeking found family since its opening in 1994.

6 things in this story

Cafe ManhattanRestaurantoldest queer bar and restaurant in Africa
de WaterkantNeighborhoodvillage in Cape Town
On BroadwayPlacesister venue to Cafe Manhattan
Nelson MandelaPlaceNelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist, statesman, and revolutionary who was the first…
Village DrinksPlacemonthly queer networking series
DurbanNeighborhoodcity where comedy events are produced

Read the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →

nytimes.com

The New York TimesJan 16

Hiking the Drakensberg, South Africa’s Highest Mountain Range

About 200 miles from Johannesburg, the Drakensberg region offers a breathtaking landscape of stark ridges and green valleys.

Condé Nast TravelerDec 15, 2025

12 Best Hotels and Resorts in Africa and the Middle East, According to Our Editors

Our global editors across four continents share their favorite places to stay.

16 things in this story

Al Moudira HotelHotelA Moorish fever dream on Luxor ’s quieter west bank, Al Moudira offers a lush, artfully aged jumble of hand-painted…
Raffles DohaHotelshaped like a scimitar, towers over Lusail Marina
Mount Gahinga LodgeHoteleight bandas with papyrus roofs on Uganda-Rwanda border
Our Habitas AlUlaHotellow-slung villas dissolving into sandstone cliffs
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu DhabiHotelFor a palatial stay on the white shores of Saadiyat Island, with the UAE’s most beautiful beach and Abu Dhabi’s top…
Wilderness Bisate LodgeHotelvillas on a volcanic caldera overlooking Virunga Massif
Bvlgari Resort DubaiHotelsecret refuge away from Dubai’s main traveler trail
Al MoudiraHotelcupola-topped suites on Luxor’s quiet west bank
Blue Cigar LoungeRestaurantlounge lined with 7,000 antique books
HegraSightUNESCO-listed tombs, a 20-minute drive away
The St. Regis Saadiyat IslandHotelgrandest of resorts on Abu Dhabi’s beautiful beach
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi DesertHotelescape where gazelles and Arabian oryx traverse sands
Sterrekopje FarmHotelhealing hotel on a 124-acre farm near Star Hill
Somalisa CampHotelsafari lodge in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park
SussurroHotelstone-colored property with thatched roofs on a peninsula
Kinondo KwetuHotelbarefoot retreat on a private stretch of sand in Diani

Read the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →

Condé Nast TravelerDec 15, 2025

The Best Hotels and Resorts in the World: The Gold List 2026

Our editors across the globe share their favorite places to stay.

20 things in this story

Al Moudira HotelHotelLuxor, EgyptOasis on Luxor's quiet west bank.
Bvlgari Resort DubaiHotelDubai, United Arab EmiratesSecret refuge with understated luxury.
Kinondo KwetuHotelGalu, KenyaBarefoot Indian Ocean retreat.
Mount Gahinga LodgeHotelsouthwest Uganda, UgandaUnderstated luxury with Virunga views.
Our Habitas AlUlaHotelAlUla, Saudi ArabiaVillas dissolve into sandstone cliffs.
HegraSightAlUla, Saudi ArabiaUNESCO-listed tombs, 20-minute drive.
Raffles DohaHotelLusail Marina, QatarLandmark hotel shaped like a scimitar.
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu DhabiHotelAbu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesGrandest luxury resort on beautiful beach.
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi DesertHotelRas Al Khaimah, United Arab EmiratesDreamy escape with wildlife and desert adventures.
Somalisa CampHotelHwange National Park, ZimbabweSafari lodge in Hwange National Park.
Sterrekopje FarmHotelWestern Cape, South AfricaThoughtful healing hotel on a farm.
SussurroHotelMozambique Island, MozambiqueArtistry in every corner on a peninsula.
Wilderness Bisate LodgeHotelVolcanoes National Park, RwandaLuxury conservation tourism base camp.
Buahan, A Banyan Tree EscapeHotelTaro village, IndonesiaOriginal property with volcanic views.
Cape WeligamaHotelSouthern Riviera, Sri LankaClifftop hotel with new beach club.
The AtlasRestaurantSouthern Riviera, Sri LankaAll-day dining at Cape Weligama.
TableauRestaurantSouthern Riviera, Sri LankaLive cooking experience on cliff's edge.
The SocietyRestaurantSouthern Riviera, Sri LankaRevamped bar with inspired tipples.
Capella SingaporeHotelSentosa Island, SingaporeHilltop haven in former barracks.
CassiaRestaurantSentosa Island, SingaporeFine dining at Capella Singapore.

Read the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →

Condé Nast TravelerNov 21, 2025

The 10 Most Tourist-Friendly Cities in the World, According to Our Readers

The places all over the world—from Canada to South Africa—where you felt most at home.

15 things in this story

St. Stephen’s GreenSightpark to stroll through
Old QuébecQuarterUNESCO-protected area, cobblestone streets
Long and Bree streetsNeighborhoodfriendly, reliable eateries
Long StreetNeighborhood
Bree StreetNeighborhood
Gwangjang MarketMarket
MyeongdongRestaurant
CheongdamNeighborhood
GarosugilNeighborhood
BukchonRestaurant
Orchard RoadNeighborhood
ION OrchardSight
Ngee Ann CitySight
ChinatownNeighborhood
Kampong GelamNeighborhood

Read the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →

The GuardianSep 21, 2025

From the Gobi to Ghana: 10 of the best community tourism trips around the world

Make your next holiday more meaningful with an itinerary that supports local welfare projects, empowers women and showcases traditional customs Eternal Landscapes offers individual and small-group trips to Mongolia, with a focus on supporting local communities. On the five-day Erdenedalai Explorer trip, guests stay with a herding family in the vast steppes of the “Middle Gobi”, an area often by…

21 things in this story

Eternal LandscapesPlaceUlaanbaatar, MongoliaOffers trips to Mongolia supporting local communities.
Amba YaaluHotelKandalama, Sri LankaSri Lanka’s first hotel fully managed and staffed by women.
Thema CollectionPlaceKandalama, Sri LankaEco-friendly hotel chain with a focus on women's employment.
Intrepid TravelPlaceMarrakesh, MoroccoOffers South Morocco Discovery adventure.
Masai Clean Cookstoves projectPlaceSerengeti, TanzaniaHelps replace traditional stoves with modern models.
Wild FrontiersPlaceTbilisi, GeorgiaOffers tailored community-led trips.
Tusheti regionNeighborhoodTbilisi, GeorgiaProtected landscape managed by the Tushetian people.
Nukriani WorkshopsPlaceTbilisi, GeorgiaSupports local communities and traditional crafts.
Village WaysPlaceBhopal, IndiaPioneer in sustainable tourism.
Kanha national parkSightBhopal, IndiaSafari highlight in rural India.
Gap360PlaceAccra, GhanaOffers trips supporting local communities for 18-30 year olds.
Ghana Teaching and Childcare ProjectPlaceAccra, GhanaVolunteers work alongside locals in schools or childcare.
Astungkara WayTrailDenpasar, Indonesia85-mile hiking route across Bali.
Township and VillagePlaceStellenbosch, South AfricaWelcomes visitors into communities in Stellenbosch.
Erdenedalai ExplorerPlaceUlaanbaatar, MongoliaFive-day trip staying with a herding family.
G AdventuresPlaceSerengeti, TanzaniaPuts community tourism at the heart of many itineraries.
Rukha Ayllu projectPlaceHuilloc, PeruHelps families in Huilloc benefit from responsible tourism.
Valencia Travel CuscoPlaceHuilloc, PeruLaunched initiative to improve infrastructure in Huilloc.
Colours of PeruPlaceHuilloc, Peru14-day trip including a visit to the Rukha Ayllu project.
Tree to Waterfall hikeTrailDenpasar, IndonesiaFour-day hike covering 29 miles.
Kayamandi townshipNeighborhoodStellenbosch, South Africa

Read the full piece at The Guardian →