New Hotels in Africa: Autumn 2026 – 2027

Mandarin Oriental, Egypt – 2027

Three Mandarin Oriental hotels are due to open in Egypt in 2027: in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. In July 2027, Mandarin Oriental Old Cataract, Aswan, overlooking the river, Elephantine Island and its Temple of Khnum, and Mandarin Oriental Winter Palace, Luxor, with views of the Nile and Luxor Temple, will welcome their first guests. Each will have six restaurants and bars and a spa. In the capital, Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo is expected to open. The group will also launch its first Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, with 3-, 4- and 7-night itineraries, three restaurants and a spa on board, offering a complete journey through Egypt.

JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp, Kenya – open

A lodge of 19 suites of at least 134 sq m in the Solio Reserve (Laikipia), home to black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, zebras, waterbuck, gazelles and abundant birdlife. Rooms look out over Mount Kenya, the Aberdare Range, waterholes and savannah, and interiors feature work by Kenyan artists and craftspeople. International and vegetarian restaurants follow a garden-to-table philosophy on an all-inclusive basis. There is a spa, gym, pool and Jacuzzi, and activities include day and night game drives, walking and cycling tours, birdwatching, photo safaris with Canon equipment and visits to the rhino nursery.

Ubuyu, a Banyan Tree Escape, Tanzania – open

A safari retreat above the Ruaha River in the national park of the same name in southern Tanzania. Its six one- to three-bedroom villas (from 250 sq m) are built in Maasai tradition from natural materials, decorated by Tanzanian artisans and equipped with infinity pools. The largest, Ubuyu Private Retreat (3 bedrooms, 452 sq m), sits on the riverbank with stunning views from its rooftop terrace and comes with a private butler, a ranger and a private safari vehicle. The restaurants serve Tanzanian cuisine and the bar healing botanical cocktails, while the spa therapists trained at the Banyan Tree Spa Academy in Phuket. As well as walking safaris, game drives and balloon flights, the retreat offers excursions to the striking Isimila pillars, one of East Africa’s most important Stone Age sites.

Zamara Private, Kenya – open

On the edge of the Maasai Mara, this hotel is run by Great Plains Conservation, founded by Dereck and Beverly Joubert – filmmakers behind 35 wildlife films, winners of eight Emmy Awards and National Geographic explorers with 40 years’ experience. Zamara Private has six suites with wabi-sabi-inspired interiors: spacious, quiet and close to nature. Guests are looked after by a personal guide, chef and concierge team. The two top suites have their own pools and extra rooms for a personal assistant, and four suites can be combined into one large family suite. There is a lounge with a fireplace, a media room, a cellar focused on South African wines, an open kitchen, a rooftop terrace and a spa with an infinity pool, sauna, steam room and gym. Game drives can be taken at any time of day and last from a couple of hours to a full day, and balloon flights are available too.

LUX* Lake Kivu, Rwanda – open

LUX* Lake Kivu stands on a hill above Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes and the deepest lake on the continent. This 14-key family hotel has one- and two-bedroom suites and a four-bedroom villa, all with terraces overlooking the lake, islands, peninsulas and mountains. Its restaurants serve Rwandan, African and international cuisine and coffee from local plantations; all meals are taken by the water, and romantic dinners can be set up on the shore or on the hill under the stars. There is a spa with herbal treatments, a steam room and sauna and a 24-hour gym. Guests can enjoy cycling and walking, kayak trips to islands and secluded bays, motorboats and water-skiing, night fishing, swimming and golf on a nearby 9-hole course.

A stay at LUX* Lake Kivu combines easily with gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park or a visit to Nyungwe Forest, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, home to 13 primate species and 300 bird species. A tour of coffee and tea plantations with tastings makes a perfect addition. The hotel offers concierge services and wedding planning. It can be reached by car (3 hours from Kigali airport in Rwanda) or by helicopter.

Ma’a Salama Zanzibar, Zanzibar – open

A new eco-luxury retreat on Jambiani beach on the island’s south-east coast. Its seven villas are hidden among palms and gardens by the sea, four of them with rooftop lounges – perfect for a massage, afternoon tea or a siesta. The restaurant and lounge serve African, Indian and Middle Eastern dishes, and dinner can be set up wherever you like. The spa offers African massages. The hotel runs a hospitality school for young Zanzibaris, so by staying at Ma’a Salama you also support local communities.

La Réserve Private Homes Seychelles, Seychelles – Q1 2027

Six villas of 695 to 880 sq m (for 6-12 guests) by a lagoon near the famous Anse Lazio beach on Praslin (Seychelles). Each villa has its own garden and pool and is served by a chef, housekeeper and butler, with kayaks and SUP boards provided. In-villa spa treatments, trips to neighbouring islands and diving can be arranged.

Kapps, a Kubata Loft Hotel, Lüderitz, Namibia – 2027

The Kapps Hotel has been a symbol of Lüderitz since 1907 and will reopen for its 120th anniversary. Over a century it witnessed the town’s transformation from a diamond-mining hub into a quiet seaside settlement and then a tourist centre of Namibia. Its creators preserved the century-old facades and arches, adding two storeys of glass and white brick above. Inside are 33 spacious rooms in a quiet-luxury style using natural materials, a heated pool, sauna and spa, a restaurant, a rooftop bar and a conference centre.

Would you like to stay at one of these new hotels? Our travel consultants will book your room and plan a safari or beach holiday in Africa for your dates.