The 7 most luxurious safari lodges in Africa

This lodge, tucked inside a forest near the Volcanoes National Park, is dramatically located at the feet of the Virunga mountains, a chain of 15,000-foot volcanoes that stretch across Rwanda. However, the star at the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is the famous silverback mountain gorilla, of which you will see plenty.

The Singita Grumeti Reserves in Tanzania sits on the edge of Serengeti National Park, and is the perfect place to witness Africa's Great Migration. There are four lodges and a mobile camp to choose from, the nine-cottage Sasakwa Lodge being the most luxurious, as it features private infinity pools, fireplaces, and claw-foot tubs. For the more adventurous, there's the Sabora Tented Camp, which has nine swanky tents outfitted with antiques, or Singita Explore, a mobile camp that follows the wildlife. The resort also features a spa, yoga center, and tennis courts.

The family-run Londolozi Game Reserve was a family farm and retreat since 1926, before being turned into one of the most luxurious resorts in Africa. It was the first game reserve in the world to win a Relais & Chateaux designation, and was one of the first to get into the ecotourism game. The 35,000-acre property features five plush lodges, each with vintage touches hailing back to its early days, like gramophones, and offers yoga, massages, a gym, and and fishing trips. It's not uncommon to see elephants roaming while taking a dip in one of the plunge pools or laying out on a wooden deck at this luxe family-run property.

The two lodges at Singita Kruger National Park are sleek and modern, and have a distinctly resort-y vibe, with private, heated infinity pools and outdoor showers. The Lebombo Lodge has 15 loft-style suites with floor-to-ceiling windows that resemble a modern bird's nest thanks to being suspended off a cliff on stilts, and connected by wooden walkways, while the Sweni Lodge sits grounded among trees at the edge of the Sweni River.

The resort offers twice-daily game drives with safari guides who can help point out the area's wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffalo, zebras, and black rhinos.

Sitting on 10,000 private acres and on the banks of the Sabi River, Lion Sands was purchased as a private vacation home in 1933. Today, there are four super luxe lodges in which rooms have their own decks overlooking the Sands River, as well as private plunge pools and butlers. The highlight however are the resort's tree houses, especially Chalkley Treehouse (pictured), which is literally a bed in a tree under the stars.

Three stylish lodges with wholly different vibes sit in this privately owned game reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park and on the Sand River. While each lodge at the Singita Sabi Sand is decorated differently, though all by up-and-coming local designers, they all manage to blend luxury and low key, and are both modern and rustic. Ebony is a chic, vintage-looking safari lodge; Boulders is a little more contemporary; and Castleton Lodge is a private rental encompassing six cottages, a pool, tennis court, spa, and gym.