Where to stay in South Africa: all top hotels by region

Our itineraries take you to sleep all over South Africa. Whether it be in Cape Town for a weekOn the garden route for 10 days or on a circuit including Kruger National Park for 2 or 3 weeks. So we wrote articles on the best hotels in each region to stay in South Africa. You will find on our site articles with the best accommodation in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Hermanus, Saint Lucia, Graskop near the Blyde River Canyon, Muizenberg, Drakensberg, Underberg, from Margate in KwaZulu-Natal, from the wine route to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, from Bloemfontein, from Port Elizabeth, from Swaziland, from Lesotho, or from the Garden Route with Plettenberg Bay, Addo Elephant Park and the Wilderness Park . Each of these articles tells you about the best hostel, the best value guest house, the best guest house, the best boutique hotel, the best 3-star hotel and the best luxury hotel in town or the relevant region of South Africa. Like this, you will find exactly at every step the best accommodation for your budget. We have also included for the articles of the itineraries passing on the garden route (called Garden Route in English) the best accommodation served by the Baz Bus. 

If you prefer to discover all our favorite hotels by type (dream hotels, unusual hotels, hotels for families with children, etc.) rather than by region, then read our article: The best hotels to stay in South Africa by type

The best Cape Town hotels in South Africa: B&B in Bo-Kaap or hotel in Camps Bay?

Cape Town is the jewel of South Africa. There are a lot of sites to discover in this city, starting with these very varied districts: Bo-Kaap, Camps Bay, Sea Point, Green point or even Waterfront. Of course there are also must-see attractions like Table Mountain, the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden or the Robben Island Prison. And once all of this is visited, you can still enjoy the many activities in town: hiking at Lions Head, sunset at Signal Hill, District 6 museum, shopping at the Waterfront, diving with seals or sharks, relaxing on the beach. Clifton beach or Camps Bay, etc… There is something for all tastes and for all ages. To make the most of the city and all it has to offer, we recommend that you sleep in one of the best hotels in Cape Town listed in our article:

The best Cape Town hotels in South Africa.

NB: Cape Town is very popular with tourists so we advise you to book well in advance if you want to be sure of having the room of your choice (especially from December to the end of February).

If you want to know more about each area of ​​Cape Town to book close to the city center or rather close to the beach then we recommend that you read: The best areas to stay in Cape Town

To find out more about Cape Town:

• Discover the most beautiful areas of Cape Town in South Africa
• Cape Town's must-see excursions in South Africa
• Best things to do in cape town

Best Durban Hotels in South Africa: Florida Road to Umhlanga Resorts

Durban is one of the three largest cities in South Africa located in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal. It is 'Miami' South African version with a huge beach and a seaside filled with 5 star hotels. The climate is good there at any time of the year (ideal for swimming) but the city has little interest compared to the beauty of Cape Town or historical tours of Johannesburg. We therefore recommend not to waste time here and to use Durban only for its airport which is a good starting or arrival base for exploring North St Lucia with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park or the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi safari Game Reserve. And in the South the hikes in the Oribi gorges or further on the start of the Drakensberg and the famous Sani Pass. We selected  the best hotels in Durban for a pleasant night's sleep after exploring the many bars and restaurants of Florida Road or Umhlanga. You will find the list here:

The best hotels in Durban in South Africa

The best Johannesburg hotels in South Africa: Melrose Arch, Sandton or Rosebank?

Johannesburg is the economic heart of South Africa but it is also a city steeped in history. Its most famous (and poorest) district, Soweto, is home to many museums on Apartheid. It contrasts with the chic neighborhoods of Melrose Arch, Sandton and Rosebank filled with shops, bars and restaurants. To not miss anything of the best activities in the city and all these essential cultural visits, we advise you to stay in a of the 10 best hotels in Johannesburg listed in our article:

The best Johannesburg hotels in South Africa.

To find out more about Johannesburg:

• Cultural day in the Soweto district of South Africa
• Explore the vibrant neighborhoods of Johannesburg

The best Hermanus hotels in South Africa: from hostels to luxury hotels

The city of Hermanus in South Africa is THE city for whale watching and cage diving with white sharks. Its coastline is magnificent and the city center offers many restaurants and bars. There is even a fantastic wine route to explore on the heights. To allow you to discover all this in the best conditions, we have listed you the best hotels in Hermanus in our article :

The best Hermanus hotels in South Africa.

To find out more about Hermanus: See whales and dive in cages with white sharks at Hermanus

The best Kruger National Park hotels in South Africa: private reserve or self-drive?

The Kruger National Park is so large that it takes several days to explore it. The itinerary we recommend for your safari is to stay in the south of the reserve where there is the most water point and therefore the most chance of seeing animals. Best Kruger National Park Hotels that we recommend therefore follow this two-day itinerary. However, there is a second option to visit the park. You can sleep in one of its private reserves offering luxury safaris. These reserves are luxurious privatized areas inside the Kruger which offer many advantages and whose only drawback is their price (although some are affordable: see our selection in the article linked below). To help you choose, we've written the pros and cons of both options in this same article. Even if the 'private reservations' option is much more expensive, think that if there is one part of your stay where you can indulge yourself without having to regret it, it is at the Kruger! Take our word for it: this unique experience is definitely worth it! Check out all of the best Kruger accommodation options here:

The best hotels in Kruger National Park in South Africa 

To find out more about the Kruger National Park:

• The best private reserves in Kruger Park in South Africa 
• The best route to visit Kruger National Park day 1/2
• The best route to visit Kruger National Park day 2/2

Best St Lucia Hotels in South Africa: From Dream Boutique Hotels to Affordable B & Bs

Saint Lucia is a charming coastal town filled with hippos. Many natural parks surround it such as the iSimangaliso Wetland Park which is part of the protected heritage of UNESCO or the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve which is home to the last white rhinos in the world. It is the best base for exploring the North East coast of South Africa. To take advantage of all the activities that the city has to offer, we recommend that you sleep in one of the establishments listed in our article:

The best hotels in St Lucia in South Africa.

To find out more about Saint Lucia:

• Guide to the best activities of St Lucia in South Africa
• Go on a safari at Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve in South Africa

The best hotels around the Wilderness on the Garden Route: beach side or lagoon side?

The Wilderness is one of the most beautiful parks on the Garden Route. It can be explored by kayaking, hiking or canyoning. Located on the east coast of South Africa, it offers a huge beach along the Indian Ocean but also a wide lagoon of fresh water which rises from the estuary to the waterfall at the end of the river. . To take advantage of all these activities, we have listed the best hotels, guest houses and hostels in our article:

The best hotels around the Wilderness on the Garden Route.

To find out more about the Wilderness: The best Wilderness activities on the Garden Route

Best Graskop Hotels near Blyde River Canyon: Lost in Nature or in the City?

Graskop is the best base for exploring the area north of Johannesburg. This small town in South Africa is ideally located for visiting the waterfall route and Pilgrim's Rest, the town of the gold rush. You can also set off from Graskop for the day to discover the spectacular Blyde River Canyon and all its geological formations like God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes or even The Three Rondavels.Whether in the city or in the countryside, we give you all our recommendations for sleep in the best hotels in Graskop in our article :

The best Graskop hotels near the Blyde River Canyon.

To find out more about Graskop:

• Explore the waterfall route between Sabie and Graskop
• The best sites of the Blyde River Canyon in South Africa

The best Muizenberg hotels in South Africa: surfer backpacker or quality B&B

Muizenberg is the perfect base to start or end the Cape Peninsula Loop. The region is renowned for its beauty: you will discover the famous Chapman's Peak road, the famous Cape of Good Hope, the magnificent Cape Point or even the Simon's Town naval base and its colony of penguins in Boulders National Park. As for Muizenberg, it is a very charming coastal town which is known for its surf spot accessible to all levels and its beach with colorful huts (which you could see on all the postcards). Don't hesitate to take surf lessons, this is the perfect place! The coastal road which separates Muizenberg and Hermanus is also full of magnificent stops. It is full of hidden paradise beaches like Betty's Bay or Kogel Bay… In short, there are many places to explore in the surroundings! We advise you to spend the night in one of the Best hotels in Muizenberg listed here:

The best Muizenberg hotels in South Africa.

To find out more about Muizenberg:

• The best coast stops between Muizenberg and Hermanus in South Africa
• Visit of the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of South Africa

The best hotels on the South African wine route: from Franschhoek to Stellenbosch

The South African Wine Route is located between the bustling student town of Stellenbosch and the charming little village of French origin Franschhoek. It has many areas: from family farms to exporting companies. We wrote a guide to the best wineries in an article that features the best day tour. So you are sure to be able to visit the wine farms that interest you and maximize your time there by only visiting the crème de la crème. In the evening, after all the wine tastings, the ideal is to sleep there either in Franschhoek for a quiet dinner, or in Stellenbosch for a more lively evening. This is why we have compiled a list of best hotels in the South African wine route. There is something for all budgets and for all tastes! You will find the article here:

The best hotels on the South African wine route 

To find out more about the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine route: The best tour to visit the South African wine route

The best hotels near Royal Natal Park in South Africa: huts or traditional farmhouse?

It is in the Mont aux Sources valley that you will find the closest accommodation to the Royal Natal National Park. This park is known as the most beautiful of the Drakensbergs and it is renowned for its magnificent Amphitheater, a breathtaking high plateau. It is also home to the unmissable Tugela Falls, the second highest waterfall in the world. To explore all of these hikes, you need a good night's sleep! Thing that the best hotels near Royal Natal Park listed in our article will give you worry-free:

The best hotels near Royal Natal Park in South Africa 

To find out more about Royal Natal Park: Explore Tugela Falls, the 2nd tallest waterfall in the world

Best Addo Elephant Park Hotels in South Africa: Private Reserve or Edge B & B

Addo Elephant Park is the most beautiful and famous park in southern South Africa. It is also the only safari on the Garden Route. Admittedly, this reserve is smaller than the Kruger but it is much less touristy. An African pearl just for you! The park is home to a large population of elephants, but that's not all. If you are lucky you will see a lion or even a leopard! You can visit Addo by self-tour during the day following our recommendations or choose the guided tours offered by the reserve. In terms of accommodation, the best is to be as close as possible to the national park because most of the animals come out very early in the morning (or in the evening at sunset). The best is to book a chalet directly in the reserve to start your safari at dawn, but this privilege comes at a cost… We have therefore listed you best hotels in Addo Elephant Park so you can find a room that fits your budget. All information is here :

Best Addo Elephant Park hotels in South Africa 

To find out more about Addo Elephant Park: Go on a safari in the Addo Elephant park reserve

The best Plettenberg Bay hotels in South Africa: treehouse or B&B?

Plettenberg Bay is THE seaside town on the Garden Route. It moves a lot and offers many activities: canoeing in its freshwater lagoon, surfing along its magnificent beaches, canyoning in its surrounding mountains, hiking in Robberg National Park (our favorite park on the entire Garden Route) and there there is even a monkey park that will delight children! In the evening, we highly recommend that you go see the phosphorescent plankton in the lagoon and go for a sunset drink at Emily Moon's bar! In short ... Whether it's a relaxing, sport or family day, there is something for all ages and for all tastes! To explore the region without missing a beat, we recommend that you stay in one of the Best hotels in Plettenberg Bay listed in the article below:

Best Plettenberg Bay hotels in South Africa 

To find out more about Plettenberg Bay:

• Plettenberg Bay and its Robberg National Park
• The best activities Plettenberg Bay has to offer
• Guide to the best Garden Route stops in South Africa

Best Underberg hotels near Sani Pass in South Africa: all guesthouses

Underberg is the city that serves as a base to go to Sani Pass. The most beautiful pass in Africa is located at the top of the Drakensberg range, on the border between Lesotho and South Africa. Its access is very steep and requires a 4 × 4. But no need to break the bank in renting, the best is to take this excursion with an organized tour. We explain everything in our article on this mythical pass. Once at the top, you can have lunch at Sani Mountain Lodge, Africa's tallest pub, and visit a traditional Basotho village. The ascent always starts early and you will be back around 16pm. We recommend that you end the day in a Best Underberg Hotels Near Sani Pass listed in our article:

The best Underberg hotels near Sani Pass in South Africa.

To find out more about Sani Pass: The best recommendations for visiting Sani Pass

The best hotels in Margate near the Oribi gorges: youth hostel or charming hotel

The gorges of Oribi are a must see. Close to Durban, in the heart of KwaZulu Natal, they are crossed by many hikes which make you discover its immense cliffs, its baboons and its vegetation. At the end of the national park, a magnificent suspension bridge offers a superb view of the gorges. For thrill seekers, there is even a bungee jump from the top of the waterfall! On the way back, don't forget to stop at Leopard rock bistro for a photo of the breathtaking canyon. In the evening, it is best to sleep in one of the Best Margate Hotels which is the closest town to the gorges of Oribi. All our suggestions are in our article:

The best Margate hotels near the Oribi Gorge.

To find out more about the gorges of Oribi: Hiking in the Oribi gorges in South Africa

Best Bloemfontein hotels in South Africa: guesthouses better than a hotel

Bloemfontein is not a tourist town and offers little to see. We advise you to arrive in town as late as possible. If you are here it is certainly to go to Lesotho or to return to France. Return flights are often cheaper from Bloemfontein than from Maseru. You can check by comparing prices on Skyscanner. We give you below all the best hotels in Bloemfontein to get a good night's sleep before or after your flight:

Best Bloemfontein hotels in South Africa

To find out more about Bloemfontein: How to reach Bloemfontein in South Africa from Lesotho?

Best hotels in Port Elizabeth, South Africa: close to the airport or restaurants

Port Elizabeth is not a tourist town and there is little to do that is worth it. If you are going to sleep in this city, it is certainly to take the plane at the end of the garden route. You arrive either from Addo Elephant Park or from Jeffreys bay. We therefore advise you to arrive as late as possible in town to take advantage of the superb reserve of the Garden Route or the super tubes of Jeffreys Bay to the maximum. Better to save on accommodation here to offer an exceptional night elsewhere ... We have listed below the guest house at the best value for money as well as the best hostel in town. For those who prefer hotels, we have also included the best hotel in Port Elizabeth. All information is here :

The best hotels in Port Elizabeth in South Africa 

Best Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary Hotels in Swaziland: Sleep in the Reserve

Swaziland, renamed Eswatini, crosses from North to South. You will discover on this main axis many varied landscapes which make it a beautiful wild road trip. In its center, the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary is a landmark stop not to be missed. This safari can be discovered by mountain bike, on foot or simply by Land Rover. But the most pleasant is the tour of the horse reserve. In the evening, you can go and relax at the thermal center of the Royal Swazi Spa near the park. If you still have time, we also recommend the magnificent 2 hour hike to Execution Rock. To find accommodation in Swaziland, it is best to be closest to Mlilwane. There are not many quality establishments in the region but we certainly recommend the three Best Hotels Near Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Swaziland in our article:

The best hotels in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Swaziland 

To learn more about Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Road trip in Swaziland to Mlilwane wildlife sanctuary
• The best activities of the Mlilwane wildlife sanctuary in Swaziland

Find out more about South Africa

• Go on a circuit in South Africa
• Where to stay in South Africa?
• The best routes to visit South Africa