South African lodge features on World’s 50 Best Hotels list

The best of the best hotels have been listed, and two lodges in Kruger, South Africa, have even taken a spot in the Top 20. Here are more details…

Best hotels in the world

The World’s 50 Best Hotels has officially been named, and the number one spot was taken by Italian luxury boutique hotel, Passalacqua.

The list, which celebrates the best hotel experiences across the globe, was created by The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy, a group of 580 anonymous leaders in the hotel industry known for their expert opinions and backgrounds in the hotel scene.

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Of the 50 hotels that were selected, only one South African (and African) property made the prestigious list.

The honour went to the two Singita Lodges at Kruger National Park – Lebombo and Sweni.

Singita also took home the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award 2023.

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“Guided by a ‘touch the earth lightly’ philosophy, ecotourism pioneer Singita’s two Kruger National Park lodges, Lebombo and Sweni, offer sun-baked luxury backed up by deeply held social and environmental principles. The South African game lodge operator, which opened its first property, Singita Ebony Lodge, in 1993, is run by Luke Bailes. Purchased by Bailes’ grandfather almost a century ago, the remote Lowveld land on which Ebony sits was transformed from a hunting ground into the vast Sabi Sands Game Reserve, its wildlife protected. In 2023, Singita Lodges – Kruger National Park is also the winner of the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award for its principles of sustainability and responsibility to the environment.” the write-up said.

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Who made the Top 20?

The following properties made the Top 20 list:

1. Passalacqua – Moltrasio, Italy
2. Rosewood Hong Kong
3. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River – Bangkok
4. The Upper House – Hong Kong
5. Aman Tokyo – Tokyo
6. La Mamounia – Marrakech
7. Soneva Fushi – Maldives
8. One&Only Mandarina – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
9. Four Seasons Firenze – Florence
10. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok – Bangkok
11. Capella Bangkok – Bangkok
12. The Calile – Brisbane
13. Chablé Yucatán – Chocholá, Mexico
14. Aman Venice – Venice
15. Singita Lodges – Kruger National Park
16. Claridge’s – London
17. Raffles Singapore – Singapore
18. Nihi Sumba – Wanokaka, Indonesia
19. Hotel Esencia – Tulum, Mexico
20. Le Sirenuse – Positano, Italy

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