Christmas is a wonderful excuse to bring family and friends together. And if you’re tempted to celebrate somewhere a little different, Africa offers some extraordinary possibilities – particularly for families scattered across the globe, looking for somewhere special to reunite and enjoy a holiday together.
Imagine having an entire safari camp to yourselves, with your own guides, beautifully prepared meals and the freedom to explore at your own pace. Or gathering everyone in a private safari house, where the children can enjoy their adventures while others relax beside the pool.
We’ve handpicked twelve very different properties with availability over Christmas and New Year, from wonderfully remote wilderness camps to luxurious beach retreats.
It may be a little late to organise a gathering of the whole clan this Christmas, but there is still time for a spontaneous festive escape.
And if you’re dreaming of bringing everyone together from different corners of the world, now is the perfect time to start planning something special for Christmas 2027…. or indeed any time next year!
Wolwedans Boulders Camp
NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests in 5 suites
For a gathering somewhere completely different, Wolwedans Boulders Camp is hard to beat. Set among rocky hills in Namibia’s spectacular NamibRand Nature Reserve, this intimate camp offers extraordinary views across an immense desert landscape. Spend your days exploring dunes and mountains with a private guide, then gather around the fire as the sun sets over the wilderness. With just five beautifully positioned tented suites, it’s a remarkable place to have entirely to yourselves.
De Hoop Opstal
De Hoop Reserve, South Africa
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests in the Manor House; other cottages and houses accommodate additional groups
For a more relaxed, informal Christmas, De Hoop Nature Reserve offers something quite different. The historic Opstal accommodation includes beautifully restored Cape Dutch buildings, comfortable cottages and private houses, including the three-bedroom Opstal Manor House, which can be reserved exclusively for up to six guests. Spend your days exploring the reserve’s beautiful coastal landscapes, walking, cycling or watching wildlife, before gathering for a festive meal or a laid-back barbecue in this peaceful corner of the Western Cape.
Koro Lodge
Cederberg Mountains, South Africa
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests (6 adults and 4 children)
Tucked away in a secluded corner of Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve, Koro Lodge offers a wonderful setting for a family Christmas amid the spectacular sandstone mountains of South Africa’s Cederberg. With a private chef, guide and host, a heated infinity pool and plenty of space for everyone to relax, it’s a place to make yourselves thoroughly at home. Days can be spent exploring ancient San rock art sites, walking, mountain biking or swimming in natural rock pools, before gathering for a festive meal beneath the stars.
White Sand Villas
Zanzibar
Sleeps: Varies by villa configuration
For those dreaming of Christmas by the sea, White Sand Villas offers a very different sort of gathering. Set on Zanzibar’s beautiful Paje Beach, its spacious private villas combine contemporary design with tropical gardens, private swimming pools and direct access to white sands. Spend your days swimming, snorkelling or exploring the island, then come together for relaxed meals beside the ocean. It’s particularly appealing for families who want plenty of space and flexibility.
Long Hope Villa at River Bend
Addo, South Africa
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Set apart from River Bend Lodge in South Africa’s Addo Elephant National Park, Long Hope Villa is a beautiful private safari house with its own guide, chef and dedicated staff. With spacious living areas and the freedom to arrange activities around your group, it’s an excellent choice for a family Christmas. Enjoy private game drives in search of Addo’s elephants, then return to the comfort and privacy of your own safari retreat.
Gomoti Plains Private Camp
Okavango Delta Private Reserve, Botswana
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests in 2 tented suites
Set in a beautiful corner of the Okavango Delta, Gomoti Plains offers an appealing combination of excellent wildlife viewing and relaxed comfort. Riverine forests, open floodplains and waterways provide opportunities for game drives, walking and water-based activities. Operating independently of the main Gomoti Plains Camp, with its own lounge, dining area, plunge pool, excellent chef and guide, this delightful private-camp option gives families and friends the freedom to enjoy these experiences together, with guiding and activities tailored to their interests.
Splash Enclave
Okavango Delta Private Reserve, Botswana
Sleeps: Up to 12 guests in 4 chalets
Splash Enclave is a private section of Splash Camp, set in Botswana’s wildlife-rich Kwara Reserve. With four spacious chalets, its own pool, dining area and dedicated staff, it offers the privacy of a small safari camp with the atmosphere of a traditional tented camp. Excellent guiding, predator sightings and opportunities to explore by vehicle or mokoro make this a particularly appealing choice for families or groups of friends.
Villa Mushara
Etosha, Namibia
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests in 2 villas
Just outside Etosha National Park, Villa Mushara offers an intimate, luxurious retreat for a small group of adults. Its two spacious villas have private plunge pools, outdoor showers and beautifully furnished living areas, creating a peaceful setting between game drives. With Etosha’s wildlife-rich landscapes close by, it’s a lovely choice for two couples or a small family with older children who appreciate privacy and comfort.
Jongomero Bush Manor
Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Sleeps: 4-8 guests
In the remote wilderness of Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, Jongomero Bush Manor offers an exclusive safari experience surrounded by baobab-studded landscapes and exceptional wildlife. With private accommodation and personalised guiding, it’s a wonderful setting for families or friends who want to experience one of Tanzania’s wildest national parks together, far from the busier northern safari circuit.
Zarafa Dhow Suite
Selinda Private Reserve, Botswana
Sleeps: Up to 4 adults or a family of 5
Hidden away from the main Zarafa Camp, the two-bedroom Dhow Suite offers complete privacy in Botswana’s wildlife-rich Selinda Reserve. With its own swimming pool, private guide, chef and dedicated staff, everything is arranged around your group. Beautifully furnished with an atmosphere inspired by the great explorers, it’s a luxurious and intimate setting for a very special family Christmas.
Selinda Camp
Selinda Private Reserve, Botswana
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests in 3 suites
For a small gathering of friends or family, taking over Selinda Camp offers the rare pleasure of having an exceptional safari camp entirely to yourselves. Set in Botswana’s private Selinda Reserve, its spacious suites overlook a landscape of waterways and floodplains, home to elephants, lions and other wildlife. With outstanding guiding and beautiful accommodation, it’s a particularly special way to share a safari.
Moremi Private Mobile Camp
Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Sleeps: Up to 12 guests in 6 tents
For families or friends who love adventure, a private mobile safari in Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve is something special. Your own guide and camp team accompany you into the wilderness, setting up simple canvas tents and moving seamlessly between remote locations while you game-view. Days revolve around wildlife, while evenings bring delicious meals around the campfire and the sounds of the bush all around. It’s a wonderfully personal, traditional safari experience.
Planning your Christmas gathering?
Whether you’re tempted by a last-minute festive escape or looking ahead to Christmas 2027, our specialists can help you find the right setting for your group.
For more inspiration, explore our new Friends & Family Gatherings Collection, bringing together some of our favourite exclusive-use safari houses, private camps and beach retreats across Africa.
