Ethical Wildlife Hotels | Your emotions will run high, and so do the prices for a room. Here are 7 recommendations for wildlife hotels that guarantee a truly immersive and guilt-free experience.
HLOSI GAME LODGE
eastern cape (south africa)
Don’t be surprised when you encounter a curious cheetah coalition exploring the walkways at the Hlosi Game Lodge. It’s normal. Situated within the Amakhala Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, the Hlosi Game Lodge is located on a hill overlooking a river plain. You will be advised, always stay indoors and request that an Askari or member of staff to collects you if there are predators or large game in camp.
Safari trips with rich game-viewing opportunities are offered on site. The Lodge suites provide air conditioning and a fridge. All rooms have a bath. Guests can enjoy an outdoor swimming pool, barbecues and laundry facilities. Hlosi Game Lodge can even arrange babysitting services and of course airport shuttles. A children’s safari programme is organised on site. Two daily game drives are included in the rates, 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon.
Rooms start at whooping 700 Euros per night. Closest airport is the Port Elizabeth International Airport (66km). Address: Amakhala Game Reserve, R342 Karel Landman Road, 6140 Amakhala Game Reserve, South Africa
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Hlosi Game Lodge, South Africa
JAMALA WILDLIFE LODGE
canberra (australia)
Sleeping close to a lion is not only possible in Africa. The Zoo in Canberra came up with a genius concept by adding a 5-star hotel to its property. At the Jamala Wildlife Lodge, guests can now take a bubble bath next to a lion or tigers only being separated by a panorama glass window. Hyenas, sharks, lions, bengal tigers, sun bears … you choose.
Of course, from the ethical standpoint no harm is done to the animals. All good. Twin bedrooms start at AU$400 per night. The price sounds expensive. Still, more than 400 reviews gave Jamala Wildlife Lodge a 9.6 rating. That means: Exceptional.
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Jamala Wildlife Lodge, Australia
BORNEO NATURE LODGE
sabah (malaysia)
Borneo is one of the best regions to animal-watch in South East Asia. At the Borneo Nature Lodge in Sukau (a 2-hour drive from Sandakan Airport) you will get your chance to spot them: orang utans, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, mousedeer, many exotic birds … and no animal is tortured in any way, as you might know it especially from Thailand.
Located along the banks of Kinabatangan River, Borneo Nature Lodge is nestled among tropical surroundings and plenty of wildlife. All rooms are air-conditioned and come with a mosquito net. The rooms are spacious and overlook tropical greenery. En suite bathrooms include shower facilities.
There is a common lounge where guests can enjoy flat-screen satellite TV. Fishing and barbeque facilities are available. The restaurant is specialized on Asian cuisine. A room starts at US$350 per night.
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Borneo Nature Lodge, Malaysia
REILLY’s ROCK HILLTOP LODGE
lobamba (swaziland)
Duikers, bushbabies and guineafowls will accompany you at your stay. That’s not the ‘Big 5’. Ok, we get it. But Mlilwane Reserve and Mantenga Nature Reserve are just around the corner, adding monkeys, baboons, warthogs and nyalas. At Reilly’s Rock Hilltop Lodge, you don’t pay astronomic amounts for your shelter. A room starts at US$93 per night. With an impressive 9.4, this property is one of the best-rated locations in Lobamba. Guests are happier about it compared to other properties in the region.
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Reilly’s Rock Hilltop Lodge, Swaziland
COTTARS 1920s CAMP
masai mara (kenya)
Cottars 1920s tented Camp has been welcoming guests since 1996. But you already guessed it. There was an old blueprint. Calvin and Louise Cottar established a similar tented camp in 1919. Todays modern Cottars 1920s Camp returns to the original spirit and essence of safari. The camp is situated in an untouched 6,000 acre concession bordering the Serengeti and Loliondo reserves. Guests enjoy privacy, an abundance of wildlife, and stunning views stretching across the plains.
The setting is definity ‘Out of Africa’ – in case you remember that movie starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Cottar’s 1920s Camp provides that kind of romance: safari under cream canvas tents, with butler-delivered silver service. At the same time you will not miss out on amenities required by today’s modern world. There is WiFi of course, an outdoor pool, a restaurant, 24-hour front desk, a garden, a bar etc.
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Cottars 1920s Camp, Kenya
SUJAN SHER BAGH
ranthambore national park (india)
You came here for the tigers. Sujan Sher Bagh is just 1 km away from the famous Rhanthambore National Park – home of tigers. The 5-star Hotel ‘Sher Bagh’ would be by far your best option near the Tiger Reserve, if there wasn’t a catch: It’s always completely booked. Those who made it, were in awe. A 9.6 rating says it all. Good luck booking this property.
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Sher Bagh,India
MANTA RESORT
pemba island (tanzania)
The Manta Resort is situated at the northern tip of Pemba Island. While the resort itself is not really mind blowing, it got one special room to offer: In an underwater room you will become one with the surrounding ocean. You can experience fascinating shifting lights of the water and be subject to the curiosity of many fishy inhabitants of another dimension.
The 100% eco-friendly Manta Resort was built next to a reef with abundant oceanic wildlife. Guests can switch on external underwater lights at night to attract nocturnal fish. No gold plated taps, marbled floors, stand-alone bathtub or nine course dinners here. Instead you will find a luxury of another kind that resonates with nature.
Booking this underwater room isn’t easy. You’ll need to fill out a request form at http://www.themantaresort.com/request/. The staff will get back to you with a quote.
Ethical Wildlife Hotels. By Chili & Chirp | Visit our Top 10 Islands in the World.
