Whether it’s a rainforest resort alive with monkey chatter, a boat cruising over flourishing coral reefs, or a tent pitched close to elephant trails, rest assured the accommodation on our small-group wildlife-watching trips take you deep into the natural world.
To help you find your next wild adventure, we’ve picked our top seven accommodations that are surrounded by wildlife.
1.Amakhala Game Reserve: Where Luxury Meets Wildlife in South Africa
Spend two nights deep within the Amakhala Game Reserve on our Cape Town and the Garden Route – Premium Adventure. The four-star Amakhala Safari Lodge has thatched-roof suites with private plunge pools and a viewing deck that opens up to the African bush, where it’s common to see giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes and even lions wandering past.
Led by seasoned rangers, conservation experts and your local guide, game drives here offer the chance to see lions lounging in golden light, elephants ambling along the horizon and, if you’re lucky, elusive leopards prowling at dusk. Add in cheetahs darting across open plains and wildebeest thundering in herds, and you’ve got a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest shows.
2. Esquinas Rainforest Lodge: a Costa Rican Jungle Hideaway
For years, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge has been a firm favourite for those on our Discover Costa Rica trip – and for good reason. In the heart of Piedras Blancas National Park, a region renowned for its biodiversity, the lodge was constructed with sustainability in mind. Built using locally sourced materials, it is fully solar-powered and actively supports the AMISTOSA Biological Corridor, helping to reconnect fragmented habitats between Piedras Blancas and other protected areas.
Surrounded by thick Costa Rican jungle on all sides, this lodge immerses you in one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Hear howler monkeys from your rustic room, see hummingbirds flutter as you lounge on your hammock, or watch coatis scatter around the saltwater swimming pool without even leaving the premises. But when you do, enjoy direct access to more than 9mi (15km) of private rainforest trails. Here, our expert guides help you spot elusive great curassows and toucans. You might even lock eyes with a curious capuchin monkey.
3. Giritale Hotel: Monkey Business in Sri Lanka
On our popular Discover Sri Lanka trip, you stay at the Giritale Hotel. Set high above the serene waters of Giritale Lake, it offers sweeping panoramic views across the jungle canopy and shimmering lake below—especially striking at sunrise and sunset, when the light washes over the treetops and distant mountains. Ideally located in the cultural heartland of Sri Lanka, it also provides easy access to the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya, yet you still feel immersed in nature.
The open-air layout of the hotel is designed to make the most of its scenic setting. Relax in the infinity pool or grab a Lion beer or cocktail at the open-air bar while soaking in the sounds of the forest. It’s not unusual for cheeky vervet monkeys and playful long-tailed macaques—often with babies clinging to their bellies—to swing down from the trees and explore the area, darting between balconies, lounging on railings, or putting on lively performances near the pool, usually accompanied by a soundtrack of bird calls. You’ll soon find that Giritale Hotel is more than just a base for cultural exploration, it’s a window into the vibrant daily life of Sri Lanka’s wildlife.
4. Isalo Ranch: Lemurs and Landscapes in Madagascar
Staying at Isalo Ranch is like stepping into a nature documentary – and you get to spend two nights here on our Madagascan Discoverer trip. The ranch is just outside Isalo National Park, one of Madagascar’s most iconic parks, known for its dramatic sandstone formations, deep canyons, and dry deciduous forests. A base for exploring the park, it also sits within an ecosystem teeming with wildlife, so you might see some of the country’s most fascinating creatures right from your accommodation.
Wake up to the sight of ring-tailed lemurs sunbathing and Verreaux’s sifakas—nicknamed dancing lemurs—bounding sideways through the trees. The area is also home to various reptiles, with geckos and colourful chameleons commonly spotted. If you’re lucky, the occasional Madagascar kestrel and Benson’s rock thrush may also be visible on the ranch grounds.
5. The Felicity: a Safari Beneath the Surface
For sea life enthusiasts, nothing compares to our Marine Safari in the Maldives adventure on The Felicity, a comfortable liveaboard that cruises from the South Male atoll to the South Ari atoll and back in search of captivating creatures. Each day, you have access to remote coral reefs, crystal-clear lagoons and channels that larger vessels simply can’t reach – ideal conditions for even closer sightings.
The Felicity has air-conditioned cabins suitable for a group of 12 people. Meals are freshly prepared and served in the open-air dining area, with panoramic views of the atolls. The sundeck is the perfect place to unwind with a good book or simply kick back with new friends to watch the orange sun sink below the horizon.
On this trip, you’ll snorkel over vibrant coral gardens where schools of butterflyfish, parrotfish, sea turtles and manta rays glide below. With luck, you may even encounter the elusive whale shark—known to frequent the nutrient-rich waters of South Ari Atoll. Daily snorkelling excursions are led by expert guides and supported by onboard marine biologists, who offer evening briefings and educational lectures to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the fragile marine ecosystems you’re exploring.
6. Cayman Lodge Amazonia: a Peruvian Jungle Retreat
After completing the legendary Inca Trail, your journey shifts dramatically, from high-altitude hikes to the dense, lowland rainforest of the Peruvian Amazon. The second half of our Inca Trail & the Amazon Rainforest takes you deep into the jungle to the Cayman Lodge Amazonia, a remote lodge on the banks of the Tambopata River, within easy reach of the Tambopata National Reserve, known to be one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth.
The lodge offers simple yet comfortable wooden bungalows. Designed to minimise environmental impact while fully immersing you in the rhythms and sounds of the forest. There’s no electricity or wifi after dark—just lantern light and the chorus of frogs, insects, and birds.
Days here are filled with expertly guided jungle walks and riverboat excursions. Navigate oxbow lakes by canoe, keeping an eye out for caimans along the water’s edge. Listen for the unmistakable calls of howler monkeys echoing through the canopy and watch as vibrant toucans, scarlet macaws and hoatzins flash between branches. With luck, you might spot three-toed sloths lounging in the treetops or glimpse a giant river otter breaking the surface of the water.
7. Wild Camping in the Okavango Delta: Sleep Beneath the Stars
Our Botswana & Zimbabwe Lodge Safari is the perfect trip if you want to see African wildlife at its most raw and intimate. In the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a mosaic of lagoons, palm-fringed islands, and seasonal floodplains teeming with life await to be explored. While you’re here, you and your group spend a magical two nights wild camping on a remote island in the delta. Your tents are set up with all the basic comforts—camp beds, linen, and shared long-drop toilets—but no fences. With canvas walls being the only thing separating you from the wild, you’ll fall asleep to the distant call of lions and the unmistakable splash of hippos, a wonderful reminder you’re in their backyard now.
Guided by some of the best wildlife trackers and long-standing local mokoro polers, your experience in traditional dugout canoes may bring you to eye-level with hippos and elephants while African fish eagles and kingfishers soar above. But you can rest assured your expert guides’ deep respect and understanding of the land ensures a journey that’s ethical, safe, and breathtakingly wild. This isn’t a luxurious, cookie-cutter safari, it’s a real adventure. No wifi – just you, a million stars and the raw pulse of the Delta.
If this has inspired you to walk on the wild side and stay in one of our incredible accommodations surrounded by wildlife, browse our wide range of wildlife adventures here.
