Which safari operators are best for exclusive-use safari villas and houses?

These are the camp owners whose own websites publish a villa, a private house or a camp that can be booked for sole use, read with their countries, rates and child policies.

Which safari operators are best for exclusive-use safari villas and houses?

Each card below quotes the company's own villa, house or sole-use offer; these suit families and groups, so check each card for the private guide line and the child policy.

What do they charge per person per night?

21 of the 41 camp owners on this page publish a rate per person per night; the rest do not state it on their own websites. Each line is the company's own figure as its website gives it.

• African Horseback Safaris: Lowest published rate GBP 625 pppns (Standard season, 2025); highest GBP 1035 pppns (Peak season 15 Jun-14 Oct, 2026), sharing.
• Angama: Lowest published nightly rate: USD 950 per person, Angama Safari Camp, 2026 Standard Season.
• Asilia Africa: Lowest per person per night: US$500 (Encounter Mara, Green Season 1 to 30 Apr 2027; Emboo, Green Season 1 Apr to 31 May 2027).
• Bushtops Camps: Lowest published adult rate: $1090 per person per night at Serengeti Bushtops, Mid season (6 Jan to 2 Apr, 1 Nov to 20 Dec), 2026.
• Jamala Madikwe: Lowest published rate R22,090 per person per night sharing (low season, 1 May-31 July 2027); highest R29,030 (peak season, 15 December-5 January).
• Ker & Downey Botswana: All USD per adult per night sharing, 2027.
• Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: Lowest published per person sharing rate R19,400 per night (Luxury Suite at Ecca Lodge or Great Fish River Lodge, 1 May-30 Sep 2027); highest R34,050 (Ecca Private Vehicle Suite, 1 Oct 2027-30 Apr 2028).
• Lemala Camps & Lodges: Lowest published rate: $250 per person sharing per day at Hamerkop House (low season, 1 Mar to 31 May 2027).
• MalaMala: 2026 per person sharing: lowest R26 100 (MalaMala Camp luxury room), highest R50 000 (Tengile River Lodge, peak season). 2027: lowest R29 160 (MalaMala Camp luxury room and Kirkman's Kamp cottage, high season), highest R60 000 (Tengile River Lodge, peak).
• Natural Selection: Seasonal rates seen only for Lekkerwater, 2027, ZAR per person sharing per night: Green (12 Apr to 29 Jul) 8,245.
• Sabi Sabi: Lowest published per person rate: ZAR 29,600 per person sharing per night, Bush Lodge Luxury Suite (2026-27 and 2027-28).
• Samara Karoo Reserve: Per person sharing per night, ZAR with VAT: lowest R17,800 at Plains Camp (2026 and 2027); highest R21,850 at Karoo Suite, Karoo Lodge (2027).
• Simbavati: River Sands villa R98,900 for the villa on Rates & Offers, R180,000 per night on its own page.
• Singita: Lowest published adult rate in US dollars: USD 2,210 per adult per night at Mara River and Sabora, off-peak (child USD 1,105).
• Tanda Tula: Lowest: child (6-16) sharing, 15,750 per night in 2026; lowest adult: Safari Suite sharing, 31,500 per person per night in 2026.
• Thornybush Collection: ZAR, per person sharing per night, including VAT. 2026 (1 Jan to 31 Dec): Saseka R28,000 (single R42,000)
• Time + Tide: Lowest published: Tsara Komba Ocean View Room €385 per adult per night sharing (rest of year, 2026); in USD, $840 at Luwi and Nsolo in green season 2026, or $600 under the Spontaneous Safari offer (1 to 15 Nov 2026).
• Tswalu Kalahari: Per person sharing per night (ZAR, fully inclusive): lowest 46 400 at Motse in 2026; highest 64 200 at a Loapi one-bedroom home in 2027 peak season.
• Ultimate Safaris: Camp Sossus only, Namibian dollars (NAD), fully inclusive per person: Shoulder Season Rate 'From NAD 7 385.00'
• Wilderness: Lowest published nightly rate: USD 480 per person at Doro Nawas, 6 January to 31 March 2027 (also the camps-page 'from' price).
• Ximuwu Lodge: Suites, per person sharing per night: ZAR 26,500 (2026), ZAR 28,000 (2027).

What age limits do they set for children?

40 of the 41 camp owners on this page publish a child policy; the rest do not state it on their own websites.

• African Horseback Safaris: 50% discount for non-riding children under 12.
• Alex Walker's Serian: Yes, families are welcome: Serian The Original has a dedicated family suite and Ngare Serian's four tents suit families or groups of friends.
• Amalinda Collection: Khulu Bush Camp: 'Children aged 12 and over are welcome'.
• Angama: Children of all ages welcome year round.
• Asilia Africa: Minimum age 5 at Naboisho ('children over 5'), Ol Pejeta, Encounter Mara (twin tents for kids over 12), Rubondo, Olakira, Oliver's, Sayari and Retreats, Namiri, Emboo, Roho ya Selous and Jabali Private House.
• Bushtops Camps: 'The Bush is not ideal for very young children. However, for anyone over the age of seven' the camps are suited.
• Cheetah Plains: Children of all ages welcome.
• Chiawa Safaris: Minimum ages: Chichele Presidential 4 years.
• Cottar's Safaris: Children of all ages are welcome at both properties.
• Hemingways Collection: Ol Seki: recommended for children aged six and older; the camp is unfenced so parental supervision is required at all times; kids' activities (junior ranger skills, guided discovery, infinity pool).
• Jaci's Lodges: It names family-friendly options: Safari Suite Expeditions ('Family-friendly suites', 2 adults + 2 children) and villas suited to families; no child rates shown.
• Jamala Madikwe: Children under 16 may stay by arrangement; under 16 require a private vehicle (subject to availability, extra charges).
• Ker & Downey Botswana: Child rate (6 to 15) is 70% of the adult sharing rate, except Kanana Nyana, which has no family tent or child rate.
• Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: Ecca Lodge Private Vehicle Suites and all three villas accept children of all ages.
• Lalibela Game Reserve: Mark's Camp is described as family-friendly and discreetly fenced for children's safety, with four family units, family suites with partitioned sleeping areas and a larger family suite with two bedrooms.
• Lemala Camps & Lodges: Children are welcome at the Mara & Ndutu, Ewanjan and Kuria Hills camps ('contact us for more information about our Lemala Cubs').
• Lewa Wilderness: Lewa Wilderness: 'All ages welcome', family cottages, garden cottages described as family-friendly.
• Machaba Safaris: Machaba Camp, Gomoti Plains, Gomoti Private, Kiri, Verney's and Monachira welcome all ages.
• Madikwe Safari Lodge: Lelapa Camp: children of all ages welcome; under 6 not on game drives or safari activities (a family game drive is offered after breakfast); under 16 not on bush walks; ages 0-5 stay free, 6-15 pay 50% of adult sharing rate, 16+ full adult rate; max 4 people per family room plus an infant under 2 in a cot.
• MalaMala: Kirkman's Kamp and MalaMala Camp take children of all ages.
• MORE Family Collection: Lion Sands: Tinga ages 6+, River and Ivory 10+, Narina 16+, villas all ages; children 10 to 15 pay 50% at River and Ivory, 6 to 15 at Tinga.
• Morukuru Family: Children of all ages are welcome at all properties; infants aged 0 to 2 stay complimentary.
• Natural Selection: All ages welcome at Camp Kalahari, Kwessi Dunes, Etosha Mountain Lodge, Safarihoek, Safari House, Hoanib Valley, Hoanib Elephant, Meno a Kwena, San Camp, Shipwreck and GweGwe (babysitters extra).
• Nomad Tanzania: Mkombe's House is 'designed specifically for families' and 'perfect for families with smaller children', with two enclosed bedrooms for children; children over 12 can join longer walks.
• Rhino Sands Safari Camp: If children are part of an exclusive use group they are charged at full rate and count towards the maximum occupancy of ten.
• Sabi Sabi: Bush Lodge: 'children of all ages are welcome' with a child-minding service at extra cost; the 2026-27 children's policy says children under 6 are not permitted unless a Luxury Villa (private vehicle) is booked.
• Samara Karoo Reserve: Karoo Lodge and The Manor: children of all ages welcome.
• Simbavati: Trails Camp: only children aged 16 and above.
• Singita: Mara River and Sabora: children aged 10 and over.
• Sirikoi: Children aged 6 and older welcome.
• Tanda Tula: Children aged 6 to 16 welcome; 17+ pay the full adult rate; under 6 'by special arrangement only' (younger children may be accommodated for exclusive use).
• The Royal Portfolio: Royal Malewane: Farmstead welcomes children over 10.
• The Safari Collection: Children are welcome at Giraffe Manor, Sala's Camp, Sasaab (under threes stay free; baby-listening service) and Siruai (children of all ages; one tent can sleep three children).
• Thornybush Collection: Thornybush Game Lodge: all ages; under 6s not on drives unless a private vehicle is booked (R17,500 per day in 2026, R20,500 in 2027); child rate under 12 (75% in a separate room with one adult; three children sharing 50% each).
• Time + Tide: Children of all ages welcome in all Zambian camps, Miavana and Tsara Komba.
• Tintswalo: Boulders: children of all ages welcome; under 16s must share a suite with an adult (16 and over); extra children aged 6 to 15 pay 25% of the suite rate, 5 and under free; extra guests 16 and over pay 50%.
• Tswalu Kalahari: 'Children of all ages are welcome', including on game drives; the reserve is malaria-free.
• Ultimate Safaris: Camp Sossus: children 6 years and older are welcome, with 6 to 12 years paying 50% of the adult rate; children under 6 only if exclusive use is booked.
• Wilderness: Family units are shown at Mombo, Qorokwe (own splash pool), King's Pool (one family unit), Chitabe Lediba (adjoining bedrooms with a shared en-suite), Savuti, DumaTau, Desert Rhino, Damaraland, Doro Nawas and Serra Cafema.
• Ximuwu Lodge: Children 8-12 sharing a suite with two adults pay ZAR 10,000 (2026) / ZAR 10,500 (2027), limited to one child; a single child in their own suite pays the full adult rate; guests aged 12+ pay the conservation levy.

Which offer a private guide and vehicle?

26 of the 41 camp owners on this page offer a private guide or vehicle; the rest do not state it on their own websites.

• Amalinda Collection: The Homestead and Khulu's Retreat both include a private guide and dedicated safari vehicle.
• Angama: Angama Mara and Amboseli: private safari vehicles are extra, USD 200 half day / USD 400 full day in Standard Season.
• Asilia Africa: Private guide and vehicle included: Retreats at Sayari and Namiri Plains, Jabali Private House, Kokoko, Usangu Expedition Camp (last-minute bookings subject to availability) and Roho ya Selous (game drives, last-minute subject to availability).
• Bushtops Camps: A private game drive vehicle is included for every non-solo booking ('Game drives are on a private basis for all non solo bookings').
• Chiawa Safaris: Chiawa Camp has the largest guiding team, so private requests for photography or fishing are 'easily managed'.
• Hemingways Collection: Ol Seki: 'Private vehicles are available on request'.
• Jamala Madikwe: Private vehicle required for children under 16 (subject to availability, additional charges).
• Ker & Downey Botswana: Private vehicle USD 500 per night at all camps except Kanana Nyana; it guarantees private activities with a camp guide (for bookings of five or fewer per vehicle).
• Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: Private guide and vehicle with ranger and tracker are available at extra cost at the lodges (R16,600 per day, 2027), booked for the full stay and are included in all villa stays and Ecca Private Vehicle Suites.
• Lalibela Game Reserve: Mills Manor includes a private safari guide and vehicle.
• Machaba Safaris: Private vehicles, guides and specialist guides for birding, photography and tracking are offered through the personalised safari page.
• Madikwe Safari Lodge: Private safari vehicle available on request, subject to availability, for an additional fee (R9,500 per day quoted at Lelapa in the terms).
• MalaMala: A private vehicle is sold per vehicle, per night: 2026 R23 000 at Tengile River Lodge and Kirkman's Kamp; 2027 R22 000 (high) or R25 500 (peak) at MalaMala Camp, Sable Camp, Rattray's, Tengile and Kirkman's.
• MORE Family Collection: Monwana Family Suites and the villas include a private safari vehicle (Fish Eagle, Hinkwenu, Marataba Villa).
• Natural Selection: Safari House is booked with 'a private guide, vehicle and a chef all to yourself'.
• Nomad Tanzania: Kiba Point offers 'exclusive guides and vehicles' for private groups.
• Sabi Sabi: A private safari vehicle (and guide) is included in the rate for the Ivory Presidential Suite (Selati Camp), the Bush Lodge Luxury Villas and the Earth Lodge Amber Villa.
• Samara Karoo Reserve: The Manor includes a private vehicle with dedicated field guide, tracker, chef and host on every booking.
• Simbavati: Private safari vehicle: River Sands guests have a private safari vehicle (exclusive-use villa)
• Singita: Milele has 'private game vehicles'.
• The Royal Portfolio: Royal Suites at Malewane Lodge include a 'private safari vehicle with a Field Guide and Tracker'.
• The Safari Collection: A 'Private Guided Safari' is offered (personalised itinerary and a private guide throughout; price on request).
• Thornybush Collection: Private Vehicle Safaris are listed as an activity.
• Time + Tide: Private vehicle $570 per vehicle per night; private guide and vehicle $750 per vehicle per night in South Luangwa (2026), subject to availability.
• Ultimate Safaris: Private Guided safaris are sold, with 'highly respected naturalist guides'.
• Wilderness: Yes: 'Private Safari' (exclusive private safari for family and friends) is offered as an experience across Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia, shown on Chitabe, Chitabe Lediba, Mombo, Qorokwe, Savuti and Linyanti Tented Camp pages.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 2 November 2026 · updated 2 November 2026