The best hotels in Africa: 2025 Readers' Choice Awards
Africa is renowned for its diverse landscapes: flat-topped mountains, golden dunes, and wildlife-packed savannas. And interspersed between each natural wonder are equally majestic hotels. In this year's Readers' Choice Awards, Marrakech steals the spotlight, dominating the Northern Africa category with intricate riad complexes and lavish palaces. But African safari adventures also stand proud – a charming boutique retreat with giraffes in its back garden and a farm lodge on the cusp of a volcanic crater both appear in your list of favourites. For more inspiration, see our guide of the best hotels in South Africa.
These are the best hotels in Africa, according to the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.
Northern Africa
10. Selman Marrakech, Morocco. Score 93.87
9. Riad Botanica, Marrakech, Morocco. Score 93.95
8. Marriott Mena House, Cairo, Egypt. Score 04.00
7. Royal Mansour Casablanca, Morocco. Score 96.00
6. The Oberoi Marrakech, Morocco. Score 96.51
5. Kasbah Tamadot, Asni, Morocco. Score 98.80
4. La Sultana Marrakech, Morocco. Score 99.29
3. La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco. Score 99.31
2. Royal Mansour Marrakech, Morocco. Score 99.33
1. Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, Morocco. Score 99.43
Evgeniya SavinaEastern and Southern Africa
15. Gibb’s Farm, Karatu, Tanzania. Score 94.46
14. The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Cape Town, South Africa. Score 94.92
13. The Old Rectory, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Score 95.07
12. Spier, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Score 95.49
11. One&Only Cape Town, South Africa. Score 95.56
10. Giraffe Manor Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. Score 95.65
9. The Plettenberg, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Score 95.71
8. The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara, Zambia. Score 95.91
7. Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa. Score 96.00
6. Le Quartier Français, Franschhoek, South Africa. Score 97.20
5. The Oyster Box, Umhlanga, South Africa. Score 97.27
4. Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa. Score 97.56
3. Leeu Estates, Franschhoek, South Africa. Score 97.64
2. Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa. Score 98.21
1. Babylonstoren, Simondium, South Africa. Score 98.67
