Luxury African Beach Resorts: Where to Go After Your Safari

You’ve done the safari.  The lions roared, the sunsets set, the gin and tonics cleansed you of all your memories.  Now all you want is a beach, a bed, and a team of butlers.  Enter the post-safari beach, one of the best ways to end a luxury African itinerary.  In fact, maybe the only way.  You don’t want to return to normal civilisation quite yet, do you?  Sounds boring.

Most people default to Zanzibar or Seychelles, which are logical (and logistically convenient) choices.  But if you’re serious about ending your trip on a high, it’s worth considering Madagascar’s Miavana or Mozambique’s Kisawa too — two lesser-known, ultra-exclusive options… if you can get there.

So, where should you go after your safari? Let’s take a look.

Ease of Access

Naturally, it depends on where you’re coming from.  If you somehow decided to finish up your safari in Pandora, the home of the Na’vi, this advice might not be useful.  But for East Africa, Zanzibar is the winner.  You can fly there directly from the Serengeti, Nairobi, or Arusha in under two hours.  

Seychelles is next-best, as there are direct flights from Nairobi to Mahé on most days.  The problem is, you then need to either fly or take a helicopter to your final island. It’s not unbearable, just more faff, and potentially requires overnighting in Mahe.

So you’re already probably thinking that it’s a major hassle, what could possibly be worse?  Step forward Miavana. It’s the most remote of the lot, and possibly the most remote ultra-luxury property in the world. You’ll need to connect through Nosy Be, where there’s only one commercial flight per week from Johannesburg, then take an hour long helicopter ride. It’s not convenient, to say the least.

Kisawa in Mozambique requires a connection to Vilanculos, then a six-minute helicopter ride to the island.  Or a boat, if helis make you squeamish.  The issue is the connecting flight times, meaning you’re likely to need to overnight in Johannesburg, but at least there are daily flights so you’re not held there like some hostage for a week, like you are at Miavana.

Winner: Zanzibar

Runner-up: Seychelles

Most character-building: Miavana

Beach Quality

Seychelles has some of the best beaches on Earth.  The boulders that look like they’ve been photoshopped in, the white sand that looks like it might legally be a weapon and blind you.  The amazing wildlife, the clean oceans.  What a joy.

Miavana is not a million miles behind.  Whilst the Seychelles beaches are all public, and whilst Miavana is on an inhabitated island, your chances of seeing someone is extremely remote. It’s as private as a non-private island might possible get.  Plus, lemurs.

Kisawa has a spectacular, untouched stretch of beach on Benguerra Island, where depending on the season and tide, you might be able to walk out beyond the horizon.  

Zanzibar varies.  Some beaches are stunning, others look like seaweed is the flavour of the year and are drowning in it.

Winner: Seychelles

Runner-up: Miavana

Best chance of being impregnated by a turtle: Zanzibar

The Luxury Experience

Let’s not pretend these are equals.

Zanzibar has nothing in the ultra-luxury category.  Mnemba is the flagship, and for experienced travellers, there’s not a whole lot to love about it.  However, if you travel a little bit further away to Mafia Island, you have the nine-bedroom, exclusive-use private island, Thanda Island.  Now we’re talking luxury.  Who doesn’t want an entire island just to themselves?  

Seychelles brings one of the most unique properties in the world: North Island, where the pricing unapologetically insane.  And the brands: Four Seasons Desroches, Waldorf Astoria Platte Island.  But more important than all of them: the upcoming Fregate.  And I really have a soft spot for La Cigale, and wish more of you would listen to me when I tell you it’s awesome.  And great value for money.  

Kisawa is absolutely stunning, and backed up by the service. It’s a $50 million love letter to barefoot luxury with stone villas bigger than most English homes. 

Miavana is in a league of its own.  Helicopter transfers.  Villas spaced far enough apart you could host a coup and no one would notice.  The service is intuitive, the cuisine excellent, and the whole place feels like it was built for someone who doesn’t need to Google the word “discretion.”

Winner: Kisawa

Runner-up: Miavana

For being kind to your wallet: Seychelles (just not North Island)

Wildlife

Maybe you’re a weirdo and are sick of animals at this point of the trip, but I doubt you flew to Africa to suddenly turn into Quint from Jaws.

Now, I may have spent most of this article convincing you that Zanzibar is basically a modern-day version of 1917, but whale sharks. I’ve swum with whale sharks here. I’ve had dolphins come so close I could touch them — and they stuck around for 20 minutes. These are some of the best wildlife encounters I’ve ever had, so I shall at least grant Zanzibar a high five in return.  And I forgot to even include both the absolute joy of seeing a turtle come and lay her eggs at Mnemba, and being so damn lucky to see another set of eggs hatch the next day.

The Seychelles has giant tortoises, which you’ll find roaming freely on islands like North Island and Fregate. They’re awesome. They’ll come right up to you, you can feed them, and they’re basically prehistoric dogs — only easier to get away from if they decide to start humping your leg.  The Seychelles went all in on conservation (well, kinda had to for debt relief, but whatever, let’s not judge good decisions) which has resulted in over 30% of its waters being protected from fishing.  Ergo, the diving and snorkelling is superb.

Kisawa is all about the ocean. Seasonal whales, turtles, dolphins.  On land, though, there’s not much beyond sand and whatever wildlife you’re still digesting from lunch.

Miavana is perhaps the closest to a second safari. Lemurs, chameleons, turtles, and whales during the season. There’s truly nothing else out there like Miavana.

Winner: Miavana

Second place: Seychelles.  Maybe Zanzibar.  Not sure.

Best for Families, Honeymoons, and Collapsing in Silence

• For families: Zanzibar or Seychelles
• For honeymooners: Kisawa or Miavana (you likely won’t see anyone)
• For people who want to do things: I could say all of them, as each has activities on offer.  You want an answer though, don’t you?  Erm, all of them?
• For people who have $33,000 per night spare: Thanda Island

Final Verdict

Zanzibar is never the answer, unless the question is “Where is the nearest airport to Thanda Island?”.  Unless you’re absolutely set on easing the logistical nightmare, there are better places.

If you want some ultra-luxury with world-class beaches and some new openings: Seychelles.  If you want something rarer, wilder, and a bit absurd in all the right ways: Kisawa or Miavana.  

Just remember: you’ve just had some of the best days of your life in the bush. Don’t ruin the ending by having it end.  Keep the party going forever.