Africa's mountains are some of the most extraordinary places on Earth to stay. In the misty Virunga volcanoes you can spend an hour with a family of mountain gorillas, then return to a fireside villa with views of the peaks. In Tanzania, lodges look out over the Ngorongoro highlands, one of the greatest wildlife landscapes in the world. In South Africa and Lesotho, the Drakensberg and Cederberg hide ancient rock art, trout rivers and some of the best food in the country, and in Morocco, Berber kasbahs stand beneath North Africa's highest peak, an hour from the souks of Marrakech.
These are the 12 African mountain hotels in our collection, chosen for their setting, their character and the experiences they open up, from once-in-a-lifetime gorilla treks to a quiet night in a stone kasbah.
East Africa: gorillas, volcanoes and craters
1. Bisate Lodge, Rwanda
Best for: design lovers, conservation-minded travellers, gorilla trekking
Six thatched, spherical villas cling to the inside of an eroded volcanic cone on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, inspired by the traditional architecture of Rwanda's royal palace. Each has a central fireplace of volcanic stone and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Virunga peaks. Run by Wilderness, Bisate is also a pioneering reforestation project: the hillside, once cleared for farming, has been replanted with tens of thousands of indigenous trees. Read our review of Bisate Lodge.
2. Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Rwanda
Best for: ultimate luxury, honeymooners, a private gorilla experience
Singita Kwitonda is the most luxurious place to stay for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. It sits right on the park boundary, its handful of dry-stone and timber suites each with a heated plunge pool facing the volcanoes, and the lodge has planted trees by the tens of thousands to restore the forest edge. For families or friends, Kataza House is a private four-bedroom villa with its own staff. Read our review of Singita Kwitonda Lodge.
3. One&Only Gorilla's Nest, Rwanda
Best for: families, spa lovers, resort comforts after a long trek
One&Only Gorilla's Nest brings resort-style luxury to the foothills of the Virungas. Its 21 treehouse-style suites stand among tall eucalyptus groves, and after a muddy morning on the volcano slopes there is a pool, a spa and a restaurant known for its organic, local cooking. The larger lodges suit families. Read our review of One&Only Gorilla's Nest.
4. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Uganda
Best for: adventurous travellers, value gorilla trekking, dramatic views
Uganda's highest lodge sits at around 2,000 metres on a ridge above Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to around half of the world's mountain gorillas. Its seven cottages of volcanic stone have double-sided fireplaces and views that stretch, on clear days, across the forest to the Virunga volcanoes. Gorilla permits in Uganda cost roughly half the price of Rwanda's. Read our review of Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.
5. The Highlands, Tanzania
Best for: safari with a difference, hiking, the Ngorongoro Crater
High on the slopes of Olmoti volcano, The Highlands is one of the most original safari lodges in Africa. Its eight geodesic dome suites, inspired by the circular bomas of the Maasai, have wood-burning stoves and panoramic windows over a misty landscape of craters and grassland. The Ngorongoro Crater is around an hour away, and you can hike to the Olmoti and Empakaai craters with Maasai guides. Read our review of The Highlands.
6. Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Kenya
Best for: history lovers, families, a gentle start or finish to a safari
Founded by the Hollywood actor William Holden, this famous club sits on the equator in more than 100 acres of gardens beneath Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain. It still has the old-world glamour of a 1950s safari club, with fires in the rooms, peacocks on the lawns and a heated pool with views of the peaks, and the Ol Pejeta and Laikipia conservancies are close by. Read our review of Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club.
Southern Africa: the Drakensberg, the Cederberg and Lesotho
7. Bushmans Kloof, South Africa
Best for: couples, rock art, a predator-free wilderness near Cape Town
A Relais & Châteaux reserve in the red sandstone foothills of the Cederberg, Bushmans Kloof protects more than 130 rock art sites painted by the San over thousands of years. It hosts just 34 guests, with a heated pool, a spa, river canoeing and guided rock art walks, and it is an easy add-on to a trip to Cape Town and the Winelands. Read our review of Bushmans Kloof.
8. Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse, South Africa
Best for: food lovers, romantic breaks, walking in the Drakensberg
This small, owner-run farmhouse in the Drakensberg foothills is famous above all for its dinners: a seven-course menu that changes every night. With just seven rooms and cottages, a trout river and the great basalt wall of the Drakensberg on the horizon, it is one of the most loved hideaways in South Africa. Read our review of Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse.
9. Maliba Mountain Lodge, Lesotho
Best for: off-the-beaten-track travel, hiking and pony trekking, families
Lesotho, the 'Kingdom in the Sky', is the only country in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 metres, and Maliba is its finest place to stay. Its ten stone-and-thatch chalets have open fireplaces, four-poster beds and decks facing the Maluti Mountains, on the edge of Ts'ehlanyane National Park. Days are spent hiking, riding Basotho ponies and visiting villages where shepherds still wear traditional blankets. Read our review of Maliba Mountain Lodge.
North Africa: the High Atlas
10. Kasbah Tamadot, Morocco
Best for: luxury, honeymooners, a pool with a view
Sir Richard Branson's kasbah sits at the top of a valley near Asni, about an hour from Marrakech, with views towards Mount Toubkal. Part of the Virgin Limited Edition collection, it has antique-filled rooms, luxurious Berber tents, private riads and one of the most beautiful infinity pools in Africa. Read our review of Kasbah Tamadot.
11. Kasbah du Toubkal, Morocco
Best for: trekkers, families, responsible travel
The last part of the journey is on foot: a mule carries your bags up through the orchards from the village of Imlil to a walled kasbah beneath Jebel Toubkal, North Africa's highest mountain at 4,167 metres. Restored in partnership with the local Berber community, it is one of the world's pioneering responsible-travel lodges, and the classic base for climbing Toubkal. Read our review of Kasbah du Toubkal.
12. Kasbah Bab Ourika, Morocco
Best for: good value, walkers, combining the mountains with Marrakech
Standing alone on a hilltop at the entrance to the Ourika Valley, Kasbah Bab Ourika has a 360-degree panorama of the snow-capped High Atlas and red-earth villages. Built in traditional Berber style, with gardens, a large pool and its own kitchen gardens, it is just 45 minutes from Marrakech. Read our review of Kasbah Bab Ourika.
When to go to Africa's mountains
The best time depends on the region. For gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, and for safaris in Tanzania and Kenya, the two dry seasons, from June to September and from December to February, offer firmer trails and the best wildlife viewing, although gorilla treks run all year. In Southern Africa the seasons are reversed: winter, from June to August, is dry and clear, with snow on the high Drakensberg, while summer brings green landscapes and afternoon storms, and spring, from August to October, brings wildflowers to the Cederberg. In Morocco's High Atlas, spring and autumn are the loveliest seasons, with blossom in March and April and warm, clear days from late September to November.
How to plan a mountain trip in Africa
Many of these hotels combine beautifully. A classic East African route pairs two or three nights of gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda with a safari in the Serengeti, the Maasai Mara or Laikipia. In South Africa, Bushmans Kloof fits neatly into a Cape Town and Winelands trip, while Cleopatra and Maliba pair with the Drakensberg and a KwaZulu-Natal safari. In Morocco, all three kasbahs are within easy reach of Marrakech, so you can spend a few days in the city and a few in the mountains.
Book early. Gorilla permits are strictly limited, cost around US$1,500 per person in Rwanda and around US$800 in Uganda, and sell out months ahead for the dry seasons, while the smallest lodges have just a handful of rooms. Pack warm layers wherever you go: at altitude, African mountain nights are cold, which is exactly why so many of these hotels have a fire waiting for you.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best mountain hotels in Africa?
Our favourites include Bisate Lodge and Singita Kwitonda in Rwanda for gorilla trekking, The Highlands in Tanzania near the Ngorongoro Crater, Bushmans Kloof and Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse in South Africa, Maliba Mountain Lodge in Lesotho, and Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco's High Atlas.
Where is the best place to stay for gorilla trekking?
In Rwanda, Singita Kwitonda, Bisate Lodge and One&Only Gorilla's Nest are all on the edge of Volcanoes National Park. In Uganda, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge overlooks Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where permits are cheaper.
When is the best time to visit Africa's mountains?
For gorillas and East African safaris, June to September and December to February. In Southern Africa, winter (June to August) is dry and clear. In Morocco's Atlas Mountains, spring and autumn are best.
Can you visit the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech?
Yes. Kasbah Bab Ourika is about 45 minutes from Marrakech, and Kasbah Tamadot and Kasbah du Toubkal are around an hour away, so it is easy to combine the city with a few nights in the mountains.
