It is not easy to declare a certain hotel beautiful as this is usually in the eyes of the beholder.
However, Time Out recently released a list of what it considers to be the world’s most beautiful hotels.
But out of the list of 33 properties Africa managed to have five entries found in Morocco, Tunisia and mostly South Africa.
It seems South Africa knows a thing or two about a room with a view, because the country has three hotels in the list.
And according to Time Out, these three stays in South Africa give you just as much reason to admire what’s inside.
Le Jardin Des Douars of Morocco and The Residence Douz of Tunisia are among the most beautiful hotels in the world that are found on the African Continent. The other three are all based in South Africa, including Mount Nelson, Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa and La Residence.
These five stays have made Time Out’s list of the world’s most beautiful hotels, joining a global selection of 33 properties spanning historic castles, jungle retreats and striking city hotels.
The list draws on the experiences of Time Out’s editors, writers and hotel experts, with every property visited by a member of the team.
Architecture, interiors, gardens and scenery all inform the selection.
Here’s what makes each worth a closer look.
Le Jardin des Douars, Morocco
Terracotta-colored mud and straw have been used to construct the two-storey main building of this hotel, with bedrooms dotted around two serene courtyards that fill up with the chatter of birds at sunset, and more found in outbuildings alongside the individual villas.
There is so much carved wood, dark metal and tiling that it’d be safe to assume ‘Berber chic’ featured somewhere on the design brief, but where this place shines brightest are its gardens. Angular aloes and cacti are softened by pops of color from the pink trumpet vibes and blue plumbago, and the leaves flutter gorgeously in the famous Essaouira wind.
Mount Nelson, Cape Town SA
The Pink Lady has never needed much help turning heads.
Welcoming guests since 1899, Mount Nelson brings together its unmistakable pink exterior, nine acres of gardens and a setting beneath Table Mountain.
Rooms, suites and historic cottages offer different ways to settle into one of Cape Town’s most recognizable addresses, while afternoon tea remains an institution.
There’s plenty happening beyond those familiar rituals, too. Amura, chef Ángel León’s first restaurant outside Spain, adds a contemporary layer to the hotel’s appeal.
Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa, Limpopo SA
At Mhondoro, some of the most memorable views involve going underground.
Set in Welgevonden Game Reserve, the lodge has a 65-metre tunnel leading to a hide at the waterhole, where guests can watch visiting wildlife from an extraordinary perspective.
When animals arrive to drink, you’re right down at water level: a particularly rewarding spot for patient photographers. Explore Mhondoro’s waterhole hide.
Above ground, luxury is equally considered.
In his five-star review, Time Out South Africa’s Andrew Hallett singled out the Villa’s private chef and butler service, alongside its pool, spa, gym and expansive views.
La Residence, Franschhoek SA
La Residence gives you plenty to look at before you’ve even made it onto the balcony.
Royal Portfolio founder Liz Biden’s design brings color, texture, antiques and art into rooms with distinct personalities. The Huguenot Suite, for example, pairs a bold yellow four-poster bed with antique Cape silver and views over the orchard and garden.
Beyond the interiors, the estate opens onto the vineyards and mountains that make Franschhoek such an appealing escape. There’s a Victorian teahouse beside the pond, space for unhurried afternoons and a dining experience that holds its own in a valley with serious culinary competition.
The Residence Douz, Tunisia
The stylish main building and 50 accompanying villas mimic the shapes of the desert, and the hotel itself is a sweeping oasis from the blistering heat with a gleaming pool and knockout spa.
Pretty touches nod to local communities, like the textural brickwork, which is borrowed from a design native to the local town of Tozeur, and statement paintings by Tunisian artists.
Regardless, you’d be forgiven for feeling like you’re at the edge of the world when staying here.