Our top 10 private houses in Africa

This stunning villa, with four bedrooms, a kitchen, large verandah overlooking the Indian Ocean and its own private pool, really is ideal for a family vacation. The white sandy beach borders the villa, and with its very own team of staff your every need is catered for, allowing for total flexibility. The food is delicious and fresh, and there is a huge variety of activities on offer both within and nearby the villa.

Ellerman Villa is a beautiful luxury property with exceptional levels privacy and sweeping views over Bantry Bay. Why not retreat to the study with a book while the children enjoy the entertainment room or head to one of the local beaches with a picnic. With your own private butler your every need will be catered for, and when taken on a fully exclusive basis the villa sleeps 10, and has sole use of the spa and infinity swimming pool.

Located in the heart of the game rich Maasai Mara is this fantastic 4-bedroom private house with swimming pool. The house comes with its own team of dedicated staff, private vehicle and game ranger to be at your disposal for the duration of your stay. It is one of our most favorite destinations for families in Kenya, children are kept entertained by the hugely interactive and energetic staff. Travel between July and October to witness the great wildebeest migration.

Soak up the vast 360-degree views from the villa's impressive deck, casting your eye to both the ocean and the dune forest. This large property is stretched out over the escarpment and provides the perfect combination of social areas and private corners and terraces for your own personal downtime, offering many wonderful spaces to relax. Spend some time with your friends and family and lounge in the large, heated swimming pool or hot tub. This unique and extraordinary private villa boasts seven individually themed rooms, a private chef, your own housekeeping team, and an experienced on-site management team ready to provide a personalized experience for your party.

Nestled in one of the most beautiful coastal reserves in South Africa, Morukuru Ocean House is a four-bedroom private house situated in the De Hoop Nature Reserve. Set back from a 51km long pristine white sand beach backed by limestone cliffs and coastal fynbos, allowing the house to boast stunning sea views from many of the rooms. In season, here you have a unique view over one of Africa's largest whale nurseries and you can enjoy the views of the southern right whales as they migrate towards the coastal basins for the calving and nursing season.

Owner's House is nestled within one of South Africa’s top wildlife destinations, beautifully positioned overlooking the Marico river. A wooden deck surrounds the villa and guests can recline on comfy sofas or on loungers by the pool, taking in the sensational view. Owner’s House is approximately 400 meters from River House, the two houses can be taken exclusively, or, for larger groups as a whole. The Owner's House is the smaller of the two and has just two double en-suite bedrooms.

Mokombe's House at Lamai is perched on top of a rocky kopje, with endless views over the northern Serengeti savannahs that stretch right into the Masai Mara. You will be treated to unforgettable sunsets, vast night skies, some of Tanzania's finest safari guiding and an impressive array of wildlife to uncover. Designed to accommodate families, the house is entirely private, with its own lounge with roaring fireplace, deck area for soaking up the sun and pool for cooling off during the heat of the day. You'll have your own safari guide and vehicle to help you explore the delights of this wildlife-rich and unspoiled corner of the Serengeti.

Lengishu sits in a striking position in the exclusive Borana Conservancy at 2000 meters on the foothills of Mount Kenya with breathtaking views of the Lengishu Hills and surrounding Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Sleeping 12, this exclusively private house has been beautifully designed using sustainable local materials to blend seamlessly with the Laikipia landscape. The main areas lead out to a large, covered veranda with stunning views across the conservancy which houses a pizza oven for delicious lunches and dinners.

Entamanu Private has an outstanding position in the north-western rim of the Ngorongoro Crater with breathtaking views into the crater and across the Serengeti. Sympathetically built from glass, canvas and timber, the retreat is designed to be removed without a trace yet succeeds in creating a cozy, rustically stylish home in one of the world’s most extraordinary settings. Offering a private escape for a minimum of six guests, the camp is made up of two two-bedroom units, with a large dining area, bar, lounge and shady verandas providing space for some cool downtown.

Surrounded by expanses of seasonally flooded plains and shaded by tall ebony, sycamore fig and mangosteen trees, the suite is nestled on an island in the furthest reaches of the Okavango Delta. Duba Plains is one of the most remote luxury tented camps in the region, renowned for rewarding game-viewing with good populations of plains game. The Duba Plains Suite is well suited for families or small groups, decorated with furnishings inspired by classic 1920s safari style with leather armchairs and Persian rugs over the dark wooden floors, the perfect place to relax in between activities.