If you have done Greater Kruger before, 2027 is a very good year to go back. One of the Sabi Sand’s best-known reserves reopens after a full rebuild, a 15-tent camp opens in the Manyeleti, and an exclusive-use tented villa arrives in Thornybush. Add the camps that opened during 2026, still in their first full season next year, and South Africa has more new places to sleep under canvas than it has had in years.

This guide covers what opens in 2027, what opened recently and is worth booking now, and a handful of new camps elsewhere in Africa that pair well with a South African safari.

New South African safari stays at a glance

Opening dates come from the operators and trade press as of October 2026. New properties sometimes shift their dates, so confirm before you book flights.

Opening in 2027

Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sand

Ulusaba, Virgin Limited Edition’s reserve in the Sabi Sand, closed for a complete redesign and reopens in phases: Safari Lodge on 5 January 2027 and Rock Lodge in April 2027. There are two lodges. Rock Lodge sits high on a granite koppie with nine suites, and Safari Lodge sits lower down by the water with eleven, including new Elephant suites with floor-to-ceiling glass doors and a private enclave called the Hide, built for small groups and overlooking the dam.

The redesign leans hard into wellness, with cold plunge pools, a Himalayan salt sauna, hydrotherapy pools, a rasul mud treatment and a yoga deck. The Sabi Sand’s leopard viewing stays exactly as it was, which is to say among the best in Africa.

Nkelenga Private Villa, Thornybush

For anyone who has ever wanted a whole camp to themselves, this one is worth watching. Nkelenga opens as an exclusive-use tented villa on 1 April 2027, with three Meru-style tented suites and a family tent sleeping up to eight. It overlooks an active waterhole, and your group gets its own vehicle, guide and chef.

Split between two or three families, an exclusive-use villa often costs less per person than you would expect, and nobody else gets a say in when dinner is served.

Ndzhaka Tented Camp, Manyeleti

The Manyeleti is one of the quieter corners of Greater Kruger, with open borders to the Sabi Sand, the Timbavati and Kruger National Park. Ndzhaka Tented Camp is launching there for 2027 with 15 luxury tents in an unfenced camp, so animals wander through freely. Tents have private decks and outdoor baths and showers, and an in-camp waterhole keeps the action close.

Vehicles take a maximum of seven guests, there are walks as well as morning, afternoon and night drives, and children from six are welcome, which makes it a strong family option.

Opened recently and worth booking now

Sandringham Private Game Reserve, Timbavati

Sabi Sabi’s new reserve opened in June 2026 on a former hunting area along the Timbavati River that is being restored and linked to Kruger. White lions are a real possibility here. There are two camps. N’weti is adults-only and sits on a hillside under canvas canopies, while Shisaka is on the riverbank with rooftop salas for afternoon naps. Every suite has a private plunge pool, and families can book one of two private villas.

Guide rates run from about $2,125 to $2,445 per person per night, fully inclusive.

See rates and availability for Sandringham Private Game Reserve

Masiya’s Camp, Royal Malewane

The Royal Portfolio’s first tented camp brings six tented suites of about 230 square metres each to the Royal Malewane concession. That is larger than many city apartments. Each tent has a heated plunge pool on the deck, indoor and outdoor showers, air conditioning and underfloor heating, and guests can use Royal Malewane’s spa, gym and photographic studio.

Children from ten are welcome, and activities include helicopter anti-poaching patrol flights alongside the usual drives and walks. Guide rates run from about $3,525 to $4,400 per person per night.

See rates and availability for Masiya’s Camp

Taj Lion Kings Hilltop Tented Camp, Balule

Taj’s first South African safari project sits in the Balule Game Reserve, north of Hoedspruit. Two smaller six-key lodges came first, and the Hilltop Tented Camp follows in late 2026 with 30 keys, a spa, a pool and all-day dining. It is larger than most camps on this page, which suits groups and anyone who likes a bit more buzz around the fire.

Jaci’s Private Lodge, Madikwe

After floods closed it, Jaci’s in malaria-free Madikwe relaunched on 1 July 2026 as Jaci’s Private Lodge. There are ten new safari suites with river-facing decks and sunken lounges, plus three exclusive-use villas with three to five bedrooms, a private pool, a chef, a host and a ranger. It is about four hours’ drive from Johannesburg.

Planning a malaria-free trip? See every malaria-free Big Five reserve in Africa or our guide to bushveld getaways from Gauteng.

Mantis Hiddn, Addo

Mantis Hiddn sits on a mountain ridge in an 800-hectare private reserve near Addo, about 72 km from Gqeberha. It runs completely off-grid and is built around wellness, with breathwork, yoga, sleep programmes and wood-fired baths, alongside malaria-free Big Five game drives. There are ten one-bedroom suites, two two-bedroom suites and two four-bedroom villas with infinity pools. Rates start from about £1,500 per suite per night.

Mount Ceder Under Canvas Hideaways, Cederberg

You do not need the Big Five to glamp well. On a family-owned olive farm in the Cederberg, about three hours from Cape Town, three new canvas hideaways opened on 1 March 2026. They are named Orion, Scorpius and Crux, which tells you what the night sky does out here. Each is 70 square metres with a glass front, a deck and a private wood-fired hot tub. Days are for hiking, mountain biking and canoeing on the Grootrivier.

Toro River Lodge, Makalali

Newmark reopened Toro River Lodge in 2026 after a full refurbishment, with just five suites on the Makhutswi River in the Greater Makalali reserve, under two hours from Hoedspruit. Off-road Big Five drives and bush walks are part of the stay, and with five suites, booking the whole lodge for a group is realistic.

New camps elsewhere in Africa for 2027

Many South African safaris add a few nights further north. These 2027 openings pair well with a Kruger stay.

• Musesenji River Camp, Lower Zambezi, Zambia: six luxury tents with private plunge pools, opening April 2027.
• Mapula Lodge, Okavango Delta, Botswana: rebuilt from the ground up on a private island, 12 suites, reopening March 2027.
• Mokolwane Plains, Okavango Delta, Botswana: five tented suites with plunge pools and land and water activities, opening July 2027.
• Vestige Xaudum, Namibia: six suites, the only lodge inside Khaudum National Park, opening 15 March 2027.
• Wilderness Etosha, Namibia: eight suites in the Hobatere concession, opening mid-2027.

Should you book a brand-new camp?

New camps have real advantages. Everything is fresh, opening specials are common, and you get to say you were there first. The guiding team is usually drawn from established lodges nearby, so the wildlife experience rarely suffers.

There are trade-offs. Opening dates can slip, a first season can bring small teething issues, and there are no guest reviews to check yet. If your dates are fixed, especially around a honeymoon or a milestone birthday, ask what happens if the opening moves and book flexible flights where you can. Pairing a new camp with a few nights at an established favourite is a sensible way to get both.

Want a proven option instead? Start with our 11 best luxury tented camps in South Africa.

Frequently asked questions

When does Ulusaba reopen?

Ulusaba in the Sabi Sand reopens in phases after a full redesign: Safari Lodge on 5 January 2027 and Rock Lodge in April 2027.

What new tented camps are opening in South Africa in 2027?

Ndzhaka Tented Camp in the Manyeleti and Nkelenga Private Villa in Thornybush are both due in 2027. Taj Lion Kings Hilltop Tented Camp in Balule opens in late 2026.

Are any new South African lodges malaria-free?

Yes. Jaci’s Private Lodge in Madikwe and Mantis Hiddn near Addo are both in malaria-free areas, and Mount Ceder in the Cederberg is too.

Are new safari lodges more expensive?

Not always. Many new camps launch with opening specials for their first season. Flagship openings like Masiya’s Camp sit at the top of the market, from about $3,525 per person per night. For context on pricing, read How Much Does a Luxury Safari Cost in South Africa?

How far ahead should I book a new lodge for 2027?

For June to September 2027, aim for 9 to 12 months ahead. Small camps and exclusive-use villas fill first.

Be among the first guests

The first season at a new camp has a feel that never quite comes back: staff keen to impress, decks that still smell of fresh timber, and the bush carrying on as if nothing has changed. If one of these has caught your eye, check dates early. See what else is shifting next year in Glamping Trends 2027, or browse every South African glamping stay on the site.