Presenting Summer 2024’s Best Private Villas

May 2024…// There’s nothing quite like a private villa for those traveling en-famille, with friends, or simply in search of the ultimate in privacy and seclusion this summer. On hand to make planning a breeze, Charlotte Rous Communications is delighted to share its pick of the most unique and exclusive residences from across its client portfolio.

With choices ranging from a sprawling South of France residence ideal for a multi-generation getaway and a floating Maldivian paradise accessible only by boat, to a Sri Lankan pool villa set within the paddy fields and a tented suite deep within the Botswanan bush, every jetsetter can experience a home away from home this season.

BOTSWANA: Great Plains’ Selinda Suite

Great Plains’ Selinda Suite is a luxurious two-bedroom tented suite resting on the banks of Botswana’s Selinda Spillway as it enters the Linyanti River. Featuring a central thatch-roofed area with a lounge and dining area alongside two en-suite bedrooms with a four-poster bed and copper bathtub, the Selinda Suite provides the ultimate Botswanan safari base. The Selinda Suite can cater for a maximum of four adults sharing or two adults and up to three children, sharing in two separate spacious bedrooms with wonderful views.

Located close to Great Plains’ beloved Selinda Camp, the suite is operated exclusively, with guests enjoying all the facilities and luxuries of the camp alongside their own private vehicle, safari guide, chef, manager/butler and an exclusive entrance to their residence. The Selinda Suite also enjoys a large private pool and in-room exercise equipment to assist in working off the sensational food created by the Relais & Châteaux standard cuisine with wine pairings created and served by a private chef in the suite.

The Selinda Suite and Selinda Camp are situated on the private 130,000-hectare Selinda reserve. This pristine area is home to elephants by the thousands, wild dogs and the famous Selinda Lion Pride featured in the National Geographic film Birth of a Pride by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, the co-founders of Great Plains. Selinda Camp can accommodate up to six guests sharing three tented suites and the two-bedroom Selinda Suite is the perfect luxurious accommodation for families -children aged 6 and up are welcome. Activities include morning and evening safari drives, guided walks, and water-based activities are also available depending on the season. Guests will have access to professional camera equipment and binoculars. The Selinda Spa offers a range of wellness treatments for guests to soothe tired muscles and is also flexible for in-suite treatments.

Nightly rates at Great Plains’ Selinda Suite start from $11,810 per night. For more information or to book, visit https://greatplainsconservation.com/safari/selinda-suite/
FRANCE: Purple Summer’s Villa Rêve de Lumière, St Tropez

Commanding an enviable position on the sun-soaked hillside above St Tropez, and with magnificent views of the glistening bay, port and the town itself, Purple Summer’s Villa Rêve de Lumière offers proximity to one of the most exclusive and beloved destinations on the Riviera, with all the luxuries a family could want from their summer pied-à-terre.

Sleeping 12 in six spacious en-suite bedrooms, there’s something for each member of the family. Teens will love the indoor-outdoor sound system and movie room upstairs while little ones will adore splashing in the infinity pool. Meanwhile, parents can kick back, relax and enjoy the on-property hammam and hot tub, before the whole family reconvenes to enjoy a chef-cooked gourmet experience on the palm-tree-lined terrace. The fun doesn’t stop there, however… there’s even a wine cellar, a boules court in the expansive private garden, and a fire pit around which to toast marshmallows on cooler nights!

A seven-night stay at Purple Summer’s Villa Rêve de Lumière, St Tropez starts from €64,375 based on 12 people sharing and the flexible service option. For more information and to book, please visit https://purplesummer.com/villas/villas-in-the-south-of-france/reve-de-lumiere/

MALDIVES: The Private Reserve at Gili Lankanfushi 

Gili Lankanfushi Maldives the pioneer of sustainable, barefoot luxury in the Maldives, proudly boasts its most luxurious and secluded residence, The Private Reserve. Featuring four bedrooms, an open-air cinema, gym, spa, 21m infinity pool and a recently refurbished waterslide straight into the lagoon, it is the largest standalone overwater villa in the world.

Set across more than 1,700 sqm, the sprawling Private Reserve perches atop a turquoise lagoon 500 meters from the island and 300 meters from the nearest residence, ensuring utmost privacy and serenity.

The castaway experience begins as soon as guests step foot on the eco-chic island, when they are whisked away to their very own paradise by luxury yacht. A private boat remains at guests’ disposal throughout their time at the Reserve, though with a 24-hour “Mr/Mrs Friday” private butler service and all the amenities one could dream of, most residents never find the need to leave.

Nightly rates at The Private Reserve at Gili Lankanfushi start from $8,300 per villa per night for up to 8 guests including breakfast and return luxury boat transfer. For more information or to book please visit www.gili-lankanfushi.com

SRI LANKA: Nikawewa Pool Villa at Uga Ulagalla, Anuradhapura

The 3343 sq ft Nikawewa Pool Villa is the residence of choice at Uga Ulagalla, set deep within Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle.  Named after the Nikaweva family who originally owned the estate on which Uga Ulagalla is set, the villa offers two double bedrooms and a panoramic view of the paddy fields from its infinity pool, fusing raw beauty with modern comforts. The outdoor deck is larger than that of the resort’s standard Villas, and the tranquil living area is complemented by the hushed surroundings. The Nikawewa experience is completed with a spacious bathroom featuring a rain shower in the master suite and expansive wardrobe for the second bedroom. It comfortably sleeps up to five people – making it perfect for a family getaway.

Serving as a sumptuous base from which to explore Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, Uga Ulagalla can arrange an array of adventures for guests. From witnessing one of the largest elephant gatherings in the world at Minneriya National Park and leopard and sloth-spotting at Wilpattu National Park to excursions to Sigiriya rock fortress, discovery wildlife drives and the ancient monastery at Ritigala, there are endless opportunities for adventure. Back at the resort, guests can indulge in nature walks, enjoy horse-riding, kayaking and archery, or partake in a Sri Lankan cooking class, while little ones will adore the opportunity to participate in the junior ranger program.

In 2020, Uga opened its first Elephant Research Centre at Uga Ulagalla. It was established in an effort to conserve the elephant population in Sri Lanka while also helping to resolve the human elephant conflict in and around the Anuradhapura area.

Nightly rates at Nikawewa Pool Villa, Uga Ulagalla start from $800. For more information or to book, visit https://www.ugaescapes.com/ulagalla/