Top 13 Winter Sun Holiday Destinations to Escape the Cold in Style
Let’s be honest — winter isn’t for everyone. Sure, there’s a certain charm to snowy mornings and wool sweaters, but for a lot of us, the cold wears thin real fast. And when it does? The only logical response is to flee… preferably somewhere warm, with blue skies, jungle air, and maybe — just maybe — a treehouse you never want to come down from. That’s where winter sun holidays in treehouses come in.
And no, we’re not talking about those rickety childhood hideouts with spiders and sketchy ladders. We mean actual treehouses — the kind perched in treetops overlooking oceans or savannahs, with plush bedding, private decks, and an open-air shower tucked behind bamboo walls. Some come with infinity pools. Others? Just the symphony of nature and a sunrise that makes you forget emails even exist.
So if you’re dreaming of ditching the coat for a swimsuit (or at least sandals), we’ve rounded up some of the best winter sun holidays destinations across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania — all with one magical thing in common: accommodations up in the trees.
Pack light. You won’t want to leave.
Winter Sun Holidays in Africa: From Savannah Starlight to Gorilla Jungle Treehouses
Africa just gets winter sun. Seriously — while most of the Northern Hemisphere is defrosting windshields, the southern half of this continent is basking in golden light, long afternoons, and surprisingly cool treehouse breezes. And there’s such a variety: from gorilla-tracking hideouts to luxury stilted lodges above lion country. The best part? These places don’t just offer a tan and a view — they offer perspective. The kind you only get when you’re this far from home, and this high off the ground.
Let’s kick things off in Rwanda — a place that’s not only stunning but might just move you more than you expect.
1. Winter Sun Holidays in Rwanda 🇷🇼
Rwanda probably isn’t the first place that pops into your head when you think winter sun. Honestly, most people picture beaches before volcanoes. But here’s the thing — Rwanda glows in winter. Mornings arrive draped in mist, afternoons stretch golden across the hills, and the air is warm… but not heavy, never heavy. Then there are the treehouses, perched high above all that green. They feel a little surreal, almost too beautiful, but also deeply grounding. It’s the kind of escape that sneaks into your memory and refuses to leave.
Bisate Lodge by Wilderness, Rwanda 🇷🇼
Bisate is… well, kind of unreal. You drive through thick emerald hills, past kids waving on red-dust roads, and suddenly there it is — a collection of woven, pod-like villas perched on a forested hillside. They look like something out of a sci-fi film. But warmer. Much warmer.
Each villa at Bisate Lodge is crafted with a curving thatched roof and sweeping glass windows, all overlooking the volcanic peaks of the Virunga Mountains. Inside, it’s five-star comfort with a serious eco soul — think crackling fireplaces, underfloor heating (yep, even in Rwanda), and locally-inspired design that doesn’t feel like it was flown in from some resort playbook.
But here’s what really sticks: the gorillas. Guests come to trek through the misty slopes of Volcanoes National Park in search of mountain gorillas — and the experience? It’s hard to describe. Emotional. Humbling. You’ll probably cry. And when you’re back at Bisate, wine in hand, soaking in your tub with that volcano view? It’ll hit you — this isn’t just a vacation. It’s something else entirely.
2. Winter Sun Holidays in South Africa 🇿🇦
South Africa… honestly, it’s hard not to adore this place in winter. While half the world’s bundling up, the Garden Route is basking, the Kruger area is buzzing, and somewhere — you’re floating above forest floors or safari plains, sipping something cold and thinking, why did I ever stay home in winter? From cliff-hugging forest treehouses to surreal bedrooms into the bush — this section’s bursting with joy. Ready? Let’s wander.
Lion Sands Game Reserve Treehouses, South Africa 🇿🇦
Okay, so picture this: you’re staying at one of the classic Lion Sands lodges — Ivory, River, Narina, or Tinga. Then, surprise, you get whisked off at dusk to a treehouse. And not just any treehouse — these are built atop sturdy platforms around ancient leadwood trees, designed to let you fall asleep under a cathedral of stars while listening to hyenas chuckle and lions maybe roar in the distance.
There are three main stunners: the Chalkley Treehouse, the OG, built where old explorer Guy Chalkley once camped (so, history vibes, right?) — minimal lighting, no Wi-Fi, but total romantic, lantern-lit atmosphere. Then there’s Kingston, snuggled amid white boulders, with glass-walled bathroom and a platform that makes you feel like you’re floating over the bush. And Tinyeleti — literally “Many Stars” — where you’ll watch sunset, cocktails in hand, as wildlife gathers at the river below.
It’s… pure magic. And a bit addictive: you might come for the safari but stay for that tree‑top sleep under the Milky Way.
Tsala Treetop Lodge, South Africa 🇿🇦
Let’s pivot to the Garden Route: Tsala Treetop Lodge is a total dream. Perched high in an ancient indigenous forest between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, its ten suites (plus six two‑bedroom villas) come with private infinity plunge pools, glass walls, fire‑lit lounges — basically everything you need to forget chilly mornings ever existed.
The decor? Think Afro‑Baroque, timber, stone, rich textures — all warmed up by fireplaces and the scent of ferns. You can lounge on your deck, plunge into your pool, and still maybe spot a Knysna loerie or two. Plus the lodge’s restaurant, wine cellar, and library practically dare you to linger.
It’s romantic, indulgent, and slightly other-worldly. But in the best way possible.
Pezulu Tree House Lodge, South Africa 🇿🇦
Last (but far from least) — Pezulu Tree House Lodge, tucked in Hoedspruit near Kruger, is small, quiet, and wild in the best kind of way. Ten eco‑friendly treehouses are built around growing trees — yes, the trees weave into your rooms — connected by wooden walkways, each with a broad balcony for wildlife watching below.
There’s something insanely peaceful about sipping coffee or wine while giraffes or zebra wander near. You can do game drives, boma dinners under the stars, or just flop at the rock pool with a view that stretches into the lowveld.
Pezulu’s vibe is quieter, less glitz, more grounded — perfect if you want your winter escape to feel wild, not staged.
3. Winter Sun Holidays in Zambia 🇿🇲
Zambia tends to slip under the radar when it comes to winter sun escapes, which is honestly a bit unfair. Because here, the days feel generous — warm sunlight spilling over rivers and mopane trees, nights alive with stars so sharp they almost sting. It’s safari country, yes, but it’s also river country. The Zambezi is the lifeline, and treehouses perched above its banks catch both the breeze and that golden African glow. It’s quieter than some neighbors, less showy maybe, but that’s the charm.
Tongabezi Treehouse Hotel & Lodge, Zambia 🇿🇲
The Tongabezi Treehouse Hotel & Lodge is the kind of place you almost don’t believe until you’re standing in it. Perched right over the Zambezi, open on three sides, it’s less a room and more a floating dream in timber and thatch. You’ve got claw-foot tubs, hand-carved furniture, a bed dressed in mosquito netting that sways with the breeze — and below, the river just keeps rolling on.
At night, you hear hippos grunting like old men arguing, and in the morning? Sunlight floods in, and suddenly the whole river feels like it belongs to you. It’s indulgent, romantic, and a little bit wild. Maybe not for the timid, but for anyone who craves beauty with a pulse — it’s unforgettable.
4. Winter Sun Holidays in Tanzania 🇹🇿
Tanzania… most people think Serengeti, or Kilimanjaro, or maybe Zanzibar if they’ve been daydreaming about beaches. But there’s another side — quieter, slower, and honestly, a little unexpected. The coast, the islands, those warm trade winds that don’t really care whether it’s December or July. Winter here doesn’t feel like you’ve “escaped” something. It feels more like you’ve stumbled into a secret you weren’t supposed to find. Days stretch out lazily, the Indian Ocean flashes that impossible turquoise (the kind you can’t quite capture in photos), and treehouses appear out of giant baobabs like they’ve been standing there forever. It’s wild, it’s gentle… maybe even both at the same time.
Chole Mjini Treehouses Lodge, Tanzania 🇹🇿
Chole Mjini isn’t luxury in the typical sense — no infinity pool, no polished lobby — but it’s magic all the same. The treehouses are built into giant baobab trees on a tiny island off Mafia, open to the air, swaying just a little when the ocean breeze picks up. At night, lanterns glow and the forest hums; in the morning, the sound of the tide drifts straight through your bed. It’s simple — bucket showers, compost loos — but that’s the point.
The luxury here is silence, space, and the feeling that the modern world has been put on pause. You might spend your days snorkeling with whale sharks, or just watching dhows glide past. Either way, Chole Mjini feels raw, real, and unforgettable. Not for everyone maybe, but for those who crave authenticity over polish — it’s perfect.
