Kalahari Game Lodge

The lodge has been designed to blend with its surroundings, so it sits subtly on the landscape, and the decor echoes the desert colours. The general atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. At the communal area, the new restaurant caters for all tastes and needs, (admirable this far from civilisation). And there's plenty of comfortable seating for reading or comparing sightings. Outside is a boma with a firepit and a pool – a welcome sight after a game drive.

The lodge has both chalets and campsites. There are eight spacious chalets, each equipped with a small kitchenette, an en-suite bathroom and a patio overlooking the Auob riverbed. Some have braai/barbecue facilities. All have double or three-quarter twin beds covered in crisp white bedlinen. Expect luxurious extras – what the owners describe as "the other side of desert living".

Investigate the 50-plus mammal species that can be seen all year, from the pygmy mouse to antelopes, giraffe, brown hyaena and the famous Kalahari lion. There's plenty to satisfy birdlovers too – there are approximately 200 species with some species only visiting during the summer (November to April). Look out for vultures, martial eagle, pygmy falcon, ant-eating chat and northern black korhaan. Take a game drive with one of the knowledgeable guides to interpret the scenery, track lion or explore the desert at night (an amazing experience).