Royal Malewane Lodge

The silver service hotel restaurant fuses African and Mediterranean cuisine and uses local, seasonal ingredients. Yet guests can also enjoy their meals at some of the other, scenic locations around the lodge, like under a bedouin tent or around a boma. The Bush Spa features a fully-equipped gym and a 25m heated pool in the central courtyard. The treatments make use of local ingredients from the bush. A small health restaurant serves juices and light meals.

The opulent interior of the rooms and suites all reflect a touch of colonial interior design. The six spacious Luxury Suites have mahogany four-poster beds, open fireplaces, limestone bathrooms with freestanding baths. Large windows bring the wilderness close, but not too close. The two Royal Suites each have two bedrooms and the added luxury of an outside deck and private pool. The Africa House is an exclusive use bush villa with six bedrooms, each with a private deck.

Going on a game drive is always a private affair and there is no obligation to other guests, so travellers can set the pace with their guide. They are all highly qualified and know the ins and outs of this patch of wilderness by heart. Ask them anything about the bush and its animals while reclining in comfort in the 4x4's, enjoying a hot coffee in the early morning or a cold beer in the late afternoon.