Thula Thula Luxury Tented Camp

With its blend of African and colonial style, the main area combines open-plan spaces with cosy corners and shade-drenched gardens. The well-built, thatch-roofed restaurant and lounge are brightly painted and spacious, with high ceilings and tiled floors. You may find the decor somewhat dated, but the furnishings are top-class and more than comfortable. A broad deck wraps around the structure, with plenty of tables and chairs for al fresco dining. There's a lovely pool surrounded by sunloungers and mature trees.

Just eight large, Meru-style tents are dotted around the grounds, all slightly raised on wooden platforms. Each has a small front viewing porch, a bathroom that's rather lavishly outfitted with a deep Victorian bathtub, and an outdoor shower. Four-poster beds have comfortable mattresses and are draped with mosquito netting. Family rooms have two additional twin beds. Again, the decor is somewhat dated, but the tents are comfortable, well-maintained and very private.

Although Thula Thula's prime stars are its elephants, there's an immense variety of wildlife: rhino, buffalo, leopard, giraffe, crocodile, hyena, wildebeest, kudu, nyala, zebra – and a myriad birds. But the true beauty of this place lies in the stories that are woven into your experience – your guide explaining the function of a termite mound, or the owner describing her connection to this land. Guided walks let you encounter the littler (and occasionally the larger) gems of the bush.