Amakhala Woodbury Lodge

The lodge makes the most of its location on top of a rocky, aloe-dotted hillside overlooking the river valley: every corner has a stunning view. The long lounge and bar area is spacious and comfortable, even if the decor is a little outdated. There's a TV and wifi available here for those wanting to keep up-to-date on the outside world. Slip out of the bar on to the pool deck - a great place to chill between drives while keeping an eye on the animal traffic below. A communal fire and braai-place marks the centre of the camp. The upstairs deck plays host to brunches and teas, while the small dining room inside keeps things intimate around an impressive yellowwood table.

Six secluded stone and thatch chalets are spread out along the rocky hillside. Each chalet has its own private deck, and a few suspend impressively above the gorge. Two family suites accommodate four people each. All the rooms have air-conditioning and heating, including heated bathroom floors; the en-suite bathrooms also boast bathtubs with spectacular views. Each chalet has a small separate lounge area with its own tea/coffee station and minibar fridge. The rooms exude a homely atmosphere and make good use of some fine local wood.

Woodbury focuses on morning and afternoon game drives, which usually yield a wide array of saught-after species - lion, elephant, zebra, rhino, buffalo and giraffe are all likely to show themselves during a few-nights' stay. If you're lucky, you might even add cheetah and a whole lot more to this list. If the water is up, a lazy cruise along the Bushman's River is a must; here you can soak up the landscape and tick off a fair few feathery creatures, or throw in a fishing line. Ask your guide to take you for a walk on a section of the reserve not accessible to the larger mammals, but nonetheless full surprises (particularly some beautiful and incredibly adapted succulent plants). Or take the self-guided trail around the lodge for another great vantage of the reserve.