Ivory Lodge

The main area is a large, open-sided thatched building that encompasses the bar, several dining tables and a few comfortable couches and high-backed chairs. In front of the lounge, some lovely green grass stretches out towards a sunken fire-pit, where the guys get a big log fire going in the evenings. Beyond this is the camp's waterhole, with a viewing hide nearby. To one side, is a shaded swimming pool - a great place to cool off in the midday heat, though you may have to share it with the odd elephant.

The lodge conducts game drives both on the Sikumi Reserve and in the national park, where you might have to contend with a few other tourists but the game viewing is better. Guided walks offer an exciting opportunity to approach big game on foot, as well as a chance to pay attention to some of the smaller, more easily overlooked intricacies of this rich ecosystem. Activities generally last between 2 and 5 hours, depending on what you're seeing and the distance you've covered. Visits to the local village of Dete, as well as the Painted Dog Conservation Centre are also available.