Pondoro Game Lodge

Dining happens on a wooden deck nestled high in the tree canopy, where African-inspired dishes arrive paired with wines from a Diners Club-awarded cellar. Below, hippos grunt from the river and elephants amble past – dinner theatre at its wildest. Post-meal, retire to the bar for single malts or a Cuban cigar, or melt into the Serenity Spa, where cascading water features and a glass-enclosed steam room set the scene for some serious unwinding. There's a pool tucked into the greenery too, plus a telescope for stargazing once the sun dips below the Drakensberg.

Five themed suites – Water, Buffalo, Earth, Tree and Rock – line the riverbank, each with a private deck, outdoor shower and jacuzzi positioned for maximum wildlife-watching potential. Think earthy tones, hand-selected African art and tubs with views. Three chalets offer a slightly more traditional feel, decorated in warm African motifs with bathtubs overlooking the Olifants. For the adventurous, there's the Treehouse Hide: a night spent above a spotlit waterhole, reached by a late-night game drive after dinner and retrieved at dawn.

Morning and evening game drives head out in open-topped vehicles, with a strict two-vehicle limit at sightings, keeping things beautifully uncrowded. Robbie's team of guides and trackers have an uncanny knack for finding leopards and the recently reintroduced wild dogs, and off-road driving means you'll get closer than most. Walking safaris with armed rangers offer a different pace entirely – hippos and crocs are regular sightings along the riverbanks. Between drives, grab a picnic hamper and settle into one of the hides, or simply watch the parade of elephants from your deck.