Accommodation is provided in stunningly decorated rooms – some of them with plunge pools, whilst others are accessed by swing bridges, such as the romantic Treehouse Suite with its views from the private deck over Xikwenga Dam, a mecca for wildlife. The dam even has an area known locally as ‘the beach’, popular for picnics and weddings. The proximity of water means that all manner of animals pass by the lodge most days – hippo and elephant bathe here, while the Ulusaba Private Game Reserve is known for its sightings of the Big 5 and an array of antelope.

Cuisine is of international standard, the Wine Cellar Deck housing an impressive stock of high end wines, hand selected from South Africa’s finest wineries. Yet despite the unadulterated luxury, there is always the distinct feeling of being very much at the heart of the African wilderness. As night falls, slip across to the Bush Observatory for absolutely unforgettable views of the dramatic star-bright sky