Shamwari Bayethe Tented Lodge, Shamwari Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Bayethe nkosi, the salutation given to a chief, is translated from isiXhosa as ‘I salute you, honoured one’. This is the origin of the name of Shamwari Game Reserve’s luxury tented camp, Bayethe, where guests are welcomed with the same warmth and respect reserved for the most venerable.

The pulse of Africa is strong here in the Eastern Cape, the heartland of the amaXhosa people, whose language is characterized by a series of distinctive clicks.

And while you are likely to be entranced by the sounds of one of South Africa’s eleven official languages, you will not be expected to get the hang of it during your stay at Shamwari.

What you might learn is how to distinguish one antelope from another and even how to tell the difference between animal spoor (footprints). Herds of impala, waterbuck, nyala, springbok, bushbuck and other antelope flourish in the dense bush that covers the hills and valleys of the reserve.

You will also get to know the difference between the endangered black rhino and the more common white rhino. Both species were reintroduced to this wilderness during the 1990s and have bred successfully. Other wild African animals that have been reintroduced here include lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and hyaena. The reserve is also a sanctuary for many birds.

Shamwari has chosen the most comfortable of game-viewing vehicles – open Land Rovers, which give you a close-to-nature experience from the safety of an elevated position.

The Shamwari rangers, who accompany you on early-morning and evening game drives, nature walks and birdwatching expeditions, are always eager to share their knowledge.

What makes Bayethe special and different from Shamwari’s other lodges is that each of the nine plush tents is made of canvas walls and a thatched roof. Tented accommodation has never been this classy: your room not only has wooden floors and an en-suite, slate-tiled bathroom, but your elevated wooden terrace has its own plunge pool sunk into the deck.

From the comfort of your viewing deck, in the shade of the surrounding trees, you can watch game pass by and eagles soar in the crisp, blue sky. Romance or a honeymoon in Africa has never been this good.