Chitwa Chitwa Private Game Lodge, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa

For a sociable safari where you meet other guests or a honeymoon vacation in the beautiful Boulders Suite, Chitwa Chitwa could be the safari lodge you are looking for. This is what Carrie Hampton says in her book, ‘Exclusive Safari Lodges of South Africa’ with stunning photos by Gerald Hoberman.

Standing sentry over one of the largest lakes in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in Mpumalanga is Chitwa Chitwa Private Game Lodge. Floating in the lodge’s infinity pool, you can almost imagine you are swimming in the lake, as the two merge flawlessly into one another, fooling the eye into seeing just one body of water.

This fluid transition from being in the lodge to being in the bush works, because the one meets the other without resistance. Buffalo thorn trees grow right through the wooden outer decking without hindrance and the thatched bar and lounge just about melt into the rich foliage. Ten cottages are found among the trees and their cool-toned interiors and eclectic European design influences tie the African touches together in a soft genteel style.

Softness can be found in the animal kingdom, but it is tempered by the need to survive in the bush. Sabi Sand Game Reserve is Big Five country and guests staying two or three nights usually get to see the five most dangerous animals of Africa: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. In addition, this game reserve, which shares a fenceless border with the Kruger National Park, records regular sightings of cheetah, hyaena and wild dog.

Sights such as this should not be taken for granted, as this variety of predators in one place is like hitting the wildlife jackpot. The jackpot at Chitwa Chitwa lodge would be to reside in the Boulders Suite, which is the most extravagant of this luxury game lodge’s chalets and eminently suitable for couples taking their honeymoon vacation as an African safari.

Topping off an African safari lodge experience is a meal in the boma. This outdoor dining arena has a feeling of being far away from civilisation. Savour an intriguing combination of African and Mediterranean dishes in this sociable dining atmosphere. Getting to know fellow guests is a feature of Chitwa Chitwa and makes a safari here a satisfyingly social event.