Lukimbi Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa

In this adaptation from the coffee table book ‘Exclusive Safari Lodges of South Africa’, author Carrie Hampton gets all romantic and yearns for a safari wedding in the little chapel at Lukimbi Safari Lodge.

In the deep south of Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga is Lukimbi Safari Lodge – a place dominated by African art and legend. The lodge is named after a mythological creature that is half owl and half lion and is said to protect all travellers in the African bush against danger. The full story of this legendary creature is told to guests soon after arriving at Lukimbi.

The staff of Lukimbi have a direct interest in the success of this safari lodge, since they own a stake in it. This, of course, means that they want each guest to have the finest experience so that they will tell all their friends. So far this approach is working and Lukimibi is thriving. Safari weddings are a speciality with a little chapel simply yet artistically adorned.

This adds to the romance and fairy-tale quality of a bush wedding and once vows are said, the couple need go no further for their honeymoon night; newlyweds are taken to a mystery venue for a private honeymoon dinner and returned later to the romantic marriage suite.

Another thing people talk about after a safari at Lukimbi is the food. Prepared by the characterful head chef, Leonardo Bürckard, his creations require the highest skill and the subtlest of ingredients.

His signature dish of Kingklip Sasekane, involves dusting the fish in almond flour, dipping it in beaten quail eggs, pan-frying until golden brown and topping with steamed lobster dribbled with creamy chardonnay and a caper dressing infused with saffron. If that does not make your mouth water, nothing will!

At Lukimbi, art does not only come in the form of food. The bold colours and shapes found in African artworks appear everywhere, including the sculpted wood of both functional and decorative objects, textured fabrics with geometric designs and patterns cleverly etched into the plasterwork.