Makalali Private Game Reserve

Bordered by the Makhustwi River and opening out onto more than 60,000 acres of grassland and savanna, South Africa’s Makalali River Lodge is an immersive setting that puts guests in close contact with the continent’s most unique wildlife. The lodge’s private suites have raised viewing decks and thatched roofs, but rough and rugged they’re not — sumptuous bedding, picture windows, and rich woods accent each suite, putting a spin on the safari aesthetic that is modernizing without being sanitizing. And when you venture out, it’ll be to see the flora and fauna, not to bars and restaurants, so Makalali features a range of traditional dishes from across Africa, served communally with other guests or privately at your suite.