Royal Malewane

Some modern luxury safari lodges differentiate themselves by pushing against the boundaries of tradition. Others set themselves apart by pursuing the traditional concept of the safari camp to its logical conclusion.

The sublime Royal Malewane, in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, falls squarely into the latter category. This is the apotheosis of the luxury safari experience: eight palatial thatched-roof suites, decked out in elegant colonial style, stand on stilts above the bush of the nature reserve, connected by walkways offering an elevated view of the surrounding landscape.

Interiors are absolutely traditional — guests sleep in old-fashioned canopy beds, on Ralph Lauren linens, surrounded by colonial antiques — and are as posh as they come, spacious, air-conditioned, and outfitted with fireplaces and claw-foot bathtubs. The Royal and the Malewane suites are among the largest hotel suites anywhere, sprawling two-bedroom residences complete with jacuzzis, plunge pools and private chef and butler service.

Multiple daily game viewing expeditions under the guidance of Royal Malewane’s ranger and master tracker ensure that you can’t go home without having seen at least some of the Big Five. And at the end of the day it’s back to the exquisite comfort of camp, where guests enjoy decadent spa treatments, fine meals served with silver and crystal, and quiet evenings in the library lounge or the privacy of the suites.

How to get there: Guests arriving in Johannesburg will need to take a South African Express Airlines flight to Eastgate Airport which takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. From there guests will be met by a Royal Malewane representative for the 45 minute drive to the lodge.