Set deep in the bushveld of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge stands on an open plain overlooking a busy watering hole from two deck lounges.

As the original lodge in the Sabi Sabi Collection, which also includes Earth Lodge and Little Bush Camp, Bush Lodge combines time-honoured traditions with relaxed contemporary luxury, inspired by its owners’ zest for adventure.

Featuring a contemporary mix of safari-themed furnishings and memorabilia collected from all corners of the continent, you’ll find a cosy bar and lounge area inside the main lodge, leading out to two sparkling pools and the boma – an atmospheric setting for pre-dinner drinks around an open fire.

Spread out across the lodge, the standalone Luxury Suites accommodate up to two adults and two children. Each spacious suite features an open-plan flow and comes with day beds that convert into 2 child-friendly single beds, as well as ensuite bathrooms and sweeping views across the bushveld.

For larger groups or families, Mahlatini, Tumbela, and Mandleve Luxury Villas each feature handcrafted pieces, 2 oversized bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, a library, and a lounge area that flows onto the patio overlooking the private pool.

If you can tear yourself away from the plush accommodations, the reserve’s thriving wildlife waits for you on thrilling game drives, and little explorers will find their happy place at the EleFun children’s centre.

In-between drives, you’ll find your days punctuated by hearty, bush-inspired meals inspired by local recipes and can retreat to the serene Amani Spa for a relaxing treatment.

Dinner often means to gather in the open-air Bush Kitchen, centred around a towering log fire under a starry African sky. Couples meanwhile might prefer a private dinner on the pool deck, while breakfast and lunch in the thatched safari dining area offers the opportunity to spot elephants strolling up to the watering hole.