You don’t just get to go on safari when you stay here. You get to experience a Solfari. This happens aboard a 5-person, solar powered cable car suspended above the beautiful terrain on a 7km long track.

It’s the most unique experience imaginable, and another good reason to book a stay at this popular lodge complex located in South Africa’s Soutpansberg mountains in Limpopo.

Your near neighbours will be some of the largest Baobab trees in this remote part of the world. The lodge is a family friendly destination that offers babysitting, safari experiences for all ages featuring private guides, and a programme especially for children called The Young Explorers.

Six suites for sweet sleep

There are only half a dozen places you can book here, just to assure things stay remote and natural. Each air conditioned, solar powered suite has been hand-built by local craftspeople using locally sourced materials.

Flexible sleeping arrangements are available with families in mind, with cots/cribs and extra beds provided if you need them, as well as the luxurious king bed and roller beds that come as standard.

Your suite will have a private plunge pool and viewing deck offering spectacular views of the wildlife all around you, plus an outdoor shower

Farm to fork dining

The finest farm to fork dining is on the menu daily here. That means a large helping of what you eat will have been grown in the gardens around you, or by local farmers and other producers. Because food doesn’t have to travel far to reach your plate, it’s not only fresh and flavourful but also environmentally responsible.

You can enjoy meals in the main dining area or in your room. There’s also a Boma braai barbecue experience offering grills under the stars, bush picnics where you’ll be given a basket of gourmet deliciousness to take with you on your days out, and a cookout breakfast – classics cooked over an open fire with aromas and tastes that will get your day off to a cracking start.

Away from food, there’s a swimming pool that’s sure to draw in young and old alike, with places to relax and dry off around the water. You may want to take your relaxing to another level by booking a spa treatment at the on-site wellness centre. And walking the labyrinth will take you on a mindful journey that will help you reconnect with yourself and your surroundings.

Hiking, biking and relaxing

As well as the cable car experience, there are plenty of ground-based activities to keep you occupied and entertained, such as a visit to the Crystal Salt Pans or Mapungubwe National Park.

Hiking is popular, with a huge variety of trails ripe for exploring. Just let your hosts know how far your level of fitness will let you walk, and they’ll recommend the perfect route for you.

Mountain biking is also on offer, with tracks winding through the reserve and involving thrilling hills and dips and incredible views from rocky pathways that will delight even the most experienced of riders. All offer the opportunity of encountering wildlife along the way. You could take a more leisurely option and hire an e-bike.

Back at the lodge, you’ll get the chance to watch dance and drumming performances, and hear stories from locals, and can round off each day with the chance to sleep out under the stars in the Starlit retreat.

A positively carbon negative experience

The lodge is proudly carbon negative, with a conservation team on-site ready to share information about the programs they’re working on to protect local wildlife. There’s even scope for you to work alongside them, planting trees and helping treat animals.