This is the kind of place you book if you want to disconnect from the outside world and leave mobiles and other digital devices at the bottom of your bags. Yes, there’s Wi-Fi available if you simply, absolutely can’t live without it. But it’s the chance to experience the benefits of a digital detox while viewing some of the most amazing wildlife that roams this planet that brings people to the remoteness and seclusion of Marataba Mountain Lodge.

The Waterberg mountains provide a backdrop to the camp that it’s fair to call epic without exaggerating things. Watching the rock formations change colour as the sun progresses throughout day is way more rewarding than it perhaps sounds on paper – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, we say.

We also say that with just five suites available, each accommodating two people, you’re assured of privacy throughout your stay. Some camps can feel crowded with fellow humans eager for the safari experience. This isn’t one of them, and despite being remote, it’s only a 3 and a half hour drive outside of Johannesburg.

So much to see

You don’t have to come here for the romance of it all. Even those with eyes only for each other will find plenty else to delight in their field of vision. Many previous residents of Marataba Mountain Lodge have left with the satisfaction of having ticked off sightings of the Big Five. Hopefully, you’ll have the same kind of experience, although there are no guarantees.

Whatever you spot, you’ll have a field guide sharing their expertise. You’ll have to hold off sending your photos to the rest of the world as there’s no mobile signal in the reserve, only in the main lodge, and then only if you really, really need it. That perhaps makes this safari experience more suited to photographers who use traditional cameras rather than their phones to capture magical moments.

Either way, after you’ve refreshed back at camp, you can take to the water on a sunset river cruise to spy some hippo and perhaps round off a spectacular day in the treehouse, where you can spend the night up in the branches under the stars.

Eco and Scandi style suites x 5

Five Scandinavian-style suites on the mountainside await guests. From what we can gather, Scandi means the furnishings are minimal, functional and fashionable. The places you sleep here are also referred to as eco-suites, a phrase that’s already in danger of wearing out through over-use in the hospitality business. It basically means your accommodation is built from natural materials (in this case stone, glass and wood) and designed to blend in with their surroundings. All are solar powered too, further re-enforcing those eco-credentials. The beds are king-size, the fireplace burns real wood, and the in-room refreshment is provided by Nespresso coffee machines. It’s worth noting that accessing the suites isn’t a walk in the park, more a walk along a fairly steep and rocky path, not the kind of challenge anyone with mobility problems will relish.

Made for sharing

It’s easy to avoid contact with other guests if that’s what you’re looking for, with so few in camp (never more than ten at any one time). But if you want to meet fellow safari enthusiasts, the main lodge is the place to go.  Meals are shared around a single dining table, with guests tending to head to one of the open plan lounges or the seats around the campfire afterwards for a sundowner.  Whenever there’s a need to cool down, the infinity pool is the place to go. From certain angles, it appears to fall away into the valley below. Thankfully, it doesn’t, it’s only an optical illusion.