The owners had lofty aims when creating Thanda Villa iZulu in the heart of a private Big Five game reserve in eastern South Africa. They wanted to establish a destination that delivers absolutely everything even the most discerning of safari enthusiasts could wish for. Did they succeed? Well, ultimately, you’ll be the judge of that, but let’s just say we’re impressed. Very impressed.

There’s so much here that puts the villa in the ‘best safari villa in the world’ bracket. It was actually originally built as a getaway for the owners themselves. But since they’ve moved elsewhere, the opulence and luxury have been made available for guests to enjoy. And ever since, the rewards have been flying in from all over the world, just like the visitors. Gongs this place has won include ‘Africa’s Leading Luxury Villa’ at the World Travel Awards.

1,000 square metres of space all to yourselves.

If you’re looking for somewhere plush and private your extended family or a group of up to 10 friends can share, there will be few better places in this part of the world than iZulu. You can arrive in style, landing on the private helipad in the grounds. Inside the villa, you’ll find 5 suites, 3 of which are ranked as doubles with an extra large bed, the other 2 each having twin single beds. All rooms have a private viewing deck and an ensuite bathroom, so you won’t have to wait long to freshen up at the start of each day. The master bedroom has the added bonus of an outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the waterhole. We’ll leave it up to you to decide who gets this room!

Also in the villa – a living room, kitchen and dining area, games room and outdoor gym, plus a business room/office with internet connection. The landscaped garden features a large, heated swimming pool, boma, and a viewing deck overlooking a waterhole which is known to attract wildlife.

You should be getting the picture of how big this space is and the breadth of facilities here. As for the luxury, the whole place has an African-chic feel to it, and you’ll have a butler, chef, masseuse and villa manager to ensure you have everything you need.

If you have children in your group, you can always call on childminders to keep the youngsters occupied while you grown-ups do your thing. And for the real A-listers among you, there are separate places for VIP security staff to stay on site.

Other ways to stay at Thanda Safari

Villa iZulu might be Thanda’s most exclusive option, but it isn’t the only impressive place to stay on the reserve. Thanda Safari Lodge offers something a little more traditional, with just 9 spacious suites, each featuring its own private plunge pool and views out across the bush. It’s luxurious, peaceful and polished, without losing that all-important sense of being on safari.

Then there’s Thanda Tented Camp, which takes you closer to nature without asking you to give up too many comforts. The canvas tents are stylish and well equipped, and the atmosphere is more relaxed and adventurous. Whichever option you choose, you’ll enjoy access to the same private Big Five reserve, excellent game viewing and the warm hospitality Thanda is known for.