Chitwa Chitwa Lodge, S.A.

When one thinks of the quintessential African travel experience, they may not know it, but they’re thinking of Chitwa Chitwa. I recently had the pleasure of living in the African bush at this luxurious lodge, right in the middle of Kruger National Park.

We arrived in the Sabi Sands (a large game reserve within Kruger), and were immediately immersed in a landscape unlike anything I’d ever seen. The bush, which in South Africa refers to the rural game reserves, is both wild and protected. The long, untamed grassland is spotty with sand patches and seems to go on for miles in every direction. Trees decorate the horizon while tall, lush mountains stand in the background. Everywhere you look, you expect to see a new, curious creature crossing your path.

The best part about the lodge is how seamlessly they incorporate this safari culture into their design. Rather than dropping a cookie-cutter resort on the Sabi Sands, Chitwa brings elements from the outside in, so that the experience of their guests matches the charm of South Africa.

From a distance, the lodge seems like a relatively humble home. Compared to New York City buildings, the one story structure seemed small, but it wasn’t until I saw how high the roof’s peaks reached and the vaulted beamed ceiling inside that I realized how big the place really was. Natural textures surrounded us, shaded in tints of cream, beige, gold, and grey. The Sunset Deck, massive and built with timber, was decorated with twinkle lights and glass lamps to create a warm atmosphere for relaxing and socializing. It also doesn’t hurt that Chitwa is situated on a cozy bank of its own lake, either.

The day started off with an early morning drive around the reserve to watch the animals and get comfortable with the surroundings. Our wonderful ranger, Tristan, guided us to the Big Five, which are the five animals most dangerous to approach on foot (buffalo, elephant, rhinoceros, leopard, and lion). But we also managed to see cheetahs, giraffes (Chitwa’s logo,) hippos, zebras, and antelopes, thanks to Tristan’s superb skills in the bush.

We returned for a beautiful breakfast overlooking the Chitwa Dam, which acts as a protector for the flora and fauna on the reserve. Later, an African drum alerted us for lunch in the poolside Lapa area and High Tea in the outdoor lounge, followed by another afternoon game drive. We returned back to the lodge, thrilled by the day’s events and appreciated our temporary home more than ever.

I received an invitation for dinner one evening requesting me to wear traditional African dress. Excited, I tied the sarong they had provided around my waist and headed down alongside the guide to the open-air Boma, which is the Shangaan word for “enclosure.” There, we dined under the stars by candlelight and enjoyed an enormous feast which included signature South African flavors. White polenta, called “pap” was served with Sheeba sauce, made from tomato and onion, as well as corn on the cob and Shangaan spinach. For meats, we ate Boerewors, or traditional South African beer sausage and a venison pot. The offerings for dessert were equally tempting: Malva pudding (a baked pudding served with custard), tiramisu, berry soufflé, and custard slices. But the real star of the show was the wine selection. A lover of fine wines, I was thoroughly impressed with the delicious South African picks. Sipping wine and champagne beneath the stars was the perfect end to a lively day.

When we weren’t being whisked off to the reserve or being fed scrumptious food, the guests could simply relax and enjoy the decadent surroundings. Each individually decorated suite includes a private pool and deck overlooking the grasslands, as well as gorgeous designs personally curated by artist Maria Brink, who co-owns the lodge with her husband Charl. The in house library, which includes internet access, cozy seating, and a wide variety of books, is the perfect way to spend an afternoon in. Or if you need a bit more help relaxing, Chitwa’s resident masseuse is there to the rescue. If you’ve brought children, feel free to leave them at the Chitwa Eco-Experience day camp, where they can go on guided walks, practice face-painting, roast marshmallows, and hear folk tales, so that they can grow up with a newfound appreciation for life in a very different and exciting culture.

I forgot how amazing nature can be and my nights at Chitwa reminded me of that. Stepping out of your (very luxurious) room, exciting things can happen. Watching the animals I’d only ever seen on screen, being pampered by attentive staff, and surrounded by chic African décor, I couldn’t imagine anything better.