Location
Mjejane Game Reserve, South Africa

On the banks of the Crocodile River, this relaxed safari lodge overlooks the wildlife-rich southern reaches of Kruger National Park, while the surrounding Mjejane Game Reserve shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger—allowing elephants, lions, buffalo and other wildlife to move freely between the protected areas. You may even spot the Big Five from the hotel deck. The two-story lodge has a welcoming lounge with wooden ceiling beams, a long table for communal dining, concrete and tile floors, and sofas and chairs gathered near a river-rock fireplace.

Guest rooms are decorated in earthy tones, with large windows overlooking the surrounding bushveld and private furnished patios. Dark wood four-poster beds are draped with mosquito netting. Accommodations offer air conditioning, en suite bathrooms and coffeemakers.

Set on a grassy lawn, an outdoor infinity pool overlooks the river, where wildlife gathers along the banks. Shaded picnic tables and ample patio seating offer views of South Africa’s wildlife. Meals are served in the dining room, which has black tables clustered beneath wrought-iron chandeliers, or on the outdoor terrace, which is shaded by mature trees and strung with twinkling patio lights. In the courtyard, traditional boma dinners around an open fire offer an opportunity to dine beneath the stars.