Tinga Legends looks like a country club with antique and African pieces making up the décor; sturdy brick and hefty thatch sweep down to the main deck that looks over the Sabie River.  Rooms are palaces and amenities read like a five-star city hotel: air-conditioning, en-suite bathroom with a double shower, separate lounge, satellite TV and DVD player, mini bar, underfloor heating and heated towel rails. One more thing: your private deck has a heated plunge pool.

The kitchen produces some extravagant dishes that combine local ingredients with international influences – be bold, try the guinea fowl with warthog bacon and sage; or the impala and oyster sauce stir-fry. Top this off with a wellness spa, a library, a large wine cellar and an eternity swimming pool on the main deck that almost spills into the river and you’ve got all the ingredients for a luxurious lodge.

Tinga Private Game Lodge : Game Activities

The wildlife experience owes its success to the Sabie and Sand Rivers that run through the reserve. The riverine habitat provides good bird-watching with regular sightings of African finfoot, narina trogon, wood owl and broad-billed roller.

Predators are attracted by the large herds of grazers, which are attracted by the high sodium content in the rich soil which retains moisture and attracts rhino and elephant. So the cycle continues all the way down to the dung beetle – a fascinating little creature that you will discover on your walking safari.