&Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve, the first private safari reserve to be incorporated into Kruger National Park, is hard to beat if luxury is what you’re after. The 14,700-hectare unfenced private concession flanked by the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and Kruger has two options for accommodation – the family-friendly andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge and the more upmarket and exclusive andBeyond Ngala Tented Camp.

The Lodge has 21 colonial-styled cottages which overlook a small waterhole. When I last visited, the décor seemed a bit dated but there were plans to do a revamp. In between game drives there’s a swimming pool to cool off in, a lounge with free wi-fi and a children’s adventure programme to keep kids occupied. The food is really something to write home about: in contrast to many other luxury safari lodges which serve disappointingly generic food of the roast meat, potatoes and starchy veg variety, &Beyond Ngala offers memorable dishes such as biltong and feta pizza, broccoli soup, buffets of fresh salads and grilled chilli prawns.

On another part of the property, the Tented Camp – more expensive but justifiably so – offers beautifully designed common areas with gorgeous African art and artifacts, contemporary-chic luxury tents that look like they’re straight out of a décor magazine, views over the Timbavati river bed (which often has elephants strolling through it), outdoor showers, lap pools and a massage sala. There are only nine tents sleeping a total of 18 guests (no children under 12 are allowed here), which means that even when it’s full it feels quiet and intimate. The food here is as good as any top restaurant in Cape Town: think sticky pork ribs with saffron tomato jam and micro greens and blueberry ice cream sandwiches with aniseed shortbread.

The best thing about &Beyond – and this goes for all their properties across southern and east Africa – is the excellent guides and impeccable standard of service. Both the lodge and the tented camp offer two game drives a day, but you can also opt to try out the walking safaris, which are a great way to experience the bush. Staff can even set up a white-linen bed in the middle of nowhere on request for a truly wild overnight experience.