There are two accommodation offerings within the Zebula Golf Estate, with Waterberg being the five-star option. Rooms are quite a delight to look at, with five-star décor – think smart rustic, with all natural fabrics including animal skin, wood and wicker. Bathrooms come with large shower cubicles and enormous earthenware-look baths, though after a long, dry winter, it seemed irresponsible to fill the huge tub so I settled for a shower.

Rooms each have an awesome balcony or terrace from where you can sit and watch small game like zebra, wildebeest, warthog and impala. It’s a shame the outdoor furniture was overlooked, but the views make up for the uncomfortable conference room-style chairs. There’s a small waterhole which makes for great early morning sightings, though it attracts swarms of mosquitoes so bring repellent (it’s a malaria-free zone). The rooms also have TV with basic cable, king-size beds and the usual fixtures (kettle, hairdryer) but no fridges and some of the little touches you’d expect at a five-star lodge are lacking, like a welcome drink, any basic information on the lodge or a turn-down service. Wi-Fi is available in the lobby only.

When we visited, the lodge was being manned by trainees, and the service was friendly but lacking an air of professionalism – and a lot of basic knowledge!  Management were keeping a low profile while poorly trained staff tried to keep things ticking over. The chef was particularly friendly though, and the food was both good value (there’s a nightly set menu) and delicious.

The small lodge – just 16 rooms – has a pool and outdoor Jacuzzi as well as a small bar and lounge area plus meeting rooms. Nearby, the clubhouse has further conferencing facilities and a larger bar and restaurant (there’s also another hotel here with better service). Within the grounds there’s a spa and of course the 18-hole golf course. Wildlife-watching activities can also be arranged, but you’ll likely get equally good sightings from your room or just driving around the grounds.