Kapama Karula has ten superior luxury villas, each exquisitely decorated and with generous private space. These suites each have an opulent en-suite bathroom featuring indoor and outdoor showers, his and hers basins, and a bath. Standard in each superior villa is a minibar stocked with a selection of fine wines and champagne, a Nespresso coffee machine, a lock-up safe, an international adaptor, a Wi-Fi connection and an iPod docking station. For guest comfort and convenience, each suite has a telephone, overhead fan and air conditioning, as well as a gas-heated fireplace for cool winter nights. The superior villas are wrapped by glass sliding doors, allowing seamless views over the Klaserie River. Each villa has its own outside deck area, full-sized heated swimming pool and sun loungers for relaxation on a private outside deck area with a full-size heated swimming pool and sun loungers for relaxation, enabling seamless views over the Klaserie River while spotting wildlife in the Game Reserve.

There are two purpose-built superior villas for families. These family villas have an open-plan living room, replete with fireplace, which flows into the master bedroom with its en-suite bathroom. The second bedroom leads off the living room and can be accessed through an interleading door or its own entrance. This children’s bedroom is also en-suite and is equipped with a flat-screen TV, selection of movies and a Wii game console. All other amenities are included – from well-stocked minibars including a selection of wines and champagne to Nespresso coffee machines, air conditioning, overhead fans, telephones, Wi-Fi and an iPod docking station. Each family villa has a private outside deck and a large heated swimming pool for year-round swimming.

Across all of Kapama’s lodges, two daily game drives are offered and are included in the tariff. Accompanied by a skilled ranger and tracker, guests can expect to encounter a diverse range of animal and bird species on game drives. Since this is a Big Five reserve, seeing lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo is possible over a two-day safari in Kapama Private Game Reserve.

The day starts with an early wake-up call between 5am and 5:30am. Tea, coffee and rusks are enjoyed together before heading out at first light. While seeing big game is always exhilarating, there are many other smaller species that are also captivating, and birding enthusiasts will be delighted at the approximately 350 species of birds recorded on the reserve. Halfway through the game drive, there’s a stop for hot drinks and snacks, before returning to the lodge at around 9am for a full breakfast. Throughout the day, it’s likely you will see wildlife around the lodge – nyala antelope and vervet monkeys are frequent visitors, though seeing some of the Big Five is also not uncommon.

At around 3:30pm, everyone gathers for a decadent high tea, before heading out with your ranger and tracker for the afternoon game drive through the reserve. En route, you’ll stop for a sundowner drink and will have a chance to stretch your legs as you watch the sun set over the distant peaks of the Drakensberg mountains.

As darkness falls, the nocturnal animals of the bush come out. The skilled tracker will scan the landscape using a spotlight, which illuminates animals’ eyes. A variety of completely different species can be seen on the night drive back to the lodge. Arrival is at the lodge is usually around 7pm, allowing time to freshen up before enjoying a sumptuous dinner.

Feel Africa underfoot on a guided bush walk with a highly trained game ranger. The experience offers an intimate encounter with nature and wildlife, and medicinal and other plants are identified en route.

Rangers also teach walkers to track wildlife in the traditional way, using animal footprints and scat. Expert trackers are able to tell the gender of many animals just from their footprints. Large and dangerous animals are avoided on walks, but many other species can be viewed from a safe distance at ground level. A bush walk through Kapama Private Game Reserve is a truly memorable and authentic encounter.