Silvan Safari opened its doors towards the end of 2017, and has been regularly crowned the leading luxury lodge in the world, not just Africa, ever since. And it’s easy to see why. The excellence starts on arrival, with ever-smiling and welcoming staff and continues through to the jaw dropping rooms, so huge you could spend your entire holiday happily ensconced in your private sanctuary. Each does of course have a massive bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, a free-standing bathtub and a decent-sized pool on the private deck.
The lodge has been built in a contemporary style, angular blocks clad in strips of black wood, which may sound at odds with the natural setting, but it honestly works. There are bright splashes of blues, yellows and greens in the sofa and cushion fabrics – a visual assault at first but when you see that these are the colours of the European bee-eater then it all makes perfect sense. The main lodge has a long, open deck, a lounge area, a 25 metre lap pool (for those who simply must exercise), an enclosed dining room, a well-stocked wine cellar and a bar with an amazing metal display of bee-eaters on the ceiling (not to mention an enviable collection of gins). If days spent on thrilling game drives just aren’t enough, there is naturally a well-equipped spa.
