Esiweni Luxury Safari Lodge

Style

Pride of place

Setting

Nambiti clifftop

Living up to its Zulu translation of ‘cliff edge’, Esiweni Luxury Safari Lodge surveys the vast and varied animal kingdom that roams Nambiti Game Reserve from its gravity-defying perch. Big Five-inspired suites cling to the rocky bushveld, seamlessly blending indoor-outdoor spaces for greater roaming. With two daily game drives and all your meals included, savannah vistas to soak up from the infinity pool, and cocooning canopy beds to sink into, you’ll soon relax into the wild and carefree rhythm of this remote safari stay.

Facilities

Habitaciones

Five standalone suites.

Checkout

11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 1pm.

Más detalles

Rates at Esiweni Luxury Safari Lodge are full board (excluding drinks other than tea and coffee), and include two safari excursions a day.

Also

The suites at Esiweni Luxury Safari Lodge are accessed via steps or stony pathways, sadly making this stay unsuitable if you have mobility issues.

Gimnasio

Acceso gratis a internet

Lavandería

Piscina

Restaurante en el hotel

Servicio de habitaciones

At the Hotel

Panoramic terraces, organic garden, charged laundry service, and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: Bluetooth sound system, underfloor heating, ceiling fans, private patio, Nespresso coffee machine, tea-making kit, yoga mat, and Africology bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

Each earthy-yet-elegant suite is named after one of the Big Five, clinging to the rugged cliffside above the Sunday River (so the views are as jaw-dropping as you’d expect). If a post-safari soak is on your wishlist, we’d recommend the Lion Suite for its freestanding tub on the outdoor deck.

Poolside

Eagle-eyed swimmers can spot wildlife roaming the savannah and bush from the hotel’s clifftop infinity pool, which seemingly merges with the winding Sunday River below.

Spa

Wellness is on the wild side here, with no spa as such – but a resident yoga instructor on hand to lead sunrise and sunset classes on the panoramic terrace, as well as ‘safari detox’ packages which include two yoga and meditation sessions a day, plus a slow-food nutritional programme aimed at rebalancing the body. In-suite massages can also be arranged on request, delivered by Africology therapists, using all-natural and ethically made essential oils drawn from South Africa’s natural landscape. There’s also a glass-panelled gym where you can combine workouts and wildlife-watching.

Packing Tips

Most rangers have binoculars to borrow, but bring your own if you don’t want to miss a moment of animal action. Keep your camera at the ready too, ideally with a sharp zoom lens if you’ve got one. Bring lots of layering options in neutral tones and practical materials – leave the catwalk to, well, the big cats.

Also

You’ll be staying on a malaria-free reserve, so unless you plan to venture further afield, medication isn’t a must.

Niños

Over-sixes are welcome, and an extra bed can be added to several suites. The Rhino and Buffalo suites can be combined to sleep families of up to six.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Ask for a table to be set up in the bush and dine by candlelight with wildlife surround-sound.

Código de vestimenta

It’s all pretty off-grid, so you can kick back in your khakis.

Hotel Restaurant

Drawing on flavours from her Cape Town childhood, chef Crystal Wentzel champions African ingredients with a French twist. Safari-fuelling snacks through to full tasting menus can be rustled up whenever (and wherever) you’d like, using ingredients from the lodge’s organic garden and honey from Esiweni’s own bees. The dining deck is perched right on the cliffside with views over Sunday River and the surrounding plains, with boma-style seating around a firepit for chillier evenings.

Hotel Bar

Lay your safari hat on the linen-swathed seating by the roaring fire and swap stories from the day’s sightings over the lodge’s homemade gin. Bringing the wildness of the outdoors in, animal prints are paired with natural materials and neutral tones, and those breathtaking views from the wraparound terrace are just a few steps away if you’d like to sip some South African vintages en plein air. Early morning tea and coffee is also served at the bar before game drives – you’ll want to feel as wide awake as possible for those wildlife sightings.

Last Orders

Timings are wonderfully relaxed – all-included meals are served throughout the day.

Room Service

The kitchen is open from 6am to 11pm for all your between-meal requests.

Planes

King Shaka Airport in Durban is the closest, around three hours by car from Esiweni Safari Lodge. It’s mostly a domestic hub, with connections to Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Lanseria. International arrivals should aim for Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport, which can be reached directly from London Heathrow and is a four-hour drive away. The lodge offers transfers from ZAR26,000 (both ways).

Automobiles

You’ll be driven around the reserve and taken out on twice-daily safari trips by experienced rangers, so there’s no need to bring your own wheels.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

You’re staying in the heart of Zulu country on the private Nambiti Game Reserve, the only one in the area where you can spot the Big Five (including the Thombi lion pride) as well as cheetahs, and 280 bird species. The daily game drives leave each morning and evening for three hours, led by knowledgeable rangers in open-air 4x4s. Esiweni Luxury Safari Lodge can also organise outdoor yoga and meditation classes, alongside stargazing, hot air ballooning, fishing, and mountain biking. Drakensberg Reserve is an hour’s drive away, and is home to two of South Africa’s most scenic golf courses (nine-hole Cathedral Peak and 18-hole championship Champagne Sports Resort). Horse-trekking through the mountain-backed Drakensberg grasslands can be booked for half- and full-day tours, no matter your riding experience. On your way back to Nambiti, you’ll pass the Memorial Gate commemorating the Battle of Elandslaagte from the Second Boer War at the entrance of the reserve – battlefield tours are led by local storyteller, Rob Caskie. End the day’s adventures with a bush dinner or traditional braai under the stars.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .