Rediscover yourself and the richness of life in ‘The Place of Kings’. Situated past Pongola on the road to Nongoma, where King Goodwill Zwelethini has his palaces, Amakhosi Safari Lodge gives majestic new meaning to a royal bush experience and welcome. Personal attention rules, from the warm hand-towels, sherry and smiles that greet guests, to the plush comfort of the six palatial thatched chalets and two Umntwana Honeymoon Suites strung along the Mkuze River. Each is angled for the ultimate privacy and has a separate lounge, a seductive step-up double bath with candles, and a bedroom opening onto a viewing deck overlooking the river, some set with a personal plunge pool. Relax here or in a rock-fringed lodge swimming pool and watch the flash of the Lilac-breasted Roller or Malachite Kingfisher, but when darkness falls, listen for the roar of the lions . . . This is Big 5 territory and what you don’t view from your deck, expert guides invariably will deliver on dawn and dusk game drives. Conversation around the fire in the boma each night is of close encounters with lionesses and playful cubs, sand-bathing elephants and streaking cheetah. But equally engrossing are the adventurous guide’s encounters with smaller creatures, from delicate bark spiders to glossy dung beetles; and anecdotes about the trees and medicinal plants of the reserve. Depending on the season, you can choose from fishing, walking, cultural and frogging safaris. Most evenings centre on the 5* plated bush dinners produced in the Amakhosi kitchen. Guests linger contentedly on the expansive lodge deck and reconnect themselves with nature through the sounds of the bush, then retire to the friendliness of the bar, or doze around a fire pit, where traditional Zulus and later, fireflies dance. This property has provided all content and is solely responsible for its accuracy.