Ulusaba is a protected 13 500-hecatre game reserve with two luxury lodges in the heart of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve bordering on the Kruger National Park about a ninety-minute flight from Johannesburg: exciting guided safari walks and game drives to see lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos.

The lodges in the reserve may taken as a whole or, at most times of the year, individual suites may be booked.

Access is by private charter twin-engine aircraft: guests alight from the plane, are treated to a nice glass of chilled champagne, and are taken to the lodge of their choice.

The Rock Lodge is perched at the summit of a rocky hill (a koppie in South African): spectacular panoramic views over miles of bush, the wildlife roaming below, and the beauty of the lowveld, the bushy grassland plain, against the spectacular backdrop of the Drakensberg Mountain range in the distance.

The Rock Lodge is very luxurious and comprises a number of dwellings with some on stilts: the Main House with Breakfast Deck linked to the Gym, the Aroma Boma, the Lower Deck, and the Swimming Pool linked with the Lower Pool Deck.

Accomodation is in: the Master Suite near to the Main House; the two-bedroom Rock Suite; the two Makwela Suites; or in one of the four Rock Cliff Rooms.

The Safari Lodge is built in tree-house style along the banks of the dry Mabrak riverbed: guests arrive at reception by crossing a rope bridge and feel very much in touch with nature with sensational views of the animals as they stroll past on their way to a nearby watering hole.

The Safari Lodge---both romantic and luxurious---comprises a number of dwellings: the Main house linked on one side to a deck, the Wine Cellar, and three Elephant Rooms and, on the other side, the three Safari Rooms; four River Rooms---two with plunge pools---linked to the Treehouse Suite; the Gym; the Gift Shop; the Aroma Boma; the Boma; and some swimming pools.

The décor is colonial with four-poster beds, dark wood floors, and picture windows enhanced by great bathrooms, fine soft furnishings and African artefacts.

In fact, guests do not have to give up a single creature comfort but have the unique sights, sounds, and smells of Africa on their doorstep---while still enjoying the kind of style, luxury, and service expected of a five-star boutique hotel.

Contrary to what one might think, guests are not short of activities at all: in fact, you cannot really do all that is on offer; however, central to life at Ulusaba---and easily accessible to all guests---are the twice-daily safari walks and game drives.

The safari walks are done accompanied by a knowledgeable ranger and tracker---expect to learn all about the medicinal properties of plants and intriguing local beliefs---and this is when one can observe the smaller animals not usually seen on a drive.

The game drives in open 4 x 4 game-viewing safari vehicles: accompanied by experienced rangers, you will track and see up close the big five, lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos.

These exciting activities are enhanced by swimming, sessions in the gyms, stargazing, bird watching, sundowners, moonlit bush dinners, and more formal sit-down dining under the stars.

As if some of the finest game viewing, great cuisine, and awesome views of Africa were not enough, not to mention the luxurious rooms and staff that make you feel at home, Ulusaba also has a boutique spa at both lodges.

Each spa offers you a wide range of fabulous treatments to help guests relax and unwind after the excitement of the games drives: resident beauticians offer Guinot liftosome facial treatments as well as aromatherapy massages, manicures, pedicures, and waxing.

For the more energetic, there are two floodlit tennis courts with a fully-stocked bar as well as a 24-hour gym in each lodge and, for the less energetic, a safari to the Arts and Craft Shop in the Safari Lodge will be more than enough.

Wine Cellar at the Safari Lodge can be booked for private dinners for six overlooking the watering hole with views on the dry riverbed and surrounding bush: eat and drink in style with the delight of occasionally seeing the animals drink close by.

Each day begins with an early-morning wakeup followed by tea and refreshments on the terrace; next is a game drive or safari walk which can be followed by a spa session; lunch is served on one of the sundecks; afternoons are pretty well à la carte and followed by afternoon tea and cakes on the patio.

Later on, after the second game drive and sundowner drinks, guest can take dinner at the lodge or in the heart of the bush, under the African skies around a blazing log fire, with tribal dancers and singers as entertainment.

An African safari is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience---there are very few things in life as soul affecting than seeing the magnificent creatures of Africa in their natural habitat---and the staff at Ulusaba do all it takes to make your African adventure as memorable as possible.

Guests usually return home with a new and great love of Africa and a longing to return to what is reckoned to be all mankind's true homeland.