For size, luxury and character, the suites at Thanda Main Lodge are very hard to beat. The Zulu influence is strong, with conical thatched roofs and traditional Zulu decorations. You have a large private deck, with day beds and a plunge pool, a separate lounge area, a large bathroom and then a beautiful bedroom where diaphanous nets adorn your bed. With the nine suites and the main lodge, dotted across the hillside, the lodge is reminiscent of a Zulu homestead, albeit the most comfortable and luxurious homestead in the whole of Zululand!

One of the newer reserves in KwaZulu-Natal, Thanda is 14,000 hectares of prime bushveld that is being returned to its natural state, having previously been farmland. The Big Five once again roam the land, and there is a breeding pack of the incredibly rare Wild Dog on the reserve: if you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these animals, it is a privilege afforded to very few people. Thanda means “love” in the Zulu language, and Zulu culture is very much a part of the Thanda experience.