Jabulani Safari

There’s an elephant called Jabulani who roams the grounds at Jabulani Safari, but he’s not named after the place: the luxury lodge, located on a Big Five private game reserve in the Greater Kruger Area, is named after him. The project started with the rescue of its namesake elephant calf and the establishment of the country’s first dedicated elephant orphanage, later expanding to create one of South Africa’s top safari lodges. Jabulani Safari is still a wildlife refuge first and foremost, much to the delight of guests who rise early for guided game drives and gather for sunset drinks with a view of the resident elephant herd silhouetted against the sky. No expense was spared in outfitting the hotel’s lavish suites — standard features include king-sized beds draped in gauzy canopies, freestanding stone baths, traditional fireplaces, and wooden decks with private plunge pools — and its villas are even grander. Gourmet dinners are served by starlight or in the elegant dining room of the main lodge.