Each of just eight deluxe thatched cottages is positioned to capture the presence of special trees and natural features such as a vast termite mound, a river inlet or an age-old elephant crossing point. The cottages have en suite bathrooms, open showers and private decks. The elevated game-viewing decks of each cottage overlook the Santantebi River.

Built with a commitment to "treading lightly on the earth," Sandibe's architecture evokes the earthy, organic, living forest. No trees were sacrificed in the building of the lodge; instead, cottages were built in a natural clearing. Any saplings that needed removing were carefully transplanted into the surrounding forest.

The spacious rooms are decorated in a rich fusion of ochre and tactile textiles like silk and leather, and feature woven mats, copper and rough-hewn wood. A quiet generator, solar power and absence of air-conditioners means that your comfort is ensured without interfering with the environment and the area's natural tranquillity.

Sandibe has a candelabra-illuminated, low-walled half boma (enclosed reeded area) and a custom-designed charcoal-cooled wine cellar. In the boma at night, numerous candles and an open fire cast a golden light onto dining tables and leaf-strewn forest floor. Your own private verandah provides a romantic setting for intimate candlelit dinners.

Pan-African cuisine is served in sumptuous abundance. Truly food for the soul, this melange of traditional African recipes is enhanced by Africa's famous spices - saffron, vanilla, cumin and nutmeg.

Bush dinners are served in a clearing in the bush under a star-studded sky. There is little on earth that can rival dining alfresco under the African night sky. Sandibe also offers elegant bush breakfasts.