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Just a few minutes away from the Kruger National Park, South Africa's two million-hectare safari giant, Rissington Inn feels like your own home in the bush. Your hosts are welcoming (including the dogs, Rusty and Bruno) and owner, Chris Harvie, is a seasoned travel writer and will happily share safari stories at the bar. Apart from the famous Kruger, there are drives along the Panorama Route to see God's Window and the Three Rondavels, white water rafting, and heli flights. And the gardens are utterly beautiful, perfect for enjoying the view from a shady spot or swimming in the pool after a busy day...
From $70 person/night
Hazyview & Surrounds, Hazyview & Surrounds, Kruger, South Africa
The hotel is in a secluded location with stunning views of the countryside yet just 10 minutes away from the wildlife-filled Kruger.
Rissington has fantastic family rooms and activities, including lawn games, treasure hunts, small mammal-spotting, and bushcam checks.
The room views range from the garden to the distant hills - and we'd definitely plump for the latter, especially when sunset comes.
Everything at Rissington Inn is kept easy-going and low-key. The main building is thatched with whitewashed walls, a well-stocked library and colourful South African prints. You'll have the choice of dining undercover or on the terrace, and there's a table d'hôte menu including favourites like the mother-in-law curry, mushroom and biltong soup, and Gertrude's fruit-filled meringues. The super casual bar is a fun spot to swap stories from the day over a Cape wine or local beer.
Each named after a native tree, the rooms are cosy and decorated with mix-and-match furniture, photographs of the flora and fauna, and colourful rugs. The beds range from queen to super king-sized, all draped in 100% percale sheets, and every room has a private veranda with a view. The rooms are a variety of sizes and some include a clawfoot bathtub in the open-plan living area, while others boast an outdoor shower. The hillside suites accommodate up to five people and share a secluded pool.
The Inn is well-placed for guided or self-driving excursions and most people are there to spot the Kruger's superlative wildlife on game drives or morning bush walks. Then again, the Panorama Route is rather tempting (stop to see the world's third largest canyon), explore on foot, horseback or mountain bike, or take the plunge at the big swing in Graskop Gorge. There are a dozen world-class golf courses within the area if that piques your interest, or stop off at the Sabie Brewing Company for a cold one.