ACTIVITIES

Hazyview is a hub for adventurous pursuits in the area. We visited the nearby Elephant Sanctuary, home to six long-lashed giants. All of them, they said, were orphans rescued from culling operations in Kruger. Now, they work as edu-tainers, dutifully opening their mouths for an inside peek and rolling over to have their tough skin stroked. If you’ve never had the pleasure, it’s rather like a laxly groomed lady’s legs in mid-winter. Later, a group of French tourists sailed off on one’s back for a ride.

We also did a game drive in the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, with some of the most phenomenal sightings I’ve had in years: elephant, rhino, hyena and a heart-stopping leopard lying on a hill.

At the resort itself, there is an enthusiastically organised entertainment programme with kids’ activities and holidaytime silliness for everyone, such as musical quizzes round the pool.

The Eden Spa is a tidy hideaway down a leafy path, and there’s an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, five swimming pools, and a 5km jogging trail. At night, guests gather to watch the hippos lumber out of their pool and into the river — guards and fences ensure safety from them and the crocs. THE FOOD The poolside “Waterhole” bar offers familiar lunch options — toasted sandwiches, burgers — and a cocktail menu too. Dinner in the Hippopotamus restaurant was a generous carvery one night and à la carte the next. The Durban curry was fantastic — is it the humidity that’s key? RATES The sharing rate is R2 085 per room, with dinner, B&B. Singles pay R1 890. Children with their parents stay and breakfast for free. CONTACT DETAILS Visit tsogosun.com .— Sleith was a guest of Tsogo Sun