When on safari the number one factor is of course the wildlife viewing, but many of the luxury lodges also like to spoil their guests. This does not detract from the lodge as a ‘proper’ safari lodge but in fact usually means they’re better, since they are happy to invest money into the well being of their guests this means they will have also spent money on conservation projects, on training their guides and on the local community. In short a lodge with a plunge pool in theory should be an excellent luxury safari option.
Here are Africa’s top five private plunge pools:
1 Sasaab Lodge, Samburu, Kenya
Sasaab has floating white seamless rooms, which overlook the stunning Ewaso Nyiro River and everything that comes to drink there. The plunge pools provide a relaxing and welcome rest from the heat of the day and are the perfect way to relax after a spa treatment or game drive. The lodge is incredibly tranquil and the location of the plunge pools reflect this.
2 Sasakwa, Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania
It would be hard to imagine a better view than the one you get from your Sasakwa plunge pool – vast plaisn stretch as far as the eye can see and they are often populated by wildlife species such as zebra, elephant, buffalo and wildebeest.
3 Vumbura Plains, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Vumbura’s rooms are enormous and modern and chic in style – it’s location in the Delta means that there is often game in front of camp and that you can wallow in your plunge pool whilst watching the wildlife around you. Your vast verandah also provides a lovely place to relax in the sun before heading out on another thrilling game drive.
4 Amara Selous, Selous, Southern Tanzania
The Amara plunge pools are set down from the room nearer to the river, which is full of hippos and crocs, both of which provide hours of daily entertainment. There is often plains game grazing around the pool and you can sit quietly and observe them from close up.
5 Leopard Hills, Sabi Sands, South Africa
The Leopard Hills plunge pools overlook a waterhole that is often used by every animal imaginable. The plunge pools are relaxing and enticing and refreshing to leap into as soon as you’re back from what will have been an exciting game drive.
