THE GREAT ESCAPE

REMOTE PLACES, VAST SPACES… MANY TRAVELLERS ARE SEEKING DESTINATIONS OFF THE BEATEN TRACK TO ENJOY THE LUXURY OF SILENCE AND ISOLATION. THESE UNIQUE HAVENS WILL TRULY TAKE YOU AWAY FROM IT ALL

TAPPING OUT, TO TAP IN WORDS MILA CREWE-BROWN

With staggering views and the promise of an autonomous bushveld experience, the new Elements of Altitude in the Waterberg is the revitalising tonic we all need.

Far from the discordant soundtrack of traffic and the incessant ping of your inbox, Cypiro Leopard Lodge in the Limpopo’s Waterberg Biosphere is a sanctuary with a unique approach to (dis)connecting. Throwing out the rule book with the promise of days filled with – input your choice of activity here – the lodge’s two new deluxe self-catering units, Ebony and Ivory, are a seductive mix of bush, beauty and autonomy.

Contrary to self-catering norms, these contemporary, sandstone-clad pods offer all the perks of five-star hospitality. Think crisp white bed linen, reliable Wi-Fi, a bottle or two of chilled wine upon arrival as well as freshly prepared dough to bake in your very own wood-fired pizza oven, or a private chef, should you wish. Designed to emulate the curvature of the pangolin, the pods are also kitted out with a modern, plush interior with pieces designed largely by the family business, Mija Furniture.

Eschewing the customary game lodge schedule, guests here are encouraged to settle into their own rhythm and take advantage of the freedom they have to reconnect with the wild. You can trade the standard crack-of-dawn game drive for a sunrise yoga session on the lofty deck, a walk on the farm in the company of sable, kudu or giraffes or forgo the typical evening game drive and buffet for a stargazing session upon a suspended net.

The new off-grid pods, collectively called The Elements of Altitude, claim the property’s best views, having once been pegged as the site of owners Pim and Rob Verdoorn’s own home. Amplifying the openness that comes with such a setting, each pod scans the savannah below from a rocky hilltop, its vantage coming to rest at the distant hills to the south.

Observed from the king-sized bed, the swimming pool and even the shower with its impressive curved glass window, the panorama of bush and mountain is omnipresent. With such unadulterated views and little to tear you away, Ebony and Ivory serve up the promise of unreserved relaxation.

During a recent stay at Ivory, I spent hours in a torpor, draped over one of their sun loungers. From there, I gazed between cloud-streaked sky and veld, watching the coming and going of grazing antelope. In another instance, I was awed by the sight of roughly 100 birds swooping and rising gracefully as one, as they carved a concentric course through the sky – their wings splitting the air on the turns with an audible whoosh. This utterly beautiful spectacle, I learned, was a training session for Rob’s upcoming pigeon racing season.

Just three hours’ drive, give or take, from Johannesburg, Cypiro Leopard Lodge offers easy access to Big Five game at Marakele National Park nearby, and their upcoming fine-dining experience with Parkhurst’s Embarc restaurant is sure to win over nature lovers and gastronomes alike. Here, guests have complete agency over how they’d like to design their stay, tapping into the pulse of the wild, while tapping out of the pace of conventional game lodges.

cypirolodge.com