There’s a hotel right just on the hilltop of the Kruger National Park, South Africa surrounded by floodpains. The region is called Makuleke and offers 180 degree backdrops of the Luvhuvu river. The hotel is an oasis of reserved and eco-luxury.

Erected from steel, canvas and aluminium, the surprisingly contemporary buildings are open and unaffected. Taking a lead in South Africa’s ecotourism revolution, rhe hotel is committed to employing and training local Makulele people, creating not just another tourist destination, but the backbone to a whole community.

Italy’s Enrico Daffonchio designer proected the hotel for full integration in its environment. Daffonchio has been building with an astute awareness of energy resources as well as placing a heavy emphasis on integrating materials as graphic elements in their own right since 1966.

There’s is a marvellous rectangular pool and restaurant with spectacular views of the Kruger National Park with an extensive wine cellar.