Ulusaba Safari Lodge, Private Game Reserve in South Africa

I didn't stay at this private safari lodge on my recent visit to South Africa, but one of my trusted Insiders stayed in December 2008 and tells me great things about the game-viewing and food, but not-so-hot reports of the accommodations and service. Ulusaba is part of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Limited Edition, a collection of upscale properties in London, Verbier, Mallorca, Morocco and Necker Island in the Caribbean. Hidden away in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, close to Kruger National Park, Ulusaba has only 19 guest rooms in two separate lodges: Rock Lodge is set high on a kopje (rocky hill), while Safari Lodge lies along the banks of the Mabrak River.

"Overall we had a very enjoyable stay," my Insider says, "mainly because of the outstanding game-viewing and the lovely people we met there. We stayed in Elephant 1 room in Safari Lodge, which was located close to the main building, but was quite private and had a nice terrace overlooking the river bed. The room itself was quite dated; rustic furniture mixed with cheap build-it-yourself type cupboards and night tables. The room was also quite dark, not very inviting to stay while not on game drives. Compared to other top-end game lodges, Ulusaba's rooms need upgrading, and the level of cleanliness was below standard, especially in the bathroom. The bed linen and towels were very tired, some with holes in them. The service standards varied dramatically—some of the staff were extremely good (Grant, Stuart and Candice), while others consistently forgot requests. The food was excellent, especially considering the lodge's wilderness location. Ken, the main chef, came by every night during pre-dinner drinks to explain the menu for that dinner, a nice personal touch. Lunches were either a la carte or buffet style, all very good quality. The highlight? The game-viewing was top-class, with only 6 guests per vehicle and a ranger and tracker going the extra mile to show us all the wildlife."

Rates from $452 per night (twin-share), including meals, drinks and game drives.