Kings Pool Camp

Kings Pool Camp has nine luxury suites overlooking the Kings Pool Lagoon that is part of the Linyanti River.

It's in an area with a very high density of elephant the lagoon sees many breeding herds coming to drink throughout the day. Then, there are francolins that scuttle through the undergrowth, resident hippo in the pools beneath your rooms and red lechwe on the plains in the distance.

Raised wooden decking leads to nine luxury thatched suites and there are open causeways at intervals to allow the larger animals to pass through the bush. Each suite has beige canvas walls and an intricately carved heavy wooden door. The suites are very large with spacious bedrooms with large four-poster beds and muslin nets. There are sofas, leather chairs and dark wooden wardrobes and dressing tables.

The rooms are very stylish with grasses in clay pots, hippo tooth handles on the doors and porcupine quill lamps. Off to the side of each bedroom is a flush loo and separate bathroom with twin showers, outdoor shower, basins and a claw footed bath with gold taps. Outside, the large deck has its own private plunge pool, and a sleeping lapa in which to rest during the heat of the day with views of the lagoon and reedbeds beyond.

The main boma is also large and opulent with big dining tables, a large bar, big leather sofas and there's a large deck from which you can view the river flowing below as well as sit out under the stars around a raised fire when the sun has dipped behind the horizon. To the side of the main area is a small pool with sunloungers and an open sided mini gym with a few varied exercise machines.

Activities from Kings Pool include day and night game drives in the Linyanti Concession Area. It's also possible to go out on all day drives with a picnic lunch, boat trips in the double-decker boat (from June to November when water levels raise) and sit in the two hides — Sunken Hide and Leopard Hide. Be prepared to stay in the hides for a bit — sometimes so many elephants surround the hide it becomes impossible to get out for a while.

OUR RATING: Opulent