Reflections Eco-Reserve is a fully off-grid eco-retreat within the Wilderness Lakes on the Garden Route, beside the Rondevlei, a Ramsar-designated wetland of international importance, less than an hour from George Airport. Mornings begin with birdsong and a fresh, locally prepared breakfast by Angelique delivered to your door, and both guided and self-guided experiences are included in every stay: nature walks, canoeing on the lakes, and specialist, world-class bird guiding with owner Tim Carr in this recognised Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. The whole reserve runs on renewable energy, so hot water, lighting and charging carry on regardless of load shedding, and there is deliberately no wifi: this is a place to put down screens and reconnect with the natural world.

There are two ways to stay. Four beautifully crafted three-bedroom timber eco-chalets sleep six each, with fully equipped kitchens, wood-burning fireplaces, large wrap-around decks and private campfires looking out over the wetlands. Two secluded en-suite glamping tents beside the Rondevlei each hold a queen-size bed, a spacious deck and a private bathroom with the option of an open-air shower, an intimate way to experience the sounds, scents and star-filled night skies of the Wilderness Lakes. Minimum stay two nights. Reflections is a BirdLife South Africa affiliated property, and every stay contributes to the restoration of the surrounding landscape.