Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa

Pafuri Camp lies along a bend of the Luvuvhu River in the Makuleke Contract Park, where northern Kruger meets one of the wildest corners of southern Africa, cradled beneath enormous jackalberry and nyala berry trees. Nineteen tented suites sheltered under thatch are linked by raised wooden walkways and open to sweeping river views; each has an elegant en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, and a private deck where the sights and sounds of the bush unfold around you. The communal area offers al fresco dining, a bush bar, a swimming pool and plenty of space to spread out. Days begin with a morning game drive or a guided bush walk and end with a drink beneath the trees, accompanied by birdsong and rustling leaves.

RETURN Africa's concession lies in a vast triangle between the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers in the far north of the Kruger National Park, along South Africa's north-eastern frontier. The two great valleys embrace one of Africa's most spectacular landscapes: mountains and gorges in the west giving way to plains, pans, baobabs and fever tree forests in the east. The land is the Makuleke Contract Park, owned by the Makuleke community and managed in partnership with them, and RETURN Africa is a BirdLife South Africa partner.

The Makuleke Contract Park is a Ramsar wetland site and one of southern Africa's great birding destinations, with over 350 species recorded in the Pafuri region and more than 450 across the concession. Commonly seen specials include Black-throated Wattle-eye, African Yellow White-eye, Lemon-breasted Canary, Grey-headed Parrot, Mottled and Böhm's Spinetail and African Finfoot. The area is also known for Dickinson's Kestrel, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Pel's Fishing Owl, Orange-winged Pytilia, Racket-tailed Roller, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, White-backed Night Heron, Narina Trogon, Gorgeous Bushshrike, Arnot's Chat, Southern Crested Guineafowl, Three-banded Courser, African Pygmy Goose and Eastern Nicator. The birding hotspots are the Luvuvhu River, Lanner Gorge, Crooks Corner, the fever tree forest, the sandveld and the ana tree forest.