This Is One of the Best New Safari Lodges in Africa-and It Has Just 10 Suites With Private Plunge Pools and Thrilling Night Game Drives

"Somewhere in the blackout, the lions were closing in. A minute passed, then more. I barely blinked despite the pitch-black surroundings. Even the sky seemed to hold its breath-until a flicker of lightning illuminated the scene like a camera flash: lions fanned out, eyes locked on a cluster of impalas who stood frozen. We waited in silence for the next burst of light, and when it arrived, everything had shifted: the lions had inched closer, the impalas more alert."

"Lams turned on a muted red light-nearly invisible to animals to avoid disturbing their natural behavior-unveiling a new tableau: the lions pouncing forward, impalas scattering in a frantic spray. No kill. The lions, defeated, pivoted toward another shape in the distance: giraffes. Lams-a master of the park's every curve and corner and a fountain of animal knowledge-followed the pride with confidence. For a moment, the lions moved in step alongside our vehicle, no more than an arm's length away."

Night fell in South Luangwa National Park and an open-air Land Cruiser sank into darkness as the guide stopped the engine and lights. A pride of 11 lions staged a hunt, creeping closer under intermittent lightning that briefly illuminated the scene. Impalas froze and then raised alarm calls; the lions lunged during bursts of light but failed to secure a kill. A muted red light revealed lions pouncing and impalas scattering. The pride shifted its attention toward giraffes and moved within arm's reach of the vehicle. After repeated ambush attempts the giraffes escaped and the party returned toward Chichele Presidential Lodge.

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