The villas at Samode Safari Lodge – just a dozen of them – are surrounded by all the romance of India’s wilderness. All are airy, cool and indulgent, with enormous baths and separate showers. The architecture reflects the local styles – lots of wood and traditional art. Rather fabulous and flamboyant motifs of wildlife add excitement to the décor, and private verandahs provide more, with exhilarating views. There are open-air baths designed to make the most of the heavily star-studded skies above after a day of game drives through emerald forests where tigers prowl.
The lovely pool, embedded in lush gardens, is lined with shaded sun-loungers for sunny afternoons, and the small on-site spa offers an extensive array of spoiling treatments. The dining here is just as delicious – campfire barbeques, refined Indian classics in the decadent dining room, or bespoke meals served in your villa. Picnics can be organised too – under shady trees with the sound of bird song and an extensive and excellent wine list. At the end of the day or in-between safaris, swimming and spa, the convivial lodge is the perfect restorative, with a sun-deck to make the most of the sun, open fires to snuggle next to in the cool evenings with a good book from the library or shared tales with fellow travellers about the day’s wildlife encounters.
