Who we are
A hidden gem for you to discover
The Zarafa is a five-star nature lodge on the edge of the Sabie Valley outside Hazyview, created for those who value quiet, good food and beautiful surroundings, whether the plan is to slow down completely or use the lodge as a base for exploring the Lowveld.
The design is Thai and Balinese in spirit, all teak, stone, water and deep shade, set into the African bush rather than imposed upon it. The service is warm, personal and unmistakably local.
Our philosophy is simple: African hospitality in Asian luxury.
With only five villas, privacy comes naturally. There is no crowd at breakfast, no queue for the pool and no sense of sharing your escape with more people than you would like.
We welcome guests over 18. The atmosphere is calm, intimate and romantic, and that is entirely deliberate.
The name
The Zarafa takes its name from the Arabic زَرَافَة, the root of the English word giraffe, and also a word for lovely one. Both readings suited the place, so we kept it.
The team
The people looking after you
With only five villas, you get to know the people looking after you, and they get to know you in return.
The warmth, care and genuine hospitality our team brings to each stay is the part of The Zarafa we are proudest of.
