Swadini, A Forever Resort

Swadini, A Forever Resort is a self-catering family resort inside the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, on the banks of the Blyde River below the Drakensberg peaks. It is run by the Forever Resorts group and rated 8.6 out of 10 on Booking.com from 282 reviews, with location scored 9.4 and staff 9.3. There are 78 chalets (18 four-sleepers, 24 five-sleepers and 36 six-sleepers), each with a fully equipped kitchen and linen, plus air-conditioned glamping tents and caravan and camping sites with electricity. The resort is in Mpumalanga, 35 km from Hoedspruit and 75 km from Orpen Gate into the Kruger National Park.

The water is the draw. Boat trips on the Blyde Dam (at extra cost) look for hippo and crocodile and take in the Tufa waterfall, and the Blyderivierpoort Dam is 2.52 km from the resort. Short hiking trails run through the nature reserve, and the resort lists horseback game viewing and river rafting among its activities. Back at the chalets, the main pool is heated to 30–34°C all year, with a cold pool, a covered heated splash pool and a water slide for small children.

Self-caterers can stock up at the on-site supermarket and liquor store, or eat at the à la carte restaurant, the Dog Box Pub & Grill, Jive Café or Chip 'n Dip. A guest on Trip.com wrote: "I keep going back, service and atmosphere always great, Staff is great and facilities are always clean". There is also mini golf, floodlit tennis, volleyball and trampolines, and a holiday entertainment programme during school holidays. Pets are not allowed.