Visiting the Ivory Tree Lodge in Pilanesberg was my first introduction to safari culture. What I hadn’t expected were the early starts.

Seeing animals at the crack of dawn is one thing (and a great thing), but I’m not a big fan of wake up calls or getting up at 5am. Luckily, I soon slipped into a new and equally enjoyable sleep pattern!

Our cabin came with its own terrace and a day bed. The bed itself was fairly simple: a sort of soft vinyl covering makes it durable, but not entirely glamorous. That aside, lying there, wrapped in a fluffy white dressing gown, staring up into the mountains until I couldn’t keep my eyes open was wonderful.

Sometimes it’ s not fancy mattresses or Egyptian cotton that you need to fall asleep, just a good dose of fresh air, tranquility and satisfaction - and there’s nothing like a post-safari snooze for that.