twelve metres above ground this is a hospitality take on a tiny home in a wildlife sanctuary.
To describe this elegant space as a treehouse seems a misnomer because it’s so far removed from the thing ten-year-old you conjured in the garden jacaranda out of some planks and a candlewick bedspread, yet at the same time the description is perfect. As a structure, the job of a treehouse is to provide a fragile mystique for its occupants, and a route into the numinous. Set in sublime seclusion within the 36 000 acres of wild sanctuary that is the andBeyond Ngala Private Game Reserve andBeyond’s chic version achieves exactly that.
Tiny and perfect
Guests who have the privilege to spend the night here float in off-grid luxury and the special intimacy with the natural world that happens when you sleep under a billion stars. On the exterior, a web of poles mimics the shadow play of branches. Architect Jack Alexander’s clever device doubles as a security feature and also conceals the steel frame supporting the building.
The interior was minutely curated by FoxBrowne Creative to provide everything visitors may need. I spoke to Ashley van der Walt, the interior architect on their team.
“Everything is designed around the guest experience. We put a lot of thought into considering ways to make it come alive. For example, there are 360° views from every part of the treehouse. We placed the bed to face the sunrise, and we incorporated some fun elements. I love the dumbwaiter on a pulley that can send snacks or a breakfast tray from the kitchenette to the upper levels.”
Dreamy hangout
Starting on the ground floor with a kitchenette that comes pre-stocked with posh nibbles and drinks, the treehouse rises through two more levels where the sleeping and bathing areas are found. It’s completely off-grid. Despite this, all the niceties are in place. Specifically, flushing toilets and hot running water. The tower continues to an open-air platform at the very top. Up here a sofa transforms into a proper king-size bed and has a retractable awning if needed. The rooftop is the final flourish in this dreamy hangout. It has everything – safety, comfort, privacy and a unique setting in pristine wilderness. Add the African bush at night and it’s the closest thing to Eden.
