It's the perfect place to immerse yourself completely in wild Africa

The fire crackles as new wood is added to it, spreading the warmth on a chilly winter's evening. Around it a camp-full of guests sit and share the day's adventures as the staff busy themselves with preparing dinner. 

The table is set beautifully a short distance away, under a canopy of twinkling stars. Tilly lamps flicker on the table and around the buffet area adding to the romance of the place and its undeniable charm. A lion calls close to camp. Everyone stops to listen, mesmerised by it... Pungwe is truly special.

The word "authentic" is much used but rarely correctly. When it comes to safari experiences, it's convenient to label them authentic without actually understanding what it means. To be truly authentic means that no part has been copied. It's originality in all its glory. In that, Pungwe wins hands down as South Africa's most authentic safari camp. 

For a start, little has changed in the 30 years since the camp started. It has retained its quiet, unassuming character and genuine bush camp vibe. The furnishings are modern, but the ethos is cemented back in a time where the African wilderness was not something to be tamed or kept at arm's length, but embraced and adapted to. So you won't find fences at Pungwe... Nothing to keep the wild away from you. Instead, you have to adapt to living (even if just for a few days) alongside wildlife, accepting that you are in the wilderness and that in order for it to be a wilderness it has to be untamed. 

Yes, elephants do come through camp. As do buffalo. And lion, hyena, leopard... It's what safari is all about - complete immersion into a wilderness region. You'll be walked to and from your tent after dark (and at every other time if you wish), but you soon relax and take it in your stride, welcoming the thrill of the unexpected and the chance to really experience "wild".

Then there's the off-grid experience. With no electricity and wifi, Pungwe is the perfect detox for daily life. It's where you go to switch off, unwind, relax and remember the time when cellphones were not invented and the word "camp" didn't involve air-conditioning or hair-dryers. Hot water is provided by donkey boilers, light by oil lamps (with a concession being LED reading lights in your tents) and food being cooked mostly over an open fire. 

This does not mean there's no comfort - far from it. With cosy couches and chairs in the lounge area where you can curl up with a good book or a great chat and some of the most sleep-friendly beds in the bush in your spacious, tiled and thatched tents (complete with full en-suite bathrooms with both showers and baths!), Pungwe more than delivers. 

It delivers in the culinary department as well, with chef Sharon dishing up a range of delicious breakfasts, high teas and dinners using what seems like only a magic wand and fairy dust! Whether it's a first-class braai (barbecue), full English, chocolate brownies or nibbles out in the bush for sundowners, there's no way a stay at Pungwe will leave you hungry!

However, all of this pales in comparison to Pungwe's location. Deep in the heart of the Manyeleti, with no fences between you and the Kruger National Park and neighbouring Sabi Sand, the camp sits in one of South Africa's most game-rich areas, making game drives and walking safaris extremely rewarding. 

With regular sightings of the "Big Five" - buffalo, rhino, lion, elephant and leopard - as well as painted wolves (African wild dogs) and cheetah, a safari at Pungwe holds the promise of incredible wildlife encounters. And some grand stories around the fire - the beating heart of the camp.

Add to the mix the wonderful team of people who make Pungwe the happy, welcoming and marvellously hospitable place it is and you begin to really understand what makes this camp tick. 

A safari at Pungwe is as much about people as it is about wildlife. It's about arriving as a stranger and leaving as part of the greater Pungwe family, thanks to the wide smiles and warm hearts of everyone involved. It's a small camp, with just four tents sleeping eight guests, but it's heart is big and boundless, and extends out into the communities around the Manyeleti. Making a difference to whoever it touches. 

Now that's what we call authentic!