The centrepiece of the sanctuary, this original lodge calls to mind a traditional village of beehive huts on stilts, all connected by a web of walkways and overlooking a waterhole where elephants often come to drink. Rooms are a touch old-fashioned but the views outweigh such minor details and the hobbit-like structures really do make a great picture. Night drives are also possible.
There's a subterranean hide for wildlife viewing, an elevated bar where the drinks provide ambitious approximations of Western cocktails and an open-sided dining area with bats in the ceiling. Check in is at the Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge at the sanctuary gate.