We spent $400 a night at a luxury lodge in South Africa. Our all-inclusive stay included epic safari tours and much more.

Black Rhino Game Lodge is one of multiple properties within Black Rhino Game Reserve, a private portion of Pilanesberg National Park.

The vehicles from the game reserve can cross into the public portions of the national park, but the public cannot cross into Black Rhino.

I also liked that it was three hours from the Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport by car whereas some other popular lodges in the area were four or more than five.

When we arrived, we were greeted with fresh juice and cold towels. Since we got there before check-in, we had time to explore the grounds while we waited for our chalet to be available.

The lodge has an elegantly rustic, African-inspired style featuring exposed log beams and thatched roofs. Its chalets are nestled within a forest of Tamboti trees.

I appreciated that the nightly rate covered more than just the accommodation. For about $375 a night, we stayed in a double-occupancy chalet and received three meals a day, snacks, select beverages, and two daily safari drives.

We were each charged a nightly conservation levy that brought our nightly total closer to $400. Alcohol and soft drinks also cost extra.

Each chalet is situated so that it is connected to the rest of the resort but feels private because it is separated by distance and trees.

We ended up spending very little time in our thatched-roof chalet, but its finishes were modern, and the room was spacious.

I slept well in the comfortable king bed outfitted with fluffy pillows.

There were several bathing options at the chalet, including a large bathtub, a double-head indoor shower, and an outdoor shower.

A soak in the bath was perfect after a long day on bumpy roads, though I wish a robe and slippers had been provided.

Our chalet also had an expansive private patio affording views of wildlife just outside the fences.

Throughout our trip, we saw monkeys, civets, and a mongoose.

The resort also offered several spaces for relaxation, such as an observation deck overlooking a watering hole, a bar, and plunge pools.

We enjoyed spending our downtime between meals and game drives in these spaces.

Our wildlife encounters were incredible. During our safari drives, we were able to see lions, zebras, giraffes, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and so much more.

Our guide was knowledgeable and steered us to wildlife while providing information about the plants and animals.

Depending on where the game was sighted that day, we had the option to stay within the reserve or travel on the public roads, giving us the best of both worlds.

On one morning drive, the game sightings kept coming, so we stayed out for five hours and traveled across most of the national park before returning for brunch.

It's surprising how hungry we'd get while out on safari.

Every time we returned from our long morning drives, I enthusiastically jumped into the brunch buffet of bacon, steak, fruit, flaky croissants, and made-to-order eggs.

Each drive also included a stop in the bush for refreshments. We had coffee or tea in the mornings and a "sundowner" drink in the evening where we toasted as the sun melted into the savannah.

We were given dinner each night, and one was served in the boma, an enclosed corral with a bonfire in the middle. We feasted on a delicious, authentic-feeling South African meal featuring meats cooked on the wood-fired braai.

Overall, the meals were plentiful and diverse.

The service was outstanding throughout our stay. We were greeted with a refreshing towel after every game drive and staff seemed always available to help us with anything we needed.

I also appreciated how all-inclusive our booking was — I didn't have to book or coordinate lodging, tours, and meals separately. Animal sightings were plentiful, and since we were in a private reserve, our drives never felt crowded or rushed.

There are many options for safari lodges in South Africa, but I'd happily choose the Black Rhino again.