When Prince William slipped his mother’s ring on Kate Middleton’s manicured finger, he gave the royal seal of approval to the latest travel trend: the search for authenticity. You can’t keep it much more real than the Rutundu log cabin in Kenya, where he popped the question. Fifteen kilometres from the nearest road, it has no electricity and offers hyenas, leopards and glorious isolation rather than paparazzi.

It is high-profile proof that luxury no longer means six-star bling, butlers and 24-hour room service. Now it’s all about getting back to basics. Remoteness is  the ultimate luxury.

The 28-year-old groom-to-be asked Kate to be his wife on the veranda of their cabin, The Sun reported.

The pair then enjoyed a bottle of champagne – kept cool in the outdoor ‘fridge’ – a wooden cupboard, before tucking into a meal prepared by the resort staff. 

Before retiring to their four-poster bed, the pair are said to have snuggled happily in front of a roaring fire. 

Accessible only by air, horseback, or via a 15km walk from the nearest road, the estate is a favourite hideaway for the Prince, who first visited it two years ago.

Surrounded by elephant, hyena, buffalo and leopard, the isolated spot is also famed for its trout fishing at both Lake Rutundu and Lake Alice.

A source said: ‘Short of being inside the SAS’s base at Hereford, this is the safest place in the world for William.

‘It is the one place he can be himself. And he does not have to be guarded because the wildlife there are his guardians.’

Rutundu Log Cabins are situated on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya, at 10,200 feet, just above the forest line. In total privacy, these log cabins are positioned overlooking Lake Rutundu, surrounded by alpine country, a home for unique bird life and vegetation.

The camp is named after Elsa the lioness raised by conservation icons George and Joy Adamson and made famous in the film ‘Born Free’, who was released into the wild here at the Meru National Park.

The lodge holds 10 luxurious cottages. The cottages are the ultimate rooms with a view, uniquely designed and crafted, incorporating the natural features of the rocky hillside. Each cottage has spacious double or twin beds with en-suite, elegantly appointed bathrooms. There is an open bar, lounge and dining room with an exceptionally inviting infinity pool overlooking the Meru plains.

Elsa’s Private House is a spacious, stylish, exclusive hideaway set slightly apart from the main lodge. It has 1 double room and 1 twin, both with en-suite bathrooms. There is a living and dining area, leading seamlessly outdoors into its own private swimming pool.

Elsa’s Honeymoon Suite is a 3 level room, with a double bed and en-suite bathroom. With its breathtaking views, this latest addition is most definitely Elsa’s ‘pride’!

Activities

At Elsa’s Kopje, you can experience day and night game drives with highly trained drivers, bush walks with guides and rangers, or cool yourself and take a dip in the swimming pool that has a view that looks out onto the plains, or spoil yourself to a massage. In the evening watch the sunset in a secluded place while you sip on a cocktail.

Each cottage is provided with a private butler who will be at your service at all times. The food is traditional Northern Italian cuisine blended with a selection of local and international dishes, fresh baked bread, crisp salads and locally grown vegetables.

Elsa’s Kopje is easily accessible by road and by air. Daily scheduled flights are available from Nairobi’s Wilson airport to the Meru airstrip.

South Luangwa is Zambia’s top wildlife park. It offers superb big-game safaris by 4WD, plus some of Africa’s best walking safaris. Most people spend at least five to seven days here.

The Luangwa Safari House is set on private land in the South Luangwa National Park.

The stone-and-thatch dwelling has its own watering hole, four double bedrooms and comes with its own guide and tracker, butler, cook and staff. Upstairs bedrooms come without front walls, so guests revel in the pleasure of lying in a muslin-covered bed, listening to the sounds of the African night. Idyllic.

The beautiful Luangwa Safari House.