Kaziranga National Park, East India, India

The best accommodation available in Kaziranga, Diphlu comprises a dozen stilted, thatch-roofed bungalows ranged around a lotus pond on ground overlooking the river. Warm-toned local textiles add a homely feel to the wood-and-bamboo interiors, where you can lounge on comfy beds, or on airy balconies overlooking the adjacent mustard and rice fields. Meals are served in a large, open-sided dining hall, the Machan (literally ‘watchtower’), whose bar and river-facing verandahs make pleasant spots for swapping wildlife stories after supper. Elephant bathing sessions, displays of Assamese dance and visits to local villages are also on offer between game drives.