Having been fortunate enough to experience a wide range of safari and travel options in Africa, from the the budget to the sublime to the ridiculous, i can see how hard it must be for a traveller to make an informed choice that wont fill you with trepidation prior to arrival.
There are hundreds of game lodges, eco lodges, reserves, overland tours, tented camps - how do you choose the right one ? And is $200 a night going to give me clean sheets and hot water ? Are the expensive places really worth $2000 a night ?
To clarify the question - you as a traveller need to really think what it is you want to get from your Africa experience. Is big game a primary drawcard for you ? Have you always wanted to see Leopard ? Are you more interested in the people and culture ? Would you rather drive a beautiful coast road and stop at wineries along the way ?
Of course you can do all of these things - there are thousands of great holiday ideas to be enjoyed throughout south and east Africa.
My product manager Katina and i recently had the fortune to experience the Singita difference and stay at Boulders Lodge and Ebony Lodge in the Sabi Sand, South Africa.
After staying prior to this at two fantastic lodges - Makalali and Leopard Hills, we arrived for 1 night at Boulders Lodge.
Boulders is super trendy - very modern, very contemporary. The staff at reception exude the manner you find at the worlds best hotels - wait, this is one of the worlds best hotels.
We arrived at midday - which meant we had until 3:30 to relax or enjoy an activity until the evening game drive.
Our rooms as you would expect are enormous with large viewing windows out over the river and the plain beyond.With out going into too much detail -
view my iPhone video below.
Singita is the kind of place where guests can achieve what they want from there holiday in the African bush.Walking tours of the surrounding bush are available - as are bike tours or fishing.Walking tours are really a great option - on a vehicle your looking for large game - you want to see big lion or rhino. You would be amazed at the amount of small animals hiding in the bush - you also learn a huge amount about the plant and tree life.
We chose fishing - and of course in true Singita fashion, the kitchen made us snack boxes with sandwiches, fresh fruit, nuts and crackers.We took off up the river - finding the crossing our guide drove our Land Rover into the river, where we proceeded to fish from the back.He then popped open the esky and offered us beer, wine and cold drinks !!
Its hard to see in the video but there are hippo in the back of the estuary. There are also crocs in the river but it was winter time so we didnt see any. Must have been sleeping.
Our game drive departed at 4:00 - joining us was a young Russian couple - so 4 of us, our guide Chris and our tracker.
Guides at Singita go out of their way to get to know their guests and be available for special requests.It is obvious from the start that Chris is going to be an exceptional guide. We didnt rush through the bush - Chris had a plan from the start, he asked us all if we were happy to see a new and exciting recently discovered wild dogs den. Wild dog i hear you say ? We had been fortunate enough on our trip already to see the big 5. We had some great elephant sightings, amazing leopard sighting at Leopard Hills and some big lions.
Wild dog is RARE - even rarer to be able to get up close and personal with a den of 8 adults and an uncounted number of young.
Our guests also felt this was a unique oppurtunity so off we went in the direction of the den.
Along the way, Chris educated us with information on some of the unique flora of the Sabi Sand, plants that work as antiseptics and ones that can be a source of food.
We had a very interesting sighting of the wild dog den, we were able to get up really close, the males in the group inspected us, sniffed around and decided what we were doing was OK. Wild dog are becoming increasingly rare - Singita in the Sabi Sand hasnt had a den like this for many years.
Our sundowners were enjoyed in a grassed open expanse. Chris produced some beautiful canapes prepared by the kitchen for us to enjoy with some Singita's own wine cellars best south african pinotage.
We continued on our game drive crossing the vast expanse that Singita holds, towards the waterfalls below Boulders lodge. Now fully night time, I was amazed when Chris stopped suddenly to point out a small chameloen the exact size and colour of the leaves of the plant it inhabited. Reflecting the torch, this tiny chamelon is one of 17 different (?) species in the Sabi Sand
We then stopped in huge open expanse, where we let our eyes adjust to the night sky. A trillion stars slowly appear in the dark African sky and Chris starts to point out the major constellations with a laser pointer. This was a fantastic experience - one i have never seen before on a game drive. Being from Sydney - stars such as this are a rarity and an oppurtunity not to be missed.
Dinner this evening is a 5 star experience, paired with wine tasted in the cellar at a private tasting prior. Chris our guide joined us. We enjoyed al a carte dining the equal of top restaurants in major cities worldwide. Al a carte dining and individual tables are rare in all but the best african lodges.
Upon return to our rooms, our baths had been filled, the lights dimmed and the music turned down. Needless to say Singita Boulders was an experience.
There are thousands of variations of safari experiences and game lodges across Africa. The Singita difference is found in small touches throughout the experience. The lodges are stunning, the staff exceptional.
Little things.....our rooms contained a painting kit for parents or children alike to paint the stunning vista viewed from the rooms.
Guests can choose from South Africa's best wines from Singita's cellar at any time - or have the sommellier choose for you. There is no mini bar menu with prices - everything is included in your rate.
Rooms contain ipod docks and integrated surround sound. Stunning reference and photography books are displayed on the coffee table for guests to learn and discover more about what they might see on safari. Hot water bottles are waiting for guests on early morning game drives to make frosty mornings that little bit more bearable.
Needless to say there is a reason Singita lodges are considered the best in Africa. The
Singita difference is worth paying for.
More videos |
Fishing Singita style
Watch the Singita Boulders video |
Watch the Singita Ebony video
