With the buzz of the peak summer season past, winter provides us with the perfect opportunity to discover new destinations and lodges within Southern Africa. This allows us to stay on the forefront of new developments within the tourism industry, which enables us to create innovative and tailor-made itineraries for you, our discerning guest.
This time we travelled north, to the Kruger National Park area, visiting a variety of top safari lodges in various well-known game reserves within this magnificent region. We simply cannot say what our absolute favourite “African Moment” of our eventful trip was – each of the experiences and lodges were unique and inspirational in their own way. There was something to suit each of our client’s individual needs and all the lodges offered several things in common: fantastic game-viewing & knowledgeable rangers, personalised service, understated luxury and attention to detail, oh-so-delicious cuisine and above all, warm South-African hospitality to make you feel right at home and welcomed in this “world in one country”.
Our winter is the perfect season to head on safari! Such a trip often being the culmination of any journey to Southern Africa and for many, it is a once-in-a-lifetime, “bucket list” experience. Whilst this is often the most costly item on the itinerary, it is worth every penny or dollar saved to book your stay in a privately-run safari lodge. Whilst our state-run National Parks offer fantastic value-for-money for those on a tight budget, they can never quite offer you the up-close-and-personal, intimate, gooseflesh kind of safari experience a private safari lodge can.
After arriving in Johannesburg, our first point of call was Walkersons Hotel & Spa. The boutique hotel, with its old-world country charm and set amidst magnificent natural surroundings, provides a chance to relax and unwind after a long-haul flight, enjoy great cuisine and a spa treatment or two before heading onto your safari destination.
Our first safari destination was Kapama Private Game Reserve, situated close to the border of the Kruger National Park. Within this Big-5 reserve you can choose between Southern Camp, Buffalo Camp, Karula Lodge or River lodge…. a wide variety of accommodation to suit everyone’s taste and budget requirements.
The neighbouring private game reserve, the Thornybush Luxury Game Lodge Collection, also offers a wide variety of accommodation options, whether you travel as a couple, on honeymoon, you’re your close friends or with your family.
Both Kapama and Thornybush have family friendly accommodation, which welcome children of all ages and offer specialised safari itineraries for the younger safari enthusiast in your family!
From the game reserves in the north, we headed further south to the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. The Sabi Sands is a Big-5 reserve and renowned for its spectacular sightings of big cats such as leopard and lion. The family-run Notten’s Bush Camp, one of the pioneering safari lodges of the area, offers a truly authentic African safari experience. With only eight luxurious suites and paraffin lamps and candles replacing electric lighting for romantic ambience in the evenings, this is one of the best kept secrets of the area. Psstt…. book soon, as the high return guest bookings lead to the lodge being booked out long in advance!
Oh, Singita. A place where (understated) luxury knows no bounds. Having built the magnificent Boulders, Ebony and Castleton properties within the Sabi Sands as well as the Lebombo & Sweni lodges on a private concession within the Kruger National Park, the Singita Conservation Company goes above and beyond to exceed all expectations. The architecture, the location, the food, the exclusive game-viewing, the outstanding rangers & staff – all we can say is – wow!
In between visiting the many safari lodges, we “stepped outside” of the bounds of the game reserves and spent a night or two on the Panorama Route. The charming Plumbago Guesthouse and Tanamera Lodge provide the perfect locations to visit this scenic area, which includes various viewing points along the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest of its kind in the world.
Our conclusion
The Kruger National Park and its surrounding Game Reserves are incredible places that guarantee unique and unforgettable “African Moments”. Not only do they offer magnificent game-viewing opportunities, but all of these reserves have one motto in common: conserving pristine land and wildlife populations, as well as helping to create economic independence within local communities surrounding the reserves. Each time we go on safari, we realise yet again, that the being “in the bush” (as locals would call it), is not only about seeing the “Big 5” – that the experience itself is hard to put into words.
Simply put, it’s soul-and life-changing. It’s about the smaller intangible experiences reaching deep inside parts of us and awakening senses that sometimes go forgotten in our busy everyday lives.
Click here to follow the African Moments site inspection journey.
