As recently as half a century ago, it took three days of hard travel by rail, wagon and on foot for dedicated wildlife lovers to reach the banks of the ever-flowingSand River and pitch their tents for an annual bush adventure.
These days, the pristine habitat of the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) is a mere hour’s flight from Johannesburg, and what awaits the visitor on arrival at Sabi Sand Game Reserve is nothing short of luxury beyond their wildest dreams.
Superb Facilities
With 22 exclusive lodges and camps dotted around the 65 000 ha property adjoining the south-western corner of the Kruger National Park, the choice is boundless. Add the fact that these lodges have collectively won more international awards than any other tourism area within Africa and that all of them offer superlative facilities and it’s easy to understand why this area is considered SouthAfrica’s ultimate safari destination.
Sabi Sand in Mpumalanga is unique in many ways, not least of which is the lack of fences along the 50km border it shares with the Kruger Park.
Conservation is Key
All the lodges within the reserve are privately owned and some have been in the hands of the same family for generations. Since 1948, the conservation-minded owners have pursued a common goal of preserving this piece of Bushveld forfuture generations by running it as a single entity.
Within the boundaries of Sabi Sand, each lodge operates individually but they all share the common goal of providing guests with the ultimate in luxurious accommodation, exclusivity and privacy to guarantee an unforgettable experience.
In order to maintain these high standards, the lodges are generally small and it’s not unusual for visiting celebrities to book an entire camp where they can relax and imbibe the seductive African bush, safe from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.
A Family Affair
Londolozi, one of the earliest camps, has been in the Varty family’s hands for 80 years and from March 2007, will once again be under the personal management of Dave Varty and his wife Shan. They have embarked on refurbishment of some facilities but whether staying at Bataleur, Founder’s, Pioneer or Tree Camp, visitors will enjoy the full out-of-Africa experience, with billowing drapes, canopied beds, hand-sewn linen, gourmet cuisine andimpeccable service.
Homage is paid to the family history with sepia portraits of early members adorning the walls of the lodge and a small museum in one of the four original rondavels. A fire has been lit on the same spot every night for generations at Londolozi, judged 7th in Travel and Leisure magazine’s 2006 global survey for best service.
With the exception of Djima Galago Camp, which is specifically designed for family use, lodges at Sabi Sand all fall into one of three categories: luxury, exclusive or premier. In 2003, Lion Sands Ivory Lodge won SA Tourism’s Imvelo award for best environmental management. This 5-star establishment was recently voted the third
best hotel in the world by Tatler Travellers’ Guide UK. This is the second year running that the lodge has featured in the magazine’s Top 101 Hotels in the World.
Sleep under the Stars
Lion Sands Ivory Lodge notched up an accolade of a different kind when it played host to the first gay couple who formalised their relationship in a civil union after this became legal in South Africa on 1 December 2006. The lodge is renowned as a wedding and honeymoon venue, with a specially constructed wooden platform high up in an ancient Jackalberry tree serving as the most romantic bedroom on earth.
Guests can spend the night in a four-poster bed under the stars in complete privacy and safety.
Singita’s Boulders Lodge, set in 18 000 ha overlooking the Sand River, was adjudged the world’s best hotel in Travel and Leisure’s internet survey in June 2006 while MalaMala, owned by the Rattray family, featured in 32nd place and Sabi Sabi at No 99 among the top 100.
Ulusaba, owned by Virgin’s Richard Branson, is considered one of South Africa’s top 5 places to stay. The name means ‘place of little fear’ and the lodge features tree-house style bedrooms linked to the main facilities by suspension bridges.
Rich Choices
Visitors are spoiled for choice with lodges offering various combinations of day and night game drives conducted by expert rangers and bush walks. Also on the menu are: sparkling swimming pools, nightly gatherings in traditional bomas around roaring fires, spas, gymnasiums, child minders, picnic lunches, specialised game or bird-watching tours, clay pigeon shooting and numerousother activities.
So, whether you decide to stay at any of the above-mentioned properties, Leopard Hills or Kirkman’s Kamp, Elephant Plains or Inyati, Chitwa Chitwa or Savanna, you will be assured of opulent accommodation, professional service and a safari you will never forget.
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Photos courtesy and copyright of Singita Private Game Reserve and Lion Sands Private Game Reserve.