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Game Lodge Reviews
Game Lodge Reviews
GO BUSH!
Sumptuous safari stops in the
Sabi Sands
Luring scores of travellers to vast and beautiful landscapes, the Sabi Sand
Game Reserve incorporates several privately owned game reserves collectively
spanning some 65 000 hectares of savannah thornveld.
Reviewed by Exclusive Getaways www.getaways.co.za
This treasured wildlife sanctuary
forms part of the greater 2.3 million
hectare Kruger National Park, and
the two reserves share a common
50km unfenced boundary across which animals
roam unhindered. The perennial Sand River
and the Sabie River flow through the reserve,
sustaining one of the most bio-diverse wildlife
populations in Africa. Hundreds of species occur
in abundance, and visitors who come to the Sabi
Sand in search of the Big Five are very likely to
be gratified. The reserve is also home to South
Africa’s most opulent and luxurious safari lodges,
some rubbing shoulders with the very best
establishments in the world.
Chitwa Chitwa
Set on the edge of one of the largest lakes in the
Sabi Sand, Chitwa Chitwa has a location that’s hard
to beat. Soak up seamless views of the lake and
open plains from the wide sundeck and rim-flow
pool, where you have the luxury of continuous
game viewing without moving a toe. Of course,
there are also more active game viewing options,
in the form of twice daily drives out into the
wilderness and optional guided walks.
The lodge is a blend of African design and
European elegance. Accommodation options
include air-conditioned chalets, luxury suites
and family units. Boulders is the most extravagant
of the chalets, incorporating a private patio and
plunge pool, separate dressing room and stylish
lounge area.
Timbavati
R
531
R
536
Phabeni
Gate
Sabie
Maroela
Orpen
Orpen
Gate
Leopard
Hills
Nwa
Newington
Gate
s
witsonto
Ulusaba
Kruger
Gate
Tamboti
Shaws
Gate
Talamati
Manyeleti
Game Reserve
Gowrie
Gate
Idube
Singita
Savanna
Chitwa
Chitwa
Sand
Sabi Sand
Game Reserve
Sabi Sabi
Ripape
Nottens
Bush Camp
Kruger
National
Park
Skukuza
The cuisine reflects a fusion of Afro-Mediterranean flavours. Lunches are
leisurely buffet feasts, taken outdoors under a thatched lapa near the pool.
Dinners are enjoyed around an open fire in the boma, or served in an elegant
restaurant.
Website: www.chitwa.co.za
Idube
A comfy home-away-from-home, Idube is the kind of place where you feel
you’re part of the family. The staff are friendly and well trained, and they go the
extra mile to take care of their guests. An easy-going, no-fuss ambience allows
visitors to settle in and enjoy the bush and its big game without unnecessary ado.
Resting beneath the overhang of giant old jackalberry and knobthorn
trees, the lodge overlooks a river bed and dam, and nearby there’s a sparkling
boulder pool. Warthogs and nyala graze away contentedly on the lawns
surrounding the lodge, apparently unruffled by the comings and goings of
guests. Ten air-conditioned suites have their own timber decks and outside
showers.
At Idube there’s an exciting bushveld adventure in store, which includes daily
drives and fascinating bush walks highlighting the many uses of lowveld plants.
Website: www.idube.com
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Game Lodge Reviews
A typical day at Notten’s starts with a 5h30
wake-up call, followed by tea and coffee on the
deck as the sun rises, before heading out on a
drive with your ranger and tracker to follow
the spoor of wild animals. A second safari drive
departs in the late afternoon, and this excursion
includes a stop for sundowners before going in
pursuit of nocturnal game. Wildlife is prolific
and the chances are excellent that you’ll
encounter all of the Big Five during your stay.
Website: www.nottens.com
Singita
Epitomizing pure luxury, Singita has mastered
the art of the perfect safari. Singita Ebony, the
brand’s founding lodge and multiple awardwinner,
rests on the banks of the Sand River,
its private suites inviting exquisite views of the
river and its wildlife. Here, traditional bush
décor comes with a Bohemian twist, creating
an earthy atmosphere and a place where guests
delight in first-class cuisine, flawless personal
service and loads of luxury.
Idube Lodge.
Waterhole at Nottens Bush Camp.
Leopard Hills
Anchored on a hill overlooking a much-visited waterhole, Leopard
Hills offers heaps of luxury in the heart of the Sabi Sands. Eight
glass-fronted suites have private rock plunge pools and expansive,
picture-perfect views of the bushveld. Intended to indulge, the airconditioned
suites include cosy sitting areas, romantic bathrooms
and fully-stocked refreshment fridges.
Leopard Hills traverses more than 10 000 hectares of the Sabi
Sand. Safari drives are likely to reveal prides of lion, elephant
herds, buffalo, white rhino, cheetah, hippo, crocodile and many
more. Keen photographers will have ample opportunities for
getting that special shot, up real close and personal, while plant
lovers will marvel at the vast variety of trees, shrubs and grasses.
Between safaris, a full body massage is a huge temptation, whilst
a quiet hour or two in the library offers its own kind of quietude.
Dining experiences range from congenial fireside meals in the
boma to grand silver-service occasions.
Website: www.leopardhills.com
Nottens Bush Camp
Notten’s Bush Camp is a family-run lodge in the southern part of
the Sabi Sand, bound to steal your heart and ensure your return.
Like old friends, Gilly and Bambi Notten welcome you into their
camp, where they provide abundant comfort without forfeiting the
quality of an authentic bush stay.
Spacious, light and very private, six suites have beautiful views
of the bush. Ceiling fans provide cool respite on warm summer
days, and in the purposeful absence of electric lighting, candles
and lanterns create a magical atmosphere infused with a spirit
of romance. (There are indeed facilities for re-charging video
machines and camera batteries.)
Leopard Hills suite.

Singita Boulders Suite.
Singita Boulders.
Ulusaba Game Drive.
Savanna Tented Suite
Dinner at Sabi Sabi Bush Camp.
With its organic architecture, space and
simplicity, Singita Boulders is balm for the soul.
Wood and stone blend effortlessly with nature
to create what some have described as African
Zen. All facilities open out generously onto vast
expanses of bushveld teeming with life.
Singita’s guests enjoy superb game viewing,
either on game drives, on a walking safari, or from
the verandah of a private suite. Gym and health spa
facilities are available to guests between safaris.
Website: www.singita.com
Ulusaba
Fashionably exclusive, Ulusaba is Sir Richard
Branson’s private safari lodge in the Sabi Sand.
Rock Lodge is perched high on a hill, providing
panoramic views over miles of bush. Safari
Lodge has a wonderful sense of adventure,
comprising exquisite tree-house rooms along
the banks of the dry Mabrak riverbed, with
swing bridges between them.
At Ulusaba there is much to do between game
drives, safari walks and moonlit bush dinners.
Facilities include swimming pools, gymnasiums,
tennis courts, a wine cellar, a bush observatory
for star gazing, and the Aroma Boma spa and
wellness centre, which includes the option of a
treatment in your room or on your private deck.
Ulusaba also has a Children’s Cubs Club
Programme which makes special provision for
children of all ages. Treasure hunts, educational
materials, excursions in the vicinity of the lodge,
kiddies’ cuisine and child-minding are some of
the features of the programme.
In short, Ulusaba is a wonderful place for
all age groups and for any occasion. Expect
impeccable personal service and a heaped dose
of luxury.
Website: www.ulusaba.com
Sabi Sabi
Known to travellers the world over, Sabi Sabi
integrates an exclusive collection of four lodges in
the Sabi Sand.
Earth Lodge is a sanctuary sculpted deep into
the earth, with thirteen heavenly suites opening
out onto private plunge pools and boundless views
of the wilderness. An Earth Nature Spa, meditation
garden and non-smoking lounge/library add to the
indulgence.
Selati Camp has a special romantic charm,
and consists of eight suites, including two suites
designed for honeymooners.
The twenty-five roomed Bush Lodge is a more
traditional lodge and has great appeal for visitors
seeking the excitement of the Big Five game
experience. Guests may relax on the sundeck or
at the swimming pool, and view game coming to
drink at the nearby waterhole.
Intimate and secluded, Little Bush Camp
consists of six private suites, sheltered by trees
along a mostly dry riverbed.
Whichever Sabi Sabi lodge you choose to visit,
expect eventful wildlife experiences never to be
forgotten.
Website: www.sabisabi.com
Savanna Private Game Reserve
There’s nothing like a tented safari to create the
sense of being right there, in the heart of it. If
tented accommodation has appeal, visit Savanna
Private Game Reserve and discover that a tented
bush break can equate to a real spoil.
Seven of Savanna’s nine suites have a tented roof
and draped inner ceiling, along with a permanent
structure to ensure luxury and privacy. Three
Executive Suites have private plunge pools and
indigenous gardens, while the two large Savanna
Suites offer generous comforts under thatch, with
a wooden deck that leads to a private plunge pool
and uninterrupted views of a floodlit waterhole.
These suites are ideal for families and exclusiveuse
groups. All suites are air-conditioned and have
well-stocked mini-bars.
Central facilities include an outdoor swimming
pool, and overlook a waterhole where many
varieties of game gather to drink.
A family-owned lodge, Savanna is committed
to service and strives to make each guest’s stay a
special memory. Look forward to exciting game
viewing and fascinating insights into the tribal
customs of the local Shangaan people.
Website: www.savannalodge.com
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