Built around the ethos of ‘touching the earth lightly’ Singita Lebombo Lodge was inspired by an eagle’s nest, suspended in absolute magnificence. Perched along the Lebombo Mountain range, each of the elegant units is a celebration of light and chic comfort and offers sweeping vistas of the Kruger National Park.
For a beautiful experience in Africa, take a minute to watch Singita’s new video and the inspiration behind Singita Lebombo Lodge.
There is no doubt that being one of the leading luxury safaris in South Africa, the Singita properties are also some of the leaving forces of conservation in their areas.
Sabi Sand is a privately owned game reserve, adjacent to the Kruger National Park. Singita Sabi Sand forms a core part of this reserve and it has been owned by the Bailes family since 1926. Together with other private owners within this reserve, the family has acted as responsible custodians of this area. The Sabi Sand Reserve, crossed by the Sand River, has groves of Acacia thornveld and Marula trees giving way to open expanses of grassland where zebra, antelope and wildebeest graze freely. This reserve is known for its large concentration of game, including the ‘Big 5’ – lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard.
The Singita Sabi Sand lodges have, over the years, received much special recognition for their ecotourism efforts. Guests are assured of a safari wherein infrequent encounters with other game vehicles minimizes pressure on the land and wildlife.
Singita_Sabi_Sand Sustainable Tourism PDF
Singita is all about luxury and ecology. The stunning lodge blends harmoniously into the landscape through natural forms, local materials and workmanship.
Lobby Entrance to Singita Ebony Lodge
As necessary precaution in the malarial risk zone the ubiquitous mosquito net takes on an ethereal beauty in the luxurious rooms of the Ebony. The feather-soft beds and natural materials will transport you away to a lazy cloud over the Highveld.
Luxury Ammenities at Singita Ebony South Africa
Continental Breakfast Singita
Singita offered up a casual continental fare in addition to more sophisticated dishes, including my personal favorite eggs Benedict. The cereals and traditional European were accompanied by exotic local condiments. Fresh baked goods and juices, teas and coffees rounded out the morning’s meal.
There is not a dull view anywhere in Singita’s Ebony Lodge and the deck overlooking the Sabi Sands River did not disappoint. We were treated to a vista of a herd of elephants enjoying their breakfast (stomping down the sandy shores of the river). The gentle breeze, the shade of an old tree erupting from the middle of the deck, the uncompromising service… and the day was just beginning.
Deck Overlooking Sabi Sands at Singita Ebony Lodge
On this season of The Bachelor, Brad Womack took his dates to Kruger National Park for their fantasy date nights. They stayed at the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve in Sabi Sands. Wow, I couldn’t imagine a better setting. Very similar to our stay at Singita, the Lion Sands provides private luxury lodges, daily safaris, amazing meals and personalized service. It only strengthened my desire to go back to Africa for our ten year anniversary. Will Brad propose to bring his bride back to South Africa for their honeymoon? My vote is yes!
Next week Brad takes the girls to Cape Town. I bet this episode will stir some memories as well.
Suzanne Thomson of the blog Wedding in Edinburgh and the author of Diary of a Wedding in Edinburgh has assembled an excellent honeymoon in South Africa Travel Journal showcasing her honeymoon spent following the Garden Path.
The Garden Route is a popular and scenic stretch of the south-eastern coast of South Africa. It stretches from Heidelberg in the Western Cape to the Storms River which is crossed along the N2 coastal highway over the Paul Sauer Bridge in the extreme western reach of the neighbouring Eastern Cape.
The Thomsons itinerary included:
The Rezidor Hotel Group will open its first ever safari resort in Q2, 2013.
The upper upscale Radisson Blu Safari Resort Kruger Park will boast 120 rooms and according to president and CEO Kurt Ritter, will be the “first internationally branded hotel in Kruger.”
“[This hotel] will clearly strengthen the Radisson Blu brand in South Africa, [and] at the same time, it adds a new segment to our successful Radisson Blu portfolio,” Ritter said.
“We manage city- and business hotels, airport properties, beach- and ski resorts, and are delighted to now announce our very first safari resort.”
Andrew McLachlan, vice-president of Rezidor’s Business Development for Africa, added: “This unique product will be positioned between the luxury and exclusive private game lodges.”
The property will be located within the southern border of the Kruger National Park – along the Crocodile River 10 kilometres from the Malelane Gate.
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Discover Nature at her best at Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Retreat where, thanks to abundant winter rains, this premier spring flower destination will soon be transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour. Located at the foothills of the Cederberg, it forms part of the Cape Floral Region which has been declared a World Heritage Site.
With wild flowers stretching as far as the eye can see, guests may enjoy the unique floral diversity and experience Nature’s intoxicating fragrance in full bloom. Carpeting the landscape will be many species of winter flowering plants such as Oxalis and the spectacular Red Pincushion, and with continued good rain, August and September should offer spectacular displays of many daisy species such as gousblomme, botterblomme and bergmagrietjies, as well as bright displays of the Clanwilliam daisy with its beautiful, large yellow flowers.
Succulent Karoo
During the upcoming flower season guests are invited to discover the unique flora, and fynbos in particular, that thrive within the 7500 hectare reserve, while participating in a botanical programme led by botanist Dr Penny Mustart. These programmes include fascinating excursions offering first-hand educational encounters with an extraordinary diversity of flowers.
Flowers in Bushmans Kloof
Bushmans Kloof is a sanctuary to more than 755 indigenous plant species representative of three major Biomes, namely Fynbos, Succulent Karoo and Afromontane Forest, and is home to over 35 species of mammals, including the rare Cape Mountain zebra, along with over 150 kinds of birds. An SA Natural Heritage Site, it is renowned as the world’s ‘largest open air art gallery’ and is custodian of over 130 San Bushman rock art sites, providing unique opportunities for guests to learn more about the rich cultural history of this ancient land.
Rock Art in Bushmans Kloof
A wide variety of outdoor activities include adventures such as hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, swimming in rock-pools, fishing and archery, while tranquil meditation or yoga sessions can be followed by pampering spa treatments. Guests may also indulge in a taste profusion of gastronomic or healthy, home-style comfort foods at one of the lodge’s stunning dining venues.
We stayed a couple nights in this cute little house, it was like a private hotel
BUSHMANS KLOOF WILDERNESS RESERVE AND WELLNESS RETREAT is part of the family run collection of exceptionally located properties of the internationally recognised and repeatedly awarded Red Carnation Hotels Collection and a proud member of Relais and Chateaux.
The owners have spent a lifetime in the hospitality business and know from years of experience that SERVICE is the one thing, more than any other that shapes a guest’s entire experience of a hotel. Each Red Carnation hotel is therefore passionately committed to delivering their founder’s pledge of “No request too large, no detail too small”.
Competing among the worlds finest, Bushmans Kloof has consistently received world-wide acclaim for its commitment to conservation, splendid luxury, signature world-class hospitality and warm, caring service.
The most recent awards denote the ultimate recognition of being hailed as the “Best Hotel in the World 2009” by Travel + Leisure.
Readers participating in the 2010 rating of the “world’s best for service” in the acclaimed and prestigious TRAVEL & LEISURE MAGAZINE World’s Best Awards have voted BUSHMANS KLOOF WILDERNESS RESERVE AND WELLNESS RETREAT
Number 1 Hotel in Africa and the Middle East for World’s Best Service, achieving a very impressive score of 99.17 points.
Number 2 among the Top 10 Hotels across the globe for Service Overall.
Bushmans Kloof was also named winner of the renowned Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Award in the category Global Winner of Wildlife Conservations Programs 2009, and was awarded the Relais & Châteaux Environmental Trophy in 2007 for its exceptional environmental and conservation projects.
Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky are in South Africa for their honeymoon!
Although the news will love to tell us how extravagant their wedding may have been there’s not necessarily a correlation to traveling to South Africa. True it isn’t like a quick drive to The Hamptons or a short sail to Hilton Head. South Africa really is a receptive and smart place to have your honeymoon (if you’re adventurous).
Rustic or Luxurious? That’s a question asked by those who live in the hard and fast world of big cities, big politics and big tabloids.
The warm, inviting glow of the Singita Boulders Main Lodge at night
A honeymoon in South Africa can be all things: Exciting wilderness exploration in a open roof Range Rover, Michelin 3-Star-rated gourmet meals in the savannah, four-senses-awakening tours of lush vineyards and exceptional wines. We’ve seen juvenile elephants drinking from infinity pools, a family of Vervet Monkeys chattering and playing pranks on us while enjoying an outdoor massage in Singita.
Is August a good time to go? If you’re from the States it will be quite an escape from the hottest months of Summer. You’re on the opposite side of the Earth, so expect brisk evening air and cool days as South Africa moves into Spring. For Autumn and Winter weddings a honeymoon in South Africa is an exciting warm-weather destination.
And apparently if you’re escaping the paparazzi, it’s a world away and surrounded by ferocious lions!
Singita Bushmans Kloof