South Africa Game Lodges
Wildlife at Sabie River Sun
Hippo’s only feed at night and can travel large distances in their search for enough short grass to fill them up. Every night at 6:30pm the wardens here open the gates to let the hippo’s out to graze on the fairways and also down to the Sabie river banks. There are 25 hippo’s in the lake and come out tentatively one by one and are only seperated from you by a single strand of electric wire and little pole which the daddy hippo would use as a toothpick. Out of the 25 I saw one baby hippo, about as big as a medium sized dog, scampering around trying to stay in his mommy’s shadow. Glad I did not bring my Jack Russel, Maxy, he would have been in there trying to play with it staright away.
Date: March 18th, 2007 |
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Kruger Park: First Game Drive
We got up very early this morning 05:00 to go for a game drive in the park. The gates open at 05:30 in time to catch the big five brushing thier teeth. It gets so hot later in the day, that most animals seek shelter and are simply out of sight. Many visitors make the mistake of going too late/early and complain about not seeing anything. Our first drive was to Skukuza camp and then out by the Numbi gate, its around 100km round trip. We saw a lone “rogue” elephant, 2 black Rhino, Giraffe, Zebra, Water Buffalo, Wart Hog, Eland, Bush Buck and tons of Spring buck. Thats pretty good going if you ask me. None of the big cats were ont he menu, but I am exstatic to see Rhino. We also saw hornbill and the famed lilac breasted roller. Skukuza camp has also improved thier facilities greatly. It used to resemble a prison mess hall and was overrun with alien starlings. It is now quite swish and hordes of fluffy fruit bats have taken up residence under the thatched boma’s where the starlings once roosted (and pooped). You can sit and have a spot of lunch overlooking the river bubbling with crocs and hippo’s. Entrance to the Kruger park is R30 ($4) for South Africans and R120 ($15) for tourists, so bring along your SA i.d, passport or drivers license of you have/bought one, or you will likely pay the full price.
Date: March 15th, 2007 |
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Kruger Park safari time!
So there is definately a gap in the market for maintaining hotel/resort internet services. Both the Kruger Park Lodge and now Sabi River Sun, both have been down sporadically (when I need it). So I am writing this offline, and will just keep trying to find a working bush telegraph.
The drive up was surprisingly fast and relatively easy. I had estimated we would manage 100km/hour over the 1800km and that
Date: March 15th, 2007 |
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Singita, Londolozi Make Forbes “Most Expensive” List
For South Africans, overhearing the word “Singita” can cause the complexion to flash momentarily green. It is the ultimate in safari luxury, with a nightly price tag for bed, breakfast and the Big Five that’s far beyond those of ordinary means.
Now Singita - along with its nearby Kruger Park rival, Londolozi - has made it on to the Forbes list of the world’s most expensive hotels, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Dubai’s Burj al Arab and Sandy Lane in Barbados.
Date: July 16th, 2006 |
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Umlani Bushcamp, Timbavati, Kruger National Park: Accommodation Review
Umlani Bushcamp
Timbavati Game Reserve, Kruger National Park
off the R40 near Hoedspruit
Limpopo Province | Map
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Umlani Pool
Accommodation type: Game Lodge
Number of stars: 3
Rooms starting from (per person sharing): R2050
SA Blog recommends? It’s Perfectly Suitable
Snippet
The showers are open-air, but - this is where the “stylish” part comes in - the water is heated with wood-fired furnaces, and cascades out of the overhead spouts with as much warmth as anyone could wish. In a similar vein, the reed-and-thatch chalets that comprise Umlani’s accommodation - you can book a two-person rondavel or a family-sized one - have no electricity. At night, light is provided by the bright glow of gas lanterns.
(See full review below.)
Date: May 18th, 2006 |
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Sabie River Sun: Hazyview, Mapumalanga
We have now left the Kruger park lodge and are staying in the Sabi River Sun, a very lush and sweeping country club with a famous 18 hole golf course. (I don’t own any closed shoes so I don’t think they will let me play) our chalet in in the most picturesque setting on the banks of a huge hippo and croc filled lake on the edge of the course. The sounds of the hippos grunting is a nice reminder of where you are. The hippo’s are fenced in by a 1 foot high wooden beam and a single strand of electric wire… surely any self respecting 4 ton hippo could trounce that fence and be on our porch licketysplit. Seemingly they are happy wallowing in the water all day and at night sections of the fence are opened to allow the to go and feed by the banks of the Sabie, not sure why they would come back by morning, but they do. No satelite television out of the resort probably.
Date: March 15th, 2007 |
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Kruger Park Lodge Hazyview, Mapumalanga
The Kruger Park Lodge is just as great as I remember it, a rolling 9 hole golf course, herds of Springbok on the fairways and vervet Monkeys in the trees. At night you have to keep a keen watch for hippos as they take a walkabout to graze as soon as it gets dark. It is located on Portia Shebanga road, which was formely Paul Kruger Road, part of the sweeping name changes that are confusing anyone and infuriating the map makers. The local Hazyview gazette put out a request for anyone who could tell them who she is. The …
Date: March 15th, 2007 |
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Kruger park and Sabi Safari time!
It has been a long time since I last drove from Cape Town to “The Bush” about 5 years at least, so despite a plea from my wife to fly, we will be road-trippin to Hazy View, Mapumalanga.
It should be around a 20 Hour drive, its 1800Km (1125 miles) from Cape Town and on good roads. The last stretch from Nelspruit to Hazy view is a little fiddly, so that may take an hour or so longer if I factor in a few cows and potholes.
There is something about driving silly distances like this that really give you the feeling of….well distance, which adds to ones appreciation. Sort of like putting on tight shoes to get the pleasure of taking them off again. (you know who you are)
Date: March 8th, 2007 |
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Decent “SA Explorer” Package on LastMinute.com
Alert! LastMinute.com is running a fairly decent, 12-day “South Africa Explorer” package for around £2000. It includes Joburg, Sun City, the Tshukudu Game Lodge and Cape Town.
SA Explorer on LastMinute.com
If the package is too tame for you (it’s aimed, I suspect, at the older, more easygoing traveller), there are a host of other deals on LastMinute’s South Africa page: South Africa on LastMinute.com. Have a look!
Date: July 14th, 2006 |
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Phumulani Lodge, eManzini, Mpumalanga Province: Accommodation Review
Phumulani Lodge
R569, off the R538 at eManzini
Near the Kruger National Park Numbi Gate
Mpumalanga Province
Accommodation type: Game Lodge
Number of stars: 4
Rooms starting from (per person sharing): R495
SA Blog recommends? Definitely
Book your stay at Phumulani Lodge here.
Snippet
Seventeen luxury, thatch-roofed chalets are inconspicuously nestled amongst the acacia trees. Each chalet has a full en-suite bathroom and sheltered patio overlooking the wild surrounds. The dining boma (lounge/common area) is where patrons congregate for splendid African feasts - breakfast and dinner are included in the price of accommodation - as well as traditional Swazi dancing and music. A handcrafted wooden bar, fashioned from the split trunk of a Marula tree, is always well stocked. For fatigued explorers and those just wanting to relax under the African sun, there is a tranquil rock pool.
(See full review below.)
Date: May 4th, 2006 |
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