We are so privileged in South Africa to have some of the best game viewing offered in Africa. We have a very wide variety of reserves, terrains, lodges and experiences. This means that there is something just perfect for each and every person. Experience the thrill of coming face to face with Africa’s BIG FIVE, revel in the information about birds, trees, insects and more offered by certified guides and take the time to relax in between your morning and afternoon safaris.
Below are just a few of our recommended lodges or reserves.
available.
Getting there indicates the best routing option. This is not necessarily the only option.
Tinga
Located in the Kruger National Park, with traversing rights into the very special Sabi Sands Reserve, this lodge offers exclusivity, excellent game viewing with easy accessiblity. Situated right on the Sabie River, watching the animals move slowly through the riverbed, surrounded by bush and blue skies, its the perfect place to relax and restore your energy levels in just a few days.
Escape the world as you know it and suspend yourself in time with this “once in a lifetime” experience.
With just 9 luxurious suites, each located in an utterly private spot overlooking the river, you are treated to the ultimate African luxury experience. Each of Tinga’s suites has a bathroom with indoor and outdoor shower, separate lounge area with minibar, private plunge pool and deck, 24 hour air-conditioning and a range of luxury amenities.
The Lodge style is subtle, sophisticated and serene, with grand open spaces. The main areas are double volume, opening onto a wooden deck.
Sit at the fire-side in the lounge, with a glass of South African wine, appreciating your own company or that of newfound friends.
The culinary team pride themselves on good food, which is as appealing to the taste buds as it is on the eye. They are also proficient at adapting their menus to suit specific dietary requirements, and special occasions.
Activities include: morning and evening game drives in open safari vehicles, bush walks, bird watching, astronomy, bush breakfasts, bush dinners, river walks, hippo tours, safari lunches, wildlife lectures, treehouse, boma dinners, wellness treatments, local village experiences.
GETTING THERE: Daily flights to Skukuza from Johannesburg. Transfer time is just 10 mins from Skukuza
Ngala
Protected by a living canopy of immense mopane and tamboti trees, &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge carves out a set of intimate, elegant spaces sheltered in harmonious seclusion by the thick vegetation.
Twenty thatched cottages with shaded verandas nestle among the trees, ensuring the perfect privacy of your retreat.
Nature is never far at Ngala Safari Lodge, with breakfast and lunch served in the shade of an enormous weeping boere bean tree. A walled courtyard provides a sheltered space to indulge in sumptuous cuisine, while the boma creates a dramatic setting for fire-lit dinners. An afternoon by the poolside rewards you with a refreshing dip as well as blissful relaxation time. Secret nooks and crannies with cushy sofas are ideal for quiet hours of contemplation in the leafy shade.
At night, a myriad lanterns and candles peep out between the boughs of trees, shining out a promise of warmth and comfort.
GETTING THERE: Daily flights to Hoedspruit from Johannesburg. Transfer time is just 45 mins from Hoedspruit
Marataba
Marataba Safari Lodge…where the plains touch the mountains.
Marataba is a malaria-free 23000 hectare private concession within the Marakele National Park (Limpopo, South Africa).
Just four hours from Johannesburg, this is a sanctuary where busy people can find themselves again by connecting with nature. We were rendered breathless by the dramatic Waterberg mountains, vast plains, rich animal diversity and winding rivers cutting through the landscape. Marataba is about contrasts. Between verdant plains and the ochre-red mountains; between modern and ancient; between animals mammoth and miniscule.
15 canvas-and-stone Tented Suites are exquisitely furnished and decorated with a contemporary twist.
Each Suite has its own private deck overlooking the sweeping plains and meandering river below. A free-standing stone bath invites you to appreciate the opulence of the suite’s interior, while indoor and outdoor showers take full advantage of the dramatic scenery of the Waterberg Mountains.
Contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys characterise this spectacular park. Rare finds of yellowwood and cedar trees, 5m high cycads and tree ferns, are some of the exceptional plant species you will find here. All the large game species from elephant and rhino to the big cats, as well as an amazing variety of birds including the largest colony of endangered Cape vultures in the world (more than 800 breeding pairs) have settled here.
GETTING THERE: Marataba is a 4hour road transfer from Johannesburg, although it is possible to charter a light aircraft directly to the airstrip