Follow along to read Ness’ review of a 4-night research trip to a handful of our favourite properties.

One of the enormous merits of working in this wonderful industry is when opportunity arises to visit some of the safari camps and lodges that we work with. Sometimes these trips are to check out completely new lodges, sometimes places that have been revamped, and occasionally a re-visit to some old favourites. 

Last weekend, such an opportunity was presented to me so a short hop and a skip from Cape Town had me in the charmingly small Nelspruit Airport. One hire car and an easy drive later I arrived at Londolozi in the heart of the Sabi Sands. 

Many of our clients have spent time at Londolozi, but it was a first visit for me, and although I felt like I knew it from having worked closely with the amazing team there for so many years, the whole place blew me away. 

There is good reason the Sabi Sands is famous for its wildlife, over the course of my two nights, and four game drives, barely a few minutes went by without something exciting to watch. Whether it was the eles browsing below the deck of my room while I took my midday outdoor shower, the leopard being shooed into a thicket by a white rhino or the close-quarter guttural moans of a lioness in search of her pride. 

It was enthralling from start to finish, and that’s before we’ve even touched on the in-lodge experience. 

There is nothing that the team at Londolozi won’t bend over to provide. The rooms are exquisite, only topped by the service from the friendly team looking after you. From your butler to your guide, and the whole ‘back of house’ crew, everyone there is intent on building magical memories. 

Across their five different lodges on the reserve, there is a property for everyone: families with youngsters, small groups seeking ultimate exclusivity, those wanting socialising and fun. 

My second stop took me slightly further north, into the Thornybush Private Game Reserve, an area although not geographically very far away, one of complete contrast. 

Different landscapes lent different sightings, and despite my visit being less than 24 hours long I came away with a full memory card and memories of a particularly lovely few minutes in close proximity to an inquisitive male giraffe, intrigued by his onlookers. It served as a nice reminder that it’s not always the big box tickers that make a safari memorable.

The lodge here comprises three different properties; Game Lodge, Saseka and Kamara House. Each served its own purpose, but the private house took the top spot for me, a beautifully designed three-bedroom exclusive-use house complete with its own pool and team of staff including a vehicle and guide.

Moving on from Thornybush, I nipped around the corner into the Timbavati. Another of the private game reserves that make up the Greater Kruger National Park. Yet again, I was taken aback by the change in landscape, despite having only driven for about 40 minutes. 

My final night was at RockFig Safari Lodge, a little independent lodge that is so full of character and charm it was hard to leave, but when I (reluctantly) did it felt like I’d been there for days, not just the one short night - testament to the experience being provided by the team. 

I’m not sure whether it was the herd of 15+ elephants drinking from the swimming pool overflow as I arrived, the pride of lions that decided our game viewer provided far superior shade than a nearby bush or the baby rhino chasing birds at a watering hole, but something about the Timbavati stole my heart. 

Over the course of my safari career, I’d argue I’ve been a die-hard Zambia and Zimbabwe fan; for their natural beauty, utterly delightful people and wildlife like I’d never seen before. The private game reserves of the Greater Kruger may, however, just have started to sway me. 

We often tell our guests that 'there’s no such thing as a ‘once in a lifetime trip to Africa’ and this is precisely why… there is just so much to see, and every corner turned brings an entirely new adventure.

I am never one to take for granted how lucky I am to have these experiences, and my luck continues as next week I’m heading to Botswana to check out another collection of some of our favourite camps in the Central Kalahari and Okavango Delta. I last visited some of these camps back in 2013 so I'm excited to see how they’ve changed. Stay tuned for my updates on those coming soon!

-Ness