Oliver Wright in South Africa

During March I had the fantastic opportunity to visit the Sabi Sabi, as well as the MalaMala properties in the greater, Kruger National Park area in South Africa!
While March falls towards the end of the rainy season in South Africa, and the bush is generally greener and thicker – game viewing did not disappoint!
The first camp on the itinerary was Sabi Sabi Little Bush Camp. Little Bush Camp is best described as small and intimate, It still retains all of the luxurious features that one would expect from the Sabi Sabi brand.
Food and service were both outstanding at Little Bush Camp and our guide Lazarus was fantastic at finding plenty of sightings for us – including plenty of rhino and lions!

While staying at Little Bush Camp, I had the privilege to see the wonderful work that the Sabi Sabi Foundation is doing in the local village – where the majority of the staff either live or originate from. What a fantastic experience and very well worth going!
A bush braai on our last night in camp was a special touch that was well received by all of the guests in camp!

While at Little Bush Camp, there was also time to fit in site visits at Bush Camp and at Selati Camp, both members of the Sabi Sabi family.
Bush Camp, while a little larger, is equally as luxurious at Little Bush Camp, but with additional facilities that include a wine cellar, secure and comprehensive child-care facilities, as well as a gym and spa (Little Bush Camp guests have full access to the gym and spa at Bush Camp).

Selati Camp is another smaller, more intimate camp. The theme of the camp harks back to the historic, Selati Railway line – originally intended to link Pretoria in South Africa, to Maputo in Mozambique.
Once again, rooms are luxuriously appointed with excellent attention to detail. A deck overlooking the watering hole at the camp completes the wonderful feeling of this lovely camp!

Onwards to my next night, at the exquisite, Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge! Earth Lodge oozes luxury with spacious, well-appointed, luxurious suites. Each suite featuring a large, private pool and relaxing outdoor area. The main lodge buildings are open-plan, offering a lovely airy feeling, at one with the surrounding landscape! Once again, food, service and guiding were all excellent!
Earth Lodge features an amazing wine cellar, a lovey gym with views into the surrounding bush, and an excellent spa with multiple treatments available.

Next on the itinerary were the Mala Mala Camps, starting with Rattrays Camp – what a treat and yet again, another brilliant camp! Guided by Jaco, we were fortunate enough to have a number of excellent leopard, elephant and wild dog sightings!
Rattrays offers large, luxurious suites – each one complimented by a private plunge pool. Not to be outdone, Rattrays also features an extensive and impressive wine range, with staff able to assist you to pick out the perfect pairing to compliment the fantastic food on offer!

While staying at Rattrays, I also visited Mala Mala Camp and Sable Camp. Originally built in 1930, Mala Mala is one of South Africa’s oldest safari camps, with traditional rondavel-style architecture and spacious rooms. The final stop was Tengile River Lodge, a luxurious and beautifully designed lodge with spacious suites, private pools, a spa, and gym facilities. The staff provided exceptional service throughout the stay. Our guide, Chris, was knowledgeable and sociable, and ensured excellent leopard sightings whenever possible. The itinerary ended perfectly with a surprise bush breakfast on the final morning.

On the way to Skukuza Airport from Tengile, a final site visit was conducted at Kirkman’s Kamp, one of the smaller lodges in the MalaMala collection. The lodge combines modern luxury with traditional colonial safari-style architecture. Rooms are well appointed, and the lodge is exceptionally well run with strong attention to detail. Guests can enjoy tennis courts, croquet on request, and a pool and gym area with spectacular views. Kirkman’s Kamp is an excellent alternative to MalaMala Camp for guests seeking a smaller, more intimate safari experience.

These visits once again serve to reinforce the high levels of luxurious safari accommodation that remain available within the private reserves and concessions of the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa!