Introduction
Singita,
meaning "the miracle" in Shangaan, is situated on 18,000 hectares of prime
wildlife land in the Sabi Sand Reserve, adjacent to the Kruger National Park in South
Africa. Singita boasts two unfenced lavish all-suite lodges and has achieved Relais &
Chateaux status for exceptional accommodation standards, outstanding service and superb
cuisine.
Singita is the ultimate sanctuary to enjoy a wildlife safari, as well as a true African experience. The park has the most diverse wildlife viewing terrain on the African continent. The reserve has the Big Five game animals, as well as numerous other game and bird species. Experiences at Singita, notably the sights and sounds, will abide with you.
ARRIVAL DAY
During the late morning you will arrive by SA Express Airways from Johannesburg
International at Skukuza Airport where you will be met by our staff and assisted with your
luggage. You will be flown in our light aircraft from Skukuza to Singita, a short seven
minute flight away. On arrival at the airstrip, the Singita staff will welcome you and
organize your luggage. A slow and short drive through the bush brings you to 
Ebony
Lodge. Welcoming cocktails will be served on the balu teak leisure decks. Our staff will
assist you with your luggage to your suites, where you will have a chance to settle into
your world-class all-suite accommodation. You will enjoy an alfresco lunch on the deck
overlooking the savanna grass plains across the Sand River. After lunch, you will want to
maybe enjoy an afternoon rest. The lodge boasts private swimming pools at each suite and
your private leisure decks also offer a superb spot from which to relax, read a good novel
or indulge in some animal and bird spotting.
Tea, coffee and cakes will be served at 16:00. Your safari game drive will depart from your lodge after refreshments. Remember to take VERY warm insulated parkas and scarves along on all game drives during the winter months. Cameras, binoculars and extra film should also not be forgotten. On your open Land Rover safari, accompanied by your personal game ranger and his Shangaan tracker, you will have the chance to enjoy all of Africa's big game. You may be lucky enough, from the comfort of your vehicle, to witness a lion kill, a mother cheetah grooming her cubs, a wary and protective mother elephant jostle her baby away from sight of the Land Rovers, and even an elusive leopard dragging its dinner up a tree. Placid white rhinos could also be grazing in the distance, unable to see you due to their poor eyesight but always aware of your presence. Smaller inhabitants of the bush, such as the Grey duiker, a very small antelope, may be seen darting through the thorn bushes, while the ever-graceful kudu bull, with his corkscrew horns, looks majestically on.
As the sun starts to make its acquaintance with the horizon, which by now may be a beautiful crimson, pink and purple spectacle due to the atmospheric dust, your ranger will stop off in the bush in an open area and invite you to alight from your Land Rover. He and his tracker will retrieve your sundowner drinks from the vehicle and set this up for you. You and your new-found safari companions can enjoy standing around your vehicle with your favorite drink in-hand, accompanied by something to nibble on. You will all have the chance to savor the peace and quiet of the African bush, listening out for the first sounds of the night, which probably will be the tiny Scops owl. Enjoy watching the appearance of the Southern Cross, Venus and other planets and stars in the interesting southern skies. After your drinks, you will all continue with your night safari aided by a spotlight. The elusive and shy leopard can best be seen at night under the cover of darkness. Lions, too, prefer to hunt by night and become active when the warmth of the day has passed. Giant Eagle owls and the Mozambican Fiery-necked Nightjar can also be found at night. In fact, the nocturnal bush is teeming with the most intriguing and rare wildlife.
Around 19:30, now feeling totally relaxed and at peace with the world, your ranger and tracker will return you to your lodge. You will have a short while to freshen up and meet once again on the deck to have a delightful pre-dinner drink in front of the fire in the lounge area. A delicious dinner will be served to you all in the reed enclosed open air "boma". In winter and to help keep away the cold, extra blankets will be available and will be folded for you to find on your chairs. Burning coal braziers will also be dotted about your "boma" dinner area. After dinner you may want to enjoy a final nightcap on the deck, listen to the harmonious voices of our Shangaan staff as they sing you an African lullaby and to then be escorted to your suite for a peaceful and restful night's sleep.
SECOND DAY
You will all be awakened by the lodge staff at around 05:00, to be greeted by
the dawn chorus of birds. Tea, coffee, scones and muffins will be provided while you
prepare yourselves for a thrilling early morning game drive. The game drive will depart
your lodge, and on this drive you will have a chance to see the stirrings of the animals
as they prepare for the day. It will be on this 
particular safari that you too will have a chance to accompany your ranger
and tracker on a walking safari. Your Shangaan tracker, a local from the area who has an
astounding knowledge of the bush, will tell you all about the medicinal uses of the wild
herbs, tree bark, leaves and bulbs. You may even be lucky enough to find a termitaria and
feel the heat that the millions of termites generate and learn more about their intricate
social structures and their life cycles. Walking in a strict single file, with your armed
ranger in the front and his tracker bringing up the rear, you will be able to enjoy the
smells of the bush and learn about the art of tracking and identifying animal spoor
(tracks). Feeling exhilarated, your ranger will continue with your safari, returning you
to your lodge. A sumptuous breakfast will await you on the deck of your lodge after you
have had a chance to freshen up. Further walks will be available for those who want,
otherwise you may just want to relax beside your private pool on your secluded leisure
deck, enjoying the scenery and watching the animals scamper by.
Enjoy pre-lunch drinks beneath the gigantic Ebony trees. Lunch will be served followed by a siesta. In the late afternoon, tea, coffee and cakes will be served at your lodge.
With your jerseys and parkas you will
depart once again on your African night safari. Having two-way radio communication between
the Land Rovers, you may be lucky to be able to follow a pride of lion as they begin their
evening hunt. At sunset, once again have a break in the bush and enjoy your sundowners
drinks while watching the spectacular sunset colors change and the nocturnal wildlife
start to stir.
Your ranger and tracker will return you to your lodge in order for you to have a chance to freshen up in time for dinner. Inviting pre-dinner drinks will be served on the wooden leisure decks overlooking the Sand River. You will have a chance to warm yourselves around the log fires before sitting down to a dinner under the Southern Cross. Having had a wonderful evening of food and wine, you will be returned to your suite at your leisure.
FINAL DAY
You will all be awakened by our staff and will have a chance to prepare for an early safari. Teas, coffees and something to eat will be available on the wooden decks of the lodge, and you will depart for the bush once again. Another walk with your ranger may reveal further revelations of the African bush, after which you will be returned to your lodge to enjoy another delicious breakfast. There will be ample time to either relax beside your pool or go for a further walk with your tracker.
Pre-lunch drinks will be served on the leisure decks. Lunch will be served followed by a siesta.
Late afternoon tea, coffee and cakes will be served on the decks, followed by a final safari. At sunset your favorite drinks will be enjoyed in the bush, followed by the night safari. Your group will arrive at an area in the bush that will have been set up for an unforgettable bush dinner, surrounded by the African night sounds. After your memorable sit-down dinner, the Land Rover will return everyone to Ebony Lodge for a good night's rest.
DEPARTURE DAY
A final early wake up call. After refreshments, your safari will depart. You may have
the chance to see any of the elusive Big Five that have hidden themselves over the past
few days. Breakfast will be available on the deck with a chance to pack your luggage and
settle any personal accounts, unless already done. Your Land Rover will depart Ebony Lodge
for the Singita airstrip and the shuttle flight back to Skukuza Airport and the SA Express
flight back to Johannesburg International Airport.
PLEASE NOTE: That the contents and order of activities in this program is subject to change without prior notice, according to the prevailing weather conditions and movement of dangerous wildlife on the Singita Private Game Reserve. This program is available at both ebony and boulders lodges.
| Ebony Lodge or
Boulders Lodge Valid November 01, 2002-December 31, 2003 |
||
| Double occupancy (per night) |
Single occupancy (per night) |
Roundtrip air transfers between Skukuza Airport and Lodge |
| $655 per person | $780 per person* | $60 per person |
|
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Rates through December 31, 2003 include: luxury all-suite accommodation with three superb meals daily; teas/coffees, cakes, etc; two game drives daily in open Land Rovers; walking safaris accompanied by experienced trackers; return transfers from the Singita Airstrip to the lodges; all drinks except wines and champagne; laundry and valet services; VAT.
*Single rate only applies to 3 singles and more per booking.
