Fabulous, glamorous Molori in Malaria Free Madikwe Reserve, South Africa
Image courtesy of Molori
Molori – Madikwe Reserve, South Africa
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Category Archives: Family Travel
Ending with a bang! MOLORI, Madikwe (Malaria free) Reserve, South Africa
Stunning Lodge!!
Protea – National Flower of South Africa
Seen in an arrangement at Molori, Madikwe South Africa
Gorgeous Cheetah- Madikwe Reserve, South Africa
Yes the clay is really that color!
Singita Lebombo, Kruger National Park
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Pool – Singita Lebombo, Kruger National Park
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Bar- Singita Lebombo, Kruger National Park
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Ahhhhh- visiting Singita Sweni and Lebombo, Kruger National Park
Located in the most famous game rich preserve in the world, Singita Sweni and Lebombo live up to all their hype. Considered as one of the top resorts in Africa, they work hard to make sure their guests are comfortable and happy. Trackers, Rangers, Chefs and hotel staff are all top of the heap. The Wine Cellar is enormous!! And the gift shop is one of the most comprehensive and beautiful I have seen.
Sweni is situated on the river and more intime. Lebombo is on a ridge with vistas over the thickets with gorgeous public spaces. One can experience both properties when staying at either Sweni or Lebombo. Rooms are similar- just a different view.
I think Sweni is one of my personal favorites and I hope to return very soon. Anyone want to go? I’m ready!
One of my favorites: Singita Sweni, Kruger National Park
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A member of the Selati Pride – not sure if this is in Sabi Sands or Kruger National Park
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Find the Owl in this picture- Singita Sweni, Kruger National Park
Image courtesy of Gavin Ford
Bath with plunge pool and outdoor shower – Singita Boulders, Sabi Sands
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What’s in the fab gift shop – Singita Boulders, Sabi Sands
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Lobby – Singita Boulders, Sabi Sands South Africa
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Singita Boulders
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Singita Boulders – Sabi Sands South Africa
Singita Ebony is done in a more traditional style, warm colors and lots of English Safari antiques and decorative accessories. Singita Boulders is more contemporary, walls are stacked boulders, and the color palate is soothing blues, taupes and greens. Both have an appeal and the staff in each is above par.
Family Villa Singita Ebony – Sabi Sands South Africa
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Bedroom -Singita Ebony, Sabi Sands South Africa
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Singita Sabi Sands: Singita Boulders and Ebony
Next stops were the fabulous Singita Sabi Sands : Singita Ebony and Singita Boulders.
Singita Resorts and Lodges are always at the top of any Safari Lodge rating. They are in a class by themselves. The best rooms, staff, decoration, and amazing attention to detail. Like Royal Malewane, Singita employs impeccable staff and educates them well. They are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, passionate, and extremely welcoming. No request is too difficult; one feels like you are in a private home. Care of their guests is extremely well thought out, down to a warm bubble bath waiting for you after an afternoon game drive- with a bucket of chilled champagne sitting on the tub!! Food selection is top notch – innovative, gourmet standard and the wine cellars are eminently well filled with thousands of bottles from all over the world to choose from. All part of their incredible service.
Chilled champagne set by my hot bubble bath – awaiting me on my return from an afternoon game drive- Singita Sweni
How were they able to keep the bubbles and the water hot????
Lobby – Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, South Africa
Incredibly soothing.
Entrance to Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge – buried in the Hillside
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Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge
One of the most beautiful and interesting Lodges we stayed in was Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge. Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge is a sanctuary symbolising a new era in luxury South African safari lodges. Sculpted into a slope of the earth, almost invisible in the landscape, the lodge uses texture, light and space to present a lodge like no other. Taking its cue from the surrounding environment, it has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa.
It is home to 13 ultra-luxurious suites including the Amber Presidential Suite. The lodge breaks with traditional bush lodge style to create a masterpiece of artistry and innovation. Each of the suites features individually designed furniture, private plunge pool, en-suite glass fronted bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers. The natural wooden sculptures by renowned South African artist Geoffrey Armstrong add a powerful magic. Other facilities include an outdoor boma which walls are sculpted from tree roots and piled up piece by piece, an indoor/outdoor dining area overlooking a waterhole and unending bushveld, a secluded library, art gallery, meditation garden, Amani spa and an underground wine cellar with a collection of over 6000 bottles of rare wines.
Recipes from the Road- Royal Malewane’s Apple Tart
YUM! It was delicious!
Courtesy of Executive Chef Nathan Macke.
More to come! Thanks Nathan
Recipes from the Road- Pumpkin Soup from Leadwood Lodge
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Recipes from the Road- Amazing Iced Coffee from Leadwood
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Birds are a bonus at Sabi Sands Reserve
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Leopard Sabi Sand Reserve
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Private plunge pool – Exeter Leadwood Lodge, Sabi Sands South Africa
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Bath – Exeter Leadwood Lodge
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Rooms Exeter Leadwood Lodge – Sabi Sands
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Exeter Leadwood Lodge -Sabi Sands South Africa
WIlliam and Andrew- Best rangers!
Moving on the Sabi Sands Preserve near Kruger National Park, we we delighted to discover Exeter Leadwood Lodge. Along with the Lodge we encountered our favorite ranger/ game drivers. Their passion and humor was the highlight of our trip. I told Africa Inscribed that they should hire them as guides becasue they were completely professional and the most outstanding rangers we met. The could be a traveling comedy act; they were hilarious. We hated to leave them.
Dinner – Royal Malewane
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Bath – Royal Malewane
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Royal Suite at Royal Malewane
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Bedroom at Royal Malewane
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The Glamorous Royal Malewane – Thornybush Reserve South Africa
We are continuing our adventure with a visit to the grand dame of luxury camps, Royal Malewane. Located in Thornybush private Reserve, adjacent to greater Kruger National Park, Royal Malewane is the the standard all luxury camps wish to reach.
Family owned, the glamorous Royal Malewane offers unparalleled service, food, and the number one Spa in South Africa. Liz Biden is a very hands on proprietor; one sees her touch everywhere. Most of the staff have been there since the opening 13 years ago, which makes for a pleasant return. When they say welcome back, they mean it!
Tracking Lion with Africa Inscribed at Sabi Sands
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Meg, Sam and Jessica on a lake cruise – Zimbabwe
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Southern Zimbabwe- gorgeous!
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Martha and Yeardley with our great pilot, Stephan
Singita Pamushana- Zimbabwe
Singita Pamushana – Zimbabwe
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Tracking Cheetah in Zimbabwe
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View from the pool, Singita Pamushana
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Singita Pamushana
Southern Zimbabwe is stunning, visually. It is probably the most beautiful country we have visited. Green, heavily wooded areas with major rock formations forming ridges and canyons all around. The country seems untouched by the outside world- innocent and welcoming.
We are visiting Singita Pamushana and it is one of the most elegant camps I have seen. The lodge is set up on the top of a ridge, and the view over the lake of the rock hillside is amazing – especially with the sunset shining on it. We are greeted by Jason , and the camp staff – hands in the air waving- with a sparkling lemonade drink. Everyone is so happy to welcome our little band of travelers. Service and attention has been incredible everywhere we have been but it seems very special at Pamushana. We had dinner that night on the deck under a huge Jackelberry tree hung with lanterns. Jason told us about an Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker, Kim Wolhuter, who is doing a study on the property about cheetahs. He won one of his Emmys for a documentary about the misunderstood hyena, and he has moved to a study of cheetahs- their habits and daily life. He creates a relationship over several months with the animals and habituates them to his presence. By the end of the filming, he was running with the pack and filming in the middle of kills- literally in the middle of them. Of course we went out to find him the next morning. Our group had a jeep with no roof so we could roll through the heavy thicket to reach him. Kim was tracking cheetahs and we found him most generous in sharing where he was located and seeing those incredible cats. We heard the cheetahs call to each other and in the stillness we saw them turn on a dime and tear after some prey. The thunder of their paws on the forest floor was stupendous. What a thrill!!
He joined us for a dinner that evening and his stories about hyenas and the animals he documents for his films were riveting. I hope we can get him to the US to speak about animal conservation, land conservation, land management and how it all has to work in harmony. His efforts to save wildlife is fascinating. He is a gracious, engaging and delightful fellow.
On our nightstand is a poem by Wayne Visser, about Africa.
The poem is delightful, and stikes a chord with all of us .
Excerpts from it:
Africa calls to me
With the beat of her drums that mark my days
And the words of her poets that guide my ways
With the crash of the waves that hug her shores
And the sounds of the rain that soak her pores
Africa calls to me
With the crackle of fires that light her skies
And the rustle of leaves that swish her sighs
With the chant of her songs that move my feet
And the pulse of her heart that makes mine beat.
Dispatches from the Road 