Douglas Easton Travel Blog - Douglas Easton Travel

March 23, 2007

Singita Private Game Lodge, Sabi Sands Reserve, South Africa

We're now enjoying the climax of our South Africa Luxury Safari, Singita Private Game Lodge. Voted the world's best hotel by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler, Singita is a peerless experience.

Our group arrived yesterday in time for a spectacular lunch. We ate outdoors, overlooking the Sabi River, in which several elephants were bathing. Singita includes all meals and drinks in the rates, and any guest who can make it through a stay here without overindulging either has vast reserves of will power or else simply doesn't care a whit about wonderful cooking.

Words fail in adequately describing the joy of a visit here: the beauty of Singita's land; the magnificent animals; the unbelievably luxurious accommodations... it's all wonderfully over-the-top.

Yesterday, we watched a family of elephants foraging in the brush for tender shoots. Among the group was an enchanting baby, still of suckling age and always close by its mother, which practiced waggling its ears to cool down.

We also witnessed a mother leopard and her cub stalk and ultimately taking down an impala. The cycle of life is sometimes difficult to watch, but nature takes its course here with absolutely no interference from human beings...this is the real thing. It's also about as photogenic a place as one could hope to find. (One of our guests has already taken nearly forty rolls of film, not to mention over 1000 digital shots!)

Tonight we celebrated our final dinner together in a magical setting adjacent to Singita's private air strip. Lanterns visible from a half-mile away guided us to our outdoor dinner under the brilliant stars. We all enjoyed a gourmet feast, and during dessert, a group of Singita's staff entertained us with traditional song. It was one of those high points in life to which we all aspire. It was absolutely perfect.

John and I are more than a little sad at having to leave tomorrow. But we've been consoling ourselves with the knowledge that we'll be back in September with another group of adventurers.

Past Travel Blogs: