Royal Treatment: Feeling Like a King in the Kruger | Africa Travel Newsletter

by Avril Field, 1 July 2009

What makes an African safari so memorable that you'll scrimp and save to return again and again?

Surely it's not just the 360-degree captivating views of endless, rugged wilderness or the adrenalin rush you get when you come so close to a lion that you can almost touch it? Isn't it also the people you meet and the places you stay at in Africa that can either make or ruin your trip?

Go2African Jeremy and his girlfriend Sam recently had the time of their lives on a 5-day visit to the legendary Kruger National Park in South Africa's Limpopo Province.

It began with 2 deluxe days at Kapama River Lodge and just when they thought things couldn't get any more impressive, they spent 2 days at Singita Lebombo which, according to Jeremy, is not just luxury but "superior luxury - if there is such a thing!"

Getting to Kruger is pretty uncomplicated: it's just an hour's flight from Johannesburg's OR Tambo Airport to Hoedspruit Airport. Another 20 minutes in the car and Jeremy and Sam were within sight of Kapama Game Reserve - a private reserve bordering Kruger.

"Kapama River Lodge was fantastic!" Jeremy enthused. "We stayed in the family suite which had not one but 3 balconies with incredible uninterrupted views of the reserve and the Kapama River.

"It was very spacious but the best thing about Kapama for me was the fact that there was no TV in our suite - it's the way things are supposed to be when you're on safari, right?"

Right. And safaris are also about de-stressing so it makes sense that you might want to indulge in a bit of pampering while you're in the bush. This is exactly what Jeremy and Sam had in mind when they stopped in at the Kapama spa for a massage, with the northern Drakensberg mountain range as their backdrop - heavenly, I can only imagine.

Of course Kruger is renowned for its big game - more specifically its Big 5 - and while Jeremy and Sam were at Kapama, the animals didn't disappoint. As Jeremy explained, "We saw lion everyday but to add to that we saw a 4-day-old elephant and a one-month-old rhino."

Reluctant to leave Kapama after 2 days of blissful pampering, superb game-viewing and delectable cuisine it was time for Jeremy and Sam to head for Singita.

It didn't disappoint. Situated within a 20 000-hectare private concession inside Kruger, it's here where every conceivable luxury they'd ever dreamed of was lavished upon them 24 hours a day.

"Singita was completely and utterly amazing!" exclaimed Jeremy without hesitation when I asked him what it was like.

"If a lodge could be given a 7 or 8-star rating, Singita would get it. Although we were only there for 2 days every staff member knew our names and treated us like royalty. You also feel as if you're all alone in the wilderness as you can't see any of the other suites.

"It's extremely private and there are no fences, so just walking along the wooden pathways knowing that the animals are nearby was a thrill for us. Naturally we were always escorted to our suite by either our personal ranger, butler or porter. "

It seems that at Singita everything was on Jeremy and Sam's terms; from what time and how long they wanted to go on their game drives, to eating their dinner at midnight - it couldn't be helped - they were hungry.

Poor Jeremy and Sam. So many decisions to make: "Should we sleep inside or spend the evening lying in the outside bed listening to the animals roaming nearby? Shall we take a bath indoors with a view of the sun rising over the African bush or would we prefer a refreshing outdoor shower as dusk settles in?"

One of the many highlights of Jeremy's trip took place on his last evening game drive at Singita. He and Sam were "surprised" by the manager of the lodge who joined them for sundowners at a table heaped with sushi, lamb curry and other authentic African dishes - food fit for a king!

"The game viewing was fantastic. On one of our drives about 9 lionesses decided that the location of our 4x4 was the perfect chill-out spot to enjoy a leisurely afternoon ladies' gossip session - which only lasted a couple of hours," Jeremy recalled with a grin.

During another morning drive they went on an ad hoc bush walk and while climbing back into their vehicle they were "surprised" again by a rather cheeky teenage elephant who thought it was time he showed the ranger who was boss in these parts.

According to Jeremy, the ranger stood his ground and the elephant decided against a mock charge, ran away and attempted to make some intimidating noises from behind the safety of the nearby bushes.

Everyone deserves to be treated like royalty at least once in their lifetime and according to Jeremy and Sam, the Kruger National Park is one of the best places in Africa to make this happen.

Travel Fact File

Kapama River Lodge is situated within the Kapama Private Game Reserve, bordering the Kruger National Park.

The Kapama Reserve is also home to Kapama Bush Lodge and Kapama Buffalo Camp.

Singita Lebombo and Singita Sweni are located in a private concession that falls within the Kruger Park's boundaries.

The Singita Private Game Reserve, which lies in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, is home to Singita Boulders and Ebony Lodge.

Accommodation at Kruger National Park is vast and varied and you can choose between staying at a lodge on a Kruger private concession or at a private game reserve within Kruger. There are also some fantastic Kruger tours and safaris which are suitable for the whole family to enjoy.