Singita Castleton

What could be more relaxing than you and 11 of your closest friends and family enjoying the spectacle and comfort that Singita Castleton has to offer.

Steeped in history, this exclusive-use safari villa was once a private home within the family that founded the 18 000-hectare Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Today its stone-walled homestead has been joined by six individual cottages, offering utterly private accommodation for up to 12 guests.

Looked after by a dedicated staff of five, Singita Castleton is the ultimate combination of modern safari lodge and historical country home, with everything from doorstep views of a private waterhole to activities like archery and fishing. The experienced guide and tracker team will lead you on morning and evening game drives, as well as walking safaris that allow you a hands-on experience of the bush (including looking out for the Little 5: the elephant shrew, ant lion, rhinoceros beetle, buffalo weaver and leopard tortoise), and night-time adventures to stargaze and learn more about southern Africa’s famous constellations. Singita Castleton is also nearby the Singita Premium Wine Boutique, where you can sample some of South Africa’s finest vintages, and the reserve has access to the Kruger National Park, one of the largest conservation areas in Africa.

A luxurious but restrained collection of antiques, tribal artefacts and muted colours, Singita Castleton is, above all, comfortable and welcoming. Family-friendly and ideal for multi-generational groups, spend your days taking breakfast on the terrace overlooking the waterhole where elephant and zebra come to drink, having spa treatments in the garden and catching up at a roaring fire in the boma – a blissful and rejuvenating vacation in the untamed bush.

Style & décor

Imagine the laid-back grandeur of a traditional country house transported into classic African bush. Muted, natural tones run throughout and are given depth with a mixture of textures, from the softness of fine bed linen and smoothness of glowing antiques to the organic roughness of woods and hides. Squashy sofas and laden hat racks mingle happily with botanical prints and classic safari scenes. The emphasis at Singita Castleton is decidedly on understated luxury and total comfort: thatch, stone and brick come together to create a timeless sense of a place that harks back to Sabi Sand’s beginnings in 1926.

Neighbourhood

Singita Castleton lies with the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa, bordering the Kruger National Park. Sabi Sand has undertaken several projects to ensure the long-term biodiversity of the area is preserved, including anti rhino poaching mechanisms used highly-trained dog units and an infusion process that injects the horn indelible dyes and pesticides that are harmless to rhinos and toxic to humans. Management have also restocked reedbuck to ensure a genetic mix that strengthens the existing herd, leopard monitoring and research, and constant efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.

Suitability

Sleeping 12 guests in six separate cottages on an exclusive-use basis, Singita Castleton is perfect for multi-generational families and groups of friends celebrating vacations, anniversaries or reunions together. With a wide range of activities and a dedicated team of household staff, no guest will be at a loss for something to do to pass the time.

Best time to visit

Sabi Sand Game Reserve is a year-round destination, with each seasonal half of the year having its advantages.

May to September is the autumn and winter period, with mild daytime temperatures and cooler mornings and evenings. This means you will be bundled up warmly on game drives and both vegetation and waterholes will be sparser. October to April heralds much hotter, wetter weather as the summer rainy season kicks in. Waterholes will be fuller and more plentiful but the longer, greener grass may make it trickier to spot game although your specialist guide and tracker team will be on hand at all times.

Special notes

Please note that Singita Castleton lies within a malarial zone; consult your doctor for suitable anti-malaria medication.