Dec 24 2009

Savanna Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Savanna Game Reserve is located in Sabi Sand Game Reserve next to Kruger National Park, South Africa. Because of its proximity to the park, the animals roam freely from one to the other. The Sabi Sand is called the “Land of the Leopard” and was proven to be so with the sighting of several leopards during my recent visit. 

Upon your arrival to Savanna, you are not sure there are even any buildings except an open reception area, which you can see is also the dining area. The Suites are so well placed that it appears you have no neighbors. Lorna greeted us and we were provided a warm towel and a drink after the 5 hours drive (by private car) from Johannesburg.  (You can also fly to Nelspruit and have Savanna pick you up for the 1 ½ hr drive to the Lodge).  After registration, our luggage was taken from our car and the car whisked away for the duration.   We were then shown the main pool and walked to our Executive Suite with its own private plunge pool. It is one of 3 that have the plunge pools. Four of the suites (Luxury Suites) are without and a little smaller in size.  There is one Savanna Suite which is a 2 bedroom suite with a living area, dining area & plunge pool. The maximum you will find at the property are 18 guests. All of the suites have a very large bath area. A double tub in the middle of the floor, a separate shower, a separate water closet and double sinks along with 2 closets where your bathrobes, slippers and other amenities are kept. Oh, and a great outdoor shower.  

Since I arrived around 1:30pm, I had a little time to relax prior to lunch which is served at 3:30pm.  The schedule is: wake-up call at 5:00am to arrive for coffee/tea at 5:15am, depart on safari until 9 or 9:30am, then a wonderful breakfast and rest or do what you want until 3:30pm when lunch is served. Directly after lunch, you depart for your evening safari. You arrive back at the lodge around 7:30pm, have 1 hour to clean up and 8:30pm for dinner.  

The first safari after my arrival, we were privileged to see, white rhinos, waterbucks, lions, impalas, elephants, monkeys & various birds. When I arrived back at the lodge we were escorted to our suite (they escort you after dark to/from your suite – called a taxi) to clean up for dinner. I thought how wonderful a hot bath would be. Walking into our bathroom, there it was - a drawn bubble bath, lit candles and 2 glasses of sherry. I knew I was in heaven.  After getting cleaned up, a taxi was called (our escort) and we went to enjoy a fabulous dinner.  This evening one of the choices was Kudu which was wonderful. Each evening was like this.  How could it be much better than this? 

The next day, we enjoyed more elephants, rhinos, some more spectacularly beautiful birds, lions, a snake, zebras, etc.  After our bush coffee/tea or Amarula (a delicious South African Liqueur made from the marula fruit) and as our morning safari was drawing to an end, we notice people standing out in the bush.  We drive closer and there it is - “Bush breakfast”, they had brought breakfast to us.  They even offered to cook us ostrich eggs. As we exited the vehicle, they hand us a warm towel, then a glass of champagne.  This is fantastic!

Each day is something new. Who cares that we get up at 5am?  To be so privileged to enjoy the beautiful animals.  They look so healthy.  We watched a female hyena who was sitting on her den where they say a young one is hiding. I had seen many hyenas in the Ngorongoro Crater before, but they never looked as healthy as this one did.  Then the cheetah we were able to enjoy watching had a beautiful coat.     

We, of course saw the Big Five. The Rangers & Trackers that Savanna has, do a wonderful job. They actually go out in the bush and follow footprints to locate the animals, as they did when finding a leopard for us to view.  Staying at the Savanna Lodge was fantastic, and I would not hesitate to go again.  I think the only problem with staying there, is that you want to go see the animals each day, but you also want to enjoy the Lodge and the comforts that it offers (pool, massages, etc.).  It is completely all-inclusive, with a mini-bar set up in your suite for you to indulge in and a bar for afternoon or evening cocktails. One evening when we arrived back from our afternoon safari, they handed us all a special lemon martini (made with gin) as we excited the vehicle. 

The service was wonderful. Your room was straightened, cleaned and turned down each day, and yet, you never saw anyone (even walking around the property) doing these things.  I sent laundry out in the morning and received it perfectly laundered, ironed and folded that evening. There was not an additional charge. Leave your credit card in your safe until you are ready to leave. Then retrieve it to purchase some wonderful gifts from the gift shop. Such as the bathrobes that have little colorful, embroidered bugs all over it.  Or a set of the beautiful, beaded salt & pepper grinders.  Or even just one of their signature shirts.

Savanna Private Game Reserve is luxury. Your every whim will be taken care of. You will see every animal that you ever wanted to see. Our Ranger even found a guest a specific turtle that she had wanted to see.  You feel like family, but are treated as a very special guest.  I will forever have a wonderful memory of Savanna, the lodge, the people, the animals, the food – everything. 
 

About Connie Smith

I have been in travel for 17 years. This was a career change, as I had been a bookkeeper for over 20 years. To me travel is an education of the people their cultures as well as their land. It can be far away or in your own back yard. I believe the saying by St. Augustine “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” My client’s dream vacation starts out as an education for me. No matter how many times I arrange travel to a specific destination, there is always something new to learn. I have traveled to Fiji, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand & Hawaii – I love the South Pacific. I have also studied these destinations extensively. I have also experienced a safari in Kenya & Tanzania which was a highlight in my life. I have visited London & Paris as well as cruised in Europe on Festival Cruise Lines, in the Caribbean on Holland America, in the wine country of California on Cruise West and to Alaska on Celebrity Cruise Lines. I have been halibut fishing in Alaska many times, to Sandals Ocho Rios in Jamaica, Club Med in Bora Bora as well as visited Mexico. Travel can be a passion, a stress release and an education. Let me help you read more of the book of the world through travel.