Favourite Safari Lodges – part 1
Posted on Thursday, October 21st, 2010
It’s all well and good to talk about what to do in Africa, but what about where to stay? Safari holidays don’t have to involve you sleeping on the floor in a ramshackle tent – in fact, they usually don’t, though you may have a nicer tent of some variety covering your head instead of a building. It’s also important to choose lodgings that are near other places you’d like to go. Just because one lodge is the most luxurious of them all doesn’t mean that there will be the animals you like to see nearby. Here are a few amazing, well-placed lodges that would be comprise a perfect part of your safari holiday or honeymoon.
1. Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Tanzania – This lodge is perched on one of the most unlikely spots, at the edge of a collapsed volcano, which gives its guests an amazing view of the floor of the crater and the animals that inhabit it. The Ngongoro Crater is a world heritage site which acts as home to herds of zebra, buffalo, and other must-see African wildlife. Since it’s on the eastern rim, you’ll also get a fantastic view of the sunset, perfect for relaxing and enjoying a drink in the rosy evening glow. The lodge itself is gorgeous, with large ensuite bedrooms and private lounges and balconies. They also play host to weddings and have a lovely restaurant. There are regular game drives from the lodge to go see the animals up close.
2. Chobe Game Lodge, Botswana – This lodge has the distinct privilege of being the only game lodge permanently located within Chobe National Park. The park is famous for having one of the largest game concentrations on the African continent. It’s actually the third largest park in the country, but it’s the most diverse. The lodge is located on the banks of the Chobe River with excellent views of the rushing water as well as the floodplains from all of the lodge’s rooms. You should be able to spot herds of animals right from your window and the animals you’ll spot on your game drives can be more varied than anywhere else in the world. Chobe National Park is most famous for its elephants; if you get one stampeding in your direction it will be an exhilarating experience you’ll never forget!
3. If you’re looking for absolute luxury for a bit more, the Singita Lebombo Lodge in South Africa can deliver what you need. It’s located in the Kruger National Park, another famous park full of the kind of wildlife you go on safari to see. There are frequent sightings of lion, leopard, and wild dogs in the area. The hotel and suites are designed in the best of contemporary luxury, with glass, wood, and steel highlights in the architecture but the utmost comfort in the furnishings. You can even sleep under the stars on your own private terrace; of course, beds come equipped with a mosquito net to protect you from the discomfort and danger of mosquito bites. Your deck is the perfect vantage from which to view some of the park’s elusive wildlife during the day, and there are also frequent game drives to get you up and out.
If those three lodges don’t tempt you to get out in the African wild, I’m not sure what will! Come back next week for the next instalment of my favourite lodges.
Favourite Safari Lodges – part 2 | Luxury Safari Holidays says: November 4th, 2010 at 10:01 am
[...] the first part of my favourite luxury safari lodges, I mentioned Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge in Tanzania, Chobe Game Lodge in Botswana, and Singita Lebombo [...]