South Africa - Singita (Kruger Ntl Park / Lebombo)
© Photos from the album of Lisa Anderson
Everything about Singita Lebombo is surreal. When landing at the airport, you arrive to see a basket of snacks and an open-air fresh water sink to clean your hands and sip on a cold drink. On the way to Lebombo, you travel on a paved road, in the Kruger National Park. You may see a zebra crossing, a giraffe crossing, or elephants making their way across the road right in front of your vehicle.
At Lebombo, your suite is hanging over the hillside above the river, with walls of glass. The rooms are built into the cliff, each one spaced well away from the other, giving each of the 12 bungalows exclusivity from each other. The first thing you see as you get close to your new home is the Kudu half submerged in the bush, staring at you with his huge brown eyes. The Greater Kudu is one of the largest antelope, and can be over eight feet tall. He was really big at that close range. Fortunately, he had no desire to get up on our raised walkway. There are also hippos snorting in the river, as well as a croc or two.
The rooms are large and spacious and look like they were just photographed in Architectural Digest magazine. The feeling is like a loft, with high ceilings, different sections set apart without the use of traditional walls. Highlights of the room include an outdoor deck with an outdoor bed, for those daring enough. They say the monkeys and baboons sleep at night and that you are completely safe, but even with a mosquito net, this is definitely for those brave at heart. The rooms also have built-in iPods, a big bathtub, and an indoor and outdoor shower. And then there is exquisite food and the pool for mid-day lounging.
On our first game drive, we set out with our driver/guide and tracker in search of the lions. We heard they have a local pride that has been in the area for quite a long time. About 10 minutes before sunset, we found them: all nineteen! They were just starting to awaken and we spent the next two hours watching them groom and tease each other and have a few more rests. We were entirely surrounded by lions all this time. I could reach out and touch one or two. These were all B I G lions----no cubs here. Wow!
Just when we thought the trip couldn't get any better or any more magical, we're riding open-air style (no roof) with a perfect view of millions of stars when we pull up at a campsite. This isn't just any campsite. Lebombo had prepared a boma (outdoor fire pit) and placed lanterns all across the edges of the cliffs and set the tables for dinner. Everything was just perfect and done 5 star all the way. As the grills were cooking and the stars were shining, we sipped on our wine, dined on local and Western food, and listened to our guides and other employees sing native songs and show us some local dances. Incredible! And, we can't forget the homemade doughnuts to cap off the evening!
Lebombo is a place that is one of a kind. It is ranked as a top destination in the world by many travel magazines and affiliates and is truly worth every penny. These trips are about making memories, and in this case, the Lebombo property, service, and staff are just as memorable as the herds of roaring elephants and the pride of lions. It is definitely a place of leisure and for those wanting a pampered experience and a solid home versus a tent. It is romantic, magical, breathtaking, spectacular, and gracious all in the same breath.
To put Lebombo on your "Top 100 Things to Do While You Are Alive" list, contact Young Travel & Cruises today online or by calling (864) 232-8880.
