Garonga Safari Camp – Classic Safari Camps of Africa

Exclusive Camp, 12 beds
Garonga Safari Camp is situated in the greater Makalali Conservancy situated west of the Kruger National Park. This unassuming sanctuary promises an intimate wildlife encounter in an unhurried environment where you can unwind, sleep deeply and be yourself.

The focus of the camp is relaxation and enjoying the African bush at your own pace. The sleep out deck offers a private and romantic location for those wishing to sleep under the stars and has proven a hit with honeymooning couples. The camp's sala also offers massages, reflexology, aromatherapy treatments and hot stone therapy. Garonga is the perfect place to kick back and unwind from the pace of modern life.

Accommodation and Facilities
Garonga is an exclusive 12 bed camp.
The accommodation at Garonga Safari Camp reflects the surroundings of the bush's textured earthy colours and clean lines have been incorporated with fine linen to ensure pure comfort, a tempting place to lie and meditate for hours.

The Tented Rooms are situated overlooking a dry riverbed - each with a wooden deck complete with hammock that commands spectacular views. The rooms are light, airy and spacious with large, draped beds. In addition to the indoor shower, there is an outdoor shower, providing the perfect link between the luxury of the suite and the allure of Mother Nature.

Little Garonga has three fully en-suite, thatched and air-conditioned suites, all situated around centralized indoor/outdoor lounge areas, a swimming pool and built-in braai/BBQ area. Each suite has its own platform deck complete with hammock.

The Hambleden Suite (considered the main suite) has its own swimming pool, private indoor/outdoor lounge areas as well as its own two bed childrens room adjoining the main bedroom, which can be closed off if not required. The Chiltern Suite can be found 10m away, while the Buckingham Suite lies on the far side of the main lounge.

The thatched massage sala has bamboo blinds and is raised off the ground.

The camp is north-facing which allows sunlight to stream in, and its prime location affords magnificent views over the reserve.

The food at Garonga Safari Camp is a fusion of the resident chef's exceptional culinary skills and there is a varied selection of excellent South African wines - making every meal at Garonga an unforgettable experience.

  

  

  

  

Activities

Garonga's holistic philosophy is to offer a safari for the soul, an unhurried and intimate wildlife encounter, a time to reflect and find inspiration in nature. You can either try your hand at every activity they have on offer, or you can simply do nothing at all, lazing in the hammock with a good book while watching the grazing impala.

Activities include game drives, wilderness walks, sleep-outs, outdoor bush-baths, aromatherapy and reflexology sessions. Also on offer are Indian head massage, Hot Stone Therapy (only in the winter), Honeymoon Couple Instructional massage and other treatments.

They encourage guests to indulge in activities that will allow them to walk close to the animals, thereby enhancing their wildlife encounter.

  

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Umbhaba Lodge

Country Hotel/Lodge, 30 Rooms
Umbhaba Lodge lies on a hillside overlooking the Sabie Valley, on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment.
This luxurious four star lodge situated in Hazyview, is picture-perfect for leisure breakaways, weddings and executive conferences.
The 30 Africa-inspired suites are tastefully decorated and surrounded by water features and lush subtropical gardens. The spacious family suites have a king size bed and two three quarter beds, providing a wonderful opportunity for families who enjoy travelling together. Private patios present an opportunity to view the abundance of wildlife.
Umbhaba Lodge is a subtropical haven on the outskirts of the Kruger National Park and easily accessible to the Panorama Route.

Accommodation and Facilities
Thirty suites are tastefully decorated, each in an individual style. All rooms are temperature controlled for your comfort and are surrounded by flowing waterfalls and lush subtropical gardens.
Ten luxurious family suites have recently been renovated to provide spacious accommodation for families or conference delegates. These suites boast King Size beds and 2 three quarter beds, bathrooms with granite tops and large oval baths, spacious showers and private patios.
The Induna Honeymoon Suite, sprawls over three levels, and comprises an en suite bathroom, mini bar and Jacuzzi. The private patio presents a welcome opportunity for relaxing with a sundowner, while embracing the abundance of bird and animal life after a day of game viewing.
The African Tribal Suites are spacious with separate lounges and bedrooms, a fire place on either side, four poster beds, en-suite bathrooms, twin showers and sunken window baths with spectacular sunset views over the Sabie Valley and hippo pools.
Tusker Suites reflect the history of majestic elephants found in the Kruger National Park throughout the years. The Tusker Rooms have sunken corner baths and private patios surrounded by the sounds of cascading waterfalls from the surrounding water features.

Lodge facilities include an a la carte restaurant, the safari-style Burn Out Bar and a quiet lounge.
A crystal-clear rock pool amid sprawling lawns is a glorious invitation in the heat of a Lowveld day.

Activities
Enjoy a leisurely drive or slight detour through the artistic towns of Dullstroom or White River before relaxing into the peaceful surrounds of Umbhaba Lodge.

The tranquillity at Umbhaba, along with the seclusion of the bushveld, is the ideal departure point for excursions in to the Kruger National Park, the majestic Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Pot Holes. The Kruger National Airport is minutes away.

Activities at Umbhaba Lodge include day and night safaris, helicopter excursions, hot air ballooning, fishing, hiking and horse riding.

  

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Thanda Private Game Reserve

Bush Villas & Tents, 13 Rooms
Thanda, meaning ‘love’ in Zulu, is an expression of the magical union of the power of Zulu culture, wildlife, romance and exclusivity. Thanda Private Game Reserve is South Africa’s top award winning safari destination and is situated in northern Zululand, in close proximity to the Indian Ocean.

The inimitable integration of South Africa’s best climate and rehabilitated and rich bush land has made Thanda home to amazing wildlife and over four hundred bird species. Ignite your imagination and open your mind to an extraordinary experience for your mind, body and soul.

Accommodation and Facilities
Thanda offers a choice of five-star accommodation to suit every taste and budget: family comfort and elegance at the royal private villa, the exclusive opulence of the main lodge or the rugged refinement of the tented camp.

Thanda Private Game Reserve's royal private villa was awarded "Africa's Leading Luxury Villa" and "South Africa's Leading Luxury Villa" at the World Travel Awards in 2010- the ultimate travel accolade!
Fit for royalty and surrounded by expanses of African bush, the Royal Private Villa can accommodate ten guests in five luxuriously appointed suites (three queens and two doubles).
The exclusive-use Royal Private Villa welcomes family and groups of friends to enjoy the luxury and privacy of this five star home away from home. The Royal Private Villa was designed for a family and thus it has a range of facilities that will make a family stay enjoyable and fun but still luxurious and exclusive.

The main lodge encompasses nine bush villas which offer guests the epitome of self-contained privacy and sheer luxury. Circular in structure and reminiscent of a traditional homestead against a hill, each of the villas boasts a breathtaking view of the surrounding game reserve. 220m sq in size, each villa has its own spacious lounge area and master bedroom with inter-leading fireplace. A thatched outdoor game-viewing deck (sala) and infinity pool offer refreshing solace from the summer heat. Each of the villas has a full en-suite bathroom complete with an enormous oval shaped bath and indoor and outdoor showers. The villas are all equipped with private bomas for an intimate and romantic dining experience.
Should the urge arise to venture beyond your private retreat, the luxury lodge’s public areas include a library, business centre, finely-stocked wine cellar and cigar bar, as well as a choice between romantic dining venues in the heart of the African bush.

The tented camp has been built in colonial safari-style structure best suited for guests who are searching for an authentic safari experience. The five beautifully furnished tents have four-poster beds, en-suite canvas bathrooms and magnificent views of the game reserve. Public facilities include an intimate dining tent, dramatic outdoor boma, stylish outdoor lounge and plunge pool for cool relief on hot summer days.

The tented camp is powered by a generator for a few hours each day, so guests are able to charge essentials such as cameras and mobile phones. Even when the generators are running, lighting is minimal and the natural atmosphere of the tented camp is enhanced through boma fires and paraffin lanterns.

  

  

Activities
Viewing the Big Five by open Land Rover and sunbathing next to your private splash pool are but two of the activities you can experience during your stay at Thanda.

Being so close to the Indian Ocean, Thanda is able to offer a world-class bush and beach breakaway with trips to nearby Isimangaliso, formerly known as St. Lucia, (a World Heritage Site) which is an essential part of your holiday.

Horse riding on the beach, cultural excursions, whale watching, diving packages and snorkelling are just some of the options that Thanda has on offer. Being this close to the warmth of the Indian Ocean you'll understand where the phrase ‘sunny South Africa' comes from!

  

  

  

  

  

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Sandals

Guest House, 10 Rooms
Sandals is ideally situated in the picturesque town of St Francis Bay.
The ambiance of this “Boutique Guesthouse” is a unique and international blend of its superb hospitality, cuisine and service.
The lush treed and palm-fringed thatched house is decorated in a tropical-African flavour. Situated 50 metres from the main beach, nestling amongst large indigenous rocks echoing to the sounds of birds, Sandals offers you unsurpassed luxury with its pool bar holiday setting and spacious wooden decks

Accommodation and Facilities
Sandals Guest House is a harmonious creation of wood, thatch and stone.

The accommodation is spacious and its individually decorated bedrooms, with sliding doors, open onto your private balcony or the tropical garden.

The lodge offers 10 large en-suite luxury bedrooms, all with baths, showers, and extra length beds. Besides its extraordinary levels of friendliness, service and attention, the staff at Sandals will always strive to ensure that your stay with them will be an unforgettable pleasure, whether you are on holiday, enjoying a romantic getaway or on a conference trip.

Each room includes satellite television, tea and coffee facilities, hairdryers, telephones and guest amenities.

Activities
St. Francis Bay boasts a beautifully laid-out 18- hole Golf Course, where you are most welcome.
However, remember to consider the family as well; take them to Shamwari Game Reserve, Kariega Game Reserve, Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve, Kwandwe Game Reserve, Addo National Elephant Park, or game viewing at Schotia Safaris. All lovely attractions within 1- 1 & 1/2 hours drive from St Francis Bay.

Hiking along the Sand River is recommended at any time off the year. If you are lucky, you may see the beautiful Crystal Pools. The water in the Sand River flows underground, over the hard rocky substrate that underlines the dunes. After heavy rains, the water table rises to form Crystal Pools.

Enjoy boat cruises around the Bay. You'll discover abundant bird and marine life - including penguins, whales and dolphins. Boats may not venture closer than 300m to any whale. For more information on whales off this spectacular coastline see www.whaleroute.com

Explore the upper reaches of the Kromme River on a comfortable motor launch. Stop over at Stony Boma River Camp for a picnic or barbecue. After lunch, relax or go for a hike, canoeing, fishing or birding on the river.

A photographer in the 60's - Bruce Brown, searched the world for the Perfect Wave. He found it at St Francis Bay, and named it 'Bruce's Beauties' - St Francis Bay is one of the world's great surf spots - and you need not be a surfer to enjoy this graceful sport. Delight in watching the followers "search" for the perfect wave!

Take an hour-long trip and sip a soothing drink or two as you experience South Africa's own 'Little Venice' aboard a comfortable cruiser. Picturesque white-walled thatched homes reflect in the tranquil waters of the meandering canals whilst the ever-present songs of resident bird life serenade you.

Enjoy the wildlife at Seaview Game & lion Park with 40 species of African wildlife to view, including Lions, jackals, lynx, crocodiles , giraffe, zebra, baboons, monkeys, wildebeest, and many others.

For the thrill-seekers, experience the adrenalin of a 216m bungee jump, the highest Bungee Jump in the world. If you get enough thrills from being in a high spot without the jump, take a guided tour over the largest bridge in Africa.

This Big Five private game reserve spans 5 ecosystems (valley bushveld, savannah grassland, fynbos, riverine forest and acacia woodland).
Consisting of 7,500 hectares (approximately 18,500 acres), there are no public roads running through the reserve and all the animals including predators, are free-roaming. Experience a game drive in an open vehicle where you come face to face with a multitude of game.

Birds of Eden is the largest free flight bird aviary in the world and is a top eco-tourism attraction in the Garden Route of South Africa. The adventure of walking across the 128m suspension bridge, the longest one of its kind in Africa, above the forest canopy, is an unmissable venture.

  

There are a lot more activities on offer at Sandals, please contact us for details.

  

  

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Ocean View House

Boutique Hotel, 14 Rooms
It is situated in glamorous Camps Bay - the Ocean View Guesthouse is the ideal starting point for exploring countless attractions nearby.

The Ocean View Guesthouse in situated in Cape Town, Victoria Road, right opposite the Atlantic Ocean and only 1,3 km away from the famous Camps Bay Beach – a white sandy beach with a promenade full of palm trees and a great variety of restaurants and bars just across the street. Even closer to the Ocean View Guesthouse you will find Bakoven Beach: a beautiful beach with rough rocks.

Accommodation and Facilities
Ocean View House offers twin and double rooms;
5 are luxury rooms with private balconies with views to the Atlantic Ocean and all offer en-suite bathrooms.

Their Garden Suite is spacious and leads you along the terrace straight into your own private garden – ocean views included! Stepping onto a wooden deck there is also direct access to the small mountain stream that runs across the guesthouses garden.
The Garden Suite offers a double bed, a seating corner, a small kitchenette as well as a bathroom with shower facilities.

The 4 Royal Suites are spacious with porcelain floor covering and en-suite-shower facilities. Three out of the four suites are located in the upper level and provide private balconies with ocean views. The fourth one - as being in the basement - offers a private terrace and access to the garden. Guests staying in the Royal Suites are honoured to sleep in king-sized beds! All Royal Suites are large enough to optionally be furnished with a spare bed for a third person.

The 2 pool deck rooms enable direct access to the pool area – from where you will enjoy great views onto the ocean.
The rooms offer two single beds each as well as en-suite bathrooms with shower facilities.

The Milkwood Suite is ideal for a whole family. It leads onto two balconies with unobstructed views of the ocean and gardens.
The spacious suite offers a separate bedroom equipped with a king-size bed as well as a living area with a corner-seating unit. It also has an en-suite-bathroom with shower facilities and a fully equipped kitchen including a microwave, stove and fridge.
As the possibility of accommodating a third person is given, the room is ideal for a family with a child.

Amenities in each one of their rooms include air-conditioning, min-bar, safe, satellite-TV, hairdryer and dressing gowns; kettle for tea and coffee, broadband and Wi-FI-Internet access; cots (on request) and parking lots.

Apart from the rooms within the Ocean View Guesthouse, a Villa is also available to let in Camps Bay.
Consisting of three suites, the Oceanview Villa accommodates up to six people. It includes a jacuzzi (for four people), a fireplace, satellite-TV, a mini-bar, fully equipped kitchen and room cleaning service.

Activities
Camps Bay is located directly at the bottom of Table Mountain in between the mountain ranges Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles. Due to this unique setting, in connection with the advantage of the proximity to Cape Town’s inner City, Camps Bay is rightly considered to be one of the most popular spots in the Western Cape.
Camps Bay also offers a distinct beach life. During the weekends and the holiday seasons it is particularly busy. Thanks to the sheltered bay the ocean is comparatively calm, which implies the suitability for a swim in the hot summer months.

In a charming small side street right at the end of the promenade the famous Theatre of the Bay is situated. And the most impressive view of Camps Bay you will get walking up Lion’s Head – the top can be reached by foot within 40 minutes.

Table Mountain (at a distance of a 10-minutes drive from the Ocean View Guesthouse) and the Cape of Good Hope rank among the most popular attractions in the Western Cape.

In addition to all of Cape Town’s attractions, visitors can still experience a lot more - might it be trips to the Winelands, White Shark Cage Diving or Whale Watching. Sport activities include, hiking, water sports, cycling, diving or golf - the field of sports activities in Cape Town are tremendous!

By undertaking a Township Tour visitors get the chance to see South Africa from a different angle and appreciate an insight of the residents’ living conditions.
The almost innumerable estates in the famous Winelands in and around Cape Town are definitely worth a trip.

Of all South African cities Cape Town provides the largest number of visitors per year. It boasts an enormous range of activities and attractions. Ocean View House will be glad to assist in booking for you one of the countless sightseeing tours in and around Cape Town.

  

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