Extraordinary Africa>South Africa>Kruger, Sabi Sands and around>Sabi Sabi Selati Lodge
Arriving at Sabi Sabi Selati Camp feels a little like stepping into a sepia-toned photograph of the Great Safari era. Tucked away in the exclusive Sabi Sabi Reserve, which borders South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park, this intimate lodge is a nostalgic nod to the romance of the railway age.
What’s Sabi Sabi Selati Lodge really like?
Named after the Selati Line that used to cut through these parts carrying precious gold, the camp is stylishly littered with original steam engine nameplates and railway memorabilia. With just seven thatched suites – including the sumptuous Ivory Presidential Suite and the Lourenco Marques Honeymoon Suite – Selati’s suites are all about intimacy and elegance. Oh – and vast beds with oversized mozzie nets draped romantically across them.
They are furnished in colonial “Out of Africa” style, with en-suite bathrooms, rugs a plenty and swathes of dark wood. Spacious without being cavernous, the honeymoon suite is pure romance with an outdoor bathtub, a side-by-side couples shower and panoramic views of the watering hole. And as you’d expect, the Ivory Presidential Suite is the grandest of them all with an open plan master bedroom and lounge, flowing onto a private viewing deck with a secluded outdoor area also replete with a shower, bathtub and plunge pool.
Although the décor may be full of historic charm, the more modern touches mean that oil lamps sit side-by-side with air-con, a fan and Wi-Fi. When it comes to the bathroom, you’re spoilt for choice with a large bathtub and shower inside and then outside, in a sweet private courtyard, there’s a further bathtub and shower (we will forever love the romance of washing under the stars).
The camp’s communal areas are inviting with fires and alfresco dining on the deck overlooking the bush and the watering pan. The service is impeccable but like the surroundings it’s not in the least bit starchy but instead, Selati Camp’s take on luxury is a more relaxed and convivial affair.
What can I do at Sabi Sabi Selati Lodge?
Of course, the real luxury lies in the experience—twice-daily game drives with expert guides, the chance to spot all of the Big Five and bush walks that bring you thrillingly close to the action, and a small pool in the centre of the camp to cool off in. Speaking of which – the camp is unfenced, so wildlife wanders freely and guests are always escorted after dark for safety. You’re also welcome to use the spas at nearby camps or arrange an in-room massage.
Giving Back at Sabi Sabi Selati Lodge:
Sabi Sabi’s “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” philosophy is more than just a poetic tagline – it’s a commitment to conservation and community upliftment. Each camp channels its charitable initiatives through the Sabi Sabi Foundation that supports a number of environmental and community initiatives including a clean water project. Should you wish to see the good work for yourself, it’s possible to arrange a community tour as part of your stay.
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