singita lebombo
Group 2's jeep
Our safari guides and trackers
Kristoff
Leopard
Lion cub
Young lions
Baby impala
Nyala
Elephant
Hippos
Dusk in the bush
View from my balcony
Jackie
Deb and Annie
Jeep squad
Zero Expectations. For perhaps the first time in my adult life, I dove into the unknown with completely no expectations and no preparation. It was great to just sit back and enjoy our itinerary and the scenery, letting of all of the new information soak in.
The design of Singita Lebombo is very Frank Lloyd Wright in style, a stunning example of organic architecture; each suite is nestled into the side of the cliff with large window-walls that overlook the N'wanetsi River and the surrounding landscape of Kruger National Park. Guests simultaneously enjoy complete privacy as well as an ultra-wide 270° view of their surroundings.
The lodge also features a full-service spa and fitness center, swimming pool, bar and restaurant, as well as a special area for Boma dinners. South African food, by the way, is just as phenomenal as its wine; we enjoyed gourmet dishes made with the freshest ingredients for every meal.
For our safari excursions, our group was split into two jeeps, each with our own guide and tracker, all equally excellent. Deborah and I sat behind our guide, Nick, on all of our drives which was a great way to ask questions and quickly learn about our new environment. Not only did Kristoff and Nick find us excellent game viewing, but we also learned about ecotourism, the native flora and fauna, as well as the history of the region and the history of their professions.
I was amazed at how quickly my eyes adjusted to the scenery to scan for animals, how engrained all of this new information became in my memory, and was delighted to enjoy the fresh air, the smell of the rain, and the silence of the bush. Nick taught us that a group of giraffes can be called “a kaleidoscope” for the way their patterns merge together while they move, that elephants self-heal with aloe plants, and that his mother who has been on hundreds of safaris has never seen a leopard in the wild!
Kristoff taught us that his skill is a dying art, that young people today have little interest and/or persuasion from their parents in learning how to track. A shame, considering it is a skill that needs to begin development from a young age. He also taught us that sometimes separating from our vehicle with a rifle to explore on foot would bring us great viewing fortune; we saw some of our most exciting game without him in our jeep.
We were all ecstatic about the chance to share a meal with our guides and trackers. The boma dinner we had on our last night was filled with great food, conversation, music, dancing, and laughter. The importance of ecotourism became so clear during our time at Singita Lebombo, I finally started to kind of see Jackie’s point of equating African tourism to saving lives. Lodges like the Singita properties ensure that the land they occupy is being protected, cared for, and patrolled, deterring poachers from even entering the area while simultaneously providing employment alternatives (to poaching) to locals and boosting the local economy.
Leaving Lebombo was definitely a sad event, I hope I get the chance to return someday.
