My wife and I just returned from our second trip to South Africa. This time we returned with both of our mothers to share with them the special experience that we previously experienced in 2022 (combining RockFig in the Timbavati and Londolozi in the Sabi Sands). This time we decided to combine 4 nights at Silvan Safari followed by 3 nights at Londolozi Tree Camp. We felt like this was an excellent combination of lodges of high quality on bordering plots of land, giving us an entire week in the Sabi Sands. After all, the more time you spend out in the bush is naturally going to enhance your chances of special sightings.

My mom and I flew from DFW through DOH and finally onto JNB on Qatar Business Class, with on the first leg being in Q Suites. In DFW, our ticket gave us access to the AA Flagship Business Class Lounge in Terminal D. This lounge was comfortable enough, offering us the opportunity to relax in quiet and get some food from their buffet. The birria tacos were being prepared at the service station and these were tasty enough. Before we knew it, it was time to head to our gate and board our first flight to DOH. We had dinner and breakfast served on this flight, dinner was highlighted by the tandoori prawns with mint chutney and the chicken biryani. The cheese plate was tasty as well. Breakfast included a fruit plate and an omelette. We booked the flights as soon as the schedule opened last year and there were a few changes in the schedule, so we ended up having a 9 hour layover. This left us plenty of time to stretch our legs and spend time in the Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge. The lounge served very good food, including a buffet with a wide range of dips, breads, salads, entrees, and desserts. There was also an a la carte menu that offered sushi options. The lounge had a small gym which I made use of as well as locker rooms with showers. Once we passed the time in the lounge, it was time to board our second flight en route to JNB. I ordered coconut chicken curry for dinner along with the cheese plate that I enjoyed very much. I also ordered the omelette with sausage that I enjoyed for breakfast as the flight came to a close.

Upon getting off the plane we were greeted by a Federal Airlines representative and assisted through customs and to our shuttle. Finally, we met up with my wife and her mom who had been in Capetown for 4 nights prior at the Federal Airlines lounge, with whom we would be traveling to the Sabi Sands. We boarded our Federal Airlines flight to the Arathusa airstrip with one individual headed to Simbaselli, one couple headed to Arathusa Lodge, and the 4 of us headed to Silvan. All 3 of these lodges use the Arathusa airstrip, so there were no additional stops on this journey. We were greeted at the airstrip by our guide and our tracker and our journey at Silvan began. After 4 nights at Silvan, we were transferred through the reserve to the boundary line and a representative from Londolozi picked us up. We spent 3 wonderful nights at Londolozi and then boarded a shared Federal Airlines flight that picked up passengers at Ulusaba and Sabi Saba Earth Lodge before arriving back in Johannesburg. The timing of our flight home required us to stay overnight at the Intercontinental at JNB which we enjoyed. We continued back home via DOH on Qatar Business Class with Q Suites on the second leg from DOH to DFW. The dining continued to be very strong on both of these flights.

Our itinerary ended up being:
4 nights Silvan Safari
3 nights Londolozi Tree Camp
1 night Intercontinental Johannesburg Airport

We were humbled to return to the African continent and really enjoyed our stay this time. We highly recommend both Silvan and Londolozi resoundingly for a wonderful wildlife experience filled with personal touches in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.