Lodge recommendations
#3
Join Date: May 2006
Location: FRA
Programs: LH, BA, DL
Posts: 625
Well, seeing that you're using MTBeds, you clearly know what you're doing.
IMHO, Pilanesberg does not really count - it's just a big zoo, really (much more so than any of the others including Kruger - Pilanesberg's just too small, and too overrun by tourists and locals alike. Good for a one-day self-driven tour, but not for more).
I have enjoyed the Mhondoro Lodge immensely - got in there on a deeply discounted MTBeds fare (2 people), we were early, they sent someone to pick us up at the drop-off, lovely welcome reception w/ drinks before we went off to the lodge, halfway into the 30 mins+ ride we met the "regular" vehicle who came to pick up other pax. Very nice lodge, great people, great safari experience (as per Welgevonden regs, though, the vehicles have (soft) tops).
If taking malaria precautions is not a concern, you may want to trade a 2.5 - 3 hours annoying drive to Welgevonden/Madikwe against a 4.5 hours, very relaxing drive to Kruger (the roads are much, much better). If you do Kruger, be sure to book at a private game reserve (can be part of Kruger, but must be private so Kruger rules such as no open fire, vehicle needs to have soft top do not apply). Also make sure the reserve is not fenced (much more "authentic" /romantic that way) - MTBeds are not a good source for these finer points, you'll have to do your own research.
Enjoy your trip!
IMHO, Pilanesberg does not really count - it's just a big zoo, really (much more so than any of the others including Kruger - Pilanesberg's just too small, and too overrun by tourists and locals alike. Good for a one-day self-driven tour, but not for more).
I have enjoyed the Mhondoro Lodge immensely - got in there on a deeply discounted MTBeds fare (2 people), we were early, they sent someone to pick us up at the drop-off, lovely welcome reception w/ drinks before we went off to the lodge, halfway into the 30 mins+ ride we met the "regular" vehicle who came to pick up other pax. Very nice lodge, great people, great safari experience (as per Welgevonden regs, though, the vehicles have (soft) tops).
If taking malaria precautions is not a concern, you may want to trade a 2.5 - 3 hours annoying drive to Welgevonden/Madikwe against a 4.5 hours, very relaxing drive to Kruger (the roads are much, much better). If you do Kruger, be sure to book at a private game reserve (can be part of Kruger, but must be private so Kruger rules such as no open fire, vehicle needs to have soft top do not apply). Also make sure the reserve is not fenced (much more "authentic" /romantic that way) - MTBeds are not a good source for these finer points, you'll have to do your own research.
Enjoy your trip!
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 446
South Africa help..
Thanks for the info. What is MTBeds ?
I was planning a trip with my mom to South Africa for Nov. I was trying to figure out where to go to take her on Safari. She is a rancher and pretty adventuresome and would like to see animals, nature, etc. Thanks.
I was planning a trip with my mom to South Africa for Nov. I was trying to figure out where to go to take her on Safari. She is a rancher and pretty adventuresome and would like to see animals, nature, etc. Thanks.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 20,550
my experience....
I am just back from Kruger.
I stayed at a private lodge in a private concession in the south of Kruger entering by the Malelane gate. Lukimbi Safari Lodge. Maximum 36 guests sharing four Land Rovers. Guests are the only ones in the area as this lodge has the exclusive use of their private concession.
The accomodation is outstanding. Rooms are well appointed. You have your own balcony to see game at the waterhole. Two showers...one indoor and the other outside. I watched elephants and Cape buffalo while having a shower after my morning game drive.
Food remarkable and wines cheap.
Not cheap but well worth every rand that I paid.
Saw the big five the first day. Was lucky to see leopard in a tree and also two males lions transiting the concession. The resident pride of lions was not on the concession at the time. Lots of white rhino but not a sight of the shy black rhino. Good views of ellies with babies. The matriarch was very protective of the young and she was aggressive. We has to be on our guard to avoid a charge. The rangers knew their stuf and I felt very safe.
I stayed at a private lodge in a private concession in the south of Kruger entering by the Malelane gate. Lukimbi Safari Lodge. Maximum 36 guests sharing four Land Rovers. Guests are the only ones in the area as this lodge has the exclusive use of their private concession.
The accomodation is outstanding. Rooms are well appointed. You have your own balcony to see game at the waterhole. Two showers...one indoor and the other outside. I watched elephants and Cape buffalo while having a shower after my morning game drive.
Food remarkable and wines cheap.
Not cheap but well worth every rand that I paid.
Saw the big five the first day. Was lucky to see leopard in a tree and also two males lions transiting the concession. The resident pride of lions was not on the concession at the time. Lots of white rhino but not a sight of the shy black rhino. Good views of ellies with babies. The matriarch was very protective of the young and she was aggressive. We has to be on our guard to avoid a charge. The rangers knew their stuf and I felt very safe.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Given Lwakahle's size and shape, and that the concession is a part of Kruger, I think it far more likely that it is utilized by several prides from the surrounding area. The chance that a pride's territory coincides with lines drawn by humans on a map is rather remote, unless the entire area is fenced.
I would venture to say that game lodges must be some of the safest places on earth.
Johan
I would venture to say that game lodges must be some of the safest places on earth.
Johan
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The Mother City & Maputo
Programs: SAA, BAEC, MK, EK Once upon a time VS until I was robbed of miles.
Posts: 133
Indeed. Most of the "concession" lodges are the safest private zoos in the world. The only true game spotting in my opinion is in the Park proper but this can be a hit or miss affair depending on the season, the place, the time and a good dose of luck. Most of the private concessions will almost guarantee sightings of the big 5 which is useful for people who are under time constraints. I've got to admit though that I've been very lucky this year so far in and have spotted all the big 5 in the lower half of the park and I'm looking forward to doing the Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail this season before crossing into Mozambique at Pafuri.
#9
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Indeed. Most of the "concession" lodges are the safest private zoos in the world. The only true game spotting in my opinion is in the Park proper but this can be a hit or miss affair depending on the season, the place, the time and a good dose of luck. Most of the private concessions will almost guarantee sightings of the big 5 which is useful for people who are under time constraints.
Yes, they have radio contact and will share information (which often results in any worthwhile sighting being mobbed by vehicles). But I have seen the rangers at Londolozi mortified that they couldn't track down a leopard for me over several days - despite Londolozi being touted as the place for leopards. A ranger at Sabi Sabi also told me about how he had failed to produce any of the big five for a group of Italians for 2 days and was mightily relieved when he finally spotted some rhino. Hardly supports the idea of a "zoo" where animals can be produced on demand.
#10
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The Mother City & Maputo
Programs: SAA, BAEC, MK, EK Once upon a time VS until I was robbed of miles.
Posts: 133
I guess I was confusing concessions within the park proper with those private Game Reserves adjoining the western boundary of the park. eg. Thornybush Reserve.
The Klaserie Fence in Balule Reserve only came down two years ago and there are some lodges adjacent the KNP which don't have access to the park proper. There's plenty of landowner politics with regard to transversing rights.
The fences haven't always been down, and I haven't been to a private concession since 2003, instead enjoying the SanParks accommodations within Kruger.
That should be changing now for me, as the wonderful in-laws now sharehold a lodge within Balule which allows 3 week long visits per year with a private game viewing vehicle
What I meant by the zoo comments is that in certain private reserves eg, Sabi Sand as a good example, animals have been so conditioned to the approach of vehicles as to totally ignore them and with the sheer number of game drives from all the lodges and radio coordination with report back to all lodges amongst the guides there is a better chance of spotting game at a closer range in a smaller area than you would in the KNP proper. In fact it is all but guaranteed that you will see 4 of the big 5 (Leopard excluded) during a 3 day stay at a private lodge in Sabi Sand, Manyeleti, or Timbavati. Not so on a self-drive in the park left to your own devices.
Last edited by Catch22returns; Nov 20, 2007 at 4:00 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
I have not been to all of the concessions (yet. still working on it), but I would venture to say that they are better suited to walking than driving. Pafuri/Makuleke is an exception because of its sheer size, which makes a certain amount of driving unavoidable, and Singita Lebombo has 132 km of roads, but the rest . . . Unfortunately, only Plains Camp currently offers real walks (as opposed to the 45 minute amble on a full stomach in the heat of day that all private lodges offer, with a greater or lesser degree of reluctance). Pafuri offers walking trails too, but their trails camp has yet to be built.
In sum, anybody short on time looking for a big & hairy / fangs & claws experience is best advised to select a lodge on private land, where the chances having them lined up are much greater. Prefer to stretch your legs? Try the SANParks trails or a lodge that does real walks.
For those who know their stuff the challenge of spotting the animals yourself on a self-drive in Kruger is an option, but I gave up on that some years ago, when the number of motorized morons exceeded my tolerance level.
Johan
#12
Join Date: May 2006
Location: FRA
Programs: LH, BA, DL
Posts: 625
Very insightful post - I certainly agree with your statement regarding private concessions in the Park itself (was quite disappointed with Jock's Safari Lodge back in 2005).
Do you find that this applies largely to the southern half of the Park or to the whole thing? (I'm thinking about checking out the north next time).
BTW, does everyone agree that the new layout of MTBEDS sucks?
Do you find that this applies largely to the southern half of the Park or to the whole thing? (I'm thinking about checking out the north next time).
BTW, does everyone agree that the new layout of MTBEDS sucks?
#13
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The Mother City & Maputo
Programs: SAA, BAEC, MK, EK Once upon a time VS until I was robbed of miles.
Posts: 133
Indeed. Very true. I think the trick here for those who do want to self drive is to try & avoid the park during South African school holiday periods which are different from those in the Northern Hemisphere as well as other peak times such as public holidays, weekends and most definitely over Xmas and Easter holidays. There have been times off peak season when I've seen hardly any vehicles.
The Northern part of the park will almost certainly have fewer day visitors than the Southern areas in part because of the distances and the prevailing slow speed limits.
The Northern part of the park will almost certainly have fewer day visitors than the Southern areas in part because of the distances and the prevailing slow speed limits.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 20,550
Interesting reading on private concessions.
As I stated above, I recently spent three days at Lukimbi Lodge.
I did not feel that I was in a zoo-like experience.
I enjoyed the solitude of the game drives and particularly enjoyed the fact that we (three Land Rovers dispersed over the concession) had the exclusive run of the concession. We did not have to compete with the multitude of vehicles that I previously experienced in Sabi Sands.
To each his/her own safari experience.
As I stated above, I recently spent three days at Lukimbi Lodge.
I did not feel that I was in a zoo-like experience.
I enjoyed the solitude of the game drives and particularly enjoyed the fact that we (three Land Rovers dispersed over the concession) had the exclusive run of the concession. We did not have to compete with the multitude of vehicles that I previously experienced in Sabi Sands.
To each his/her own safari experience.
#15
Join Date: May 2006
Location: FRA
Programs: LH, BA, DL
Posts: 625
Interesting reading on private concessions.
As I stated above, I recently spent three days at Lukimbi Lodge.
I did not feel that I was in a zoo-like experience.
I enjoyed the solitude of the game drives and particularly enjoyed the fact that we (three Land Rovers dispersed over the concession) had the exclusive run of the concession. We did not have to compete with the multitude of vehicles that I previously experienced in Sabi Sands.
To each his/her own safari experience.
As I stated above, I recently spent three days at Lukimbi Lodge.
I did not feel that I was in a zoo-like experience.
I enjoyed the solitude of the game drives and particularly enjoyed the fact that we (three Land Rovers dispersed over the concession) had the exclusive run of the concession. We did not have to compete with the multitude of vehicles that I previously experienced in Sabi Sands.
To each his/her own safari experience.