seems to vary whether the rates are per person or per couple.

Ol Lentille Laikipia North is from $1435 per couple.

zil pasyon isnt open yet, but seems on track. http://www.seychelles.travel/en/news...php?newsid=263

As others have said, interesting and odd and very unclear-sounding ratings. Having just returned within the past month from Xudum and Singita Ebony, I find it completely inaccurate to rate them the same - excellent. Not a shot at Xudum but it is certainly not in the Ebony class at this time.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/travel...ame-reserve.do

Did anyone else get this? Just got an email from the new hotel bible A Rare World with a free link to download their review on Londolozi... pretty scathing stuff. In case anyone didn't get it, the link in the email is here... http://www.arareworld.com/free/londolozi.pdf

I'm working on a trip to South Africa right now and had thought about staying at Londolozi. Reading this review, I have to say I'm guilty of being intrigued by the enticing and sexy ad campaigns that the camp uses. It really sounds like they had a very different experience from some of the people on this board... Maybe Londolozi is a dud after all?

Has anyone had any experience with A Rare World? I'd love to find a new source for this sort of thing. I just find Andrew Harper to be such a drone and Galavanters to be so one-sided. Something about this stuff just sounds a little refreshing to the point I'm intrigued. Is anyone on here a subscriber? I am thinking of biting the bullet and paying the $199 but would love to hear about others' experiences with it...

--Stanley

An interesting take on Londolozi.
Personally I would trust Gallivanters Guide above Harpers and rareworld.com.

I subscribe to both the Gallivanter's Guide and A Rare World. While I've enjoyed A Rare World, it's nowhere nearly as informative, detailed, and nuanced in its reviews as the GG.

A Rare World:
Pros:
-- Includes a very decent number of reviews in each edition, which typically covers one area thoroughly (Singapore in the most recent edition), but also includes a few one-offs (the last issue also included Park Hyatt, DC). And each edition also includes a number of one-two paragraph mini-reviews of properties that don't get the full review.
-- They have a "Do" and "Don't" listing for each hotel, which occasionally points out some interesting suggestions that have helpfully informed my visit.

Cons:
-- The quality of writing is not professional, and nowhere nearly as polished, evocative and acute as in the GG. The language is fairly cliched and repetitive, with occasional typos, etc.
-- The photography appears to be hotel publicity stills which don't give you a true depiction of the property, whereas all the photography in the GG is original and shows what the rooms and facilities really look like.
-- It really suffers from not having a score scale. I think the "6-point" scale used by the GG is incredibly helpful in quantifying the degree of specialness of the property. In A Rare World, I sometimes feel as if it's difficult to distinguish one rave from another. The writer does indicate some degree of preference between properties, and also is clear when a property has become tired and no longer deserves the same sort of ranking as other luxury properties, whatever its reputation may have been.

So would I renew: yes, I think I will. There are enough helpful tidbits and insights that I think it's a good source.

Is it as good as the GG? Nowhere near, for the reasons described above. I do wish there were slightly more reviews in the GG--occasionally it's a bit skimpy (3 properties, for example). And I do prefer the way A Rare World balances focus on one particular region/area with one-off reviews included as well. But GG is just so very well written, so insightful, so detailed--I find myself eagerly awaiting its arrival every month.

accidental posting

Be careful what you read. My experience at Londolozi was a complete 180. It was the highlight of my trip to South Africa, which also included stops at the Cape Grace, Le Quartier Fran�ais, and Singita Sweni.

Yes Singita pampered you nonstop, the food was delicious, the spa was beautiful and the rooms were immaculate. However, I missed the connection to the natural surroundings and the warm family-like atmosphere that Londolozi provided. Jackie and Brett were beyond phenomenal. She would pick up on our conversations and surprise us with meals, wines, and services catered to our personal tastes. Brett's game drives were by far the best. They put Singita to shame. If you want to have a game drive where the ranger boasts about driving around celebrities then Singita is for you. If you want to experience the hunt and chase and learn a thing or two about your surrounding environment then head to Londolozi where they specialize in environmental preservation.

My one complaint is that Brett and Jackie have since left Londolozi. It is a shame that other visitors won't get the chance to experience their amazing hospitality.

So, you say that no website could possibly be reliable, but one person's opinion about the "best lodges" is "bullseye"? Have you stayed at thousands of different properties? I am not disparaging your or any individual poster's opinion, but your logic is a bit strange.

Thanks, OP, for the link -- this is one of many sources that I would read in researching options. @:-)

so many new posters.

botswana is best regarded here for experience. seems service is not regarded as worse than singita.

anyone else have thoughts on brett wallington and jackie _ from londolozi? if they were indeed great, are they still, somewhere else?

Interesting that there is always another side to every story. It's hard to choose where to stay on these big adventure trips, especially because it's so costly to make the wrong move. It's so personal at these kinds of hotels that it's hard to know which recommendations to take and which to leave. I've been planning the safari that may never happen for ages... constantly getting differing opinions and holding short of going for it. :/

SO hard determining the comparable reliability of various sources...

not to mention the point is specificity so that you find discussion on what matters to you.

sadly they left for personal reasons. When we were there we noticed that guests specifially asked to have Brett as their ranger because his drives were that top notch. He worked with his tracker seamlessly and he involved the guests to every degree. We were so lucky to have him as our guide and were disappointed when we had to leave.

I cannot speak about the other rangers that Londolozi provided because we were solely with Brett but while following a pack of wild dogs on a hunt three vehicles worked together so the guests could experience the thrill of the chase from every angle. Rangers would communicate via radio if an animal was spotted. Once one vehicle left a sighting another would be allowed access to view....I specifically liked this way of driving because you never felt like you were at an amusement park ride surrounded by other vehicles. You were one with the bush.

Best trip thus far!

It is really hard to go wrong! I know we were nervous with our choices (Londolozi Granite and Sigita Sweni) but I'm glad we did both. Now we just have to start saving up again so we can go back!

I believe we eventually narrowed down our list to about 5 and then weighed pros and cons. It was nice to go to two different parts of Kruger because in the Sabi Sands area the animals were definitely more familiar with the land rovers. Baby cubs, lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes....would literally walk right next to your vehicle just feet away. At our second stop the animals were less famliliar so you had to "hunt" for sightings. It was nice to have this variety.

I would definitely recommend getting a variety. We spent 3 nights at two different camps. If we had more time we would have loved to have visited Botswana as well but unfortunatelty flights and vacation days wouldn't go our way.

I can only speak honestly about the two camps we went to:
Singita Sweni and Londolozi Granite
No matter what you will feel pampered at both.

The room design and architecture at Singita was amazing. The food was slightly better (both were delicious) and the massage I had at the spa was one of the best. The game drives were nice but definitely fell short compared to Londolozi. Although the snacks on the drives at Singita were amazing! And the wines were spectacular. Singita definitely has the edge when it comes to "hotel luxury."

The room at Granite was beautiful as well. It felt more like a home than a fancy tree house. The staff treated you like family. The game drives were the best of the best when it comes to animals and excitement.

We would definitely love to return to both however in the end Londolozi edged out Singita. They made us feel so welcomed and we didn't want to leave. We both agreed it was the highlight.

You really can't go wrong though! Have a great trip - if and when you sort it all out! Oh and if you choose granite - request room #2 - it is the one with the rock pool in the brochures.

Thanks mecabq !