Kate Webster Sabi Sabi’s Selati Camp is a lodge where turn of the century elegance meshes with personalised safari luxury.
The camp is located in Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, situated in the world-renowned 60,000-hectare Sabi Sand Wildtuin (Sabi Sand Reserve) in the South-Western section of the Kruger National Park. To access the area, you take a short one-hour flight with Airlink from Johannesburg to Skukuza airport, a gateway to Kruger National Park area.
It is one of four lodges that make up the Sabi Sabi family. The four completely separate luxurious, all-suite lodges have very distinct characters and atmospheres – those of “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.
The Camp
Stepping into Selati Camp is like stepping back in time. It is historically themed as the Sabi Sabi of Yesterday, furnished with old railway memorabilia and meticulously created as an authentic home in the bush. The railway theme extends from the original steam engine name plates, signals and shunter’s lamps lighting the way to my suite, to interesting memorabilia and other collector’s pieces in each suite.
This theme comes from the area’s intriguing past. During the 1870’s, high in the crevices of the Drakensberg escarpment which rises to the west of Sabi Sabi, gold was discovered. To transport the gold, the parliament of the Old Transvaal Republic commissioned a railway line from the interior to Delagoa Bay in Mozambique. A branch railway known as the Selati Line crossed the Sabi Sand Reserve. While the line is disused today, the old railbed can still be seen in the north-eastern section of Sabi Sabi, close to Selati Camp.
There is a swimming pool overlooking the bush to relax and cool off during the warmer months or just relax by the pool in the deck chairs and watch the wildlife go by. Next to the pool is a casual seating area where guests can enjoy reading, relaxing and unwinding in between safari experiences. While there is no spa on site, guests will have access to either Amani Spa at Bush Lodge or Earth Lodge.
It is important to note that due to the location of the camp, the WiFi signal may be interrupted due to unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather or wildlife interference.
Rooms
With just seven lodges, Selati Camp oozes exclusivity. The classic vintage styling continues on to the opulent thatched suites, each with full bathroom en-suite and private alfresco shower nestled under majestic indigenous trees. The spacious lodge is grandeur in the form of original antiques, a draped four-poster bed looking out onto a private terrace with outdoor shower and bath. Amongst all the luxurious touches there is still as sense of being out bush, with splashing of canvas and raw materials used in the structural building.
For something extra special, the Presidential Suite is the ultimate in luxury. Settle into the draped four-poster bed looking out onto your private terrace that has a private plunge pool. The magnificent en-suite bathroom, complete with Persian carpet and antique chaise-lounge, also features a quiet space surrounded by the sounds of the bushveld. The separate dressing room features an antique wardrobe and matching dressing table.
Dining
At Sabi Sabi Selati Camp you can enjoy world-class cuisine mixed with some locally inspired dishes. Meals are served on the wooden thatched decks built alongside the Msuthlu riverbed, in the open air “boma” or in the “farmhouse kitchen”.
Your stay will include full breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with coffee and nibbles on morning game drives for morning tea and sundowner drinks and snacks for the evening game drive. Special occasions will call for unique dining options, including breakfast on the riverbed or dinner in the bush.
Activities
Safaris take place each morning and evening in open safari vehicles which drive through a wide variety of habitats, allowing guests to view the vast interactions of the wild. After breakfast, guests on guided walking trails can experience the natural environment on foot. The dedicated, highly trained and experienced Rangers are full of knowledge and are a necessity to the wildlife spotting experience.
Sabi Sabi isn’t all about phenomenal game drives, with many other activities on offer. Opportunities for education and adventure are definitely on the cards for those interested and energetic. Take part in a morning environmental awareness walking safari, which gives an opportunity to feel the pulse of Africa through the soles of your feet and experience the bushveld at close quarters.
Details
You can book Sabi Sabi Selati Camp by contacting them on + 27 13 735 5771 or via email selatireception@sabisabi.com
To get to Sabi Sabi Selati Camp you can fly direct from Johannesburg to Skukuza airport with Airlink. To book flights visit www.flyairlink.com
