Cape Town, Franschhoek and the Sabi Sand in ten nights
Three nights above the Atlantic in Cape Town, three among the vineyards of Franschhoek, then four in the Sabi Sand for leopard. Little jet lag from the UK and a good first safari for couples.
Singita Boulders Lodge
Stone, glass and river light on the Sand River, with some of the most reliable leopard viewing in southern Africa on the doorstep.
Why we love it
Boulders sits on the rocky banks of the Sand River in the southern Sabi Sand, and the building takes its cue from the granite outcrops around it: low, heavy, earth-coloured and open to the water. Each suite has a glass-walled sitting room, a deck and a heated plunge pool, so the quiet hours between drives are spent watching the riverbed rather than a wall.
The reason to come is the game viewing. The Sabi Sand is known for high concentrations of big game and frequent leopard sightings, and twice-daily drives plus walks with a tracker are all included. The wine cellar is one of the best we know in the bush, and a tasting with the sommelier is a good use of a hot afternoon.
It suits couples on a first or fifth safari who want fewer, better sightings and a room that feels like a retreat. It is not for anyone on a tight budget, and families with children under 10 should look elsewhere: the lodge only takes children from that age, though the two family suites work well for older ones. If you want wilderness with no other lodges on the horizon, the Kalahari or northern Botswana will feel emptier.
Rooms and villas
River Suite
Suites along the river-facing stretch of the lodge, each with an en-suite bedroom, private sitting room, game-viewing deck and heated plunge pool.
Bush Suite
Three suites set a little back from the river, two of them overlooking a busy waterhole, with the same sitting room, deck and plunge pool.
Family Suite
Two suites with an en-suite main bedroom and an en-suite twin room, an outdoor dining and lounge area with a stone fireplace, and a heated plunge pool.
Dining
All meals and drinks are included, premium wines and spirits among them. Wine is taken seriously here: each Singita lodge in the Sabi Sand has its own temperature-controlled cellar, and sommeliers run private tastings for anyone from the curious to the collector.
Wellness
There is a wellness centre and gym at the lodge, a swimming pool in the main area, and yoga sessions. Treatments are tailored to each guest and cost extra, and guides can run slower, sensory sessions out on drive.
Children and families
Children aged 10 and over are welcome. There is babysitting, a Mini Rangers programme and two family suites; bush walks are for ages 16 and up, and guides decide whether younger children join game activities.
The facts
| Children | From age 10 |
|---|---|
| Getting there | About 1 hour by air from Johannesburg to the Singita airstrip, then 10 minutes by road |
| Included | All meals and drinks, twice-daily game drives, guided walks, laundry |
| Not included | Spa treatments, boutique purchases, conservation and tourism levies |
| Malaria | Malaria-risk area; take medical advice before travel |
| Luggage | Soft bags only, 15kg on scheduled light-aircraft flights |
Where it is
Sabi Sand, Greater Kruger, South Africa
Nearby
A few of the things we plan for guests in South Africa.
Leopards in the Sabi Sand
The Sabi Sand shares an unfenced border with Kruger, so animals move freely, but vehicles are few and guides can drive off-road. Leopards here are unusually relaxed around vehicles. Morning and evening drives last three to four hours, with a bush breakfast or sundowners. Three or four nights is ideal.
Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula
Take the cableway or hike up Platteklip Gorge early, before the tablecloth of cloud rolls in. Then drive the peninsula via Chapman's Peak to Cape Point and the penguins at Boulders Beach. The fynbos here belongs to the Cape Floral Region, one of the richest plant kingdoms on Earth.
Estates and lunches in the Winelands
An hour from Cape Town, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch sit beneath granite mountains, with Cape Dutch homesteads and restaurants among the vines. A driver lets you taste properly. Harvest runs from about February to March; autumn colours follow in April and May.
Journeys with Singita Boulders Lodge
Ask about Singita Boulders Lodge
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.