Experiences that define the ultimate luxury South African safari
Safaris differ widely so if you are the discerning traveller that wants the ultimate luxury South African safari, these are the experiences to look out for. It should be filled with moments that are curated around your personal tastes and expectations to help you connect with nature deeply. Because a safari is much more than being able to tick a certain destination, animal or activity off your bucket-list. It has the potential to be a fulfilling and even transformative experience, one that will live with you long after you’ve left the bush. These five experiences are what a luxury safari in South Africa is all about! Small, intimate lodgings Sometimes less really is more, particularly when staying in a safari camp that prioritises intimacy and privacy. There is something indulgent in knowing that you share a camp with just a handful of other guests. Imagine, a spacious tented suite with bedroom, lounge and bathroom, that opens out onto a private deck with plunge pool and views of the bush that are only yours to enjoy. While the focus of a safari is around game drives and meal times, each day is interspersed with moments that make it a little different to the one before. And, as part of a personal and authentic experience, you should always be able to choose how much or how little you do each day. Exclusive safari destination In a private game reserve, you won’t have to share special moments on safari with a crowd of other visitors. There are fewer lodges in an independently-owned reserve in order to maintain less human traffic to ensure low-impact tourism and a better guest experience. The guides on private reserves also share sightings with their colleagues by radio which increases the possibility of seeing rarer species such as rhino, leopard and cheetah. A government-owned national park, on the other hand, offers lower entrance fees, day visits and self-drives, and more accommodation options, which means greater chance of interruptions from other rumbling of vehicle engines and their chattering passengers. Immersive bush experiences A big drawcard of a luxury South African safari are those added – and sometimes surprise – guest experiences that allow you to truly connect with the wonder and magic of the bush. Just before heading back to camp for dinner, your guide might drive up to a hilltop where a table is laden with gourmet snacks and drinks to be enjoyed at sundown. The morning’s bush stop might be overlooking a watering hole, so you can watch the hippos and crocodiles wake up while you drink your first cup of coffee. A romantic dinner under the stars on your suite’s private deck, a welcome note on arrival and turndown service each night, a bubble bath sprinkled with flower petals – these are some of things that make it luxury. Warm and attentive service One of the highlights of a luxury safari is the professional and personalised service. In a small camp, each guest is an individual that staff get to know and often make friends with. The same guide will look after you throughout your stay, and they will go above and beyond to make your safari your best holiday yet. Guides at smaller camps are highly-trained and personable with plenty of experience working in the bush. You’ll learn and see the world around you through highly skilled eyes. And their local knowledge of the terrain and in-depth understanding of wildlife behaviour means the chance of great sightings is significantly increased. Eco-friendly luxury A luxury safari in South Africa should be underpinned by an eco-friendly ethos and practice. Regulating and coordinating game drives from the properties on the reserve reduces stress on the bush and wildlife. Smaller camps that are raised on stilts above the ground and built to maximise natural airflow and to run off solar-powered electricity are all part of enjoying an unforgettable safari that has minimal disruption to the surrounding environment. A luxury South African safari celebrates the privacy and tranquillity of wilderness camping, while incorporating the creature comforts of modern life and some extra luxurious touches.
A decade of cheetah conservation in Manyoni
Over the past two months, our guests and rangers have been treated to excellent sightings of the latest spotted additions and their mother to the reserve.
Summer special: Beach and bush safari holiday in KZN
A beach and bush safari holiday in KwaZulu-Natal is the classic combination getaway in South Africa. That’s why we are treating you to a summer special that gives you the best of both worlds for less and just a three-hour drive between them. We have partnered with our friends at Sala Beach House, a gorgeous new seaside escape in Thompson’s Bay, a three-hour drive south-east of Manyoni Private Game Reserve. Book a minimum of two nights at Sala and two nights with us at Rhino Sands, and enjoy a 10% discount on each property’s all-inclusive rates. This special is valid for travel from now until 28 February 2023; block out dates apply from 16 December 2022 to 8 January 2023. South Africans enjoy a double special as our resident rates still apply. (If you already know this is the holiday for you, then you can skip the details below and head over to complete our online enquiry form. Or contact Reservations on info@rhinosands.com or +27 (0) 87 004 4027.) Why we love Sala for a beach and bush safari holiday in KZN Sala Beach House welcomes guests to experience barefoot beachside luxury away from the crowds and noise of the city. The main house perches on the seafront, and features four guest rooms and three suites that each sleep two guests and a private beach villa for a group of six. Here are just some of the reasons to fall in love with Sala like we have: Relax in several elegant spaces, like the dining room, outdoor terrace, and two swimming pools. Watch the sun rise over the Indian Ocean and often spot pods of dolphins gracefully moving through the water. Head down via private access to to a protected tidal pool, swimming beach and secluded coves. Indulge in exquisite dining, sundowner canapés around the firepit and a cocktail of the day. Treat yourself to a healing message and therapeutic treatment at the on-site wellness spa. Enjoy other activities in the area as well, including deep sea fishing, golf, surfing and micro-lighting. What to expect on your luxury safari with us As a boutique hotel on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, Sala is the perfect complement to a bespoke tented safari experience with Rhino Sands. If you haven’t visited Rhino Sands yet, here are some of best parts that you can expect during your safari with us: Connect with nature from a private tented suite raised above a riverbed and surrounded by lush forest. Enjoy amazing Big 5 and wildlife sightings in Manyoni, one of Zululand’s premier game reserves. Experience the bush on guided morning and afternoon game drives, that include morning coffee stops and sundowners with a spectacular view. Dine beneath the stars around the boma fire on culinary delights that match each guest’s preferences. Stay in an eco-friendly safari camp that operates off-grid and with minimal disruption to the surrounding environment. Become part of the Rhino Sands family, as our camp staff and guides make you feel at home, always. For those flying into Durban for your beach and bush safari holiday in KZN, Sala is a 20-minute drive from King Shaka International Airport. If you decide to visit Rhino Sands first, your drive from the airport will be about three-hours. If you are driving from Johannesburg, Manyoni is about six hours away and Sala is about nine hours away. When you are ready to enquire or book your perfect summer getaway with Rhino Sands and Sala Beach House, you can complete our online form or contact Reservations on info@rhinosands.com or +27 (0) 87 004 4027.
Eco safari camp: Building Rhino Sands ‘green’ from the bottom up
From even the earliest days of our imagining, we were absolutely certain that Rhino Sands would be an eco safari camp. By putting the environment first from the very start, we transformed our dream into a reality that we get to share with like-minded, eco-conscious travellers. Inspired by our careers in conservation, we fell in love with the Zululand bush many years ago and it still amazes us every day. As an eco-friendly safari camp, we do our best to limit our impact on the natural environment and gently encourage our guests to be aware of their consumption of resources. By caring for nature in this way, we hope that our team and our guests get to connect with it more deeply and take this thoughtfulness home with them to implement in their day to day life. Purpose-built eco-friendly safari camp Sustainable design and building principles guided construction of the camp so that it continues today to preserve the riverine forest that surrounds it and the wildlife that thrive in this habitat. Each structure of the camp, from the camp itself to the staff accommodation, was painstakingly located with minimal impact on the surrounding forest. The forest itself largely dictated the layout you observe with the camp today. In fact, you will see many places throughout the camp where the trees themselves remain intact and the camp and decking has been built around them. Unlike the design of so many safari lodges today, Rhino Sands was designed to complement the natural surroundings rather than dominate them. The camp is tucked into the forest, and in fact when viewed from above at a distance, the only visible structure is the solar panels. Powered by the sun Zululand basks in sunshine for most days of the year, which is not only great for the safari experience but also means that running Rhino Sands using solar energy was an easy choice. The camp is entirely off-grid, all heating elements (which require the most electricity) are run off of natural gas, and we do our best to conserve electricity when and where possible. This significantly reduces our – and by extension your – carbon footprint. Environmentally-friendly safari operations Many of the smaller details around the camp have been sourced specifically because of their eco-friendly nature. Our towels, for example, are made from locally grown cotton, woven in a design that minimizes the amount of water and electricity it takes for us to wash them. The toiletries provided in the tents are organic and biodegradable. In order to reduce singe-use plastic in the camp, each guest gets a stainless steel drinking bottle to use throughout their stay. All the printing we do in camp is done on recycled paper. These are all examples of conscious choices that we make in the day to day running of the camp aimed at minimizing our impact on the environment, and our hope is that sharing these choices with our guests encourages them to start making similar decisions at home as well. From the delicious cup of coffee you have around the campfire before the morning game drive to the wine you enjoy with dinner, we have sourced local and environmentally friendly wherever possible. You will find that the time of the year is reflected not only when you look out into the bush, but also when you look down at your plate. This is because we create our menus based on local and seasonal fresh produce to reduce our carbon footprint from transporting food. Are you itching to get into the bush? And in an eco-conscious way? Then come and experience it on safari with us. Please contact us or enquire and book using our easy to use online form.
A South African guest’s guide to birding in Manyoni
Brian Roberts recently got to add some real beauties to his ever-growing bird life-list during his second safari at Rhino Sands. We asked him six questions about his experience birding in Manyoni, tips and tricks for beginner birders and photographers, and of course what have been his favourite sightings while in Manyoni. Please give us a brief background about who you are. I am a born and bred KZN North Coaster. I attended Umhlali Primary School from 1973 to 1979, my wife is also a graduate of Umhlali Primary School but she finished MANY years after me! I work in the corporate property world and spent the 12 years prior to Covid commuting to Johannesburg for three days a week. If there is a positive to come out of the dreadful pandemic, it’s that it introduced the world to virtual meetings, and this has greatly reduced travelling for me and given me so much more time with my Luelle (my wife), Josh and Meg (kids). How did you get interested in birding? On the 23rd of March 2020 we were locked down as a country. I am a bit ADD so there is no way I could just sit around doing nothing. I decided then and there that we live in a fantastic eco-friendly estate, and I was going to make it my mission to see how many bird species I could see from our front veranda. I am colour blind and decided that it would make sense to take photographs of the birds that I saw so that I could identify them post the sighting without having to remember distinguishing features. I had always had a camera but had also always only shot on auto. I did a photography course in lockdown to help me take better photos of the birds I saw. Both my birding and photography hobbies are a direct result of being forced to sit on my veranda for those six months or so. Once we were allowed out, I just continued to add birds to my list but could now walk around the estate and as the rules were relaxed, I could continue adding to my list at wonderful places like Rhino Sands that catered for us locals in the midst of the pandemic. What do you think birding adds to the safari experience? Birding enhances your awareness of the surroundings. There are over 400 bird species in Manyoni; if you add the cheetah, the pangolin and a few of the other beautiful species to the famous Big 5, there are probably 15 to 20 animals that the average safari guest will be looking for. As fantastic as the rangers are, it is often completely out of their control as to whether you see the animals. Birds, on the other hand, are always there. Birding adds an entirely new dimension to the experience. There is ALWAYS something to see. I liken birding to fishing, I am a keen fisherman explain to people fishing is the experience of being outdoors, catching a fish whilst fishing is a bonus. It’s the anticipation of the catch that is so thrilling and appealing. Birding to me is walking around my estate or driving around the reserve, you are constantly aware of your surroundings; be it grassland, sand forest, watering holes, whatever the environment, there is always the possibility of seeing a bird. Birding is what I love, seeing a bird is the bonus. What are the most remarkable birds (or simply your favourite) you’ve seen while staying with us? There are so many remarkable birds at Manyoni so I will make it easier for myself and limit my answer to the remarkable birds we have seen at the Rhino Camp site itself. We have seen pink-throated twinspots; a female narina trogan who came to watch us eat lunch; I watched a grey-headed bushshrike pluck a chameleon off a tree in front of our room; we have seen an orange-breasted bushshrike as well. One of my favourites was a very good sighting of a female black buckooshrike – the black cuckooshrike is one of the few species where (IMHO) the female is so much more attractive than the male. There is an abundance of birdlife around the lodge, it is difficult to make a ‘short’ list of the great birds. What tips would you have for the beginning birder? Birding goes from “there is a bird”, to “there is a yellow bird”, to “there is a village weaver”, to “there is a juvenile male village weaver in non-breeding plumage”. Everyone starts at “there is a bird”. Persevere! Birding is all about practice. Do not be scared to ask silly questions, I am yet to meet a birder that knows everything. Birders crave new information and birders love to share knowledge. Try your hardest to ID a bird from the many books and many apps. It is the awareness of the distinguishing features that help you learn. If you’re always asking someone else for ID help you are not teaching yourself to pick up those small distinguishing features. Any gear or equipment recommendations for the first-time safari goer? Binoculars, a camera (it doesn’t have to be a fancy one), a bird book or app, and of course a place to record your bird list. They say that everyone likes to collect things, a bird list is a collection of birds you have seen. A life list (what birders call their list of birds) and a trip list add that little bit of competitiveness to the hobby, not necessarily to compete with others, simply to compete with yourself. I also find it increases the enthusiasm of the younger generation! Any photography tips for guests on safari? I am a birder first and a photographer second. There is nothing more satisfying than a great shot of a rare bird but the opportunities to get these shots are rare. I have tried to train myself to look first, take an ID shot second,
