We have booked a private vehicle specially  kitted for photographers and we have out specialist ranger Mike  Karantonis who is excellent on animal behavior prediction( important when we need to be in the right position for action shots)

We went out for our first drive yesterday afternoon and bumbeled around the bush to see what we could find .We found lovely birds at a water hole  and decided to spend some time there getting our camera settings  and eyes adujsted to fast moving objects.

Phios our tracker

The next morning we headed out early  to follow up on a pride of lions that were found late the previous evening, after some time of following tracks and some skillful tracking by

Mike and our Tracker Phios we found them just as the sun was breaking through the african bush. This made for some lovely photos in that golden hour time frame of good light.

One of the lionesses found a baby tortoise (life in africa is tough ) and was carrying it around , the others wanting some action too made for good action/playful shots. Later that afternoon we went out looking for the elusive leopard, and what a magnificent animal he was when we found him.

Here are some of the photos of our photographic trip

Lilac breasted roller

carmine bee-eater

Leopard

lioness with tortoise

It was a wonderful trip , now looking forward to the next one

cheers for now

Location:

Kirkmans Kamp is situated in the south-eastern part of the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve  .This reserve is privately owned by  some 35 different lodges and makes up a wildlife area of roughly 70000 hec (172 973 acers). Although each lodge owes its own property there are no fence between neighboring properties so the animals are free to roam wherever they want. The Sabi Sand Reserve is situated to the west of the famous Kruger national park , roughly some 2million hectares( 5million acers) and here too there are no fence between the two reserves so the animals have free range between the reserves. This global echo system stretches from round about Nelspriut in the south all the way up past Phalaborwa up to Pafuri and Crooks corner in the north (no-mans land were three countries come together, South Africa,Botswana and Zimbabwe). The eastern border is the Mozambique border and the western border is made up of a mixture of private reserves like the Sabi Sand , Timbavati , and Baluli reserves and small towns such as Hazyview ,Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa. this extended echo system is Known as the Greater Kruger national park and it in turn forms part of the international trans frontier park which stretches across various countries.

Map

Directions:

Best way to get there if you are not flying in from ORT or KMIA would be through the town of Nelspruit ( also referred to as the Gateway to the low veld or Kruger) on to Hazyview were you then head east along the R536 straight to Kruger.

The distance to the Gate is about 80 kms roughly 45min driving time as you have to drive through informal settlements for most of the way. about 60 kms out of Hayzeview you will turn left  onto a dirt road for 7-8km before getting  to the sabi sand reserve gate, best to use shawes gate (second turn off to the Sabi  Sand ) the one closest to kruger . The road is well marked with all the lodge signs.

Summary:

The lodge:

Kirkmans  is situated in on a ridge overlooking the sand river ,it has a very colonial feel to it, originally a hunting kamp of Sir Harry Kirkman appointed to establish cattle farming in the area. The lodge still has all the hunting  memorabilia as décor

The lodge falls into the And Beyond basket  and has the characteristic good level of service and excellent food.

for more lodge  click on the link:

http://www.africadirect.co.za/lodge.aspx?LodgeID=21

Size & Atmosphere: The camp is situated on a hill over looking  pristine bushveld and   sand river, It is a large camp with 18 rooms grouped together in clusters of 4 rooms. It has a very relaxed atmosphere , sort of home away from home. There is a lounge separate bar area and a library with fast internet access.

Communal Pool: It has a large pool with pristine views over looking the sand river

Mobile Phone and Internet Access: very bad mobile coverage ,have to stand under a specific tree to get a weak signal this proves very inconvenient if you need to stay in contact with your office or staff.  Internet access is good at the guest computer in the library

Spa: Does not have a full spa but relaxing massages are given in the solarium at the pool

Child Policy: This is a child friendly lodge , kids are allowed on game drive from the age of 12 unless you have a group and you and all on the vehicle know each other in which case they may allow younger kids to go on game drive.

Rooms:

Game Drives:

Vehicle/guest policy: normally six on a vehicle rare occasions more , Note : the tracker sits on the back seat so couple could be split with one partner sitting next to the tracker and the other on the seat in front. Because the have there own property the game viewing hours are more flexible than at other lodges who share property

Property and traversing size: This is a beautiful property with a long stretch of the sand river on it so always good for game viewing, especially in winter. Game drives traverse over 6300 hectares (15 700 acers). Property is not share with any other lodge so exclusivity is more or less guarantied, occasionally you may bump into a Mala Mala vehicle as this used to be a part of Mala Mala and the still have traversing rights on kirkmans

Location:

Sabi Sabi is situated in the southern part of the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve  .This reserve is privately owen by  some 35 different lodges and makes up a wildlife area of rughly 70000 hec (172 973 acers). Although each lodge owes its owen property there are no fence between neighboring properties so the animals are free to roam where ever they want.The Sabi Sand Reserve is situated to the west of the famous Kruger national park , roughly some 2million hecters( 5million acers) and here too there are no fence between the two reserves so the animals have free range between the reserves. This global echo system stretches from round about Nelspruit in the south all the way up past phalaborwa up to Pafuri and Crooks corner in the north. the eastern border is the Mosambique border and the wester border is made up of a mixture os private reserves like the Sabi Sand , Timbavati , and Baluli reserves and small towns such as Hazyview ,Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa. this extended echo system is Known as the Greater Kruger national park and it in turn forms part of the international trans frontier park which stretches across various countries.

Directions:

Best way to get there if you are not flying in from ORT or KMIA would be throurgh the town of Nelspruit ( also refered to as the Gateway to the low veld or Kruger) on to hazyview were you then head east straight to kruger.

distance to the Gate is about 80 kms roughly 45min driving time as you have to drive through informal settelments for most of the way. about 60 kms out of Hayzeview you will turnleft  onto a dirt road for 7-8km before getting  to the sabi sand resrve gate, best to use shawes gate (second turn off to the Sabi  Sand ) the one closest to kruger . The road is well marked with all the lodge signs.

View Larger Map

The Lodges

I have taken the time to write a short lodge summary about each lodge ,the items mention below are important to me while I am traveling and  hopefully will help you to decide which one of the four you would like to stay at should you want to go., what you will read here is normally not stated on the web sites , and its my personal opinion based on actual experience, so feel free to disagree or differ from me.

All theses lodges are 5 star plus , they all have air-conditioning ,and mini bar fridges. All the lodges have a comon guest are for dining and lounges and libraries

Sabi Sabi  has 4 lodges , BushLodge  , Selati Lodge,  Earth Lodge  and little BushLodge . Each lodge has its owen character and feel and each is quite different from the others.

my personal favarite is bush lodge ,but i can fault any of the others at all , SS always had an exceptional high standard of service and the food is just to die for .

congrates to Rod and his team for eing able to consistantly delivier good service.

for more on each lodge just click on the link

Little bush lodge summary:

Size and Atmosphere  : small & quaint, 6 luxury rooms, , has a tranquale bush feel to it

Air-Conditioning : yes

Mobile Phone and Internet Coverage : yes

Vehicle /Guest Policy: max 6 people on vehicle , unless you are a group and you all want to be on the same vehicle.

Property Size : traverse roughly 7000 hectares on there own property and dont share with other lodge

for more info and photos : http://www.africadirect.co.za/lodge.aspx?LodgeID=9

Bush lodge summary:

Size and Atmosphere : My personal favarite , 26 rooms, also on dry riverbed ,over looks a water hole and you will almost always see some animals there during lunch in the winter months, always has a subttle buss to it.

Air-Conditioning : yes

Mobile Phone and Internet Coverage : yes

Vehicle /Guest Policy: max 6 people on vehicle , unless you are a group and you all want to be on the same vehicle.

Property Size : traverse roughly 7000 hectares on there own property and dont share with other lodges

more info and photos:http://www.africadirect.co.za/lodge.aspx?LodgeID=1

Selati lodge summary

Size and Atmosphere : situated more to the east of there property, overlooks a water hole aswell ,its a smaller lodge than bush, 8 rooms and is known for its romantic atmospher The lodge has a very strong character drawn from the 1800’s when they had just discovered gold and the selati railway line was build in that area to get gold to the then lourenso marcs ,(Mozambique,)

Air-Conditioning : yes

Mobile Phone and Internet Covarage : good coverage

Vehicle /Guest Policy : max 6 people on vehicle , unless you are a group and you all want to be on the same vehicle.

Property Size : traverse roughly 7000 hectares on there own property and dont share with other lodges

more info and photos : http://www.africadirect.co.za/lodge.aspx?LodgeID=8

Earth lodge summary:

Size & Atmosphere : this is their flagship lodge and truly something special, sunken into the side of a ridge ,it  has almost zero visual impact on the echo system.it over looks a water hole and has a great view of the valley and oposite side of the ridge. It has 13 rooms well spread out on either-side of the main guest area , so you have a wonderful sense of privacy.

Air-Conditioning : yes

Mobile Phone and Internet Coverage : yes

Vehicle /Guest Policy : max 6  usually 2-4 depending on staff availability.

Property Size : traverse roughly 7000 hectares on there own property and don’t share with other lodges

It is the only lodge in their  basket were each luxury suite has its own private plunge pool, and the rooms all have a sky light to view the stars.

for more info and photos : http://www.africadirect.co.za/lodge.aspx?LodgeID=3