Leopard Hills Lodge
With a safari in South Africa, most people think of the Kruger park, but we prefer the Sabi Sands. This area of 75.000 hectares is a private reserve. The rangers take you ‘off road’, so you can actually benefit from the ‘tracking’ man sitting on front of the 4-wheel drive. Besides, this area is not full of lodges and you’re not looking at an impala together with 20 other cars at the same time.
After a flight in the smallest plane you can imagine and a warm welcome, a big lunch is immediately served (btw, at Leopard Hills all meals and drinks are included). You have lunch on the upper terrace where you can see the view of a pond, where elephants come to drink in some months of the year. My lunch wasn’t even served yet when a local monkey jumps down a tree, grasps the food of my plate and disappears like a real Tarzan back into the tree! Apparently I wasn’t the only one who was hungry! Apart from this, the food at Leopard Hills Lodge is truly delicious, the service is really perfect and Leopard Hills owns a large wine cellar.
The 8 villa’s from Leopard Hills are very tasteful, romantic, spacious and decorated in a colonial style. Each villa has a plunge pool, but be aware because some elephants might want to get a sip from your pool and before you know it your lounge bed in the sun is being hijacked by a leopard! This actually happened when we were there.
Every morning you wake up early for the safari’s and each gamedrive is different! Unbelievable what a wonderful world and how spectacular to observe all the wild animals. Even a lion and lioness who are making passionate love are one of the many special scenes you can watch. The lioness clearly has nothing to say and must completely obey. If you need to urinate during the game drive, be careful because before you know it there are 5 lions roaring next to you.
The game drives are organized in small groups, every morning there is a stop for coffee and tea with some muffins, and in the afternoon a break for a drink in the bush. The surrounding is changing by the hour and every time you are surprised by another special animal, like elephants who are drinking and playing in a big pond, rare birds, fast leopards, cheeky monkeys and giant rhinoceros blocking the road. After the last game drive you’re having dinner together with all other guests at a long table in the open air. The atmosphere is very personal and sincere and the staff of Leopard Hills is doing their utmost to make your days here memorable. We can’t wait to return to Leopard Hills someday…
