Singita Ebony Lodge

OVERVIEW:

Singita Ebony Lodge was the first property to be constructed by the world-renowned Singita collection. Today this company owns and operates a superb selection of camps and lodges across the Serengeti, Kruger National Park, Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou, and more. Its name means Place of Miracles, and Singita’s principal aim is to provide eco-conscious accommodation while conserving the local wildlife and empowering local communities. Ebony has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence! The accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, twice-daily game drives, safari walks, transfers between the lodge and Singita’s airstrip, and a laundry service. The lodge is open all year round. There’s no minimum age requirement, but families with children aged under 10 years must book a family suite.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

The lodge is accessed via road transfer from Singita’s own airstrip. It has a lovely location above the seasonal Sand river, within the company’s private reserve. The reserve is situated in the central region of the Sabi Sands.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT SINGITA EBONY LODGE:

The 12 guest suites are available in three categories – Suite, Lewis Suite, and Family Suite. All occupy timber, stone, thatch, and glass structures, and the front wall of each suite is made entirely of glass. The standard suite is a great option for solos and couples, and two suites can be linked together. The bedroom contains a double bed or twin beds, bedside tables and lighting, a chest of drawers, and a cosy fireplace. There’s a spacious lounge area too. The décor includes antiques, artefacts, and vintage campaign furnishings from Singita owner Luke Bailes’ family collection. En-suite facilities comprise flush toilet, twin washbasins, walk-in shower, and freestanding bathtub with shower attachment. Outside, there’s a series of decks, where you’ll find lounge and dining furniture, and a private plunge pool! The Lewis suites are slightly larger and a fantastic choice for families with teenagers. Families with young children will love staying in a Family Suite, which benefits from an extra en-suite bedroom, a veranda with very spacious lounge/diner area and stone fireplace, and a private viewing deck with plunge pool! If you book both Family suites, you book Ebony Villa. The villa can accommodate up to four adults and four children aged under 12 years, or a maximum of six adults and teenagers. Guests of the villa have access to a private entrance, private vehicle and guide, chef, host, waiter, and boma.

Ebony’s communal lodge is beautifully located among jackalberry trees beside the Sand river, and it’s approached along wooden walkways from the guest accommodation. The lounge defines sumptuous, with its super-plush seating around coffee tables and impressive selection of artefacts and antiques. The dining room is a very grand affair, featuring elegant tables and chairs topped with silver birds and gold light jars, an immense chandelier overhead, and a grand stone fireplace with gold candles on its mantelpiece and an array of gold plates on the wall above. Ebony’s bar is less formal yet still holds plenty of wow-factor thanks to its use of metallic objects and artworks. The property also offers a boutique, a gallery, a spa, and a gym. Outside the lodge, you’ll find a number of decks for relaxing and dining. One of these has a fire-pit with an almost cauldron-like bronze burner and a ring of safari chairs. And there’s a swimming pool too, which is perfect for cooling off in the heat of the day.

ACTIVITIES AT SINGITA EBONY LODGE:

The private reserve in which Ebony Lodge is situated contains a wonderful range of wildlife.

• Guests can go on expertly guided game drives and enjoy a lot of sightings!
• Highlights include all Big Five – lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo.
• The Sabi Sands region is particularly famous for its populations of big cats.
• There are lots of smaller predators too, such as cheetah, hyenas, jackals, and wild dog, while other herbivores include hippo, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and an amazing assortment of antelopes!
• Bird species abound, and we highly recommend bringing your binoculars.
• The lodge’s safari walks present thrilling opportunities for birdwatching, as well as tracking animals and taking a close look at the reserve’s insects and plant life. Please note, the walks have a minimum age requirement of 15 years.
• However, younger children can take part in Singita’s Mini Rangers’ Course, which offers its own animal tracking as well as bush survival techniques, nature quizzes, and frogging.
• And everyone can enjoy photography, stargazing, and even archery, all in the presence of a knowledgeable and experienced guide.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.