Game lodge South Africa

[Assassin]

Was that with &Beyond? There has been criticism that they can have up to 9 per jeep though when we used them in Timbavati and Sabi Sand there was only every 4 or 5 on each drive.

It was with &Beyond. We have been on four or five trips with them and they have never had nine per jeep in recent times. For example, at Savute under Canvas there are five tents -so 10 guests max and 2 vehicles and guides, so max number would be 6. Each vehicle has 3 rows of 3 seats so nobody gets a middle seat. &Beyond is not far off Singita standard, so I can't imagine they would ever have more than 6.

Camp Moremi and Camp Xakanaxa are run by Desert & Delta Safaris and are less up market than &Beyond. They had a similar set up and I don't recall seeing any vehicle with more than 6 pax. We were a group of 6 on this trip so hard to judge.

 

[love_the_life]

It was with &Beyond. We have been on four or five trips with them and they have never had nine per jeep in recent times. For example, at Savute under Canvas there are five tents -so 10 guests max and 2 vehicles and guides, so max number would be 6. Each vehicle has 3 rows of 3 seats so nobody gets a middle seat. &Beyond is not far off Singita standard, so I can't imagine they would ever have more than 6.

Camp Moremi and Camp Xakanaxa are run by Desert & Delta Safaris and are less up market than &Beyond. They had a similar set up and I don't recall seeing any vehicle with more than 6 pax. We were a group of 6 on this trip so hard to judge.

We found them excellent but I had read that people had commented on the 'maximum' per jeep. We never had three in any seat. On out last day there were 7 (as a group of four had just arrived 4 and we were three) so someone would sit next to the ranger which I did on one section and it was fascinating listening to him in contact with the others. We are trying to decide where to go in Sept 2018. Leopards are our great love though cheetah are also a drawcard. Leaning towards Phinda maybe??? We loved Ngala.

 

[Assassin]

When we have travelled as a group of 4 with &Beyond we have invariably had our own vehicle. We haven't been to Phinda so I can't comment. The accomodation looks amazing but I don't think it has the same wilderness feel as Ngala. I like the look of Sandibe in Botswana, which also gives you water options.

 

[love_the_life]

When we have travelled as a group of 4 with &Beyond we have invariably had our own vehicle. We haven't been to Phinda so I can't comment. The accomodation looks amazing but I don't think it has the same wilderness feel as Ngala. I like the look of Sandibe in Botswana, which also gives you water options.

Thanks for the suggestion of Sandibe - will have a look. Last time we split the time between Ngala (and I agree it has a lovely feel) and Exeter River (Sabi Sand) as the leopard population was much higher there. It seems Exeter is no longer part of &Beyond.

 

[Assassin]

Thanks for the suggestion of Sandibe - will have a look. Last time we split the time between Ngala (and I agree it has a lovely feel) and Exeter River (Sabi Sand) as the leopard population was much higher there. It seems Exeter is no longer part of &Beyond.

I think that's right. They still have Kirkman's Camp in the Sabi Sands. We have had our best leopard sightings in the Sabi Sands and in South Luangwa in Zambia. On one night drive there we saw 6 different leopards!

If you can afford it, the Singita properties are amazing. We have stayed at Ebony and Castleton. It's not quite the same wilderness feel as Botswana but it is "over the top" service combined with superb game viewing.