I will be staying in SSGR for 5 nights in mid july. As of right now, I have 3 nights booked at Simbambili followed by a provisional booking for 2 nights at Mala Mala (Rattray's).

The price per night at MM is 3 times as much as the price at Simbambili. I have done a lot of reading on this forum and there seems to be a wide consensus that MM offers the best game viewing in SSGR. It seems like they have the largest area and they don't share traversing rights with anyone so it's only MM vehicles on their reserve.

Because I am booking so late, I was able to get a significant late booking discount at Simbambili. MM doesn't seem to give any discounts. So my question is: Is it worth it? Is it that much better that is justifies the huge price difference? Also, does it make sense to go to different lodges, or should I just try to extend Simbambili and stay in one place?

Thanks in advance!

Didn't you answer your own question, at least with respect to the consensus answer you'll get from this site.

<<I have done a lot of reading on this forum and there seems to be a wide consensus that MM offers the best game viewing in SSGR.>>

I haven't been to Mala Mala, but the photo galleries that have been shared on this site have been outstanding.

Hi thit_cho,

I wasn't asking if MM was the best, I was asking if it's that much better than some of the other choices in the SSGR to justify the extreme price differnce.

Are you looking at Mala prices for Rattrays of Main Camp? Big $$$$ difference if I remember correctly.

regards - tom

Hi, I have never visited Mala Mala or indeed any other Sabi Sands lodge, but having just stayed (and got married) at Simbambili I am sure that you will have a fantastic time. We stayed 4 nights and were very happy with the accommodation and game viewing and wished we could stay longer, though we noticed that many people opt for a 3 night stay. Our ranger (Charl) and tracker (De Beer) were brilliant.

I do however generally like to change accommodation whilst on a trip and if I could easily afford it I would stay at both just for the different experiences. That said, we were more than pleased with our game viewing experience at Simbambili.
Our trip report and photos link: http://www.fodors.com/forums_reg
/threadselect.jsp?fid=4

If the link doesn't work just type in Simbambili(plus wedding)in the search box and it should come up.

Simbambili is in the SSGR, so, mancfi you have indeed stayed in a Sabi Sands lodge.
regards - tom

Hi Tom,

MM main camp wasn't available for the dates I will be there. Sable was, but there is not much difference in rate between sable and rattray's.

Mancfi,

I read your report before booking Simbambili. It was a very detailed report that I found very useful, so thanks! Oh, and Congrats!! I just got married in the Dominican Republic and this trip is our honeymoon.

Tom, thanks for the clarification I do indeed know where we stayed, I reread my post straight after and thought it was unnecessary to correct as I thought OP would get the gist of it.

Forgot to say congratulations on your wedding, I'm sure you'll have an amazing time on your honeymoon regardless of where you end up in the SSGR

Ok, so let's see some numbers here. From MM web site, Main Camp is $575pppn, Sable is $775pppn, Rattrays is $875pppn. And I see Simbambili at $550pppn.
First question, from these numbers I don't see Rattrays being 3 times cost of Sim. Not even 2 times cost. Are you looking at different $$$$?

The overall, fundamental, question is - what is a dollar worth to YOU??? For me the additional cost of Rattrays is significant. But for some people it is pocket change.

regards - tom

Hi 95hoo,

I have not stayed at Simbambili, so cannot compare to MM directly. I have, however, stayed at a few of the Sabi Sands lodges, and to me, the gameviewing is far better at MM. I do not stay anywhere else, I spend my whole time at MM, at both the Main Camp and usually a few nights at Rattray's somewhere in the middle. MM does have the largest area, but it does share some traversing rights in the south with Kirkman's camp, but certainly the majority of the property is for MM vehicles only.

Rattray's is a wonderful experience, and while I stay at MM for the gameviewing and wonderful staff, I do not mind have those few days of pure luxury.

Kind regards

Kaye

We just returned from our trip and had 3 nights at MM. It was wonderful. We met some people later on that had been upgraded to Rattray's and said they were sorry that had accepted that.

They felt that having all of the extras like TV, phones, etc. took away from the safari experience. They felt it was lovely but having been to Chitabe and Duma Tau earlier in the trip they wanted to continue the other experience.

I will tell you that we met Michael and Norma Rattray and they are delightful. No matter which of their properties you end up at you will have a wonderful experience.

mancfi,

Thanks!! I have no doubt that it will be an amazing experience regardless--our first safari

Tom,

Since main camp wasn't available, the choice was between Sable and Rattray's and the difference is $100/pp/night which is a 13% difference and from what I saw, Rattray's looked significantly nicer than Sable.

For Simbambili, I was able to get a great last minute rate through MTBeds that is a third of what the Mala Mala rate is. This is really what the core of my question is: Should I try to find another great deal for the 2 last days of my safari (likely at around $250/pp/night) or should I go ahead and spend triple that for the MM experience? Is it worth that difference?

Kaye

Thanks for your input. It seems that for you, based on your experiences with both MM and other SSGR lodges, MM is worth the difference.

spiegelcgs,

Thanks for responding. That's very interesting. Did they have to pay for the upgrade? One of the things I like about Rattrays is that there are no children under 16 at the camp and they try to keep it to 4 persons or less per vehicle. Also, it looks so nice and romantic, very fitting for a honeymoon...

Any other opinions? I know more of you have visited SSGR and would love to hear what you think before I have to make the decision...

Thanks.

They have dogs that are denning on their property at the moment. It is a can't miss......go to MM!!!

MM is my favorite camp. The difference between Sable and Rattray:

Rattray: 4 passengers per jeep, Satellite TV, faster internet connection (in room), same food, larger room.

Sable: is practically same as Main Camp, just a tad larger, same food, very slow internet connection in library. When we were at Sable we actually ate with Main camp some nights when Sable was not fully occupied.

My understanding is pricing for Main $595, Sable 795 and Rattray 995 pppd. That is a considerable difference each day. Is it worth it? That would be up to the individual. My first visit was at Main camp in 2000 and I thoroughly enjoyed it and is the reason I came back for 12 nights this year.

If this is your first time to Africa or South Africa, I think you will find just about any place exciting and interesting. MM does offer great game viewing, excellent guides and trackers, and nice accomodations. The food is nothing spectacular, but ok. They do have a good variety of animals on a large piece of property and offer night drives which are fun as well.

I can not suggest which you might enjoy, 4 days at one camp versus splitting up in different camps. This is a decision you will have to make.

Our first visit to Africa we spent 3 days at many different places: Ngorongoro Crater, Victoria Falls, Botswana, South Africa (MM), Zimbabwe, Serengeti, Zanzibar, Cape Town. I am glad that we saw the variety of places and enjoyed them all as they each had something special to offer. But on return we opted for one camp MM for our entire trip. Reasons: nice accomodations, excellent guides, great game drives.

I have not been to Simbambili and it would be hard for me to compare MM to this lodge.

- Granny Joan

Rattrays would be spactacular for a honeymoon. Dont let the added extras of the room put you off. Unless you ask for the key - and we dont - you dont realize there is a TV and laptop available. All you see is locked furniture that fits the room beautifully.

Anyone know how long the wild dogs will use the den? I'll be at Kirkman's Kamp 1&2 November.

That particular den? Who knows.....will need to change it, when it gets infested with fleas.

Does anyone know how Mala Mala compares to the game viewing/tracking experience in Botswana and Zambia? Is it a very organised experience? Are there lot of vehicles going out at once? Does everyone get a window seat?
Thanks