Singita vs. Londolozi
 

We were supposed to stay at Singita Boulders and have been switched to Londolozi. Can someone compare the two? Will I be disappointed?

Was there a price adjustment?
I have not been to either.
regards - tom

No price adjustment.

emckeeve,

I have personally not been to either of the lodges but some of my best friends have visited both. According to them Londolozi is a much better choice if you are looking for value for money. What were you quoted for your stay?

Game viewing will be very similar(Londolozi and Singita share traversing rights over 9000 ha)
but the guides, according to my pals, are much better and more enthusiastic at Londolozi.

If I had to go on their word I would definitely go with Londolozi.

Hope this helps,

KL

Shouldn't there be a price adjustment?

Are you asking in terms of animal viewing, or game drives or accommodation?

I've been to Londolozi but not Singita. Based on my experience at Londolozi, you should not be disappointed. If Singita can surpass it, then it should be an out-of-this-world experience.

Accomodation-wise, I've stayed at both Tree and Bateuleur camps at liked them equally. My favorite being the suite right on the Sand River at Bateuleur.

As far as game drives, all were superb.

Price adjustment was minimal . . .6800 rand to 7000 at Singita. I guess I was more worried about accommodations than game viewing. The specific camp is Tree Lodge vs. Boulders at Singita. Thanks to Krugerlover for allaying some of my disappointment.

On the plus side, no kids at Tree Camp. I just came back from Ebony and was quite annoyed by a huge extended family and their horrible brood. I didn't realize beforehand that Ebony and Boulders, unlike Lebombo, allow kids.

why were you switched?

Hi emckeeve

I have been to both Singita Boulders and to each Londolozi camp except Tree. As can be expected with these comments, I have a different opinion than some! My experience with rangers has been, I have always had a great ranger at Singita, while my first experience at Londolozi was one of my worst! My next experience at Londolozi was very good, so unlucky the first time!

Not having been to Londolozi since July 2006, I cannot compare then with now, but I was very happy with both my accomodations, which was Founders and Pioneer. My first trip was to Bateleur, and again, one of the worst rooms I have had, knowing the money paid! I have not been to Boulders since Dec 2005, and to me, the room was very tired, especially knowing the money paid!

So overall, I do not think you will be disappointed. I would have thought Singita was a lot more expensive, but then haven't really looked at Londolozi's rates since taken over by the Varty family.

A lot of people complain about kids and large family groups, but some my worst experiences have been with adults and their adult kids, so if you do have an annoying group in your vehicle, I would voice my opinion to your ranger as quickly as possible. Most people I find can be tolerated for the couple of days that they are in the vehicle, then they move on!

Whichever one you are in, you will not know what the other experience would have been, so I do not think you will be disappointed at all!

Anything specific you need to know, please do not hesitate to ask>

Kind regards

Kaye

Kaye, I think Boulders was recently renovated.

Have not stayed at Londolozi but hear it is much improved with new owners!
We were at Boulders September 2005. It was great.
Wonderful guide and spotter. Really accomodating as we stayed out for hours rather than rushing back for all of the amazing meals. Were able to witness a game of Cat and Cat with a Cheetah and a male Lion.

I was at Singita Boulders before the renovation about 4 years ago and loved it. But then there were no children there in camp at that time. I asked to see a room at Ebony and I prefered the room design at Boulder (no angles, all curves), but the main lodge at Ebony is more traditional and has a little game room.
Hills, sorry to hear about that family. That can really color a lodge stay (happened to us elsewhere).

Rather off topic but hidden in another thread is an ongoing discussion about the bad problem Dana_M had on her Namibia tour with a family with kids. See her "Namibia Photos June 2007 - Sorry no trip report yet" posting.

regard - tom

I have to agree with Kaye.....Most kids on safari were very well behaved. Although, i may not have been in a vehicle with them, the ones i have seen in camps/lodges have all been very well behaved.

Ofcourse, some kids are badly behaved like the ones Dana encountered on the Namibia safari. But, their parents seem to have been equally obnoxious having read the thread.....

Hi Tom

I don't really have to read about other peoples annoying people problems, I have enough experience of that on my own.

I have very few trips where I don't have problems - some are kids, and it is not the kids as such, but the parents who allow the kids to do as they do at home - but most are adults, and quite frankly I expect way more from them. Unfortunately, there are annoying people, some mildly annoying others way more seriously annoying, everywhere, why should be on a gamedrive be any different. I just have to hope that they are only staying 2 nights not 4 nights!

Kind regards

Kaye

My pleasure emckeeve. Hope you enjoy your stay. Hopefully I will one day also be visiting those beautiful lodges. But for now, it's Kirkman's Kamp for me (hopefully)! Can't wait!!

Regards,

KL

KayeN - I don't enjoy reading about other peoples bad experiences/problems - of any kind. But I do like to learn how if I should find myself in such situations how best to handle it. Soooo, your contributions to my knowledge base is appreciated :-)
regards - tom

Since you particuarly ask re: accommodation ... I haven't been to Londolozi, so take this for what it's worth, but I thought Boulders was the most beautiful accommodation I've ever stayed in, period. (And we are super-picky travelers who like to go pretty high-end.) Granted, we were on our honeymoon, and they gave us a particularly amazing 2 bedroom, 2 dining room suite, but I have a hard time imagining Londolozi would live up to those digs. The service there was also beyond compare.In your shoes, I would do whatever you could to try and get back to Boulders. We did cross jeeps with Londolozi on game drives quite often, so I would imagine the viewing would be much the same, although theirs had an extra row (2 more ppl).