My wife and I are planning a trip to S. Africa in March, really for the purpose of going to Cape Town, but we are stopping for 3 nights of game viewing in Sabi Sands. I have read all of the posts, which have been informative. Thank you all. However, I still can't decide after having read it all whether it is worth the money to stay at Djuma Vuyatela or Ulusaba as opposed to Nkorho or Elephant Plains, furthermore, which of the first 2 would be preferable if we spend the big bucks and which of the second 2 would be preferable if we decide to spend less money. Any specific input re: accommodation quality, food quality, game viewing quality, etc. would be much appreciated. Do any of the lodges include vehicular transportation from the airport to the lodge? Is there a source for discounted travel? I've been dealing with Siyabona Africa. I saw no discounts on Luxury Link, which someone suggested. Thanks.

Just a supplement: we are looking for a non-family resort if possible -- we are looking for more of a romantic getaway as opposed to a family environment. thanks again.

Here's what Siyabona has most recently told me. Thoughts?

-----Original Message-----
From: Siyabona Africa - Cara Lloyd [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 10:26 PM

I will have to recommend Elephant Plains, but the final decision is entirely up to you. I wish you could see the beautiful brochure that I have infront of me, the website does no justice. The rate for Nkorho is R 1095.00 per person per night sharing, while Elephant Plains is slightly more expensive at R 1260.00 per person per night sharing. The accommodation at Elephant Plains is a lot more luxurious, but both are in the Sabi Sands and the Game Viewing will both be awesome.

Elephant Plains: http://sabi.krugerpark.co.za/elephan...odge-sabi.html

Here are another 3 excellent options :

Gomo Gomo Game Lodge : http://timbavati.krugerpark.co.za/go...ame-lodge.html

Rate : R 1140.00 per person per night sharing.

Umlani Bush Camp : http://timbavati.krugerpark.co.za/umlani-bush-camp.html

Rate : R 1700.00 per person per night sharing.

Honeyguide Tented Safari Lodge : http://manyeleti.krugerpark.co.za/ho...ed-kruger.html

R 1800.00 per person per night sharing.

Gomo Gomo is one of my favourites as I used to work in the Timbavati and I spent a lot of time
at Gomo Gomo. I loved it. It is a very rustic bush experience, the food is good, the staff are excellent
and the game is good. Umlani is another stunning option. I have not personally been there, but I hear
from everyone it is fantastic. Honeyguide is situated in the Manyeleti, which lies below the Timbavati and possibly has better game viewing than the Timbavati, but I must tell you that during my year in the Timbavati I saw an abundance of game. So Honeyguide is another excellent, I send so many people there. Gomo Gomo
has both chalets and luxury tents, Honeyguide is only tented and Umlani is chalets.

Here's what Siyabona has most recently told me. Thoughts?

-----Original Message-----
From: Siyabona Africa
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 10:26 PM

I will have to recommend Elephant Plains, but the final decision is entirely up to you. I wish you could see the beautiful brochure that I have infront of me, the website does no justice. The rate for Nkorho is R 1095.00 per person per night sharing, while Elephant Plains is slightly more expensive at R 1260.00 per person per night sharing. The accommodation at Elephant Plains is a lot more luxurious, but both are in the Sabi Sands and the Game Viewing will both be awesome.

Elephant Plains: http://sabi.krugerpark.co.za/elephan...odge-sabi.html

Here are another 3 excellent options :

Gomo Gomo Game Lodge : http://timbavati.krugerpark.co.za/go...ame-lodge.html

Rate : R 1140.00 per person per night sharing.

Umlani Bush Camp : http://timbavati.krugerpark.co.za/umlani-bush-camp.html

Rate : R 1700.00 per person per night sharing.

Honeyguide Tented Safari Lodge : http://manyeleti.krugerpark.co.za/ho...ed-kruger.html

R 1800.00 per person per night sharing.

Gomo Gomo is one of my favourites as I used to work in the Timbavati and I spent a lot of time
at Gomo Gomo. I loved it. It is a very rustic bush experience, the food is good, the staff are excellent
and the game is good. Umlani is another stunning option. I have not personally been there, but I hear
from everyone it is fantastic. Honeyguide is situated in the Manyeleti, which lies below the Timbavati and possibly has better game viewing than the Timbavati, but I must tell you that during my year in the Timbavati I saw an abundance of game. So Honeyguide is another excellent, I send so many people there. Gomo Gomo
has both chalets and luxury tents, Honeyguide is only tented and Umlani is chalets.

Here's what a travel agent has advised in response to my request for more affordable accommodations. Thoughts? . . .

I will have to recommend Elephant Plains, but the final decision is entirely up to you. I wish you could see the beautiful brochure that I have infront of me, the website does no justice. The rate for Nkorho is R 1095.00 per person per night sharing, while Elephant Plains is slightly more expensive at R 1260.00 per person per night sharing. The accommodation at Elephant Plains is a lot more luxurious, but both are in the Sabi Sands and the Game Viewing will both be awesome.

Elephant Plains: http://sabi.krugerpark.co.za/elephan...odge-sabi.html

Here are another 3 excellent options :

Gomo Gomo Game Lodge : http://timbavati.krugerpark.co.za/go...ame-lodge.html

Rate : R 1140.00 per person per night sharing.

Umlani Bush Camp : http://timbavati.krugerpark.co.za/umlani-bush-camp.html

Rate : R 1700.00 per person per night sharing.

Honeyguide Tented Safari Lodge : http://manyeleti.krugerpark.co.za/ho...ed-kruger.html

R 1800.00 per person per night sharing.

Gomo Gomo is one of my favourites as I used to work in the Timbavati and I spent a lot of time
at Gomo Gomo. I loved it. It is a very rustic bush experience, the food is good, the staff are excellent
and the game is good. Umlani is another stunning option. I have not personally been there, but I hear
from everyone it is fantastic. Honeyguide is situated in the Manyeleti, which lies below the Timbavati and possibly has better game viewing than the Timbavati, but I must tell you that during my year in the Timbavati I saw an abundance of game. So Honeyguide is another excellent, I send so many people there. Gomo Gomo
has both chalets and luxury tents, Honeyguide is only tented and Umlani is chalets.

Another consideration should be what traversing rights each game lodge holds. Nkhoro has nearly identical the same driving rights as Djuma Vuyatela, at about 1/4 the price in high season, which March will still fall into.

If Elephant Plains has sufficient traversing rights, then I would recommend spending a little more and staying there over Nkhoro, assuming that the agent is correct and the accomodations are nicer than Nkhoro. Personally, I have seen pictures of Elephant Plains and unless they remodeled, I was never very impressed by the accomodations.

As a past guest of Djuma Vuyatela, I cannot, in good faith, recommend Vuyatela at high season prices. Also, while the staff was very nice, I found the owners to be stuffy and choosing the comfort of non-paying friends and family over the comfort of the paying guests (one night having me eat dinner outside my room in the 45 degree farenheit weather, only so that they could have a private dinners with their friends and family in the main dining room).

Well, I waited so long that the decision has been made for me. Nkorho is full. We're going to Elephant Plains. I'll write a review in early April. Thank you for your input.