I think a camp called Simbavati may be where GomoGomo used to be. It sure looks like the GomoGomo I was at in 2008. Especially since there aren't that many properties with tents available.

LP - I think you're correct.
regards - tom

Yup - Simbavati is on the Old Gomo Gomo site.

Tanda Tula is another lovely little tented camp just further down from Simbavati.

We have stayed at Tanda Tula (mentioned before) and eynjoyed it tremendously. It's tented on stilts and a bit more on the "rustic side" compared to Lonolozi and the like.
Game sightings were excellent, food as well - they have the family table and a nice boma.

Maybe that's an option http://www.constantia-uitsig.com/pag...rlds-rates.php

SV

Another nice option:
DJUMA. I have got the impression "their" leopards are extremely often in the open (on the ground resting, walking etc).
Maybe you do some virtual real-time game drives in order to get a feel:
http://www.wildearth.tv/web/djuma1

SV

Simbavati looks really nice, especially the setting on the river. Any sense of how the game viewing is in that area?

Simbavati in the Timbavati?
(Should be a song)
Is where Gomo Gomo used to be. Nice central location in Timbavati. Game viewing, assuming they share traversing rights, should be as good as say Kings Camp. But a -lot- also depends on the guides/rangers and I've heard nothing about those.

regards - tom

When I was at the former GomoGomo, now Simabavati- the game viewing was great. Lions, leopards, elephants, and even cheetah.
And the location on the river was reallly nice.

Hi everybody,
Thanks so much for all of your ideas, they were extraordinarily helpful. After much searching we have been offered a price for three nights at Simbavati with private vehicle, guide, and tracker that I simply think is too good to pass up. So even though there aren't many reviews of it yet, I think we are going to go ahead and roll the dice. The setting on the river looks absolutely gorgeous and we love the look of the tents. They do allow children but since our drives will be private I am not worried about that because we actually enjoy being around kids at meals and things, just not when we are trying to take photographs. I just hope the guiding and tracking are good and hope the game is accommodating for us in August. If it were not for this forum I don't think we ever would have even looked at Simbavati so we really appreciate the input here as always.

lisa - thanks for getting back to us on this. That area of the Timbavati is excellent, I have been there four times, as recent as last Sep. Think its good you have private vehicle because Simbavati advertises they are family oriented and allow children as young as 6 years.

It's a ways off but please get back to us again after your safari there. And you stayed well within your $500pppn budget?

regards - tom

I'm sure you're gonna love it.

Tom -- It is just under $400 per person per night, INCLUDING a private vehicle w/ guide and tracker. Basically having a private vehicle added 2000 ZAR per day to the cost which I think is pretty reasonable, and their nightly rates are good too. This will be our first time having a private vehicle and we are pretty excited about it.

Thanks lisa - that is a very good rate for private vehicle. Hmmm, interesting, seems the vehicle, 2000 ZAR, $270, day is close I think to what I've been quoted at Kings Camp. So the room is about $265 per pppn. Well, whatever, it's good package. I'll be most interested in how it all goes for you. Wish you were staying longer than 3 nights . And wish I didn't have to wait a year to find out!!

regards - tom

I know the original poster has already made plans but just want to put in a good word for Nkorho since it was mentioned unfavorably above. We just returned from a fabulous two week trip and we spent two nights each in Elephant Plains and Nkorho. Both were great and each had some different strengths and weaknesses. In terms of Nkorho specifically, we did not experience the issues that gardyloo refers to. In fact, we loved the homey feeling of the lodge; it is small (only 7 rooms) which gives a very personalized feel. I have some dietary considerations to which they were extremely attentive, each meal making me a specialized entree (which I didn't ask for!) Their guide and tracker (Greg and Frank) were the best we had in Sabi Sand. Their pool was cleaner and nicer than the one at Elephant Plains. They had three little dogs running around and it really feels like a family-run operation with wonderful attention. Also felt their walkable property (for bushwalks) was much more interesting than EP's and with better birding, and there is a bit of property you can walk freely on your own, which EP doesn't really have.

The only downside we found was that most of the sightings at this time were further west (back around EP/Arathusa, and the border with Londolozi) so we spent quite a bit of time traveling BACK to that area on the game drives. But of course this is so variable, the vehicles go where the animals are! We did have several leopard sightings quite close to Nkorho including two leopards literally in their driveway as we drove out on our last day. I would absolutely return to Nkorho.

Hi folks,

It sounds like there are a lot of really experienced safari goers on this thread so I wanted to see if you can offer any advice for us. My husband has been to S Africa once before with a safari at Djuma, which he enjoyed. We are going in late August for our third anniversary and have narrowed it down to three places- &Beyond Dulini, Chitwa Chitwa, and Ulusaba. I have never been to Africa and this trip is a HUGE splurge for us. We are definitely looking for luxury. I understand that Chitwa Chitwa was renovated recently, but have read both good and bad reviews and its difficult to tell if they were before or after the renovation. I've seen posts that Chitwa Chitwa has up to 10 people on the game drives, but I can't tell if that's common practice because I believe the whole lodge only sleeps 10 people. &Beyond- Dulini of course limits the game drives to 6 people, a huge plus. Lastly, Ulusaba seems more luxurious than the other two. Would you consider that true? It is more expensive, but I haven't read a single review that wasn't absolutely RAVING about it.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated. &Beyond only has one room left so we are hoping to make a decision quickly.

Thanks!

desireepratt-you have revived an old thread that will prove very helpful if even half of the previous pros on earlier comments come back with suggestions for you-hang on for a wild ride of ideas!

I love Mala Mala, and have KayeN and Napamatt to thank for so much enthuasism on my first of three trips so far, and many more in my lifetime. You can stay at Rattray's for ultimate luxury or the Main Camp which is thatched room, traditional and nice. Less per night at Main Camp and you still go to many of the same awesome sightings. Max is 6 people, but I rarely have more than four or five seatmates.

For the pangolin wishful thinkers, we scored a once in lifetime sighting last November, must have been my birthday present-can't say I even knew how rare this one hour, plus experience was until later that evening when I found out most guides never see this elusive guy. Lucky for us, it was still daylight and we have plenty of interesting shots and video. I will never expect to see one ever again, but that's Mala Mala for you. You never know what is going to happen, and sometimes you do not even have to leave camp.

In regards to the trackers that are no longer at Mala Mala, I agree with Napamatt-the viewing is so amazing that it has not really made any difference to my trips. It was nice to meet the incredible men who were sometimes third generation trackers, that I missed.

Plan to spend at least 3-4 days, preferably 5, at whatever camp you choose. Too much time is missed packing and moving around. Game drives are not to missed, and who knows when a pangolin may show up. Or a cheetah, or new leopard cubs.

Enjoy,

Thanks for your reply. Mala mala main camp and Rattray's were both unavailable for our dates. We have decided on the Exeter- Dulini (& Beyond) camp. I hope we will not be disappointed! We will be there for 4 nights, so I hope that will provide plenty of opportunity to see some great and exciting things like you have been fortunate enough to catch. Thanks again for your response.

Regards,

I am sure you will have plenty of great game-viewing at those lodges. And once you go, chances are you will be hooked and have a need to return. It is always difficult to make a decision, but now that you have, srart packing!