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SINGITA OF SOUTH AFRICA
CONCLUDES DEAL WITH DUBAI WORLD
AFRICA Singita Game Reserves has
successfully concluded an agreement that sees Dubai
World acquire 50% of Singita's interest in their
Kruger National Park concession, incorporating two
Relais & Chateaux lodges - Singita Lebombo and
Singita Sweni. The new ownership structure will not
give rise to any change in the management and
marketing of the operations, which will continue to
be contracted to Singita's management
company.
Continued The
Singita Group, owners of South Africa's most
luxurious private game reserve and winner of
countless international awards as Africa's finest
Safari destination, has notched up another triumph
with the opening this month of Singita Lebombo in
the Kruger National Park. Situated
on an exclusive 15 000ha private concession on the
remote eastern boundary of Kruger National Park,
Singita Lebombo boasts one of the highest
concentrations of wildlife in the entire park. Its
proximity of the Lebombo Mountains, spectacular
scenery, varied landscape and large herds of game,
differentiate this area significantly from the
award winning Singita Lodges in the adjacent Sabi
Sand Reserve. Named
after the Lebombo Mountains that rise before it,
Singita Lebombo, is an architectural, design and
conservation feat at the cutting edge of
eco-tourism. The
first guests on 7 March 2003 were simply in awe of
the scale and the silence of Singita Lebombo,
leaving them completely liberated from the
distractions of the world. At
Singita Lebombo, guests experience Africa at its
most majestic, unfiltered and unadorned. Designed
from the premise of treading the earth lightly,
Singita Lebombo sets new boundaries in contemporary
game lodge luxury. Perched
like an eagles nest on a sheer cliff top
overlooking the confluence of the Nwanetsi and
Sweni Rivers, 15 elevated, fully air conditioned
luxury suites have sweeping views that flow in
through massive floor to ceiling glass
walls. Constructed
almost entirely of bleached wood and glass in an
open, contemporary style allowing full integration
between the interior and the great African
outdoors, each luxury suite offers absolute
exclusivity and privacy with a wooden game viewing
deck complete with the option of an outside bed and
shower. Under a slatted roof of woven branches,
guests experience all the shades of Africa's
shifting light. Modern
contemporary interiors, using sleek predatory
lines, layers of natural colour and rich organic
textures from fabrics hand woven to reflect the
shades of the vast African canvas, create a
luxurious, uncluttered space with all the creature
comforts guests could desire on an African Safari.
An overhanging cliffside swimming pool with
breathtaking views of the ancient ryolite ridges of
the Lebombo Mountains, the rivers below and the
surrounding savannah plains rich with indigenous
vegetation such as aloes and euphorbias,
complements this exceptional setting Singita
Lebombo affords guests the same luxurious lodge
experiences and facilities as the Singita lodges in
the Sabi Sand Reserve. Game drives in open Land
Rovers and walking safaris are led by personal game
rangers and trackers and between spectacular bush
experiences, guests can make use of gym and bush
spa facilities. The African Gallery showcases and
sells the best of South African contemporary crafts
and art. The
enjoyment of rare wines with fine gourmet food are
as important as pristine game viewing and luxury
lodge living at Singita Lebombo. Some 6 000 bottles
of predominantly award winning South African wines
lie in waiting in the tall, upright "silo" styled
bush cellar with it's gravel floor covering for
optimal temperature and humidity
control. At
Singita Lebombo guests can look forward to
interacting with the African savannah as never
before and experience the vibrancy of Africa's
creative spirit. Singita
Lebombo is the only game lodge accessible by air
within Kruger National Park thereby offering guests
a premier safari circuit connecting Singita Lebombo
with the two existing Singita Ebony and Boulders
lodges in the Sabi Sand Reserve via daily flights.
All Singita lodges have easy and convenient access
both by road and air from Johannesburg. Singita
Private Game Reserve voted World No.1 destination
for second consecutive year. Exclusive South
African resort takes top honours in international
travel awards South Africa's
luxurious Singita Private Game Reserve has scored
another world first by taking top honours in the
prestigious Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice
Awards for the second consecutive year. Singita, an
exclusive wildlife sanctuary bordering the
internationally renowned Kruger National Park, was
rated No. 1 in the world scoring the highest marks
of 96% overall and was named best resort in Africa
and the Middle East at the awards ceremony in
Honolulu, Hawaii, this week. Singita who beat
all other top world hotels and resorts by coming
first overall with an unprecedented perfect score
of 100 in 2001, shares the World No 1. position
this year as The Best of the Best 2002 with the
French luxury hotel, Boyer Les Crayères in
Reims. Some 30 000 readers of Conde Nast Traveler,
the biggest travel publication in the USA, rated
hotels and resorts according to their rooms,
service, food and location for the 15th annual
Conde Nast awards. The Conde Nast
award is Singita's third major international
achievement this year. In September, the highly
regarded connoisseur's international travel guide,
Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report, rated Singita as
World No. 1 in the category International Resort
Hideaway with less than 50 rooms. Last year,
Singita also took top honours in this annual travel
awards listing, rated by Forbes Magazines as the
definitive international travel survey. This
achievement followed shortly after the prestigious
Relais & Chateaux group awarded Singita their
highest accolade, the Purple Shield, as a property
featuring the highest level of service, amenities
and furnishings. Only a small select group of
properties have been awarded the Purple Shield
around the world and Singita is only the third
property in Africa and the Indian Ocean region to
be honoured in this way. The Cape Town
based Singita group is regarded internationally as
a forerunner in the luxury ecotourism market,
constantly setting new standards for the ultimate
African bush and wildlife experience. The Group is
currently in the final phase of creating a unique
new game lodge experience on a private concession
in the Kruger National Park. Scheduled to open in
March 2003, Singita Lebombo will offer discerning
guests an unrivalled wilderness experience on an
exclusive 15 000ha concession on the remote eastern
boundary of the Kruger National Park. The new lodge
derives its name from the Lebombo mountain range
and encompasses an area significantly different to
that of the Singita Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand
Reserve. It is the only game lodge accessibly by
air within Kruger and the spectacular scenery,
varied landscape and large herds of game create a
premier, diverse safari circuit connecting Singita
Lebombo with the two existing Singita Ebony and
Boulders lodges. Designed from the
premise of treading the earth lightly and boasting
the highest concentration of wildlife in the entire
Kruger National Park, Singita Lebombo sets new
boundaries in contemporary game lodge luxury.
Situated on a sheer clifftop overlooking the
confluence of the Nwanetsi and Sweni Rivers, 15
elevated, fully air-conditioned loft-style luxury
suites have sweeping 360º views of the Lebombo
mountains and surrounding bushveld. In June next
year, a second lodge with 6 exclusive suits
overlooking the Sweni River will be opened at
Singita Lebombo. Singita, means
"Miracle" in the local Shangaan language and offers
discerning travellers the ultimate African safari
in world class comfort and unsurpassed luxury.
Renowned for its personalised service, pristine
game viewing, bush spa facilities and world class
gourmet food, Singita also prides itself in
promoting South African arts and crafts and fine
local wines to international guests. Singita has
its own private airstrip with daily flights to all
lodges. For more
information on Singita, visit their web site at
<http://www.singita.co.za/>www.singita.co.za.
For reservations call Tel: 27-11-234 0990, Email
<mailto:reservations@singita.co.za>reservations@singita.co.za
or Fax: 27-11-234 0535. |
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New
jewel for award winning Singita opens in Kruger
National Park
Described
by the well read UK Tatler magazine as an
architectural masterpiece and "a cause for global
celebration", Singita Lebombo offers discerning
guests a truly unrivalled wilderness
experience.