Singita Ebony Lodge

The Sabi Sand Reserve is a private concession inside the Kruger National Park. Thanks it its numerous watering points, it has a very rich and varied fauna. Although limited in the past by a network of fences and enclosures, since 1991, there is no longer any barrier to the free circulation of animals which includes a large population of leopards. Ensconced in the treetops, this discreet and solitary feline is not always visible to observers. The density and exceptional wealth of the fauna has made Sabi Sand the most popular reserve for adventure seeking tourists. Among other services, the concession possesses some of the most famous lodges in Kruger Park under the prestigious name of Singita.

A miraculous site

Like a poem dedicated to contemplation, the origins of Singita - which means, “place of miracles” in the Tsongas language - is the result of one man’s dream of preserving the local fauna. In 1925, James-Fawcett Bailes purchased a tract of virgin land in the Lowveld which he transformed into a wildlife sanctuary. His enterprise continues to this day with his grandson Luke Bailes in charge of operations.

With the help of aerial photographs from the 1930s, Bailes decided to restore the terrain to its original state. In 1993, he designed an innovative lodge with unparalleled luxury, the Singita Ebony Lodge. Its design, an intelligent combination of European artistic influences and raw African art, makes its style totally unique. “Ebony is Singita’s leading lodge. Its history and its heritage remain unequalled”, according to Geordi de Sousa the architect in charge of the project. Warm colors inspired by African landscapes, Egyptian cotton sheets and precious antiques; all serve to plunge guests into the romantic universe of the bush and the colonial era.

Recently renovated, the twelve suites combine British elegance with total comfort. Refined floral decorations, softened interiors give each suite the sensation of being in a cottage, offering guests a strange feeling of familiarity in the heart of wildest Africa. The limited number of beds increases the intimate atmosphere that pervades the lodge. “What we wanted most”, Luke Bailes explains, “was a guarantee of comfort, exclusivity, intimacy and a unique opportunity to observe the fauna directly from the lodges.” In the heart of magnificent and preserved nature, Ebony Lodge provides a singular safari experience, going off the beaten path in search of the “Big Five” (elephant, buffalo rhinoceros, lion and leopard.)

Luke Bailes, the present owner of the Singita chain, recalls the creation of the Ebony Lodge, preceding the first multi-racial elections organized in the Republic of South Africa in 1994. “Tourist activity in the region was in a desperate state, but we searched for a way to lessen the impact of the exorbitant price of land in the Sabi Sand reserve. In the beginning, only five suites were built. Everyone thought we were crazy to launch such a project. After the elections however, the demand was so great that we had to enlarge Ebony in order to receive a greater number of visitors.”