What to Expect
It is the connection with nature which is so appealing here. Outside, there’s a large stoep, (covered patio), with uninterrupted bush views. There’s plenty of lounging space and a large day bed which beckons you for a siesta.
The homestead was created with friends and families in mind, with space for everyone to gather, or spread out, with an inviting pool, garden and a small boma to enjoy lantern-lit dinners overlooking the waterhole.
At Simbavati Homestead, you can be immersed in a wildlife hot spot and enjoy relaxation and adventure in equal measure. Twice-daily game drives provide for close encounters with birds and animals, large and small. All the Big Five are found here as well as the plains game we never tire of seeing; diverse antelope, giraffe, zebra and warthog.
Highlights
Simbavati Homestead has five bedrooms. All have king-sized beds which can all, except one, be changed to twin. Two are en suite with one having a private balcony. Others are more suited to younger people with twin beds and shared bathrooms. However, all are decorated with a refined contemporary style, underpinned by a focus on comfort.
Game drives in the Klaserie take place in the early morning and late afternoon when the animals are naturally most active. Key to the experience is your English-speaking local guide. They bring their knowledge, experience and fresh observations to maximise your wildlife sightings. And not only in terms of how much you see. But how rewarding, informative and fun the overall experience is. Your guide may be a keen photographer and will be conscious and considerate if your mission is to capture sightings on camera.
You head out in an open-sided 4×4 game vehicle with three rows of comfortable bucket seats, generally with a maximum of 8 guests. This offers safe, yet close wildlife encounters. Guests sit up high for the best ‘spotting’ of birds and animals. There are no sides to inhibit your views and you naturally feel more in tune with nature. In the summer month, a shade top is added to protect against the African sun, but in winter it is open to the skies for the best bird-viewing and for stargazing.
Night drives continued after the sun goes down, using a spotlight to search for a glimpse of a nocturnal hunter in the beam. Or one of the shy nocturnal animals which only operate after dark.
This may include some of the smaller cats such as civets and genets. Or the extremely rare and surprisingly aggressive honey badger. You may even encounter one of the predators starting their nighttime hunt.