Things to do in South Africa

Look for wildlife from your private plunge pool at Shamwari’s Sindile Safari Lodge

My favourite part of the lodge is the view from reception as it overlooks the waterhole, often frequented by thirsty elephants…

By Kalelani Ranwashe

Lodge Manager at Shamwari Sindile Safari Lodge

Sindile is a luxury tented camp set in a secluded location on Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Sindile means survivor in isiXhosa, in honour of a leopardess who was a regular visitor and constantly had to protect her cubs from lions.

The camp has a beautiful setting, overlooking the Bushman’s River. The views are spectacular and every time I check in guests you can see on their faces how blown away they are with their new surroundings. My favourite part of the lodge is the view I see from our reception area as it overlooks the waterhole which is often frequented by thirsty elephants, giraffes and antelopes.

The nine tents are perfectly positioned to maximise the incredible views which guests can see from their bed, the free-standing bath or their private heated plunge pool. Each tent is elevated to minimise the impact on the environment. Inside, the décor is African with a lounge area complete with a cosy indoor fireplace.

We have a team of 27 staff who are a pleasure to work with. We pride ourselves on our exceptional service and we love to surprise our guests with a breakfast or lunch in the bush. We had a guest who decided he wanted to propose to his girlfriend in the wilderness and, even when it started to rain, we ensured everything went to plan by quickly setting up a large umbrella and provided gin and Champagne to celebrate their special occasion.

Throughout the day, there are plenty of activities for our guests to enjoy. As well as game drives and bush walks in our reserve, they can visit the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuaries, our Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre or take a spa at our Relaxation Retreat. When guests are not experiencing the wonderful wildlife at Shamwari, we ensure they have plenty to eat and drink starting with breakfast from our harvest table and finishing with a delicious boma dinner served under an African night sky.

Available in these itineraries…

Itinerary

Route 62 Cape Gourmet Self-drive
by Becky Souissi

Length15 Days

Price range£5,375 - £5,895pp

Alfred & Kalelani Ranwashe

Kalelani has qualifications in tourism management making her perfectly placed to look after guests staying at Sindile Safari Lodge at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. She enjoys hosting guests and has looked after a few very famous celebrities. Kalelani loves meeting guests from all over the world and, as a result, has developed a passion for learning languages. When she is not at the lodge, her two daughters keep her busy.

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Laura, who's travelled extensively in South Africa. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - ex banker who can show you the hottest foodie spots in Cape Town, the award-winning young sommelier who can introduce you to Stellenbosch's finest wines and the walking safari ranger who can guide you to the best game.

Laura Preston

Travel Expert for Alfred&

Having travelled extensively through Africa, Laura has a wealth of experience. She is passionate about Tanzania’s diversity from the quiet wilds of Ruaha that feel completely private to the silvery sands of Zanzibar and Stone Town’s spice-laced streets. In South Africa, she sought out the best views over Table Mountain, cocktail in hand, as well as the lesser-visited Kruger conservancies for more exclusive safaris. But her favourite place in the world has to be the Serengeti for its wide-open plains and incredible game that epitomise that feeling of Africa.
Wayne Howarth

Head Safari Guide at Kariega Game Reserve

Wayne loves being outdoors and has spent most of his life between the family farm and working on Private Game Reserves in the Eastern Cape. He has been guiding at Kariega for 12 years. His qualifications include Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) Level 2, Advance Rifle Handling, Skippers Licence Category R and first aid. One of his career highlights was becoming a finalist in the 2021 Safari Guide of the Year competition.
Rupesh Kassen

Founder and guide of Eat Like A Local

Rupesh Kassen abandoned his decade-long career in banking to move to East Africa, where he trained and worked as a chef. He later became immersed in South Africa’s food scene and worked as a food critic before setting up Eat Like A Local in Cape Town. Rupesh now offers guided food tours to showcase the city and its diverse culture and history through food.
Fundi Ziqubu

Sommelier

Fundi was born in Durban and fell in love with wine when it was introduced to her by a few Capetonian friends. On discovering her passion she got the chance to study wine with the department of tourism in collaboration with the Sommeliers Academy. Being appointed sommelier at Lanzerac was a career highlight and in 2019 Fundi was named most up-and-coming wine steward by the Distell Inter-Hotel challenge.
Ntobeko Ntshingila

Duty Manager at Three Tree Hill Lodge

Ntobeko has been part of the Three Trees family for 13 years and describes it as a lovely journey with lots of room for growth and experience. She has her own family, including a daughter of 18, and a son, aged three. She lives in a nearby village with her parents, four siblings and three nephews. When not spending time with her family she manages her broiler chicken business, which brings her extra income.
Cheryl Blackburn

Owner and guide, Three Tree Hill Lodge

Being born in the Kruger National Park instilled in Cheryl a love of nature and wildlife. Having lived and worked as a guide in the Kruger reserve, and also in Botswana, she eventually got the opportunity to run her own lodge, with her growing family, in the lush KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg region. She still finds time to guide guests on foot, tracking white rhino in the neighbouring Spioenkop Game Reserve.