Tessa and Claudia recently enjoyed a fantastic educational trip through Johannesburg and the Greater Kruger region, combining characterful city hotels with a varied collection of safari lodges. Their journey included stays at The Peech, The Residence and Fairlawns Boutique Hotel before continuing into the Timbavati, Klaserie and Hoedspruit areas. Fairlawns was one of the stand-out city stays, with exceptional service, spacious rooms, beautiful gardens and excellent food and wine, while The Residence impressed with its warm welcome, quirky décor and cosy atmosphere. The trip gave them a valuable first-hand look at how different properties suit different travellers, from honeymooners and couples to families, older guests and first-time safari clients.
Among the safari stays, Simbavati Hilltop stood out for its intimate atmosphere and beautiful elevated views, making it especially well suited to couples, although the stairs and outdoor bathrooms are worth noting for less mobile or more cautious guests. Simbavati Waterside was another favourite, combining a stylish waterside setting with excellent service, strong guiding and easy accessibility, while Camp George surprised them with its relaxed feel, attractive gardens and memorable guiding. Simbavati River Lodge impressed as a family-friendly option, and the Kapama properties stood out for their smooth operation, excellent food and wide choice of accommodation, with Karula offering a particularly luxurious experience. Unembeza also worked well as a comfortable final bush stop before continuing towards the Panorama Route.
Claudia: Overall, it was a fantastic trip and we met some wonderful people along the way. A big thank you to all the teams who hosted us and made us feel so welcome. We genuinely appreciated the hospitality everywhere we went.
