VACATION DETAILS

'Singita' means "The Miracle". And, as you will find, breakfasting above Sand River on a timber deck cradled in the branches of towering Jackalberry trees, it is a fitting name for this intimate wildlife experience. Singita is also something of a conservation miracle: hidden in the heart of the game-rich Sabi Sand Game Reserve bordering on Kruger National Park, Singita was until recently the domain of hunters. Innovative land restoration has turned Singita into a sanctuary, with antiques and a library of Africana the only echoes of wilder times in this exclusive retreat. Intimacy is the hallmark of Singita's special style - just eight exquisitely appointed double suites, separated into two exclusive camps set in shady woodland above Sand River. Each expansive suite ensures absolute privacy with its own in-suite bathroom and outside shower, double-sided fireplace, air-conditioning, private leisure deck and living area, with views across the river to the plains beyond. Singita's cuisine is worthy of its Relais et Chateaux classification and is complemented by one of southern Africa's finest wine cellars.

Johannesburg's contrasts are some of the most extreme in the world; poverty-stricken and overcrowded Alexandra is surrounded by some of the richest suburbs in South Africa, and downtown hundreds of homeless struggle to survive around the Stock Exchange. The contrast between suburb and township is mirrored nationwide, but is more extreme here because of the intense wealth of many of the suburbs, and the sheer size of the townships and their satellite squatter camps. Yet the city as a whole continues to suck in people and skills from all over the country, making it the financial, commercial and cultural powerhouse of South Africa.

Mahé, being the largest of the Seychelles islands, beckons with Creole restaurants, craft shops and art galleries. The nearby waters surrounding Mahé are perfect for swimming, body surfing and snorkeling.