Silvan Safari — Hotel in Bushbuckridge

I had been dreaming of going to Silvan since its opening, I finally got the chance to go this October with high expectations which were exceeded. Silvan is the place to go if you are looking for perfection as they have thought about all the little details, down to supplying each room with a canvas and paints so you can paint your beautiful surroundings between amazing meals and game drives. We stayed in Cassia Suite if I remember correctly. It had beautiful views and was hidden out of view from other rooms so it was totally private and perfect for a quiet bush experience. The room was beautifully decorated and thoroughly clean with a supply of complimentary drinks and delicious snacks from the room’s mini bar (which was always topped up, ready for us to sit around our stunning pool with a drink in hand). The food was always so delicious and plentiful, I honestly couldn't fault it. I have been on several luxury safaris over the years and Silvan’s game drives far exceeded all the others with the best game viewings I have ever had! We saw all of the big five in the first day alone. Our guide and tracker were extremely knowledgeable, friendly, attentive and funny. All of our sightings were with few cars around and close to the animals. We really did feel at one with nature. On our second day we saw a pack of Wild dogs kill an Impala. We found the dogs laying around and then they smelt the Impala and we got to follow the chase. Seeing these dogs chase and catch an animal is one of the most amazing and authentic safari experiences I think anyone can ever have. We were fortunate to stay with the pack and watch them eat the carcass, then wander over to a watering hole where the pups ventured daringly up to a Rhino who was drinking. Wild dogs are normally hard to find, so it was incredible getting to stay with them and follow them for as long as we wished. From past experiences of other lodges, when you are at an amazing sighting you would never get to stay with that one group of animals for so long due to the number of cars allowed at viewings. However we never seemed to have any car crowding issues at Silvan and this really does make a huge difference on a safari experience. Another thing I loved about the game drives were the night drives (not all parks allow night drives). I really enjoyed seeing the animals at night and despite the light we still had great sightings of the Big Five. Another thing I thought was great about Silvan was that they provide an area with Mac screens for guests to edit their images on, with the latest and best software. After picking out and editing images, one can print them off on a high quality printer ready to take home with you. In my down time when not laying by the pool and eating, I really enjoyed the shop which was stocked up with so many things I wanted to buy! I also really loved the spa which was very peaceful and I enjoyed the best back, neck and shoulder massage.

So, all in all, Silvan was faultless, the staff were friendly and attentive, the food was phenomenal, everything was extremely clean, the rooms were beautiful as well as practical and comfortable while still being modern and homely and most of all, I had the best game drives of my life! I would love to...

Safari at its incredible best!

All our expectations of Silvan Safari lodge was absolutely exceeded. From the moment we stepped through Gowrie Gate, we were treated like royalty. We were met by Johan (General Manager), Diff and King (Our Trackers and Guide). They waited for us with Champagne and drinks, which was so needed after our drive. Arriving at the lodge we were greeted by some of the amazing staff ?(Gezi, Sylvester and Xolisa) with the warmest of greetings and cool towels. Welcome drinks and snacks awaited us. We stayed in the Leadwood family suite and it was just PERFECT. The suite is built around the most beautiful tree, with a private pool and deck overlooking the riverbed. Every need was catered to inside and outside our suite. We wanted for nothing. Our game drives were absolutely brilliant and the knowledge that both Diff and King had was fantastic. They certainly knew their way around and would tell us to be patient because the animals would move in a certain direction and lo and behold, they would! We were fortunate enough to see the Big 5 and so much more, including Cheetahs and Wild dogs. We had so much laughter and fun on these drives. Each and every one of the staff members at the lodge has to be commended for their professionalism and skill, they made our stay just perfect with their attention to detail and their anticipation of our needs. Johan is amazing and finely attuned to the needs of patrons. He made us laugh so hard, he certainly has a knack for making you feel like part of the Silvan family, almost immediately. He really is a warm and wonderful being that I am so happy to have met on this life's journey. The food was excellent and certainly not lacking, we had more than enough to eat. We had dinner in a different section of the lodge each night and the menu's were wonderfully planned by Odette and staff. John is an absolute guru when it comes to cocktails, I recommend you give him free reign to bring you new and exciting cocktails. Phindile was always so knowledgable and Brian's story was really heartwarming. What made it all so special was that each and every staff member was always so friendly and accommodating. I have to mention everyone that we encountered and say a special thank you to all of them. We had some spa treatments and it was heavenly! Simi's hands are magical and I absolutely recommend a spa visit. We were booked for two nights but decided to extend our stay with another day as we hated to leave just yet. All in all, it was certainly one of, if not our most, memorable holiday, ever. I would most certainly recommend Silvan Safari Lodge if you want to have the experience of a lifetime. Well done Johan and staff, you guys...

We stayed here as a group of four couples and from the moment we arrived, it was clear that every aspect of Silvan Safari was a cut above.||||Staff: I come from a background in hospitality in NY and everyone was incredibly accommodating and focused on enhancing our stay in any way possible. From memorizing whether or not you prefer still or sparkling water, to assisting with transportation to and from the grounds, to helping me plan out the most unbelievable proposal to my partner (she said yes :)) I could not thank everyone enough for such a tremendous stay - my sincere and unending thanks to Geze, Franky, Brian, David, and Niko for making the stay as luxurious as one could imagine. ||||Food: I was consistently blown away by the quality (and especially the quantity) of the meals at Silvan. Each meal had multiple options for the main along with umpteen fantastic side dishes and was clearly crafted with freshness, flavor, and presentation in mind. The large, delightful selection of wines and gins was also unbelievable. High tea was a highlight for me - I'm still telling anyone I bump into about the scones. There wasn't a single morsel that doesn't stick out in my memory.||||Grounds/Rooms: The integration of the grounds into the Sabi Sands reserve is seamless and imparts a sense of immersion with all the wildlife you're hoping to see. Multiple times, elephants came up to the back of our accomodation while we were just lounging on the back deck. It's something I'll never forget. The rooms were absolutely stunning, spacious, and afford you privacy when you need time to rest in between drives. Staff keep the rooms immaculate and well-stocked with anything you could possibly want, well before you even know you want it.||||Game Drives: We had the fantastic fortune of being paired with Elias and Elly for our guide and tracker, respectively. Not only were they clearly incredibly skilled in their roles, they handled our hundreds of questions with poise and patience, and we felt safe and secure at all times. They provided us with a steady stream of background on all the animals we saw and did their best to make sure we saw everything we hoped to with the knowledge that each drive is unique. They were even kind enough to join us for dinner one evening and relayed stories to us while we gazed at the stars. It's readily apparent that they are masters of their craft even to a novice's eyes.||||The experience is one I'll never forget. I can't wait until I'm able to go...