Sweni Lodge
Singita Sweni Lodge, Mpumalanga, Kruger Park, South Africa
ZAR 32,000
per adult per nightOverview
Tucked into the banks of the Sweni River, this intimate lodge is a hidden jewel that provides a bold, new African context for contemporary design, architecture and cuisine. Exuding glamour and subtle sophistication, Singita Sweni Lodge’s seven suites are hidden among a canopy of trees, each featuring open-plan interiors, a generously stocked minibar, two bathrooms and an outdoor shower overlooking the river – adding to the feeling of being enveloped by an ancient forest.
The suites include state-of-the-art amenities such as Bose sound systems and bean-to-cup coffee machines and floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto expansive wooden decks, where daybeds provide the option to fall asleep under the stars.
Gold and bronze ore, polished mud and gleaming recycled timbers add texture, while splashes of vibrant colour are inspired by beetle shells, chameleons and birds’ wings. Neutrals draw in the light. The secluded Pool Suite with its shaded riverfront deck can be connected with the adjacent suite, allowing for a more spacious option with an added layer of privacy that’s perfect for families.
Guests have private access to 33,000 acres of pristine wilderness in the world-renowned Kruger National Park, ensuring unforgettable game-viewing experiences. With the lodge’s proximity to the river, guests are also treated to up-close sightings of numerous animals and birds frequenting the area to drink or wallow in the water.
Gallery
Additional Details
An intimate hideaway hosting 7 suites; with decks that seem to hover in the branches and bold interiors that are inspired by beetles, chameleons and birds’ wings, and neutrals that draw in the light.
Each of the lodge’s contemporary en-suite units have been restructured to maximize open-plan living with panoramic game-viewing decks. All suites have outdoor showers that overlook the river, and outdoor day beds where you can spend a night under the stars. With its close proximity to the Sweni River, guests are treated to exceptional up-close sightings of the wildlife that wander down to drink or wallow.
The Pool Suite with the unique inclusion of a private swimming pool and shaded riverfront deck can be connected to the adjacent unit to create a more generous unit with two en-suite bedrooms, offering guests an extra layer of privacy – perfect for families and honeymoon couples.
- 6 x Sweni Suites
- 1 x Pool Suite with private pool and deck
Amenities
- There is a swimming pool in the main lodge area.
- Wellness and fitness centre facilities are available.
- The Singita Boutique & Gallery
- There is a television at the Singita Boutique & Gallery.
- Dependent upon area coverage, there is mobile phone signal.
- There is complimentary internet (WiFi) access, however, due to the remote location of the lodge, the wireless connection can be slow and intermittent.
- Electricity/power available: 220V. Converters are also available and hair dryers are supplied in each suite.
- Children of all ages are welcome. There are babysitting services available and tailor-made activities to suit each family.
- In the interest of safety, the participation of children in game activities is at the discretion of your guide.
- Open Year-Round
- Check-in time: 1pm
- Check-out time: 11am
Encountering Africa’s magnificent wildlife is a truly life-changing experience, no matter what one’s age, and time spent at Singita Sweni Lodge makes for an unforgettable family holiday. Filled with discovery and shared connections within nature, it’s an ideal opportunity to open children’s eyes to the wonders of an untouched wilderness.
All activities at the lodge are tailored to specifically suit the interests of each family. In the interest of safety, children may participate in game drives and bush walks at the discretion of dedicated Field Guides. The lodge also offers childminding services, as well as an array of activities to keep little ones engaged and entertained.
Our exciting Mini Rangers Course is a customised, fun-filled programme that opens up a whole new world to young explorers. It includes learning how to track animals; astronomy; bush survival techniques; game-, tree- and bird-spotting competitions, as well as nature quizzes.
Children of all ages are welcome at Singita Sweni Lodge.
More children’s activities offered:
- Cooking interactions
- Board games
- Stargazing
- Bushwalks (minimum age 16)
- Activity booklets with a variety of games, quizzes and games
- Arts & crafts
- Movies
- Swimming
Seasons & Weather Vary in the Reserve
To ensure your comfort you may want to tailor your clothing choices to the time of year:
October – April:
The weather is warm during the day and cooler in the morning and evenings. We recommend casual summer clothes (shorts and cool shirts) and a warm jersey/sweater for the cooler times of the day.
May – September:
This is Fall and Winter and the temperature will be mild during the day, but colder in the mornings and evenings. We recommend casual light clothing and a very warm parka/jacket for the extremely cold mornings and nights.
Best Time to Go on Safari
Southern Africa is a year-round destination. Traditionally the dry winter months (April to October) are best for game viewing, due to the shorter grass, lack of foliage and the absence of water which forces the game to concentrate around the remaining sources of drinking water.
Annual rainfall, usually in the form of short afternoon thundershowers that clear up within an hour, occurs from December to March. Many species give birth to their young around the start of the rains, so the bush is alive with newborn animals.
What to Bring
Your safari suitcase, packed properly, will ensure that you have everything you need for the ultimate African bush experience. Cotton clothing in neutral colours is recommended for all game drives and bush walks. It is best to avoid white clothing and dark colours for bush activities, as they tend to attract certain bugs. Formal wear is not required at any of our lodges.
We recommend packing the following:
- Comfortable walking shoes/track shoes/hiking boots for walks; and sandals to wear around the lodge.
- Swimming costume/bathing suits, sunblock, sun hat, sunglasses, lip balm, mosquito repellent (Lip balm and mosquito repellent is provided for all our guests, but you are welcome to bring along your favourite brand).
- Camera and video camera, binoculars, spare memory cards and charging equipment. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones) is strictly prohibited at Singita.
- Please note that in the event of rain during a game drive, waterproof ponchos will be provided for guests’ comfort.
- All of our lodges are located in remote areas and therefore guests should remember to bring an extra pair of correction glasses (if required), contact lens solution and an extra set of contact lenses(if required) as well as a sufficient supply of any prescription medication.
Temperatures
Time of Year | Average Minimum | Average Maximum |
---|---|---|
Spring: Sept – Nov | 18°C / 64°F | 30°C / 86°F |
Summer: Dec – Feb | 23°C / 73°F | 35°C / 95°F |
Autumn: Mar – May | 12°C / 54°F | 26°C / 79°F |
Winter: Jun – Aug | 9°C / 48°F | 22°C / 72°F |
Tips for Travellers
Health Requirements
Our lodges are located in malaria risk areas and we recommend that you adhere to the advice of your doctor regarding prophylactics. Insect repellent (spray or wipes), is provided in your suite and on game drive vehicles.
Passport Requirements
Please remember that you need at least 2 blank visa pages in your passport for travel.
Map & Directions
Singita Sweni Lodge, Mpumalanga, Kruger Park, South Africa
By Air
- We can arrange scheduled flights or private charters for your trip. All flights land at the Satara airstrip located 45 minutes from the lodge. Guests are collected off the flight by Singita staff and transported to the lodge in a closed air-conditioned vehicle
- On scheduled flights, the weight of luggage is restricted to 20kg (44lb) for checked baggage and 5kg (11lb) for hand luggage. Only soft-sided luggage is permitted.
- Johannesburg – Satara: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
- Nelspruit – Satara: approximately 45 minutes
- Private aircraft pilots land at their own risk and are advised to broadcast their intentions on frequency 124,8 Mhz. Landing with prior permission only. Please note that only a small number of companies have permission to land at the Satara airstrip as it is run by the National Parks Board. Please contact reservations for a list of recommended charter companies.
- All charters are to be aware of the operating guidelines for pilots in the park and are to obtain prior permission before landing.
- Planes that can land at the Satara airstrip: King Air, Cessna and PC12.
- Runway: 17/35
- Latitude: 24° 22” 31.6’ S
- Longitude: 31° 46” 58.8’ E
- Elevation: 850ft
- Width: 20m
- Length: 1 000m
- Surface: gravel
- Frequencies in use: Lowveld
- Information: 119.0 VFR 124.8
- Closest non-precision let down facility is Skukuza NDB SZ 233
By Road
- From Johannesburg: approximately 8 hours’ drive (+/- 600km).
- From Hazyview: approximately 3.5 hours’ drive (+/- 156km).
- From Nelspruit: approximately 4 hours’ drive (+/- 216km).
- From Hoedspruit: approximately 2-3 hours’ drive (+/- 155km).
- From Skukuza: approximately 2-3 hours’ drive (+/-110km).
Video
Activities
Game Drives
Daily game drives with professional guides and trackers provide the perfect opportunity to get up close to Africa’s incredible animals, while evening drives reveal the elusive magic of nocturnal Africa.
Our game drives are all conducted in state-of-the-art vehicles, each accommodating a maximum of six guests.
During your stay, you are likely to spot a great variety of wildlife.
Wine Experience
Singita is recognised as one of Africa’s most influential collectors of wine, with an extensive cellar showcasing a premium selection of wines, including some of the continent’s most sought-after private reserves, including exclusive release, limited single vineyard and rare auction wines. It’s safe to say that wine is a key ingredient of the unique Singita experience.
The Singita wine list has received numerous awards of excellence, the top Diners’ Club Wine List accolade as well as recognition from countless other local and international organisations.
François Rautenbach is responsible for this excellence as the director of Singita Premier Wine, he manages the selection, purchase, storage, and service of all the wines at Singita’s lodges. François also manages Singita Premier Wine Direct which allows guests to order their favourite wines from their safari to enjoy at home. With the Singita Premier Wine Direct service, wines can either be specially packed for guests as checked luggage or shipped directly to a guest’s home.
Personalised wine tastings within the unique ambience of each lodge’s own temperature-controlled cellar are a true guest favourite, for connoisseurs and casual tasters alike. Singita’s experienced sommeliers are able to guide guests through a variety of wine styles, years and cultivars to find the wines most suited to their individual tastes.
As with all that Singita does, community upliftment is central to the Singita wine programme as well. François Rautenbach has created a special training programme for enthusiastic young wine lovers, developing the next generation of sommeliers for Africa. The training provides educational assistance, personal mentoring, formal wine training and access to Africa’s finest wine programme.
Guided Safari Walks
Walking safaris are an incredible way to experience the bush up close and personal.
Your expert guide and tracker will accompany you as you track animals on foot through the wilderness and explore the magnificent plants and landscapes around you.
We suggest a minimum age of 15 years for this activity, but participation is at the discretion of your Field Guide.
Wellness
Offering the luxury of unfiltered time and space, the African wilderness is the ultimate setting for complete unwinding, while the continent’s healing energies are encapsulated in rituals that nourish and nurture.
Our enduring purpose to restore the land and its wildlife extends to offering healing experiences to our guests at every touchpoint. The dedicated treatments in our massage spaces tap into the profound benefits of indigenous wisdoms and essential oils that relax, replenish and revive. Each tailor-made therapy can be customised and timed to preference, ensuring a completely personalised experience.
The massage menu has been designed to immerse guests into their beautiful surroundings, and all treatments incorporate that peace and vibrant energy to revitalize and nourish the soul.
For Families
Encountering Africa’s magnificent wildlife is a truly life-changing experience, no matter what one’s age, and time spent at our Lodge makes for an unforgettable family holiday. Filled with discovery and shared connections within nature, it’s an ideal opportunity to open children’s eyes to the wonders of an untouched wilderness.
All activities at the lodge are tailored to specifically suit the interests of each family. In the interest of safety, children may participate in game drives and bush walks at the discretion of dedicated Field Guides. The lodge also offers childminding services, as well as an array of activities to keep little ones engaged and entertained.
Our exciting Mini Rangers Course is a customised, fun-filled programme that opens up a whole new world to young explorers. It includes learning how to track animals; astronomy; bush survival techniques; game-, tree- and bird-spotting competitions as well as nature quizzes.
Children aged 10 years and older are welcome at our Lodge.
More children’s activities offered:
- Cooking interactions
- Board games
- Stargazing
- Bush walks (minimum age 16)
- Activity booklets with a variety of games, quizzes and games
- Arts & crafts
- Movies
- Swimming
Boutique & Gallery
Not your regular curio shop, you will find original treasures that have been gathered from all corners of the African continent. A range of collectable sculptures, home-ware and furnishings will allow you to recreate ‘the safari dream’ within your own home.
Artefacts, as well as authentic carvings and jewellery created by local craftsmen are just a few of the treasures you may find to take home as gifts.
Amongst beautiful museum quality, fine-art prints and works by some of the most respected artists on the continent, there are many pieces especially designed for Singita. Here too you can find a range of quality branded Singita safari wear.
We offer a worldwide shipping service so you may make your purchases at the lodges with the option to send them straight home.
Premier Wine Boutique
As one of South Africa’s most influential buyers of wine, Singita’s cellars are home to some of the most sought-after private reserves and vintage wines the country has to offer. Whether you are a connoisseur or just enjoy the occasional glass of wine, our experienced sommeliers delight in introducing guests to a vast selection of varietals from all over the world.
Through Singita Premier Wine Direct guests may purchase wines from our cellars: either to be taken home at the end of their trip or conveniently delivered to their door.
As an addition to cellar purchases, we have secured allocations of highly limited, sought-after wines, including ‘Icons’, ‘Single Vineyard’ and ‘Limited Release’ wines, directly from leading wineries in South Africa. Stored in temperature-controlled cellars, these wines are unlikely to be available anywhere else.
Fitness Centre
Fully equipped gym available for guests’ convenience. Hit the gym and work up an appetite with picturesque views of the bush, allowing you to keep an eye on the action outside while you work out.
Community Project: Cooking Classes
The Singita Community Culinary School is a unique program that serves to fulfill a real need in the community, as well as for the South African hospitality industry as a whole. Graduates of this school emerge with highly sought-after skills and strong employment prospects, while kitchens at Singita lodges and those further afield benefit from a pool of expertly-trained young chefs. The School is a significant step towards achieving Singita’s long-term, broad community development goal, which is to assist the people that live in and around the reserves to thrive, both economically and socially.
The school’s demonstration studio offers a unique experience for guests to participate in a cooking class led by an expertly trained chef, whilst supporting this important community development project at the same time. Whether it is mastering a particular dish enjoyed from the day’s menu, learning a traditional South African recipe or helping to prepare an element of the lodge’s signature tapas-style lunch, time spent in the demonstration kitchen is a wonderfully enriching experience.
The details:
- The school now has a brand new, state-of-the-art demonstration studio located at Singita Lebombo Lodge (and nearby to Singita Sweni Lodge) where guests can take part in a pre-arranged cooking class.
- A professional, qualified chef leads the cooking class.
- Guests may choose to cook a popular, traditional South African dish on offer or a trademark dish from chef Liam Tomlin’s tapas menu.
- Classes should be booked at least 24hours in advance to allow the chefs enough time to prepare.
- Classes may be scheduled 7 days a week, subject to availability.
- Bookings may be made through [email protected] or booked on-site at Singita Lebombo and Sweni Lodges.
ZAR 650* donation per person, per class
*All funds raised are used to support the ongoing work of the Singita Community Culinary School.
Photography
Camera kits suited to wildlife photography are available for rent during your stay.
The equipment is available and suitable for all levels of photographers. Experienced photographers keen to capture their unique perspective will appreciate the technology on offer. But an aspiring novice who would like to try their hand at training a telephoto lens is equally welcome.
For your convenience, both lodges also offer a Photographic Library. Review and edit your photos, complete with one-on-one post-production advice from your guide. Get professional tips and expert guidance on selecting or enhancing your images.
Photographic Editing
- A quiet area is available in the sitting room with an iMac 27” Retina 5K Display and the latest version of both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop editing software.
- Book a private one-on-one post-production session with your guide to review your RAW images and select the best keepsakes.
- Load your edited images on a provided 8GB flash drive with compliments from Singita
- Bookings can be arranged with your guide or at the Amukeri desk
Stargazing
There is perhaps no more transcendent experience than looking up at a full sky of sparkling stars.
Man has had a love affair with the nighttime sky for centuries and with very little pollution and no city lights to detract for the stars, your view of the heavens here will be crystal clear – nothing between you and the vast African sky above. Far away from all of the light pollution you get in most cities and towns, a visit to our lodge is a great chance to gaze at the night sky.
Swimming Pool
Relax or cool down at thw pool. If relaxing is more your thing, we’ll make you a cocktail so you can soak up the sunshine.