Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge. Hidden from prying eyes.

2527
"Earth Lodge is a sanctuary symbolising a new era in luxury South African safari lodges. Sculpted into a slope of the earth, almost invisible in the landscape, the lodge uses texture, light and space to present a lodge like no other. Taking its cue from the surrounding environment, it has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa". From the official website

 

 

 

Many, many years ago I worked at this property as the Floor Manager on a well known afternoon chat show. The production company could not afford to pay for the accommodation and the crew, aside from the director and the presenter, had to sleep at another lodge outside of this reserve. It was therefore with a sense of excitement that I returned, with my wife, as a guest to Earth Lodge recently. And to be welcomed by a cool drink after our short ride across the reserve from Selati Camp was the epitome of the service that we were to experience during our stay.

 

 

Often properties are referred to as being ‘nestled’ into the side of a hill or ‘tucked’ into a forest, but in the case of this lodge, both of those adjectives apply. From the car park, none of the building is visible other than a walkway that leads to an imposing door and then THIS space one you cross the threshold. It is certainly unexpected if you have not looked at a brochure before your arrival. Of the earth and in the earth are better descriptions of how this property has been absorbed by the land that it resides in.

 

 

The openness and sense of space by architect Mohammed Hans was years ahead of its time. The rendering on the wall almost looks like Cobb (a mixture of straw and clay) and gives the walls a rough, yet earthy texture that roots the buildings into the veld in which they are situated.

 

 

Although the bar might be hosting a reduced number of guests, it is still an imposing space, with the counter being hewn out of a single tree trunk.

 

 

I ‘discovered’ this seating area between the curio shop and the bar, but who actually has time to sit here had me wondering for most of my visit. Consider the typical day at a lodge, if you would.

Wake up call is around 05h30/06h00 depending on the season. Before heading out on a 3-hour game drive there is ALWAYS time for a hot beverage of your choice and a biscuit or two, Returning from the drive at around 09h00 it is then time for breakfast, and that takes us to around 10h00. With lunch at 13h00 and high-tea at 15h30 followed by the afternoon/evening game drive at around 16h00. You return at 19h00 for dinner at 19h30 or 20h00 depending on the lodge requirements. And bed follows very soon after the last spoon of dessert is eaten and the last sip of freshly-brewed coffee is enjoyed. Tally that up and you will see that there is VERY little time to sit here in quiet solitude…

 

 

We were in Room 11, which was a short walk from the main lodge building…but that did give us some exercise…again, no time for the gym (which was situated across the pathway from our accommodation). Our bed was large and comfortable and the linen was superb.

 

 

Once again, the rendering on the walls spoke of the earth from which all the components were harvested. The attention to detail was superb, and despite looking for faults, they were almost non-existent. This part of the room is designed as a dressing area and it ‘separates’ the bathroom from the main area of the room.

 

 

Not that we used this much as we were here for only one night, this lounge area at the foot of the bed was comfortable and spacious. And the view from all the windows were spectacular.

 

 

The bathroom is open plan and has both an indoor shower as well as a bath. The toilet does have a door for those who enjoy privacy while seated on the porcelain throne. There is also an outside shower that I discovered in the morning just before we were about to leave.

 

 

I want one of these for our bath at home. Aside from the stand that can hold an iPad or a book(remember those?), it has cutouts for not one, but two wine glasses.

 

 

Now, THIS is what I call high tea! Enough snacks, both savoury and sweet, to take the place of lunch. We decided to have this in our room while we prepared for the afternoon drive.

 

 

And look what we found. This little fellow, who is about 3 months old, was part of a pride that consisted of 11 cubs (ranging from 3-7 months) 3 large females and 3 very big males. An extraordinary sighting and although not rare, unexpected.

 

 

The first course of dinner…a most delicious carrot and butternut soup with homemade bread. I have to nail my colours to the mast here and say that I am biased because I will have soup no matter what the temperature is.

 

 

Our room at night took on a whole different ambience…

 

 

And a late-night dip before bed, all the while keeping a lookout for wandering wildlife was almost compulsory.

 

 

To find out more about what Sabi Sabi can offer, click on the logo above to be linked to their website.

 

 

 

All images are the copyright property of

and may not be used without permission.