Hazyview - There are plenty of warning signs dotted around the 90 or so hectares of the Sabi River Sun Resort: look out for golfers, crocodiles and hippos are the most common.
But I think they need a few more, specifically for golfers. These would say something like: Stop for a minute. Look around you and enjoy this place.
As we stroll the edges of the immaculate 18-hole course which hugs the Sabie River, the morning is still mild and fresh with a bit of cloud in the air and little indication that, later, the temperature will hit a roasting 40oC-plus.
There are plenty of golfers out early, too, taking advantage of the cool conditions. Sadly, they are focused on their little white balls…
And so they miss the beauty of the place. It’s almost an add-on at this destination, one of the most popular in the Tsogo Sun portfolio.
We listen to the tinkling of the Sabie River as it winds around small rocks and watch as kingfishers flit over the water. Then we hear the distinct klak-klak-klak sound (building in intensity) that indicates a purple-crested loerie is nearby. Sure enough, in the canopy we spot not one but three of the beautiful purple, red and green crested birds.
Make no mistake, we’re no dedicated twitchers, but the sound and sight of these birds as the day gathers strength is a powerful reminder about why the lowveld bush is such an attractive place.
The Sabi River Sun Hotel, which is part of the resort (the rest of the accommodation consists of timeshare units), is also a perfect base for exploring the area, even if you are not a golfer.
We head off the next day before sunrise, to the Kruger National Park. Hotel reception has prepared two enormous breakfast bags for us and, as is our habit, once we are inside the park, we find a dam and a parking spot and sit, watch and eat.
The Kruger visit lasts only six hours or so, because we have to get back to the hotel where the manager, Wayne Wilson, has organised a night-drive and dinner in the Sabi Sands Reserve. In Kruger, though, we manage to see four out of the Big Five (no leopard) in that time, but stopping for lunch at Afsaal in 44oC heat is draining.
It is a relief to get back to the hotel and into the air-conditioned room. Wayne says the hotel has just come back on line after a refurbishment operation which saw 60 rooms redecorated and modernised. The fact that the process has only just finished is born out by a “glitch list”, which is on the room table, so any little adjustments can be made.
The rooms are modern and what you’d expect from a group like Tsogo but the view of the rolling green golf course, dotted with fever trees all around, would have pleased even Kipling.
The small room balconies feature a metal table and two chairs, making a pleasant place to have morning coffee or an evening drink before dinner. It’s a little thing but it enhances the experience.
Wayne runs a good operation – one of the best Tsogo properties we’ve visited – and food and service are both excellent. Not for the first time do I think that the government (and some private sector companies) could do a lot worse than ask for advice and assistance from groups like Tsogo Sun, whose customer-service DNA has been decades in the making.
From the Sabi River Sun, which is in Hazyview, you’re within easy driving distance not only of Kruger, but also of other Mpumalanga attractions, including Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window and the Blyde River Canyon. In and around Hazyview there are also plenty of activities, from mountain biking to elephant experiences, to craft markets. Children are also catered for, as one would expect at a resort, with fun and games being laid on (under supervision) and an inviting swimming pool.
And, of course, you might just want to play some golf. The loeries won’t mind…
l Brendan Seery was a guest of Sabi River Sun Hotel.
l Ask about their Seniors Club special offers which can give you up to 50 percent off the best room price of the day (bed and breakfast only).
Economical and comfy
Sabi River Sun Resort is green most of the year round. The Lowveld is scorching hot in midsummer – and game viewing can be problematic then – so it is more comfortable to go in the cool parts of the year.
It is not advisable to travel on the roads in the areas at night. Potholes in some areas are dangerous, as are other drivers, animals and pedestrians.
We travelled in a Ford Fiesta Ecoboost 1.0 automatic, which might sound like a counter-intuitive choice for a long trip, especially with such a small engine. Colleagues said as much to me before we left.
However, this is the future of motoring: a small turbocharged petrol engine, which provides plenty of get-up-and-go (it cruises easily at highway speed, with a power reserve for overtaking).
Although this was the bottom-spec vehicle in the Fiesta range, it came equipped with manual aircon, which proved well up to the challenge of the Kruger oven, with it seldom being necessary to use the third (of four) fan-speed settings. Most amazing was the fuel consumption. On the downhill run to Mbombela (Nelspruit), the car used less than 5 litres per 100km.
Overall, including game viewing in the Kruger and a tour of the mountain passes in the area, it returned 5.3l/100km. That means a couple of hundred rand in your pocket to spend on other things…
It was comfortable over the long distances and the boot swallowed our luggage – big suitcase, large soft bag and backpack. Driving the car made the trip much more enjoyable and left me with new respect for the Fiesta.
Brendan Seery, Saturday Star