The participating ecotourism companies are committed to providing world-class experiences for the discerning travelers, and to ongoing investments in sustainable conservation development and community empowerment.  In short; Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People. A portion of the proceeds go directly to the Africa Foundation. 
http://www.africafoundation.org/default.php

Mondior Concorde Hotel   

Nestled in the renowned Emperors Hotel, Casino and Convention Resort is the elegant Peermont Mondior Hotel.  Each suite has a fully equipped bathroom, air conditioning, satellite television, and internet connectivity.

Guests can enjoy mouth-watering menus at the chic Oriana Restaurant or a sociable cocktail at The Silver Moon bar.  A sparkling swimming pool and tennis courts add to guest delight.  Guests also have access to the casino, dining, and entertainment areas of Emperors Palace as well as Octavia’s Sensorium Health and Beauty Spa.

www.peermont.co.za

The Graskop/Sabie areas are truly a birder’s paradise.  There a huge variety of the more common bird species and a number of globally and nationally threatened species also occur in the area.

One of the major highlights of the region is The Blyde River Canyon Nature Sanctuary, located 5 miles north of Graskop, stretching for nearly 12 miles as it cuts a spectacular path through the granite of the great South African escarpment.  The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon of its kind in the world.  This 100,000 acre Important Bird Areas  (IBA) site includes the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, Swadini, and Manuoutsa portions of the Drakensberg mountains.

 Habitat: vegetation varies from large patches of high-altitude Afromontane forest in the valleys to forest-related bush clumps along the edge of the escarpment, to open tree savanna, to montane grassveld on the open exposed slopes.

Birds: Home to over 100 bird species, this is the only site in South Africa that supports breeding Taita Falcon.  One pair of the critically endangered Blue Swallow still breeds here.  The cliffs of Manoutsa hold over 660 pairs of the vulnerable Cape Vulture, making it the world’s fourth largest colony.  The gorges also hold breeding pairs of the Black Stork and Peregrine Falcon, as well as the Cape Eagle Owl.  The river supports the vulnerable Pel’s Fishing Owl, Whitebacked Night Heron, African Finfoot, and the near-threatened Halfcollared Kingfisher.  The surrounding grassland supports the endangered Blackrumped Buttonguail,  Striped Flufftail, Stanley’s Bustard, Blue Crane, Ground Hornbill, Grass Owl, and Bald Ibis.  The near-threatened Secretary bird as well as the Buffstreaded Chat, Curney’s Sugarbird occur on the protea shrubs on the hillsides.  The forest supports the near-threatened Crowned Eagle, Orange Thrush, and Bush Blackcap as well as the Forest Buzzard, Buffspotted Flufftail, Cinnamon Dove, Knysna Lourie, Barratt’s Warbler, Olive Bush Shrike, Chorister Robin, Brown Robin, Swee Waxbill and Forest Canary.  The venerable Martial Eagle is frequently seen soaring over the bushveld. The near-threatened Bat Hawk has been recorded in the thick riverine woodland.

Graskop Hotel

Graskop Hotel is a unique artistic experience offering friendly accommodation, contemporary South African art in a variety of interesting settings and culinary delights to be remembered.
Whether you are visiting Mpumalanga as a tourist or on business, the Graskop Hotel offers you a warm welcome.  Decor and good service give a relaxed ambience in which to enjoy freshly prepared food, flavored with home grown herbs.  Our peaceful garden is the ideal place for some quiet relaxation.  The large swimming pool is the ideal place to lounge away those hot summer days on a pool lounger, cooling off with a refreshing dip in the pool.  http://www.graskophotel.co.za/

Kirkmans Kamp  www.andBeyond.com

Kirkman’s Kamp, with its spectacular views of the unspoiled wilderness, is regarded as one of the best-loved lodges in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.  It is a well-known historic camp, originally built in the early 1920’s, and celebrates the atmosphere of an early South African lowveld homestead.  The colonial atmosphere of gracious style and luxury has been retained, and guests step back in time upon entering the original homestead, which now houses the Lodge’s sitting, dining, and bar areas.  Each of the 18 guest cottages has a private veranda and is furnished in the same charming style with fully furnished bathrooms with electrical outlets (220 volts).

The Main Lodge’s large sitting room, with a 1920’s ambience, leads through double French doors onto rolling lawns that provide a velvety contrast to the wild and tumbling bush surrounding it.  Breakfast and lunch are served on shady verandas, and dinners are shared in the dramatic reed walled enclosure (boma) or in romantic lantern lit bush settings.

Game drives (Kirkman’s and Ngala Lodge guests)

Game drives – Your highly experienced personal Ranger and Tracker will take you to where they know the sightings will be maximized.  You’ll be driven in fully open-air 4x4 Land Cruisers containing 3 comfortable bench seats with a maximum of 6 people per vehicle to ensure clear views by all for sighting and photographing.  The advantage of staying at a private game reserve is you will be able to drive off-road in order to get ‘up and close’ to the animals.  The chances are excellent that you will encounter lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah and many other species of game in their natural habitat. Once at a sighting, the ranger will shut off the engine and give you an informative explanation of what you’re seeing and how the game survive, interact, and think.  The early morning game drive includes a coffee break whilst watching the sunrise.  You will encounter for the first time, wild game, birds, and flora never before experienced.  Return to the lodge for a full breakfast including local fruits, pastries, and ala carte items cooked to your specifications.

After relaxing back at your chalet’s terrace watching the wild game amble by, a healthy lunch is served.  You will have the early afternoon to relax or take an escorted walking safari (highly recommended) with your armed ranger/guide.  These bush walks give you an intimate African experience while every sense you possess is virtually assaulted by the sights, sounds, and smells of Africa.  Your expert guide will point out amazingly colored birds, camouflaged game of every variety, and a huge variety of trees and spectacular flowers.  Everywhere you look, there is another surprise. 

At about 4:30 PM, set out on the evening game drive that includes a scenic ‘sundowner’ (bush cocktails) break during the ever-colorful African sunset.  Sundowners are extraordinary whilst listening to your ranger share tales of Africa that he has experienced.  After dark, you continue on the safari as nocturnal safaris open up a totally new world.  A powerful spotlight illuminates the shy and sometimes-rare wildlife and provides a good chance to witness predatory big game in action.

Ngala Safari Lodge

Nestled under a canopy of mopane and tamboti trees, the Ngala Safari Lodge features 20 classic thatched cottages.  Each cottage has a fully furnished bathroom with electrical outlets (220 volts), private veranda, and exudes a romantic colonial ambience with nostalgic safari memorabilia throughout.  

The Lodge’s large sparkling swimming pool overlooks natural riverine woodland.  Hearty breakfasts and delicious lunches are served in the dappled shade of an enormous weeping boerbean tree.  Upon your return from exhilarating evening game drives, you are welcomed by Ngala’s warm and hospitable staff to a banquet in the elegant candlelit courtyard, or to an African feast around the blazing boma fire.  The Lodge’s thatched dining, bar, and sitting areas are open to the warm breezes of the inviting African bushveld.

www.andBeyond.com