Choosing a safari lodge in South Africa has become surprisingly difficult. Not because there are too few options — but because many lodges appear almost identical on the surface. Similar wildlife photos, similar promises, similar schedules - one could say a "cookie cutter" formula. The reality is that while the core safari experience has little variation across most lodges, some deliver vastly different experiences. This depends on factors such as location, reserve type, gues

At 7 Star Lodges, we have always believed that the most memorable stays are personal. They are shaped around the people travelling, their interests, their pace and what they hope to experience while they are with us. This week, we introduced our new 7 Star Lodges Experience Designer, giving guests an entirely new way to shape their stay before they arrive. The Experience Designer is a private, personalised space created for each guest. It brings together the experiences avail

When planning an African safari, "The Big Five" is a phrase you hear constantly. It is plastered across travel brochures and lodge websites like a golden standard. Because of this, most first-time travelers naturally assume it represents a curated list of Africa’s largest, most iconic animals. If you asked the average person to guess the line-up, they would probably say: Lion, Elephant, Hippo, Giraffe, and Zebra. And why wouldn't they? They are all massive, breathtaking creat

One of the things we've noticed over the years is that even the most beautiful hotels can become surprisingly predictable. Breakfast is in the same restaurant. Lunch is at the same table. Dinner is in exactly the same place as the night before. The food may change, but the experience doesn't. At Oase, we wanted dining to feel like another part of the adventure. Because we've built the lodge across 530 hectares of private bushveld, with river frontage, open plains and hidden p

Every morning, the wind resets the canvas of the Greater Kruger sand. To the untrained eye, the dry beds of the Blyde River are just earth. But to our trackers, they are a morning newspaper, archiving every single movement, interaction, and silent shift that occurred under the cover of darkness. In modern safari travel, it is incredibly easy to become a passive spectator. You sit in a tiered vehicle, a radio crackles with coordinates, and you are driven directly to a pin on a

Choosing a safari lodge isn't easy. In fact, we'd argue it's one of the hardest travel decisions you'll ever make. Unlike choosing a hotel in a city, most people visiting Africa are making a once-in-a-lifetime decision. You're spending your hard-earned money, investing precious vacation time, travelling halfway around the world, and placing a huge amount of trust in photographs, websites, reviews, and promises made by people you've never met. The reality is that there are hun

Why Safari Is Expensive — And Why Price Doesn’t Always Reflect Experience One of the first things many people notice when planning an African safari is the price. For first-time visitors especially, safari can feel surprisingly expensive compared to many other forms of travel. A luxury hotel in Europe, Southeast Asia, or even parts of the Middle East may cost a fraction of what some safari lodges charge per person, per night. And naturally, that leads many travellers to ask t

Over the past few days, I have been thinking about how my Wife and I choose lodges to visit and what influences the decision making. I thought it might be good to share the process with everyone. This post is a follow up to a previous post about what to compare when selecting a lodge. A view of the Milestone guest suites at oase by 7 Star Lodges What Actually Matters When Comparing Safari Lodges Not all safari lodges are trying to create the same experience. That may sound ob

There is a reason safari lodges around Africa tend to follow a similar rhythm. Wake-up before sunrise. Coffee around the fire. Morning game drive. Breakfast back at the lodge. A few quiet hours during the heat of the day. Then afternoon tea, another drive, dinner, and bed before it all begins again. The structure exists for good reason. Wildlife is naturally more active in the cooler hours of the morning and evening, and in remote environments logistics matter. Guests need t

My wife and I have been travelling through Africa for more than 30 years now. Over that time, we’ve travelled from the top of Kenya to the very bottom of South Africa. From the deserts of Namibia in the west to the plains of Tanzania in the east, and almost everywhere in between. Collectively, we have now visited close to a thousand safari lodges across the continent. A few weeks ago, I attended Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban. Walking through the exhibition halls, passing l

At first glance, many luxury safari lodges appear almost identical. Beautiful suites overlooking the bush. Infinity pools. Big 5 game drives. Carefully plated dinners under the stars. And to be fair, many of them are genuinely exceptional places. But after spending enough time travelling through Africa — and after speaking with countless guests over the years — something interesting starts to emerge. The things people think will define their safari are often not the things th

One of the most common questions people ask when planning an African safari is surprisingly simple: “How many days should we stay?” The answer, though, is rarely straightforward. Some travellers arrive for two nights and leave feeling as though they barely had time to settle in. Others stay a full week and suddenly understand why people return to Africa again and again. Much of it depends not only on the wildlife, but on the type of safari lodge chosen and the pace at which y

Choosing a safari lodge is exciting, but it’s also a big investment. The difference between an average trip and a truly unforgettable one often comes down to the details you clarify before you book. Smart travelers don’t just rely on the lodge’s website — they ask direct, practical questions. Here’s the ultimate list of questions you should ask every safari lodge before making a reservation. Essential Questions to Ask Before Booking Are park and conservation fees included in

In May, the African tourism industry gathers in one place. Buyers, lodges, guides, tourism boards, conservation groups, and travel companies from across the continent all make their way to Durban for Africa's Travel Indaba 2026, one of the largest tourism trade events on the African calendar. This year’s event takes place from 11–14 May 2026 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. For us, it feels less like a trade show and more like a conversation. An o

If you’ve ever dreamed of a proper African safari, the Greater Kruger is probably high on your list. It’s one of those places that stays with you long after you’ve left — a vast, unfenced wilderness where the Big Five roam freely across endless bushveld. But what exactly is the Greater Kruger, and why does it feel so special? Let me walk you through its story, its incredible surroundings, and why Hoedspruit (and Oase) make such a perfect base. The Story of Kruger National Par

Introducing the Artist Exchange at Oase There’s a certain kind of stillness in the bush that invites creation. You notice it early in the morning, when the river moves slowly through the valley and the light settles in before the day really begins. And then again in the evening, when the fire is going and the sounds shift — a fish eagle somewhere in the distance, leaves moving softly, something unseen in the dark. In between, there are small moments that don’t announce themse

There is always a moment in the bush when you realise the season has truly changed — not when the first rain falls, because that happens every year and is often forgotten by morning, but when the land itself stops absorbing and begins to give the water somewhere else to go. In mid-January , the clouds settled across the Lowveld and did not move on. Afternoon storms became steady overnight rain, and overnight rain became days of water travelling quietly but continuously across

If you're dreaming of a safari escape in the Greater Kruger – that massive protected haven blending Kruger National Park with private reserves – you've got options galore. But Oase by 7 Star Lodges isn't just another spot on the map; it's a game-changer. What sets it apart? A bold mix of modern luxury, sustainability, and hyper-personalized experiences that ditch the cookie-cutter safari mold. And why does this matter? In a world where travel is about meaningful connections a

We’re delighted to announce that booking your dream safari stay at Oase by 7 Star Lodges just became even easier and more secure: PayPal is now available as a payment option on our official reservation platform! Whether you’re planning a romantic escape in the Rosewood Suite, a multi-generational family adventure, or an exclusive buy-out of the entire lodge, you can now complete your booking using PayPal alongside all major credit cards and instant EFT. Why this matters to yo

Nestled along the Blyde River in the sun-drenched Lowveld of Greater Kruger, South Africa, Oase Lodge is a sanctuary where Africa's wild heart beats in harmony with the passage of time. From the gentle rains of summer to the crisp, golden days of winter, our 530-hectare private reserve transforms with the rhythms of the bushveld. Join us on a seasonal safari and uncover why Oase offers endless reasons to return, year after year. Summer (November–February): The Greens and Rene