With FIFA’s 2010 World Cup soccer championships going on now, many eyes are turned toward South Africa. If you haven’t yet visited one of the country’s many luxury safari lodges, you are missing out. Hidden away in the bush, these opulent lodges rival the best European hotels in terms of service, food and wine, and sometimes even spa treatments. Of course, the real draw of any safari is the chance to get close to the “Big Five:” elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, leopard, and black rhinoceros. In most of South Africa’s game reserves, you’ll see those species as well as many others

With FIFA’s 2010 World Cup soccer championships going on now, many eyes are turned toward South Africa. If you haven’t yet visited one of the country’s many luxury safari lodges, you are missing out. Hidden away in the bush, these opulent lodges rival the best European hotels in terms of service, food and wine, and sometimes even spa treatments. Of course, the real draw of any safari is the chance to get close to the “Big Five:” elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, leopard, and black rhinoceros. In most of South Africa’s game reserves, you’ll see those species as well as many others

If the World Cup has piqued your interest in South Africa, consider these luxury lodges:

Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve

Leopard Hills
Aptly named, you often won’t have to leave camp to see leopards. The resident female is frequently seen drinking from guest plunge pools and lounging on lodge decks. She has even left her cub on property while she went off hunting. If you don’t spot a leopard at the lodge, you almost certainly will during a game drive. Leopard Hills rangers and trackers regularly lead guests to sightings of lions, elephants, Cape buffalo, giraffe, wild dogs, and occasionally even cheetahs. This intimate lodge features eight air-conditioned glass-fronted suites—each with a private plunge pool and gorgeous views of the bushveld. The spacious bathroom features a standalone tub, his and her sinks, and both an indoor and outdoor shower. The main lodge offers a spa and small gym, library, dining room and bar, deck overlooking a watering hole, and swimming pool. Per person rates are approximately $1,000/night.

Kruger National Park

Singita Sweni Lodge
Singita is one of the most recognized names when it comes to luxury safari lodges. Here at Kruger National Park, Singita—a Relais & Chateaux property—offers two options: Sweni and Lebombo lodges. (over at Sabi Sands you’ll find Singita Ebony, Boulders, and Castelton Camps). Sweni Lodge, situated next to the Sweni River, intrigues many guests since it’s built on stilts—affording you a giraffe’s-eye view of the area. There are six open-concept suites, all with the obligatory outdoor shower. The big draw is the fact that you can sleep out under the stars on the day bed on your viewing deck. Per person rates are approximately $1,450/night.

Jock Safari Lodge
If you’re traveling to South Africa with children, Jock Safari Lodge should be at the top of your list. The lodge allows children over 7 to join the daily game drives (although kids need to be over 16 to go on a walking safari). If you need several rooms for your family anyway, consider booking “Little Jock.” This trio of suites come with a chef, waitress, and ranger. This level of privacy and flexibility is appreciated by families who may need to adjust the times of daily game drives to coincide with their children’s sleep and wake schedules. Per person rates are approximately $650/night. (Children 7–11 charged 50% of nightly rate. Children 12 and older require a separate room and are charged full price.)

Timbavati Private Game Reserve

Kings Camp
Kings Camp is one of the only places in the world where you have a chance to catch a glimpse of white lions in the wild. You may assume that white lions are a subspecies of Panthera leo, but they are not. These animals actually carry a recessive gene that acts as a color inhibitor that’s responsible for pure white coats instead of the usual tawny ones. Residents of the Timbavati area have told stories of these lions over the centuries. A pride of white lions is currently traversing the area near Kings Camp, so it’s definitely worth a visit. The rangers at Kings Camp also understand all aspects of wildlife photography and are fantastic when it comes to maneuvering the game drive vehicle so you’ll get the best shot of the animals being viewed. Per person rates are approximately $560/night.

Kapama Game Reserve

Camp Jabulani
For something completely different, look no further than Camp Jabulani (another Relais & Chateaux member). Not only is this one of Africa’s most opulent game lodges, it also offers elephant-back safaris. Here you’ll be granted one-on-one encounters with a herd of trained elephants, including six babies. (Many of these elephants were rescued from Zimbabwe, where they had been tagged for slaughter.) Now these animals live a privileged life at Camp Jabulani and guests are thrilled to make their acquaintance. The accommodations are no less exhilarating. During the day, the walls of your suite can be rolled back so you are one with the great outdoors. On chilly evenings, you’re sure to use the in-suite fireplace. There’s also an on-site spa that offers a variety of massage and skin care treatments. Per person rates are approximately $1,000/night.

Madikwe Game Reserve

Madikwe Safari Lodge
For those who are a bit nervous about safari vacations in the first place, a good first step is a trip to Madikwe Private Game Reserve, because it’s located in a malaria-free region. No special health precautions are required to visit this area of South Africa. &Beyond’s Madikwe Safari Lodge is one of the best accommodations in Madikwe. At twenty suites, this is a larger lodge than those mentioned above but the rooms are distributed across three separate camps so you’ll still get the “out in the bush” vibe. Animal sightings have been very good recently and often include cheetah and wild dog in addition to the Big Five. Per person rates are approximately $400/night.

To further research safari getaways in South Africa, visit South African Tourism.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo courtesy of Camp Jabulani

A flurry of South Africa travel packages are being announced now that the 2010 World Cup is only eight months away. Here’s a 15-day adventure from Africa Adventure Consultants that combines 10 nights in Cape Town (or other cities), two soccer matches in Category 1 (best) seats, and a four-night game safari at Thornybush Private Game Lodge in Thornybush Nature Reserve near Kruger National Park. The land-only price is $7,820 per person.

Africa Adventure Consultant’s president Kent Redding is seeing an uptick in bookings for the period surrounding the World Cup. “Now is certainly the time for soccer fans to make World Cup Africa travel plans, as we’re already seeing limited availability at some hotels throughout South Africa. With the recent news from London regarding bogus tickets, it’s also important to purchase your travel packages from reputable operators.”

In addition to World Cup Africa travel, Denver-based African safari expert Africa Adventure Consultants organizes safari adventures throughout East and Southern Africa, with destinations including Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia, Victoria Falls and Ethiopia.

For more information, visit Africa Aventure Consultants or call 1-(866) 778‑1089.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo courtesy of Thornybush Private Game Lodge