“Safari” and “Luxury” are not typically synonymous. So, thank goodness for Solio Lodge! It’s not that I’m afraid of nature, but I like staying in nice places and getting a good night’s sleep between game drives. And a full, private bathroom. Call me a diva, that’s okay. We absolutely loved our stay at Solio Lodge by the Safari Collection. Many people think their accommodation doesn’t matter, because they’re just sleeping there, right? They have never stayed at a place like this. Keep reading for everything you need to know about staying at Solio Lodge by the Safari Collection.
The Lodge
When I think of a “lodge,” I tend to think of taxidermy, dark wood and decor, and musty smells. That is the opposite of Solio Lodge. It’s absolutely stunning inside, and yet it perfectly blends into the landscape outside. I loved all the seating areas and activities to help pass the time in the main lodge, along with the wall of window-doors that allowed us to feel like we were both inside and outside. We visited during the start of the rainy season, so this was all very helpful. Is there anything better than enjoying an iced coffee in a cushy chair with a view of the rain falling on Rhinos outside? I think not. The decor is beautiful, and yet completely fits the landscape, tying it all together–outside and in.
Read on: What It’s Like to Visit The Rhino Orphanage at Solio
The Family Cottage
Because I was traveling with my toddler daughter and a family friend, we needed two rooms. But better than that? We were able to book a family cottage, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a common area, and a beautiful back deck that ran the length of the cottage. Again, the decor was beautiful, and the entire cottage was stunning. I loved having so much space to ourselves. It was almost too much space!
The Rooms
Our cottage combined rooms 5 and 6, connected through a door. Both rooms had their own outdoor access, and were connected to each other with an interior door. Having the separation was good for us, so that my friend could have her own personal space, yet we could also be together easily with my toddler daughter, without leaving either of our rooms. I do wish there had been some sort of separation between the bed area and the common area in our room, but it wasn’t a huge deal that the space was all open.
The Bathrooms
Wow. I’m so amazed at these bathrooms! They’re like the bathrooms of my dreams. I loved how open they were, how natural elements have been incorporated (those natural wood beams!), and that open shower with a large window and rainfall shower head? Wow. I felt like the only person in the world in there. Each bathroom also included a massive soaker tub, complete with bath salts and bubble bath, which my daughter truly enjoyed! Just like at Giraffe Manor, each bathroom was equipped with locally-made, high-end soaps and lotions, as well as filtered water for brushing teeth and drinking as needed.
The Common Area
The cottage has incredible natural light, and the way it floods the common area in the cottage is just beautiful. With plenty of comfortable seating, a fireplace, coffee bar and fridge, plus a daybed, we truly felt as if we had an entire house to ourselves. Each morning, our housekeeper Agnes came for our wake-up call with coffee in tow, plus rhino-shaped cookies. Each night, she put hot water bottles into our beds to warm them for us. And throughout each day, we glimpsed monkeys, impalas, giraffes, and more roaming around, sometimes even coming up onto our deck!
Where the toiletries came from: What It’s Like to Visit Cinnabar Green from Solio Lodge
The Meals
As for the food, every bite exceeded expectations, and every meal was abundant. We mostly ate breakfast in the Bush during our morning game drives, but I’m glad we had a couple of slower mornings to enjoy breakfast in the lodge. It was amazing, with a buffet to choose from as well as a menu. Lunch was served family-style and outdoors, with rhinos and monkeys roaming nearby. Sometimes the monkeys got too close. Luckily for us, the staff were armed with slingshots to scare them away!
The real jewel, however, was dinner. Each day at lunch, the chef came to our table to consult with us about what we would want for dinner. He gave us the choices, and we selected right there. Each night, we had a gourmet meal, the likes of which I’ve only very rarely ever eaten. Every morsel was perfectly cooked, and every dessert was the perfect finish!
Keep eating: The Best Food We Ate at Solio Lodge
The Game Drives
As previously mentioned, our morning game drives came with a Bush breakfast, and each evening game drive ended with a “sundowner” snack. But the real star? The big game! endangered rhinos, both black and white, roam freely here on the Solio Rhino Conservancy. But that’s not all you’ll see. We spied ostriches, lions and lionesses, impalas, antelopes, monkeys, baboons, zebras, and most impressively, a leopard! They’re a very rare sighting inside the park, and we were lucky enough to see one on our first game drive. I’m so glad we took advantage of the game drives as often as we could in our four days there.
More here: Tips for Your Safari at Solio Lodge by the Safari Collection
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