Silvan Experiences
Relax. Revive. Reconnect.
Look no further than the foothold of the lodge, and you will already feel the spirit of Silvan's trees wafting through the air. From the majestic walls of stone which make up the grand entrance way to the minimalist, modern architecture accentuated by flashes of colour and wondrous designs, the Silvan Experience is one of mindfulness and restoration.
Decks throughout the lodge ensure that everyone has a place to relax and unwind. A grand, handwoven nest, swinging from a Jackalberry tree, lends artistic character to this lodge. The living areas are clad with copper bars and oversized daybeds fit for lazing on the deck and at the pool. Each moment is intrinsically woven with spirituality and harmony.
Don't leave anything but your footprints. Don't take anything but your memories.
Game Drives
A spectacular big 5 experience
Scouring the landscape through binoculars on the open back of a 4X4 vehicle is one of the most iconic and ritualistic elements of the safari experience. Nowhere is this taken more seriously or appreciated than at Silvan.
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Ansellia Spa
A tranquil escape
The Ansellia Orchid Spa is a haven of tranquility where the gentle sound of water gurgling into the private pool welcomes you while caring hands treat you. Relaxation and pampering form an integral part of the Silvan experience.
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Silvan Wildlife
Meet Africa's Big 5
Where barriers are broken and wildlife roam free, Sabi Sand Game Reserve offers an unparalleled experience. It is widely known as the prime region to spot the most elusive member of the Big 5; the leopard.
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24 Hours at Silvan
Get the full experience
Feel the inspiration all around you when you indulge in each of Silvan’s activities and experiences, from your morning coffee stop in the bush to your G&T on the deck at sunset.
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Food & Wine
Ignite all the senses
Dining at Silvan is a culinary delight celebrating fresh, local produce inspired by our spectacular natural surroundings. South Africa produces some of the world’s most celebrated wine, and Silvan has an extensive premium collection housed in a state-of-the-art wine cellar.
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Gin Experience
From London dry to Africa
We’ve perfected the traditional safari experience of enjoying a sip of gin and tonic as the sun kisses the horizon by bringing our guests over three dozen different gins from around the world. Each signature gin combination takes the well-known classic to extraordinary heights.
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Silvan Studio
Enhance your photography
The Silvan Studio is where your captured memories come alive. With our large scale canvas printers, state-of-the-art Apple computers and a ranger trained in photography and editing on hand, all your safari experiences can be printed on site so that you can extend your Silvan journey forever.
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Silvan Living
Take a piece of africa home
Definitely not your standard safari shop, our boutique has sourced bespoke treasures from all over the African continent. Unique collectables allow you to take a piece of your dream safari back home with you. We provide a worldwide shipping service so you can send your treasure directly to your doorstep.
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Swimming Pool
Lap up your surroundings
Spend your day cooling off and rejuvenating your spirit in our full-length lap pool overlooking the Manyeleti riverbed. You’ll love our refreshing waters as much as our elephants do.
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Silvan Art
Curated with mindfulness
The theme of our commissioned artworks are centred around the very nature of Silvan Safari – the trees. These works were not based on botanical renderings of trees, but more the interpretation of how the artist was inspired by nature, the individual tree species, relationships between trees and people or trees and animals, birds and insects, and even aspects of local mythology.
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Game Drives
Wilderness without wildlife is just scenery
- Lois Crisler
While you need look no further than the riverbed below Silvan to spot wildlife, game drives offer you the best chance to experience the incredible variety of animals which the Sabi Sand is so famous for. An early wake-up call at dawn will see you rise with the bush and its residents.
We mimic the movements of the wild, going in search of wildlife when they're most likely to be on the move (early mornings, late afternoons, and evening) and retreating to the shade as they do for respite from the midday heat. Blankets and state-of-the-art Swarovski binoculars are available in our vehicles.
Ansellia Spa
If the body is pampered, the mind is free to concentrate.
- Judy Blundell
Welcome to our mindful retreat, resting in the heart of the Sabi Sand. Like all branches of Silvan, our Ansellia Spa is inspired by the spirit of the trees. Named after the African orchid which adorns only the most tranquil reaches of this ecosystem, our spa takes a luxurious and holistic approach.
Found over the bridge and framed by a lush woodland, Ansellia Spa blends seamlessly into the bush, exuding pure serenity. Our bespoke creations and signature treatments integrate local rituals and indigenous ingredients to create an immersive experience which is entirely unique.
Silvan Wildlife
You know you are truly alive when you are living among lions.
- Karen Blixen
The Sabi Sand Game Reserve shares unfenced borders with South Africa's Kruger National Park and is celebrated for having the richest game population in the country and over 500 bird species, making it an exclusive safari destination. Guests need to look no further than the lodge itself where it has been a sanctuary for wildlife as much as it has been for its people. Our leopard, Tiyani, gave birth to her cub in our Ansellia Spa when it was just a shell while our resident elephant herds often wander through camp, drinking from our pools.
24 Hours at Silvan
I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up and was not happy.
- Ernest Hemingway
A full day at Silvan could start off with a meet and greet of Sabi Sand Game Reserve’s prized inhabitants - its wildlife, through an exclusive game drive, followed by a tantalising breakfast. Our guests can then refresh themselves with a splash in the private pools or a visit to the water hole to see how the Big 5 do it.
Spend your afternoon exploring the enchanted forest or pamper your soul with a visit to the spa. If you still need nourishing, join us for a high tea or a gin and tonic, surrounded by laughter and good memories. As the sun sets, Silvan truly comes alive with the wildlife gathering for a final sip at the waterhole and guests with their sundowners. And after a full day, what could be better than a divine bush dinner to replenish your appetite?
Food & Wine
Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life's most civilized pleasures.
- Michael Broadbent
The majestic Jackalberry tree with a lower breakfast deck , outdoor gazebos and the Modjaji dining room are living spaces for gathering and sharing. We encourage a relaxed dining experience and as such allow our guests to set the rhythm and routine of their day.
Meals are typically served in the main lodge, but can be enjoyed privately on your deck or shared with a group in a specially chosen location. Personalised wine and food pairings are a particular favourite for food and wine connoisseurs alike and can be selected to suit your individual taste.
Gin Experience
And the sooner the tea’s out the way, the sooner we can get out the gin eh.
- Henry Reed
Gin and tonic, the quintessential safari drink, has its roots dating back to its anti-malarial properties thought to stem from the quinine in the tonic. Since then, it has become an integral part of safari culture. We’ve added that special Silvan touch to classic concoctions so that our guests can savour our selection of ingredients hand-picked to perfectly pair with our signature gins from all across the globe. Sip on one of the most popular drinks in the world in the environment it was made for. Take in the serenity of your surroundings and the tranquility of the trees with each clinking of your glass.
Silvan Studio
Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding still.
- Dorothea Lange
We celebrate nature’s beauty in everything we do, and encourage our guests to do the same. This is why our state of the art Silvan Studio was designed; to let your creative spirit run free so that you may celebrate in a way that is immortalised. With large scale printers, Apple computers, a media room for photographers and artists alike, fully-equipped with supplies, this artistic hub's spirit flows from the natural surroundings of Silvan to the creativity within it.
Gift Shop
Let your journey live on through the keepsakes you take home with you.
While we're all about the memories here at Silvan, that doesn't mean our guests can't take something home with them to remind them about their adventure of a lifetime. Our Silvan Living boutique is home to all kinds of Silvan memorabilia, from prints of the commissioned artwork adorning our walls to the Swarovski binoculars in our vehicles and signature clothing embellished with the Silvan logo.
Swimming Pool
Dive right in.
A first of its kind in Sabi Sand Game Reserve, the Silvan Pool is a splash zone overlooking the Manyeleti riverbed and is enjoyed by all our inhabitants, from our guests to our wildlife. The full length lap pool is sometimes visited by elephant herds who dip their trunks in for a quick drink before wandering off back into the bush.
Silvan Art
Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.
- Thomas Merton
All commissions were awarded to emerging South African artists whose work is inspired by or holds a strong connection with nature. Seven individual artists created large-scale works for Silvan's Suites using mixed artforms ranging from oils and watercolours, through to wool and gold leaf.
Another three artists collaborated on individual works for each pod, which centred on the associations between each tree and the animals directly linked with that tree. Further masterpieces around Silvan include tree-inspired chandeliers and lamps and our bar's pièce de résistance: a large installation of bee-eaters suspended in midair as if in flight.
