About
Perfect for families or groups of friends looking for a fabulous place to base themselves near the Kruger National Park. Chic umSisi House is a five-star country house set in well maintained lush gardens. It only accepts single, exclusive-hire bookings (minimum four people), and sleeps up to ten. Hosts and Owners, Paddy and Amanda, will take care of your every whim and welcome you into this wonderful home-from-home property which includes a pre-agreed gourmet meal plan, personalised service and a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Kruger’s Numbi Gate is 15 minutes away – and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport just 20 minutes – while Blyde River Canyon and the Panorama Route are also within day-trip reach.
Accommodation
The main house sleeps six people across three en-suite bedrooms. Style-wise, the building blends sharp, straight-lined minimalism and crisp white walls with classical African heirlooms: animal heads, heraldic shields, decorative plates and ebony furniture. Ditto the self-catering, four-person umSisi Cottage, just 50m away, which is used for larger bookings.
Facilities
The house and its verandas afford views down the Peebles Valley towards Legogote Mountain. UmSisi’s gardens are lush and extensive, full of trees, greenery and birds, and home to both a relaxing jacuzzi and a large, beckoning pool. Enjoyed al-fresco or at a chef's table in the open-plan kitchen, home-cooked dinners make use of local produce and are paired with local wines. Half or full-board rates are available. After dinner, retreat to the library or TV room, or take a cognac outside and admire the big, star-studded sky.
Activities
Miles of hiking trails dot the local area, some of them accessible from Umsisi’s own grounds. The house’s friendly owners will happily arrange visits to local community projects, Kruger safaris, golf rounds and massage treatments. Further afield is the Panorama Route, leading to amazing Blyde River Canyon and its many outdoor-activity opportunities,
Child Policy
Children of all ages are welcome, and will enjoy a selection of DVDs, books, board games and toys, plus high chairs. Safety Turtle monitors and wristbands are available to reassure parents of young tots around the swimming pool.
The Best of South Africa Travel map displays the locations of the destinations and accommodation that we have selected and visited; for each item, hovering over or clicking the marker will display a short summary and photo of that place or hotel, and hotel pricing. Follow the links in the info box to the full page listing which has much more information.
Note that the online map offers both a satellite view (click satellite in the top right) and, for some locations, a street level view (Drag the person in the top left onto the map). These let you explore the country; and when you wish to explore in person, or if you have any questions about the places you see, give our staff a call, or request a quote. Our staff regularly visit the places and accommodation that we feature.
When you book a holiday with us we will provide full driving instructions for reaching your accommodation, where necessary; these can be used by yourself, or you could enjoy the luxury of a driver. Alternatively we will arrange private (car rather than coach) transfers for you; helicopter transfers are also possible for some destinations.
Thanks for organising such a memorable trip. It was absolutely fantastic, we all cried our eyes out when we left Sabi Sabi...thank you
Anon. who stayed here in February 2017.
"We were referred to Ash by a mutual friend and were specifically looking for a unique experience for our family which involved a game park. After a brief discussion around what we would like to see and do, Ash then came back with a package that met us at Jo'burg airport, flew us into the Kruger where our three day safari staying in a 5 star lodge began. This intimate lodge with our own dedicated guide gave us an amazing experience seeing the big five and many more types of wildlife. We then stayed in a luxury guesthouse outside of the park, drove the Panorama Route and visited an elephant sanctuary where we got to lead and ride the elephants - an experience our children will remember forever. This six day portion of a three month world holiday was still the highlight of the whole trip for me. We would not have experienced this but for Ash's local knowledge and attention to our specific needs. I have recommended friends to Ash who have subsequently also arranged similar holidays via her. I would love to come back and see more of South Africa in the years to come and will definitely use Ash again for this."
Tim Groenestein who stayed here in August 2016.
Umsisi House , Mpumalanga has been rated 2 times, with an overall rating of 5.00 out of 5.
