An up-close experience with the Big Five — lions, leopards, elephants, African buffalo, and rhinoceroses — is one of the major draws to the 45,000-acre Singita Sabi Sand, a less-trafficked private game reserve that brushes against South African safari favorite Kruger National Park. But the wine cellar back at Singita Ebony Lodge, the luxury safari’s first property that opened 30 years ago, presents another unique, world-class experience.
One of the largest buyers of South African wine at auction, Singita — whose 16 lodges, tented camps, and villas span the countries of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Rwanda — sports a collection of nearly 200,000 bottles of South African wine, making it the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Nearly half of the wines are stored in a warehouse facility strategically placed near some of South Africa’s standout wineries in Stellenbosch, in the heart of the Cape Winelands.
The collection includes a mix of exclusive releases, private reserve wines, limited single-vineyard selections, and rare auction wines. Comprising nearly 85 producers, 60% of the bottles are red, 30% are white, and 10% are a mix of fortified, dessert wines, and Cap Classique, South African sparkling wine crafted in the traditional Champagne method.
“Many of our wines are carefully tasted, selected, and purchased — some on auction or as individual barrels — years before they ever arrive at your table,” says Kenny Nassen, Singita's premier wine operations and admin manager, who notes that some bottles have been maturing between 15 to 20 years.
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