Design Details: Singita Castleton
Set in park-like indigenous grasslands fronting onto bushveld vistas, Singita Castleton is an private-use lodge unlike any other. Imbued with a history acquired over generations, this private getaway offers guests a never-to-be-forgotten bush experience in the heart of the Sabi Sand. Designed to create an intimate experience for family and friends, Singita Castleton offers the seclusion of a private home, where every need is attended to in a surrounding that is infinitely peaceful and secluded.
A palette of warm, earthy tones, cloudy greys and dried parchment grass colours complement a series of South African botanical art etchings commissioned exclusively for the house, each one reflecting an example of local indigenous flora. The botanical imagery is repeated in the signature wallpaper while elsewhere in the house collected installations with historical references add an element of nostalgia to the décor.
Honest, humble textures of worn leather, linen and ticking stripe fabrics pair with bagged washed walls, pewter chandeliers and hand-woven grass lampshades, evoking the classic simplicity of a bygone era. Honest meals made in the welcoming farmhouse kitchen are served on a time-worn heritage dining room table. Hand-picked antiques, horn and tribal artefacts are layered with modern counterparts to create an eclectic boutique destination. The study is a quiet corner of solitude, decorated with accents of bone and prints. This pared-down aesthetic allows the house to breathe, harmonising English furniture with Asian accessories introduced by the sea traders who sailed down the East coast of the continent, and African influences.
The tended lawns embrace secluded garden bungalow suites, each offering additional privacy and retreat. The bedrooms harmoniously layer antique furnishings with industrial elements, linens and hand-loomed cotton in painterly floral prints, cosy throws and comfortable down pillows. There is a delicate balance of masculine and feminine sensibilities in muted tones with touches of sepia. The romantic bathrooms balance delicate details with metal doors and anglepoise lamps. Basins set into oversized workbenches reference vintage industrial design, but in a modern conversation, fresh and interested.
And, in true African lodge style, deep verandahs frame vast views to create additional living space designed to be lounged in during the still heat of the afternoon and retreated to while absorbing the subdued evening sounds of the surrounding bush. The garden lends itself to traditional lawn games – the sack race, egg and spoon, perhaps a game of croquet. The spa offers a heavenly simplicity with references to vintage industrial elements. An outdoor boma for fireside dinners under the stars completes the authentic African bush experience.
DISCOVER SINGITA CASTLETON:
Formerly the family home of Singita founder Luke Bailes’ grandfather, Singita Castleton is set within 45,000 acres of private reserve. The lodge consists of a main house with communal living spaces, and accommodation located in six individual cottages within the grounds, catering for up to 12 people. Please contact our Reservations team to find out more about this exclusive-use property.