Set in the Balule Reserve, cradled on the banks of the Great Olifants River, beneath towering fig and natal mahogany trees lies Ezulwini River Lodge.

Ezulwini, meaning ‘place of paradise’, remains true to its name in the secretive construction of River Lodge, which is a bird-lovers utopia, and a wildlife wonderland for all of the Balule beasts.

The great leafy branches of the riverine forest drape over the viewing deck providing shade and quiet for lazy afternoons at River Lodge. The outdoor lounge, swimming pool and inviting bar area is equipped for comfort, while night time lanterns turn the place into bush dining bliss.

Big tusker elephants of the Kruger Park come to feed on the trees in the riverbed, while resident lions can be heard calling into the night. En-suite bedroom rondavels are topped with thatch and joined via wooden and concrete pathways, keeping to the authentic feel of the lodge.

Situated in the Southern part of the Kruger it is easy and quick to get to from Nelspruit airport. The reserve is about 65000 hectares and shares unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park.

Accommodation is growing and will soon sleep 20 people at capacity. Rooms have two single beds, ensuite bathrooms, and private patios, while each is fitted with an air-conditioner. Some of the chalets are connected via an inter-leading door, making them ideal for small groups and families. During the heat of summer, guests can relax around the swimming pool, which overlooks the Sand River and the open wilderness.

Dining in a traditional boma around a roaring fire is one of the most enjoyable African bush experiences. After dinner, rangers may even take guests out on a night drive to view the nocturnally active wildlife.

Umkumbe is in a prime position and there is almost always game to be seen from the deck and the main guest areas. Elephants, buffalo, antelope, baboons are regular visitors, while a pair of breeding fish eagles nests just in front of the lodge.

En suite bathrooms wrap you in luxury, with double basins, a shower and corner bath overlooking an environment teeming with game. An extra outdoor shower provides a novel way to freshen up, while enjoying the lyrical strains of the bushveld choir.

The views from each Suite are superb and your private patio is the perfect place from which to submerge yourself in nature’s harmony. You will have ample time to delight in the sights, sounds and smells of the bush on twice daily game walks and drives, and while dining in the boma.

Cuisine at Jackalberry is simply delicious, featuring local treats such as butternut soup, chakalaka, kudu burgers, boerewors and barbecued beef. Every evening, one of the rangers will enhance your dinner conversation with tales of their adventures in the South African bush, punctuated by the distant sounds of roaring lions and giggling hyenas.

All the rooms are elegantly furnished with king-size beds and downy soft linen. The Family Suite has an extra bedroom with twin beds, while the Honeymoon Suite has a private lounge.

The lavish, air-conditioned accommodation is limited to just eight guests in four high-lofted thatched suites, each with an African chic theme, including the 2-bedroom Royal Suite.  While each suite is discreetly positioned, with its own elevated viewing deck and private plunge pool to ensure a unique and private bush experience, the opportunity to reserve the entire camp for your groups’ exclusive use is a reality.

The spacious lounge and dining areas are exceptionally designed and exquisitely furnished.

Drink in the serenity of the African sunset from the sparkling rim-flow pool, overlooking the busy water hole and discover true tranquillity in the beating heart of the bush.

The thrill of seeing the first massive lion pug mark in the dust. And then, that unforgettable moment when untamed Africa itself looks back at you with a piercing tawny gaze.

Set in a dry, signing savannah of Acacia and Umbrella Thorn, Shumbalala enfolds you in stone-clad luxury in the heart of an ancient tapestry of natural wonder, unspoilt and untainted by the world beyond.

Intimate and exclusive, with only 4 suites to choose from, Shumbalala Game Lodge offers outstanding game viewing and bird-watching in the company of our experienced guides and rangers or nestled in the comfort of your wing-backed chair on your private viewing deck. the Presidential Suite boasts two en-suite bedrooms, private lounge with indoor and outdoor fireplaces and an outdoor boma area featuring a private plunge pool.

Come discover the Prides of Africa.

Serondella means “The Place of the Elephant”, and no stay at this stunning lodge, situated on a tributary of the seasonal Monwana River in the mid-section of the Thornybush Nature Reserve, is complete without a special encounter with these gentle giants as they move between the two waterholes and the watercourse.

Serondella Lodge offers outstanding game viewing in the company of your highly qualified tracker and ranger along with the superb comfort and hospitality of a luxury lodge.

Ideal for family getaways or a romantic getaway, Serondella Lodge accommodates a maximum of 8 people in 3 suites and a Family Suite with 3 bedrooms all en-suite, each offering a choice of bush or waterhole view, and located for maximum privacy and seclusion. Our herd is waiting to welcome you.

Enjoy the elegance and style of a bygone era combined with all the trappings and convenience of modernity.  Tranquil and intimate, the 8 en-suite air-conditioned tents are washed with afternoon sunlight and colour and offer outstanding bushveld views from their private decks, each with an outdoor bath.  Situated a few minutes drive from Thornybush Game Lodge, where extensive Spa Treatments are available to all Chapungu Tented Bush Camp guests.

Boma dinners are an occasion and an opportunity to savour the finest fare.  A superb selection of wine is available in the lodge’s wine cellar. Settle around a log fire to recount the days’ game experiences before retiring to the lounge for a night-cap, or the comfort of your tent.

Enjoy a timeless African experience, where the eagles soar.

. 

The African bush is at its most spectacular during that relatively short period when water is plentiful. Waterbuck Lodge, situated on a dammed estuary in a high-water table area, in the south of the Thornybush Reserve, is an ideal destination to experience the abundance of life that water attracts – including the largest elephant herd in the reserve.

Waterbuck Lodge is especially suited to exclusive-use bookings by families or groups of bush lovers.  Each of the four air-conditioned suites is located for maximum privacy and offers marvellous views of the Lodge’s lush green surroundings. The large thatched open plan dining and lounge area offer supreme comfort.

A delightful breakfast deck with a bar and very private family-sized pool overlooks the estuary and helps complete the appeal of this intimate destination.

This intimate, secluded camp sleeps a total of 10 people and thus offers an authentic and close safari experience near to the Olifants River. Deep caves on the traverse with flecks of mica make for unique geology, game drives traverse over these diverse landscapes. 

The camp’s perimeter is hugged by Mopane woodlands which are a major drawcard for a wealth of wildlife. Elephants, bushbuck, kudu and plains game are commonly spotted in these woodlands and can be viewed from the comfort of the deck area surrounding the sparkling swimming pool. There’s a natural waterlogged area in front of camp which provides wildlife with the much-needed replenishment needed during the heat of the day.

Evening times are spent swapping stories around the roaring campfire in the boma area, and dinners are spent indulging in traditional cuisine in the rustic Lapa.

Enjoy daily game drives in this 8000-hectare reserve, and special excursions such as sundowners, bush breakfasts at the river and stargazing can be arranged.