Rhino Post Safari Lodge is set on the banks of the Mutlumuvi riverbed, within a 12,000 hectare private concession in the Kruger National Park. This unique wilderness area offers the ideal place for encounters with the Big Five from the comfort of open safari vehicles.
Approximately 10km north-east of Skukuza, this private concession shares a 15km boundary with Mala Mala in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, with game moving freely between the two reserves. Rhino Post Safari Lodge focuses solely on game drives whilst its sister lodge, Rhino Post Plains Camp, focuses on walking safaris. Often people combine a couple of nights at Rhino Post Safari Lodge before continuing to Plains Camp for a 2 or 3 night walking safari.
Each of the eight luxury suites has an impressive view of the riverbed from the bathroom, outdoor shower and private deck. The suites are set out in an open plan style with wooden floors, thatched roofs, canvas walls, minibar, telephone and overhead fan. The stylish bathroom has a freestanding bath, under a window which can be fully opened to provide a semi-al fresco experience, as well as twin basins, separate toilet and outdoor shower. The main lodge, with its extensive wine cellar, cosy fireplace and bar is the perfect spot for a sundowner overlooking the waterhole in the dry river bed. For something special, spoil yourself with a little pampering in the rejuvenation centre or enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool.
The nature of a wilderness area is that there are no permanent structures, so Rhino Post Safari Lodge was built using natural materials of stone, wood, thatch and canvas to create an authentic bush ambience. The utmost care was taken to minimise the environmental impact of the lodge, and to that end, no concrete was used in the building’s foundations. Battery power is used for lighting and a special indigenous Reedbed System processes the bathroom waste, and other waste is sorted and recycled wherever possible.
A typical day at Rhino Post Safari Lodge would include an early start with a cup of coffee or tea, after which you set out on a game drive. Returning to the lodge you enjoy a leisurely brunch and time to relax around the pool and watch the abundant wildlife amble down to the waterhole. In the late afternoon after a delicious high tea, you enjoy an evening game drive, winding down with sundowners, watching an African sunset and spotting nocturnal animals in the park. Afterwards sumptuous meals are served in the camp’s dining area, which is set under magnificent Tamboti trees.
3 Nights
Full Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
4 Star
Other
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English
No. Rooms: 8
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
Kosi Forest Lodge is an intimate lodge situated under a canopy of magnificent trees within a tranquil sand forest alongside the Kosi Lakes System, an unspoilt wilderness area that is part of the iSimangaliso World Heritage Park. This 20 bed lodge offers comfortable accommodation in wooden, canvas & thatch cabins, great home cooking and caters for a host of estuarine, beach and wilderness activities. Glamping at its best.
A lovely sweeping pool overlooks Lake Shengeza where one can relax on the viewing deck in the shade of Umdoni trees while watching hippos & flamingoes in the lake.
Daily guided canoe trips and walks through ancient Raphia Palm Forests are offered at no additional cost. Additional activities are a boat trip exploring this unique system of lakes and channels where one can see hippo, crocodile, rare birds like the Pels Fishing Owl and Palm Nut Vulture, included in this day trip is a picnic on the unspoilt shores of Bhanga Nek beach. Another additional activity is to join a 4x4 excursion to Kosi Bay Mouth viewing ancient Thonga Fish Traps and exceptional snorkeling in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
Discover one of South Africa’s best ecotourist destinations.
2 Nights
Full Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Lodge
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English, Zulu
No. Rooms: 8
Special Interests: Adventure, Beach / Coastal, Birding, Flora, History & Culture, Indigenous Culture / Art, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Watersports, Wildlife
Thonga Beach Lodge, in Kwazulu Natal, is a stylish and relaxed beach lodge on the shores of the secluded Mabibi bay in northern KwaZulu Natal. It lies within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site, with no other lodges within 50 km.
Mabibi Beach is a magical place with a long sandy beach, snorkelling reefs, coastal forest and shimmering lakes behind. Thonga Beach Lodge, nestling in the canopy of the dune forest, offers panoramic ocean views. It has a spacious, relaxed beach feel with a stylish outdoor eating area, a secluded upstairs seating area with a DVD player for children, a chic open air bar and wooden walkways leading to the rooms.
However, Thonga Beach Lodge is in no way a resort – it doesn’t have extensive watersports or a kid’s club for example. Rather the emphasis is on relaxed coastal living with a variety of activities which you can sign up for on the board, if you want to…
The thatched en-suite rooms have been carefully constructed in the coastal dune forest to ensure minimum impact on the environment. Five have sea views and seven have forest views and perhaps greater privacy. Built within an extremely sensitive milkwood forest, no trees were allowed to be cut down. This means that even the sea view rooms do not have completely un-obscured ocean views. Luxuriously decorated, the rooms exude a romantic ambiance. Bleached wood, glass and natural materials have been used to create an open, airy feel. Each has a double vanity unit, bath, indoor/outdoor shower, separate toilet, minibar, ceiling fan, air-conditioning, mosquito net and private balcony.
There are also two Ocean View Suites with a private plunge pool on the deck. These have the best views and are also ideal for families as they have a separate living room which can be used as a second bedroom. Other facilities at Thonga Beach Lodge include a new swimming pool, curio shop, spa & wellness centre with various spa treatments on offer and a dive centre for all water sports activities.
This part of South Africa, in Kwazulu Natal is one of my favourite areas with its lush vegetation, unspoilt setting and friendly people. Activities at Thonga Beach Lodge revolve around the ocean and nearby Lake Sibaya. Complimentary activities include snorkelling direct from the beach, bird-watching and sundowner cruises or guided canoe trips on Lake Sibaya and turtle tracking walks in season (November to mid February). The white sandy beach is about 25 metres away via a board walk with an extended deck with sun loungers overlooking the beach. You can also dine here overlooking the ocean.
Various additional activities are on offer such as scuba diving, dive courses, cultural village visits and boat-based turtle tracking as optional extras.
Scuba diving at Mabibi is phenomenal, with reefs located only a short distance from Thonga Beach Lodge. Shoals of game fish, sharks and schools of bottlenose dolphins are often seen. 1,250 fish species can be found on these reefs (Great Barrier Reef has 1500). The Ocean Experience is great for seeing whales and dolphins with an exciting boat launch in the surf. You can sometimes swim with dolphins or whale sharks or snorkel with manta rays and giant turtles if you are lucky.
Birding is excellent and the variety of habitats attracts a great diversity of species. Typical coastal species include Livingstone’s and purple-crested lourie, green twinspot, grey waxbill and green coucal. Waders are common along the shoreline, and pink throated longclaw and rufous-bellied heron frequent the marshy areas. Lake Sibaya has recorded 279 bird species including the palmnut vulture, the only fruit-eating vulture in the world, Pel’s fishing owl and the pygmy goose.
Children are very welcome at Thonga Beach Lodge. Two small children (or one teenager) can share with parents or you can take the Ocean View suite for more space.
3 Nights
Full Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Lodge
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English, Zulu
No. Rooms: 12
Special Interests: Adventure, Beach / Coastal, Birding, Fishing, Flora, History & Culture, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Watersports, Wildlife
