Simbavati River Lodge is an intimate and friendly camp built on the banks of the Nhlaralumi River in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve. The Timbavati is part of the Greater Kruger Park. Shaded by age old Jackalberry and Weeping Boerbean Trees, Simbavati River Lodge comprises three thatched chalets, each with two bedrooms, and four luxury tented rooms all with en-suite facilities. Tents and chalets are comfortably furnished with eco friendly air conditioning or fans. Each has a well appointed en suite bathroom with indoor bath and outdoor shower (or outdoor bath and indoor shower in the case of two tents).
The lodge also offers a spacious lounge, bar, dining area on the deck and an expansive deck with breathtaking views over the river. There's also a small plunge pool for relaxing during the heat of the day. Brunch is served outside on the wooden deck and combine African and Western cuisine (with exciting new tastes for the more adventurous as well as more conventional options.) High tea is served just before the afternoon game drive whilst dinner is a festive event served around the campfire in the open-air boma, or on the deck overlooking the river.
Simbavati River Lodge offers game drives in the early morning and evening to ensure game viewing when the animals are most active. Game drives are conducted by experienced rangers and Shangaan trackers in open 4x4 vehicles, with excellent photographic opportunities. You traverse over 12,000 hectares of the finest big game country, with lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo thriving alongside giraffe, zebra and a variety of antelope. Nocturnal animals, including the big cats, are regularly sighted on night drives. Bird watching is wonderful, with various eagles, owls, francolins, kingfishers, rollers and weavers among the over 300 recorded species.
Simbavati River Lodge is a child-friendly safari camp with three family chalets available, each with two bedrooms sharing one bathroom. One of the family chalets can take three children sharing with two parents whilst the other chalets can accommodate two children. Typically children 6 years and over can join their parents on game drives. However families with younger children can request a private landrover and guide (at an additional cost).
2 Nights
Full Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
4 Star
Lodge
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English
No. Rooms: 11
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
Highgrove House is situated on a 64 ha farm, close to both the Blyde River Canyon and also the Kruger Park. Set amid indigenous forests and surrounded by orchards of avocado, banana, litchi and olive trees, Highgrove House is an exclusive luxury retreat that has been tastefully restored to its colonial splendour. The homestead lies in the Kierpersol area of the Drakensberg Escarpment and the eight suites have sweeping views across the valley.
The bedrooms and bathrooms are magnificently appointed. Six luxury and two orchid suites have overhead fans and separate sitting rooms with log fires. The orchid suites have their own gardens with private plunge pools and saunas. The large swimming pool is surrounded by tropical gardens with lovely views. Breakfasts are served al fresco under the Victorian gazebo. The cuisine at Highgrove is rated among the best in South Africa, and the restaurant has been awarded the Chaine de Rotisseurs blazon and offers an exceptional wine cellar as well. Activities include horse riding, walking, bird watching, hot air ballooning, a day in the Kruger Park, or exploring the scenic wonders of the region.
The Orchard Spa offers spacious treatment rooms and views over the valley coupled with the professional service from their staff. It’s now one of the best spas in the region.
2 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
Nkomazi Game Reserve, meaning 'the place of water' is a private unspoilt game reserve of 17,000ha with an impressive array of plains game as well as lion, elephant, rhino and the elusive leopard. Being on higher ground, Nkomazi Game Reserve is malaria-free. Nkomazi Game Reserve is also an ecological Aladdin's Cave of natural science - its ancient mountains, dramatic boulders and impressive grasslands guard some of the most fascinating geological discoveries in recent years. This area has some of the oldest rocks in the world with the oldest and largest meteorite impact deposit on earth discovered here. It is often referred to as the holy grail of geology!
Nkomazi Game Reserve doesn't easily fit into as single category - it isn't just a game reserve, it isn't just a stunning area of natural beauty, it isn't just a geological paradise, it isn't just a perfect arena for star-gazing. It ticks all of these boxes in a delightful melange for your senses.
Its lodge, Komati River Lodge, has a stunning Kloof setting alongside a fast flowing river with twelve 'Africa Campaign' styled tents positioned to blend into the natural bush and overlooking the tumbling river. Furnished with luxury campaign style furniture, the tents have a traditional 1920's safari ambience. Each has its own private deck with private plunge pool and Victorian outdoor bath. The tents are very spacious with en suite bathroom with shower and separate toilet. Each is well-appointed with comfort cooling/heating, ceiling fan, telephone, tea/coffee facilities, minibar, safe, hairdryer. The Royal Suite also has a private lounge tent and a separate firepit.
The main lodge at Komati River Lodge comprises a dining tent and a separate majilis lounge tent with viewing deck. There's a stunningly-situated River Retreat Spa with two treatment rooms and an outdoor massage deck right next to a waterfall as well as an outdoor boma dining area.
Activities at Nkomazi Game Reserve revolve around morning and afternoon game drives in open 4x4 landrovers (with a maximum of six guests per vehicle), bush walks, rock art and geological walks as well as star gazing in the evenings.
The reserve contains plenty of wildlife and rare flora such as the Barberton Daisy. Nkomazi Game Reserve lies between Johannesburg and Swaziland/southern Kruger. It's approx 3 hours drive from Johannesburg and 2 hours drive south-west from the Kruger Airport. We recommend that you combine it with a Kruger Safari for a complete change of landscape and wildlife. Alternatively it makes the perfect place to stop for a couple of nights between the Kruger and northern KwaZulu Natal (as an alternative to travelling through Swaziland).
2 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
4 Star
Safari Lodge
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English
No. Rooms: 17
Friendly: Adults
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
The privately owned 4 Star Ghost Mountain Inn at the foot of the legendary Ghost Mountain provides a perfect setting for taking time out to relax and experience the charms of Africa in comfort and style. You can unwind by the pool or indulge your senses with a skin or body treatment in the Spa.
Accommodation consists of 52 guest rooms, including 32 Standard rooms, 19 Executive rooms and a large suite. All rooms have en suite bathrooms, television, telephone, air conditioning, hair dryer and tea and coffee making facilities. The furnished patios offer guests a peaceful place to sit and enjoy the surrounding nature.
For the more adventurous, the Safari company offers a variety of guided tours to explore this diverse region with a variety of game drives, birding walks, hikes, tiger fishing, boat rides and Zulu cultural trips.
1 Night
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
4 Star
Hotel
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English, Zulu
No. Rooms: 74
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Cycling, Fishing, Flora, Hiking, History & Culture, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Wildlife, Wine
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge is a game lodge within its own private concession in the lovely Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Park in KwaZulu Natal. Rhino Ridge is ground breaking in being the first private lodge within Africa's oldest proclaimed reserve, and is part owned by the local Mpembeni Community.
Established to protect the previously endangered white rhino now numbering over 1000 in the park, Hluhluwe- Imfolozi Game Reserve has been a triumph of conservation efforts. Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge offers exceptional safari experiences in the heart of Big five territory, with both day and night games drives on offer.
Accommodation at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
The lodge has a contemporary design with organic forms utilising natural finishes and materials. 22 well-appointed rooms nestle on a ridge, each with their own private deck giving expansive and uninterrupted views over the reserve. There’s a choice of Safari Rooms, Luxury Bush Villas and two Honeymoon villas.
The Safari rooms are two totally separate en suite bedrooms under one roof and sharing a common lobby. As such they are ideal for families or two couple travelling together as they can be sold as a two bedroom suite. The luxury bush villas are very spacious standalone villas with extensive private decks. The two honeymoon villas are identical but have the added advantage of a private plunge pool. All rooms are air-conditioned with ceiling fan, indoor/outdoor showers, tea/coffee facilities, safe, hairdryer, minibar and internet connection.
The main lodge comprises living areas, bar, dining area and extensive deck with a stunning view over the bushveld. There's a lovely rimflow swimming pool close-up sharing the same view. Near the pool, the small spa has been designed to ensure that you can soak in the sights and sounds of Africa while enjoying professional spa treatments.
With access to over 90,000 hectares of indigenous land, teeming with game, Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge is ideally situated for conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
Children at Rhino Ridge
Children of 3-6 years are accommodated on a kiddies drive from 10am-12pm at no extra charge. They will be required to have a guardian adult of the parents choice within the group booked. Children 0-3 years may only go on game drives if a private vehicle is booked at additional cost. There are no afternoon/evening game drives for children 3-6 years but they have a supervised kiddies playtime/activity between 2pm-3pm in winter and 3pm-4pm in summer.
2 Nights
Full Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Safari Lodge
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English, Zulu
No. Rooms: 18
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, History & Culture, Indigenous Culture / Art, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, 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.
4 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
