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Buffalo Suite
At Pondoro Lodge you will have the opportunity to choose from 5 truly luxurious suites. Each of our suites has their own theme stolen from some of the most important elements of nature. The suites are aptly named Water, Buffalo(animal), Tree, Rock and Earth inviting guests not only the opportunity to experience nature, but almost live in it. All our suites are air-conditioned and offer modern comforts in an exquisite African setting. Each suite has a private patio, lounge area, an outside shower and Jacuzzi built into the wooden deck in front of the suites facing the river. Each suite offers complete privacy to compliment the romantic setting at Pondoro Game Lodge. A big painting of a Buffalo made by Lize, the owner, dominates the headboard of this modernly styled room.
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Tree Suite
The Tree suite is named after a huge Jackalberry tree lying in front of the suite and emphasized by a huge leadwood stump that decorates the room.
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Water Suite
The Water suite is named after a waterfall that cascades silently down the headboard of your bed.
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Rock Suite
A rock stack forms the headboard complemented by a beautiful stone bath and other artifacts in the Rock suite.
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Earth Suite
The walls in the Earth suite are painted in an earthy colour. Clay and earth are the overall theme with clay pots adding an African flavor while staying with the general theme.
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Hardekool Chalet
Pondoro Game Lodge has three tastefully designed chalets decorated in keeping with the African aesthetic and overlooking the Olifants River. All chalets have en-suite bathrooms (with a shower and bath overlooking the river), air-conditioning, mosquito nets and a wooden deck. All the chalets are architecturally designed and has an outside bath or shower to fit with the vision of stimulating guests’ senses when living so close to nature. Every chalet is unique. Hardekool, Maroela and Wildevy are Afrikaans words for the trees that are adjacent to the respective chalets. Hardekool - the name is derived from the slow burning coals that the extremely hard wood produce. A romantic claw bath perched on top of the wooden deck in front of the chalet is the standout feature.
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Maroela Chalet
Maroela - Named after the famous tree of Africa whose fruit are much loved by many animals, especially elephants. African folklore believes that elephants can get inebriated by eating huge amounts of these very tasty fermented fruits. A huge eggshell bath and adventurous outside shower are a highlight.
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Wildevy Chalet
Wildevy - A fig tree loved by monkeys and birds growing in abundance along the Olifants river. The figs can only get pollinated by a tiny little wasp creating a magical and mystical symbiosis where one cannot live without the other. Forget about a room with a view…the view from your outside claw bath will blow your mind away.
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Pondoro Aerial view
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Deck
Meals are an extraordinary culinary experience where Traditional African Cuisine fuse effortlessly with modern European trends. Vegetarians are specially catered for. All meals are served on a wooden deck high up in the tree canopy overlooking the Olifants River. An unforgettable bush dinner will await those who stay for a third night.
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Bar
Our bar also stock a selection of some of the finest Whiskies in the world and we should have the perfect whiskey for you whether it is an exquisite blend or smoky single malt. After dinner relax with a Cuban cigar and enjoy a glass of Port or Cognac while reminiscing about the day that has been.
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Treehouse Hide
We offer sleep-outs at our Tree house hide as an additional activity. There is a solar panel light overlooking the waterhole and guests will be taken there after dinner and picked up again during morning safari. The sleep-out rate is an extra R2995 per night and can be booked beforehand or at the lodge.
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Treehouse Hide
Treehouse hide - Exterior view
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Gym
We have a well equipped gym allowing a perfect workout with an amazing view of the bush. This facility is fully air-conditioned and has a range of cardio machines and free-weights.
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Spa
Serenity Spa at Pondoro offers an escape to a place of sophistication and indulgence, where one is surrounded by elegant décor and cascading waterfalls, in an environment with a breathtaking ambiance. Revitalize your mind, body and soul with classic spa treatments where an exclusive personal approach is taken incorporating innovative and authentic spa and face treatments which range from a glass covered steam room, a spa bath under the wide African sky to a massage in the privacy of your room.
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Wine Cellar
To compliment the food, wine can be selected from our extensive wine cellar. Pondoro has won a Diners Club PLATINUM award for its wine list in 2009 and again in 2011. This award acts as a benchmark in the restaurant and wine industries in South Africa.
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River view
The view from the lodge.
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Rangers and Trackers
Pondoro Game Lodge is situated in Balule Private Nature reserve inside the greater Kruger National Park. Regular Big 5 sightings (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard) are encountered during game drives. A reintroduction of African wild dogs and black rhino has also been done in the Pondoro traversing area. Morning and evening game drives are done in open game drive vehicles. All guides have more than 10 years experience. Pondoro has rights to traverse on more than 9 000 ha that includes a network of more than 350 km of bush roads. All game drive vehicles are four wheel drive and this means that the Big 5 can be followed off road into the bush to get a closer view if necessary. Pondoro vehicles are in radio contact with three other lodges and close cooperation ensure good game viewing. The vehicles in the traversing area are restricted to six to ensure that the bush ambience is never lost. No more than two vehicles are allowed at a sighting.
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Walking Safaris
Pondoro is one of the few private lodges in South Africa situated on a perennial river (Olifants River). Because of this hippos and crocodiles are regularly seen during bushwalks with an armed guide.
