You won’t have to look hard to find a great bush retreat this winter. Southern Africa is loaded with places to stay from cozy mountain cabins in the Drakensberg Mountains where vultures dot the sky to tented safari camps in the heart of the Waterberg bushveld where the Big 5 play. Fall asleep to the call of nightjars, drink beer to painted sunsets or braai marshmallows around the fire with these 10 affordable bush breaks.
The cute Dutch-style chalets at Karoo National Park
The Karoo National Park in the Western Cape is a place that everyone should visit at least once. The wide-open plains of fynbos dominated by the rugged Nuweveld Mountains, is home to well-known game species like Cape mountain zebra and black rhino. Choose between camping or staying in one of the Cape Dutch-style chalets. Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to day activities with 4×4 eco-trails, a fossil trail, guided drives and walks and picnicking to cherry-pick from.
Price: From R190 a person sharing
Experience magical sunsets in the Waterberg bushveld
Get ready for pure relaxation at Waterberg Bushveld Retreat where you don’t have to feel guilty about taking time out for yourself and reconnecting with nature. Guests will have access to Big 5 game drives, the Hydro, horseback riding on the game farm and sundowners with champagne. Cottages and luxury tents come fully serviced with braai wood.
Price: From R290 a person sharing
Baluleni Safari Lodge overlooks the Olifants River
Overlook the Olifants River in the Greater Kruger National Park in Limpopo, a hangout for kudus, elephants, waterbuck and hippos. Baluleni Safari Lodge has two cottages with river views that come fully equipped for self-catering. The raised wooden deck is a hit amongst guests who want to relax after a game drive, a spot of birdwatching at the hide or informative bush walk.
Price: From R330 a person sharing
Bushlands Game Lodge is connected by walkways
Bushlands Game Lodge has all the ingredients for a great bush escape: a lounge overlooking a waterhole, giraffe, zebra and warthog wandering the property and Big 5 game drives in the adjacent Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve. The boma, pool, bar and dining room are connected by wooden walkways, adding to the bush ambience. Double rooms are on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.
Price: From R585 a person sharing a night (winter special)
Spectacular views over Pongolo Nature Reserve
An often forgotten wildlife rich area, Shayamoya Game Lodge in Pongolo, KwaZulu-Natal offers guests a complete bush experience with spectacular views over the dam and nature reserve and warm daytime temperatures. Ten luxury thatched chalets, each with outdoor showers and private viewing decks, are combined with a central bar, lounge, pool and sundeck for guests to use. Lodge specialities cover tiger fishing, game drives, boat cruises, elephant tracking and bush walks.
Price: From R600 a person sharing
The tented camp borders the Kruger National Park
Bush-glam is written all over this safari-style tented camp with its raised wooden decks, king-size beds and en suite bathrooms. Just over four and a half hours drive from Johannesburg, bordering the Kruger National Park, it screams affordable bush escape for the whole family. Come as a group or as a couple: tents can cater for four, six and eight people. Shake off the midday heat in the splash pool, check out game from your deck or stroll along the Crocodile River for views of hippo and elephants. Bring and cook your own food.
Price: From R650 a unit a night (sleeps 4)
Pass through the Richtersveld on an Orange River Rafting trip
You’re definitely going to want to stay a while when you get to this serenely beautiful location. Perched above the rushing Orange River, just a skip over the South Africa border, is Provenance Camp. Two and four sleeper cabanas, with en-suite bathrooms, are dotted along the river. Guests should definitely do an unforgettable rafting trip through the Richtersveld National Park. Day trips and longer 4 and 6 day trips, where you camp along the route, are on offer.
Price: From R800 a unit a night (sleeps 2)
Massive boabab trees dot the Mapungubwe landscape. Photo courtesy: Scott Ramsay
Known for its impressive Boabab trees, sandstone formations and riverine forests, Mapungubwe National Park seduces guests with its beauty and wildlife. Birds fluff out their tails from the Pel’s Fishing Owl to the Tropical Boubou, making it a hotspot for birding in the area. The rustic rondavels set in the sandstone hills are ideal for self-catering and come with a fully kitted kitchen and a braai area. En-suite bathroom and outside shower on tap. Guests will have access to The Treetop Hide and Confluence viewing deck and picnic site and swimming pool.
Price: From R940 a unit a night (sleeps 4)
Expect rich wildlife in the Okavango Delta in Botswana
Tucked away in the western corner of the Okavango Delta and only accessible by pre-arranged boat, Xaro Lodge raises the mark on inexpensive yet comfortable spots in this neck of the woods. You’ll want to stay at least a couple of days where other tourists are few and far between. Eight Meru-type tents pitched on leadwood decks overlook the Okavango River, making it easy to zoom in on bee-eaters, skimmers and kingfishers.
Price: From R1208 a unit a night (sleeps 2)
Horse trails are a great way to see the grassland terrain and wildlife of the Drakensberg
Set on an eco-estate in the central Drakensberg, Vultures View is a top spot to see vultures and other wildlife such as porcupine, grey duiker and mountain reedbuck, and drink in the views over Champagne Valley. There’s a vulture feeding site on the property where the endangered Bearded Vulture visits. A group of up to six can be comfortably accommodated in the three-bedroom self-catering cottage. This is a great base from which to explore the area and break outdoors.
Price: From R1400 a unit (sleeps 6)
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