Antares Bush Camp & Umgede Hide
Your escape to the African bush. Our child-friendly and owner-run Antares Bush Camp & Umgede Hide is an exclusive, 3-star graded self-catering establishment within the Grietjie Private Nature Reserve (northern section of the Balule Nature Reserve) in the Greater Kruger Park area. We offer an authentic and relaxing bush experience in an exclusive and welcoming rustic setting to nature enthusiasts and photographic groups who are looking for a great Kruger Park alternative with unique opportunities for sight-seeing and game viewing at affordable rates.
With the reserve part of an open system, our bush camp can boast almost all the game species that you could expect to find in the Kruger National Park.
Our Accommodation
If what you are looking for is an affordable break away in an exclusive facility for small groups or families then Antares is the place for you.
Our camp boasts five air-conditioned, en-suite bedrooms which are linked to the main building by a same level deck allowing for easy access but only cater for a maximum of eight guests at any one time. Thus ensuring that you and your friends can enjoy this piece of paradise on your own.
Each of the five bedrooms has an en-suite bathroom with an indoor shower as well as a beautifully appointed circular outdoor shower allowing you to enjoy those starry nights after a magical game drive where you may have been lucky enough to see an elusive leopard. One of the bedrooms is set up as a family room, a queen bed for mum and dad and at the other end an adjoining room with a bunk bed, ensuring that even families with younger children can enjoy our hospitality.
Our Activities & Facilities
On offer are game drives and game walks, the chance of viewing the Big 5 reserve as well as additional activities in the area including guided birding. Once you have settled in you have a choice of relaxing in the clear African air with the animals coming to you, or you can arrange to go on a guided experience, either in an open game viewer or on foot.
Also, enjoy our unique waterhole photography hide just in front of the camp allowing you the opportunity to view and photograph the wildlife up close and from a ground level perspective such as regular sightings of elephant and lions along with a large variety of general game and birdlife. Our bird list is close to 300 species and rarities such as Pel’s fishing owl, African finfoot and a few other can be seen along the river.
Facilities range from different seating areas in the lobby or in the lounge with a small library, an outside dining deck with waterhole views, the large outside firepit for a barbecue or the inside dining area with seating for up to 10 guests, to a spacious kitchen with modern appliances and the gardens with an impressive, approximately 80 years old Baobab tree. Cool off on those hot summer days in the small plunge pool by the deck.
We also offer you the opportunity to request a chef at an additional fee who will come on site and prepare all your meals for you, allowing you to relax and enjoy the bush to its fullest. You will still be responsible for providing all the food and beverage requirements for your party.
Follow us through the camp with our photo gallery and on our website and imagine yourself immersed into the tranquility of the African bush. If you have enjoyed the journey, then consider paying Antares Bush Camp & Umgede Hide a visit to see for yourself just what a magical setting we have waiting for you to discover and enjoy.
Antares Bush Camp & Umgede Hide
Your escape to the African bush. Our child-friendly and owner-run Antares Bush Camp & Umgede Hide is an exclusive, 3-star graded self-catering establishment within the Grietjie Private Nature Reserve (northern section of the Balule Nature Reserve) in the Greater Kruger Park area. We offer an authentic and relaxing bush experience in an exclusive and welcoming rustic setting to nature enthusiasts and photographic groups who are looking for a great Kruger Park alternative with unique opportunities for sight-seeing and game viewing at affordable rates.
With the reserve part of an open system, our bush camp can boast almost all the game species that you could expect to find in the Kruger National Park.
Our Accommodation
If what you are looking for is an affordable break away in an exclusive facility for small groups or families then Antares is the place for you.
Our camp boasts five air-conditioned, en-suite bedrooms which are linked to the main building by a same level deck allowing for easy access but only cater for a maximum of eight guests at any one time. Thus ensuring that you and your friends can enjoy this piece of paradise on your own.
Each of the five bedrooms has an en-suite bathroom with an indoor shower as well as a beautifully appointed circular outdoor shower allowing you to enjoy those starry nights after a magical game drive where you may have been lucky enough to see an elusive leopard. One of the bedrooms is set up as a family room, a queen bed for mum and dad and at the other end an adjoining room with a bunk bed, ensuring that even families with younger children can enjoy our hospitality.
Our Activities & Facilities
On offer are game drives and game walks, the chance of viewing the Big 5 reserve as well as additional activities in the area including guided birding. Once you have settled in you have a choice of relaxing in the clear African air with the animals coming to you, or you can arrange to go on a guided experience, either in an open game viewer or on foot.
Also, enjoy our unique waterhole photography hide just in front of the camp allowing you the opportunity to view and photograph the wildlife up close and from a ground level perspective such as regular sightings of elephant and lions along with a large variety of general game and birdlife. Our bird list is close to 300 species and rarities such as Pel’s fishing owl, African finfoot and a few other can be seen along the river.
Facilities range from different seating areas in the lobby or in the lounge with a small library, an outside dining deck with waterhole views, the large outside firepit for a barbecue or the inside dining area with seating for up to 10 guests, to a spacious kitchen with modern appliances and the gardens with an impressive, approximately 80 years old Baobab tree. Cool off on those hot summer days in the small plunge pool by the deck.
We also offer you the opportunity to request a chef at an additional fee who will come on site and prepare all your meals for you, allowing you to relax and enjoy the bush to its fullest. You will still be responsible for providing all the food and beverage requirements for your party.
Follow us through the camp with our photo gallery and on our website and imagine yourself immersed into the tranquility of the African bush. If you have enjoyed the journey, then consider paying Antares Bush Camp & Umgede Hide a visit to see for yourself just what a magical setting we have waiting for you to discover and enjoy.
Forest Creek Lodge & Spa
Set in a private nature reserve near Lydenburg and Dullstroom, our incredibly exclusive Forest Creek Lodge & Spa is a private place in the Mpumalanga Escarpment and offers an escape from the bright city lights. Marvel at the expansive night sky and fall asleep to the sounds of the night in one of our luxury suites or in one of the self-catering accommodation options available.
This is a true haven for honeymooners and a wonder for the nature lover! Our nature lodge nestles in a gorge of the Steenkampsburg Mountains at the end of the northern Drakensberg mountain range. The gorge is softened only by a blanket of shrubs and trees which have grown in this malaria-free zone over millennia. If you come to us by aeroplane, there is a private airstrip 8 km from the farm and we provide transfers from the airstrip to our lodge.
Our Accommodation
Built in rock hewn from the surrounding hills, our magnificent lodge-under-thatch has been constructed with views of the gorge as well as the surrounding cliffs and mountain, within earshot of baboon barks echoing down the valley.
Enjoy a good nights rest in one of our guest suites which all have DSTV (satellite TV), a mini bar fridge, tea and coffee facilities and bathrobes for your comfort. If you take the self-catering option, you are welcome to book meals and activities at the lodge.
Our Activities
Historical influence is evident everywhere in the South African province of Mpumalanga. At our nature lodge you can see the remains of ancient villages, home to Africa's earliest people, either by your lodge suite, along the hiking trails or by the stream. Forest Creek also is a photographers paradise, with opportunities for getting up close with local fauna and flora. Incredible stargazing - Being far from city lights, our night skies are so clear you will think you can touch the stars!
Wellness
Indulge, relax and be pampered in our little Forest Spa with a full range of treatments which can be booked during your stay.
Hitgeheim Country Lodge
Accommodation in an eco-reserve at the heart of the Sundays River Valley Addo area. Only minutes from the Addo Elephant National Park.
Accommodation is provided in stylishly furnished chalets with luxurious bathrooms, and all include wooden decks with breathtaking views over citrus orchards and the sweeping countryside. Experience the serenity of waking up to the haunting cries of the fish-eagles, residents to the Sundays River below.
Accompany our guide on an Addo Elephant National Park Safari for the best elephant viewing in the world. Arrange an exhilarating safari, visit one of the near-by Addo ‘Big 5’ private game reserves or simply go for a walk on one of the many trails on our grounds. Afterwards, have a refreshing swim in our pool, or sundowners on the veranda before sitting down to a gourmet dinner by candlelight. We encourage you to select your wine from our private collection from the walk-in cellar before your meal. We trust that here, you will experience true South African hospitality at its best.
Kosi Forest Lodge
A wonderland of forests and waterways - Our eco-conscious Kosi Forest Lodge is situated within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, giving you the opportunity to experience exclusive, close encounters with the almost untouched African wilderness. The lodge is surrounded by untold biodiversity and beauty that you simply have to see for yourself. This is a place where you can rediscover nature, and, even more importantly, rediscover yourself.
Don't worry about power cuts, we are not only connected to the Eskom grid we provide solar power as well.
Our Accommodation
We offer comfortable tent-style, thatched forest rooms nestling under wide milkwood trees, with thoughtful attention to blending into this pristine indigenous sand forest environment. Each cottage has both a romantic outdoor bathroom boma as well as en-suite indoor shower.
Relax at the swimming pool overlooking Lake Shengeza and watch the resident pod of hippos. The common and private facilities at the lodge are focused on getting you to observe and explore nature as you go about your day. We take full advantage of Maputaland’s sultry weather and most meals are served al fresco under a canopy of magnificent trees. Your buffet breakfast and luncheon are served in the covered dining area, where you’ll also find a 24/7 tea and coffee station. A massive Zulu podberry tree is the focal point of the main lodge with the lounge, dining room and well-stocked bar all opening onto a large wooden deck around the tree.
Kosi Forest Lodge is accessible by 4x4 vehicle only. Guests who are NOT travelling in a 4x4 vehicle should meet a representative from Kosi Forest Lodge nearby on prior arrangement. Guests will follow our representative to a secure parking area in the town where they will leave their vehicle. They will then be transferred in an open 4x4 vehicle to Kosi Forest Lodge.
Activities
Apart from appreciating the hush of the forest setting, there are a host of wilderness activities at the lodge, including boating day trips to the beach and Kosi lakes, a unique ecosystem that is home to a spectacular variety of birds and animals; or excursions to Kosi Bay mouth to snorkel and observe traditional spiral reed fishing methods. To truly appreciate the beauty of the unique surrounding ecosystem of waterways, intertwined lakes, grasslands and ancient forests, you need to spend a few days exploring - either by canoe, motorised boat or on foot.
Kusudalweni Safari Lodge & Spa
Our intimate, five bedroom Kusudalweni Safari Lodge & Spa sits in the Guernsey Private Nature Reserve, 41.5 km southeast of Hoedspruit, and was designed to combine the rustic nature of an African bushveld retreat with the style and elegance you'd expect of a first rate safari destination.
The Guernsey Private Nature Reserve is a stretch of protected land within the world-renowned Greater Kruger National Park ecosystem and is home to an astonishing array of flora and fauna, such as buffalos, giraffes, zebras, various antelopes, as well as numerous bird species and much more.
Our Accommodation
Experience the sheer majesty of an authentic safari in Africa and the exclusivity of our small, luxury game lodge. Our guests can look forward to every comfort and convenience, including game drives conducted by our knowledgeable nature guides, a full-service restaurant that serves some of the very best in Pan African wines and cuisine, as well as al fresco Boma barbecues prepared by our talented chefs.
The main lodge is a spacious structure of warm, natural wood and thatch with ample verandas that wrap around our various dining and entertainment areas. Here you will find a crystal-clear swimming pool, the restaurant, a bar and communal lounges as well as a curio shop.
Stroll from your private luxury chalet down the meandering wooden walkways to enjoy a relaxing drink beside the pool as the heat of the day settles on the bushveld soil and take a moment to drink in the stark beauty of the African continent. Alternatively, get comfortable in the lounge and take advantage of the complimentary Wi-Fi or learn more about the wonders of Africa in our well stocked library.
Thonga Beach Lodge
Our luxury, child-friendly Thonga Beach Lodge offers absolute serenity within wave breaking distance from the sandy beach at Mabibi Bay which lies 5 km from Lake Sibaya within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and is adjacent to South Africa's only tropical dive site. South Africa's most pristine wilderness beach lodge awaits you at the azure shores of this wetland. Surrounded by such natural beauty stirs something special within your soul, igniting a spirit of adventure and leaving you with a lasting impression.
Our Accommodation
Situated deep in this wilderness lies South Africa's premier beach destination and our 24-bed luxury lodge, where nature is our sanctuary and our purpose is to preserve it. Our 12 eco-sensitive rooms are positioned to create minimal environmental impact and afford maximum privacy. They offer ocean or forest views, with the deluxe ocean view rooms sporting private plunge pools.
Activities
Enjoy close encounters with nature at its best. We offer our guests an authentic array of exciting experiences and activities, with something for every adventurer, nature lover and max-relaxer. Enjoy activities such as turtle tracking (when available), snorkeling, kayaking, the open ocean boat experience, the cultural Tsonga village tour and guided forest walks.
Wellness
Our range of spa treatments will make your stay with us all the more special and relaxing. We offer facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, hot stone therapy and reflexology. Inspired by the energy of the sea, our treatments are designed to help you de-stress and reawaken your senses.
Tomjachu Bush Retreat
Welcome to your home in the bush. Nestled amongst the rolling mountains of the Lowveld in the heart of Mpumalanga, lies Tomjachu Bush Retreat - Once a family home, it is now an award-winning, owner-run retreat, situated within its own private nature reserve, 15km outside Nelspruit. It is the perfect destination for anyone looking for accommodation in Nelspruit to unwind and relax in nature, with plenty of activities on offer to those looking for a touch of adventure. Our retreat’s location within a private reserve allows you to explore the abundant natural wonders that flourish in the surrounding 550 hectare property, whilst immersing yourself in elegant comfort.
Our hidden Lowveld gem is often praised for its breathtaking views of the towering Bekker Mountains, and endless bushveld vistas running unbroken all the way to the southern boundary of the Kruger National Park.
Our Accommodation
Stay in the classically styled Homestead in one of our 3 individual bedrooms or in one of three private cottages accommodating 2 to 4 guests.
Alternatively choose our 5-star self-catering Valbonne Villa which sleeps groups of 6-12.
All accommodation options are surrounded by beautiful gardens sharing spectacular mountain bushveld views. Some have private pools, some have self-catering facilities and everyone is welcome to enjoy our dining room menus which embody home-style cooking with elegant flair using home-grown, locally sourced ingredients.
Our Activities
Immerse yourself in the marvels of nature with an array of activities to keep you entertained throughout your stay.
All our accommodation includes access to the 15 Kilometres of hiking and biking trails on the nature reserve.
Also enjoy an adventurous game drive with our knowledgeable guide, hike up to the majestic Zebra Heights and meander amongst the bounteous plains game which roams around the property. Or simply sit back with a glass of award-winning wine on our extensive verandas and indulge yourself in the natural orchestra of over 275 bird species.
