World Travel Awards Nominee 2024
The Bush Lodge is a picturesque 5-star retreat located just 45 minutes east of Port Elizabeth, offering guests an immersive escape into a more tranquil and enchanting world. Nestled within the spectacular Amakhala Reserve, this lodge is set in an open valley surrounded by rolling hills and lush riverine vegetation.
Children aged 12 and above are welcome.
Discreetly tucked between the treetops, this intimate lodge features wood, canvas, and thatch, providing the perfect base to explore the African wild. The lodge includes a lounge, bar, and elevated outdoor boma. Private plunge pools, on-site therapists, and alfresco double showers emphasize comfort. Wifi is available in public areas by the main lodge.
Each of the eight private rooms offers en-suite facilities, a private lounge, and climate control. The Big 5 roam the hills and plains of Amakhala, alongside a variety of birds and diverse vegetation. Guests can enjoy the spectacular scenery from every angle, including sundowner canoe safaris and a cheese and wine boat cruise.
Accommodation
6 King/Twin Luxury Safari Tents
Built in the bush at the top end of an open valley, each tent overlooks a watering point with stunning sky views. Structures feature thatched roofs, tented walls, and wooden floors.
2 Luxury Safari Family Tents
These tents also overlook a watering point and include a king-size bed with a bath in the main room, twin beds in a second room with their own toilet.
Dining
Savor cuisine that excites the palate and offers a true taste of African culture, hosted by attentive local staff. All meals are enjoyed in the Main Lodge and are included in your stay.
Activities
Game Drives
Join our Big 5 Safari Adventure on the malaria-free Amakhala Game Reserve. Morning and evening game drives depart from your lodge, guided by professional rangers in open Land Rovers. Experience abundant wildlife, diverse vegetation, and the dramatic landscape of the Eastern Cape.
Horse Riding
Amakhala Horse Trails provide a unique perspective of the bush. Riders can enjoy incredible views and get close to wildlife such as eland, wildebeest, zebra, hartebeest, and giraffe. Trails cover 1700 hectares, offering opportunities to canter across plains, trot to appreciate views or walk quietly along river lines. These trails cater to small groups of up to 6 intermediate to experienced riders, with younger experienced riders aged 10 to 15 welcome if accompanied by a guardian. Horseback safaris typically last two to three hours, with plenty of time for wildlife viewing and refreshment breaks.
Big 5 Wilderness Walks
Explore the ancient landscape with a FGASA accredited Professional Trails Guide and a Specialist Birding Guide. Walkers might track and view African giants like elephants and rhinos, and discover countless small creatures and their tracks and signs.
Accommodation, meals, selected house beverages and 2 game drives per day
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August 22, 2024
Shann has been absolutely exceptional
Shann has been absolutely exceptional. She is super responsive and has gone above and beyond in assisting us to book a 50th birthday celebration for a large group. Highly recommend her! Thanks so much Shann!
August 21, 2024
Exceptional and prompt customer…
Exceptional and prompt customer service. Shann was able to answer and address my question. Can't wait to enjoy the trip!
August 19, 2024
Shann Shaw
Shann has been remarkable. Her attention to detail, her responsiveness and overall knowledge of the needs of travelers to South Africa has been excellent. I would recommend her to anyone considering a South African and Safari experience.
Sep 5, 2024
Tanya Lomas was very efficient and it…
Tanya Lomas was very efficient and it was a pleasure booking through her.
Sep 3, 2024
Knowledgable and responsive
Jayson created a fantastic itinerary within budget and answered questions promptly. Super helpful. I can't wait to get going!
Sep 2, 2024
Although we didn’t end up booking…
Although we didn’t end up booking through Safari.com the service we received was great and they were really helpful.
Sep 2, 2024
Trip to Kruger at Mdluli Safari Lodge
I loved working with Anja from safari.com. She put together my itinerary within my price range and was very professional, thorough and empathetic. She followed up with me many times to see if I needed anything throughout my trip and even filled out some forms for me when I was having difficulty. When the lodge I stayed at was not being accommodating in the slightest, she quickly contacted the manager and got them to rearrange their services to meet my needs. I would most certainly use safari.com again due to my wonderful experience working with Anja.
Aug 31, 2024
Nicole at Safari.com is AMAZING!!!
I would love to share my experience with Nicole. She has worked tirelessly to help me make my dream vacation a reality. I had no idea how to start planning. Nicole suggested the most wonderful South African resorts and safaris. No matter how many changes I threw her way it was always received with a happy, positive attitude. I live in Hawaii and even though we were on a 12 hour time difference she was always available to answer any questions or concerns. Her expertise, knowledge and patience are unmeasurable. I was plagued with numerous payment issues from my bank in Hawaii. Nicole never wavered from being patience and more importantly positive that we could resolve each issue and get my trip booked. Nicole is a huge asset to Safari.com and I will scream it from the mountains to let everyone know what excellent customer service I have received. Nicole is a ROCKSTAR!!! We are so excited for our upcoming adventure of a lifetime!
Aug 30, 2024
Dolan made our first Safari experience awesome!
Dolan was exceptional, extremely knowledgeable, and easy to work with in our first Safari experience. He made sure he was available, took time to answer all our questions and understood our requests and concerns. We have already recommended Dolan to some friends and will be contacting him again in future!
Aug 30, 2024
Leigh-Ann super star ⭐️
I am so pleased to share my experience with Leigh-Ann, who assisted with our safari and South Africa travel arrangements. From start to finish, Leigh-Ann went above and beyond. Her attention to detail and smooth communication made the planning process effortless. No request was too big or too small, and she handled everything with efficiency. Leigh-Ann exceeded all expectations, making our trip both stress-free and enjoyable. Her exceptional service reflects her professionalism. I highly recommend her for anyone seeking top-notch travel support. Thanks so much Leigh-Ann :)
Aug 27, 2024
Very good experience with getting quotes
I didn’t end up booking with safari.com but I did have a great experience with their consultant, Leigh-Ann Croeser. I originally wanted to book a safari at a specific lodge but it was not available for the dates we wanted. She offered suggestions and helped us secure holds on other dates. She worked hard and sent several follow up emails as she was able to hold some dates for available rooms at the original lodge! We did end up booking with another safari tour company as I sent out a few quotes at the same time and that worked out better for us but next time I would definitely consider booking with her again!
Aug 27, 2024
Easy,reliable
Easy,reliable
