Ekuthuleni Lodge, Limpopo

Luxury game lodge in the heart of the malaria-free Welgevonden Private Game Reserve.

Situated in the heart of the malaria-free Welgevonden Private Game Reserve in South Africa, Ekuthuleni Lodge invites you to savour true African luxury. Ekuthuleni Lodge, meaning “place of peace”, has sweeping views of the Savannah plains, and is home to the Big Five and many other species of game.

Each of the five suites offer intimacy and privacy, with magnificent views of the grasslands, giving a whole new meaning to nature on your doorstep. The romantic bathrooms open onto a private courtyard and have both indoor and outdoor showers.

Ekuthuleni means “place of peace.” The lodge is situated on the open plains in the centre of Welgevonden Game Reserve and offers sweeping views of the Savannah plains. Watch the sun set from the deck, and the animals passing by the unfenced camp. Guests are invited to relax next to the swimming pool, overlooking sweeping grassy plains, or watch the sun as it sets at the end of an African day. If the weather is cool, curl up with a book in one of the comfortable lounges before enjoying a delicious meal prepared with the freshest ingredients available. Meals can be enjoyed in the cosy dining room or the open air deck, sheltered from the elements by a reed awning.

Accommodation

Guests are accommodated in five luxury thatched suites. Each of the five suites offers intimacy and privacy, with magnificent views of the grasslands, giving a whole new meaning to nature on your doorstep. The romantic bathrooms open onto a private courtyard, and have both indoor and outdoor showers.

Safari

Two daily game drives are conducted by experienced rangers who will provide intimate details of the abundant flora and fauna, many of which is unique to the Waterberg. Watch the morning sun scribble intriguing patterns across the veld and contemplate the day’s journey. Enjoy an early morning safari and watch Africa awaken in front of your eyes. Then head home for a scrumptious breakfast before settling down for your midday siesta. After sundowner drinks, allow the darkness of the African bush to envelop you on your evening game safari. Nightlife abounds in the African bush and dangers lurk everywhere. Leopards stalking prey in the cover of darkness are truly magnificent sights to behold.

Activities

Game Drives

Each lodge within Welgevonden offers a range of different game drives with their highly qualified guides, who can tell you everything you might need or want to know about the wildlife, birdlife and vegetation.

There are morning game drives, sunset game drives and the very special nighttime game drives, where spotlights are fitted to your vehicle allowing you to see Welgevonden’s nocturnal animals; you might even be lucky enough to see a leopard on the hunt.

Spectacular Big 5 sightings are almost guaranteed during your game drives and so, of course, are all the other usual suspects such as giraffe, kudu, zebra, warthog and even the rare roan antelope.

Almost all of the lodges will include at least two game drives in their daily tarrifs. Some lodges, such as iBhubesi Private Game Lodge, offer unlimited private game drives and your own personal game ranger throughout.

Overall, there is an amazing 430kms of roads and tracks to be explored in Welgevonden, allowing you to experience all its ins and outs, intricacies and the general beauty of its biodiversity to the absolute fullest.

Guided Walking Safaris

Many of Welgevonden’s lodges offer morning bush walks under the guidance and protection of experienced rangers, allowing you an entirely unique, organic and intimate interaction with the reserve’s topography and amazing array of wildlife.

Furthermore, being on foot helps to bring into focus some of the smaller animals and insects that you would usually miss from a vehicle. Guides can often give you a rare insight into the herbs and grasses used in traditional medicine too.

Some of Welgevonden’s guided bush walks also take in the ancient San rock paintings found in Welgevonden.

Numbers on the walking safaris are usually restricted to a maximum of 8 people and there are only a limited number of rangers that can take these special tours, so reservation is usually advised before arrival at Welgevonden.

If staying at the lodge in Kololo Reserve just on the outside of Welgevonden itself, this area is fenced off from Welgevonden and is only home to ‘safe’ game, so you can also enjoy this area on mountain bike or on foot without a guide if you prefer.

Stargazing

Two of the Welgevonden’s current conservation staff have completed Astronomy Africa’s “Sky Ranger” course and were provided with a state of the art 8 inch telescope with which they now offer stargazing activities to guests at Welgevonden’s lodges.

The telescope can be transported to you at your respective lodge and one of the qualified staff will help provide an amazing insight and perspective into the spectacular South African night sky that stretches over the reserve.

Bushman Painting Experience

The San Bushman were the indiginous inhabitants of Southern Africa and first came to Welgevonden and The Waterberg region about 2,000 years ago.

Two incredible and well-preserved rock paintings in Welgevonden pay tribute to the legacy of the San, and guided tours to see the paintings can be booked at the Main gate Office or you can contact local conservation officer Jarine Lorist. The lodge you have booked with will supply a qualified and armed escort for these trips to accompany Janine.

During the tour you will be informed about San culture; about the animals they held sacred and the visions that they saw when they entered into trance and experienced the spiritual world through their traditional dances. San rock paintings were a way for those that had been in trance to show others in the group what they had witnessed.

This is a unique cultural experience not to missed.

Horseback Trails

Savannah Horse Trails and Horizon Horseback Safaris offer a range of horseback trails and safaris in The Waterberg region, all within easy driving distance of Welgevonden. However, horseback safaris are not conducted within the Welgevonden Game Reserve itself; due to the predatory wildlife that roam the reserve. The neighboring Kololo Game Reserve is home to several picturesque trails that meander through some of the country’s most breath-taking scenery, a place where the safe wildlife roam free to be admired.

Whatever trail you choose, you are sure to find an incredible array of wildlife and beautiful landscapes and traverse substantial distances of savanna plains, river valleys and rocky escarpments with relative ease, while maintaining an intimate proximity to your surroundings and without the sound of a 4×4 engine interrupting the peace and quiet.
The safaris offerings are aimed at relatively experienced riders and will take you through exhilarating rides at different paces with happy, healthy and well-trained horses; some of the other trails are available for riders of any level or ability, including absolute beginners.

If you are interested in a horseback experience please inform us in your enquiry and we will liaise with your chosen lodge to facilitate your request.

For more information, availability and rates on Ekuthuleni Lodge press the GREY Contact button.

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Ekuthuleni Lodge

Ekuthuleni Lodge

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