N'kaya Game Lodge

Robert Andersson, xXxCountryxXx

N'kaya Game Lodge is a very small camp with 4 cottages set around the swimming pool. I feel it would be a great lodge for a large group or family to take the place to themselves. It has a real communal feel, the type of place where guests eat together and sit for hours around the camp fire chatting and watching the floodlit waterhole. With the privacy it offers it is ideal for a quiet, peaceful safari.

  • Robert Andersson

N’kaya Game Lodge, deep in the private Thornybush Game Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park is one of the country's great tracts of untamed game-viewing. With a capacity of only four exclusive suites, nKaya Lodge offers the discerning guest the very best in privacy and is the ideal destination for a quiet, peaceful safari. Set on the crest of a hill that overlooks the Drakensberg mountain range and shaded by tall trees, nKaya Lodge boasts spacious double suites each with private lounges and twin en-suite amenities.

This Lodge has recently undergone a soft furnishings upgrade and uniquely in the Collection has the flexibility of providing guests with either eight single en-suite facilities, or 4 spacious completely self contained suites, each with a his and hers bathroom and comfortable lounge area for private entertaining and relaxation. Built around an inviting pool area for all four suites, this Lodge boasts too, an excellent bar, dining and lounge facilities and an outside Boma area for night time Dining.

Location

Access by air from the Hoedspruit Airport which is approximately a 30 minute drive from the lodge. The drive time to Thornybush Game Lodge by road from Johannesburg is approximately 6 – 7 hours.

Highlights

  • An enormous fireplace is the focal point of the lounge at n'Kaya, enjoy sumptuous meals served under the stars in the reed boma (African grass hut).
  • Thornybush Private Game Reserve offers unique exclusive Safari experiences in both open Land Rovers, and on foot. It is home to an abundance of species: 147 mammals including the "Big Five", 114 reptiles, 507 birds, 49 fish, 34 amphibians and 336 trees.

Facilities

  • Open plan lounge and dining area
  • Indoor lounge
  • Open air boma
  • Library
  • Rock pool
  • Facilities for re-charging of cameras and telephone etc

Activities

Morning and evening game drive safaris in open top Land Rover, walking safaris, bird watching, fishing and day tours such as white water rafting or village tours.

Meal Basis

Full board accommodation including three meals, two game drives and a bush walk per day.

Child Policy

Children are only permitted upon request.

Accommodation

N'kaya Game Lodge 4 spacious double suites, each with private lounges and twin en-suite facilities. The rooms are air-conditioned with an en-suite bath and shower.

Star Rating 2 reviews

Read Reviews of the N'Kaya Game Lodge

Holiday to South Africa during November 2011

What a wonderful place and what a fantastic experience. The safari part of our holiday was the part of our holiday that we were most excited about and it exceeded all of our expectations in every way. We stayed four nights, went on 8 safaris and we will not forget the experience for the rest of our lives. The accomodation is excellent, with only four chalets for a max. of 8 guests, each chalet is private, with a large and comfortable bedroom, sitting room and two bathrooms. It is very clean and the whole safari experience is very relaxing. The food was outstanding, of such a high quality, and really delicious. We had breakfast after early morning safari, a lunch in the afternoon before the second safari of the day, and dinner in the evening. Lianne, Mariza, Bert and their team do a wonderful job of preparing the dishes and go to a huge amount of trouble to prepare interesting a nd diferent lunches and dinners each day. There is a fabulous wine selection to boot. We ate with the lodge management staff along with our safari guide Beckson or the great tracker Andries every day, which was lovely. The game drives were phenomenal. We went on early morning drive each morning at 5:30am and one at 4:00pm each afternoon. The drives were between 3 and 3.5 hours each so you really do get to see lots of wildlife and game of every variety. Beckson and Andries, the guide and tracker are just amazing and their knowledge and experience in tracking and finding animals was great. Watching them find and follow the tracks of animals to find shy and often reclusive animals (especially the black rhino that was very shy and reclusive and hard to get a clear sight of ) was just great. You never know what you'll see each day but you are pretty much guaranteed to see the big five. We saw them all and at very close quarters, which was amazing. to see lions, cheetah, rhiono, elephants and buffalo up close and personal was incredible. But its much much more than the big five (we saw four of the big five on our first safari which was just great). The two guys tracked leopard for us and we saw a mother and her son leopard on two separate days really up close. We also saw an amazing array of other animals, from a variety of deer and entelope, including Impalas, Kudus and many others, Hippos, Wilderbeasts, Zebras, Giraffes, Warthogs (their so cool) and many other animals. We also saw a huge variety of beautiful birds, and other fascinating creatures including leopard tortoises, huge snails, snakes and other creatures. Beckson even found a chameleon one evening in the dark. The two guys have a huge knowledge and would spot the most incredible things all the time. We have the most amazing memories to treasure and would love to return one day. Thank you to the wonderful team - Leanne, Mariza, Bert, Beckson, Andries, and the other support staff at N'kaya. we will ceratinly be promoting N'kaya to all our friends as the place to go for the safari experience of your life.

Signed:

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Honeymoon to South Africa during October 2011

Excellent, excellent, excellent! We loved staying here! Our chalet was amazing, with 2 bathrooms, a living room and bedroom. The food was wonderful. There was really a laid-back vibe to this property which we both loved. Our game drives were awesome. We saw all the Big 5. We saw leopard everyday! And we saw leopard cubs! Bert and Andres were amazing guides. This part of the trip was very educational for us, which we really enjoyed.

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Customer Review

Holiday to Zambia, Botswana and South Africa during April 2012

South Africa Review

Enjoyed it very much. Beautiful country and one we want to visit again.

Rated... 5stars

Signed:

Vivien and Andrew Kelly

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South Africa Factfile

Timezone:
EAT (UTC+2)
Language:
English, local languages
Currency:
South African Rand
Best time:
Year round destination
Flights:
9 hours from Europe
Visas:
Not needed for many Europeans, call for info
Weather:
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