Text: Romi Boom. Pictures: Romi Boom and Rita van den Heever. Article from the Summer 2012/2013 issue of Wild Magazine.
Where you spend the night sets the tone for your holiday, so overnight at any of these spots for a brilliant start to the day!
Tlopi Tented Camp, Marakele National Park
Perched on the edge of a large, tree-fringed dam, these safari tents make the most of the setting. From each tent’s spacious deck you look out onto the glassy surface of the water. Even the braai is positioned so you can savour the sunset uninterrupted. This is where you’ll want to eat, out under the stars with a soundtrack of bush creatures in the background. Because the tented camp is unfenced, you really feel a part of this idyllic spot. The tent offers comfort under canvas with two proper beds and an en-suite bathroom, plus a fully equipped kitchen with a refrigerator and two-plate stove.
Contact: SANParks 012-428-9111, website
Nselweni Bush Lodge, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
KwaZulu-Natal’s flagship game park has a secret that is well worth rooting out. Your search leads into the heart of the bush where a luxurious camp lies sheltered by large trees. Nselweni has only eight chalets and the stillness is palpable. Nyala, warthog and giraffe walk freely among the huts as there are not any fences. Each chalet has tall glass doors that slide away to open one wall of the bedroom to the outside. Although the look is modern, a canvas roof captures the spirit of bush living. A neatly appointed kitchen and bathroom, plus a private patio and braai, fulfil your needs.
Contact: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife 033-845-1000, website
Platteklip Wash House, Table Mountain National Park
In which other city in the world could you stay in a national park, surrounded by green and quiet, yet be no more than five minutes from the bustling centre? Situated at the foot of Table Mountain, this quaint cottage is the ideal base for hiking, sightseeing and exploring Cape Town’s beaches. On a hot summer’s day, the hushed cool of the shade trees outside is a world removed from the frenzy of holiday crowds. The historic Wash House has been restored and while it still has a traditional exterior (picture thick stone walls and large barn doors), inside it boasts modern comforts and quirky design.
The cottage has been divided into flatlets, each with its own bathroom and kitchenette for convenient self-catering. Groups can rent the large room at the end with communal lounge and dining area.
Contact: SANParks 012-428-9111, website
Highlands Mountain Retreat, Golden Gate Highlands National Park
At this mountain refuge it’s easy to surrender yourself to total relaxation. The air is crisp and fresh, the views grand and, with only eight cabins nestled against the slope, the mood is tranquil. The cabins have solid log walls and sod roofs, looking as much a part of the landscape as the waving grasses and sandstone outcrops. Each cabin has a fully equipped kitchen, spacious lounge and dining area, plus a bedroom with en-suite bathroom. Half the cabins have a second bedroom, also with en-suite bathroom. In fine weather the best place to be is the wrap-around deck where you feel as if you are up high enough to look down upon vultures riding the thermals. When it grows cool, the cosy lounge with its fireplace provides a welcome sanctuary indoors.
Contact: SANParks 012-428-9111 website
Mvubu Lodge, Goukamma Nature Reserve
This elevated cottage of wood, reed and thatch has commanding views of Groenvlei, a unique lake without an in-flowing river. Whether the water is shimmering in the sun’s rays or a cool, green disc of calm, the lake is the focal point of a stay at Mvubu. You can even admire it from the Victorian-style bath en-suite to the main bedroom. Both the bedrooms and the open-plan lounge have wide sliding doors that lead onto a deck. Here you can sit and scan for birds, relax with a good book or take your meals under a large umbrella. The cottage is well appointed, so there’s no need to go anywhere, but a double canoe for residents’ exclusive use means you can explore the lake at your leisure.
Contact: CapeNature 021-483-0190, website
