Set within the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, Tshukudu Bush Lodge is a truly luxurious getaway. It’s certainly not for budget travellers, but included in the price are copious amounts of food and drink, game drives, and the ideal combination of privacy and very personal service.
Tshukudu has just six stone cottages on a hillside, each with a private deck perfect for watching dassies, jackals, zebra and other wildlife cruising the plains below. Each cottage is cleverly situated so that you can neither see nor hear your neighbours, and the simple stone exteriors hide luxurious suites complete with chandeliers and romantic sunken bathtubs.
The attention to detail extends to every aspect of your stay – even
providing blankets to keep guests snug on game drives.
Pilanesburg is renowned for the concentration of wildlife within its boundaries, but under the expert guidance of Shaun and guest guide Dwayne, we were treated to a veritable Noah’s Ark: not only numerous elephants and zebras, but also rhino, lion, hippos, and most excitingly, a cheetah – one of only two in the reserve. Staying in one of the lodges means that once all the day trippers and self-drivers have left, you are free to roam the park in relative peace and quiet. At just before 6am, we had a good 20 minutes watching the cheetah before any other jeeps spotted us – a truly special experience.
Most guests stay one night, and at just two hours drive from Johannesburg, even a short visit is worthwhile. But if you can stretch your budget, a longer stay will let you make the most of the perfect combination of exciting game- spotting and luxurious relaxation that Tshukudu offers.
