Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge
Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge in the Balule Game Reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park is affordable and intimate and offers comfortable accommodation in African-style thatched rondavels and family units. The lodge has beautiful lawns and giant trees and overlooks the bush and a distant waterhole.
Highlights
- Situated in Balule Private Game Reserve
- Part of the Greater Kruger National Park
- Good game viewing, including the Big 5
- Family-friendly lodge
- Guided morning and evening game drives
- Guided bushwalks
- Swimming pool
- Large curio shop with locally-made curios and souvenirs
- Complimentary WiFi throughout the lodge
Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge is a 4-star lodge which offers comfortable accommodation to a maximum of 23 guests. The Balule Reserve largely consists of wooded savannah and the wildlife is diverse and plentiful. It boasts 30 mammal species and around 220 different kinds of birds. The reserve is in the western part of the Greater Kruger National Park and spans 35,000 ha, with the perennial Olifants River flowing for about 20 km through the centre of the reserve.
Shaded by ancient trees
The lodge is in the cool shade of trees, near the fence with Tshukudu Game Lodge. You can relax in the thatched lapa or at the bar, looking out onto wide-open plains and the distant waterhole, with the impressive Drakensberg escarpment as a backdrop.
Ethnic-style rondavels
The individual rondavels are attractively decorated with an ethnic theme. Each has an en-suite bathroom with both an inside and outside shower. There is a designated wheelchair-friendly room available. The rooms all have insect screens on the windows, electric ceiling fans and air conditioning. Family units have interleading doors and are always in demand.
Impala Lily Suite
Mohlabetsi's Impala Lily Suite is perfect for honeymooners or couples looking for a romantic bush getaway. Indoor and outdoor showers, a free-standing bath with a view and a private swimming pool are not the only features guests can look forward to. Guests who book two nights or more are treated to private dinners, breakfasts and lunches, and a Couple's Massage.
Impala Lily Suite private swimming pool
Excellent cuisine
Meals at Mohlabetsi are excellent, with the lodge having won the Good Food Accolade by the Portfolio Retreats collection. Evening meals are often served in the boma under a starry African sky. There are spotlights over the surroundings to pick out any wildlife night visitors. Other meals may be enjoyed on the cool lawns under the shady trees.
Game viewing
Guests enjoy an early morning and late afternoon/evening game drive in open off-road vehicles led by knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides and trackers. They gladly share their knowledge of the African bush and its myriad creatures and animal behaviours with you.
Getting there
By road - The lodge can easily be reached by road from Johannesburg. The trip takes about five hours, and no 4x4 is needed.
By air - The nearest airport is Hoedspruit. We can arrange a half-hour road transfer from the airport to the lodge.
Our take on Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge
Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge is a terrific choice for safari enthusiasts looking for a reasonably-priced, intimate lodge. The staff are friendly and welcoming and will go out of their way to make your stay memorable. It is an excellent option for families.
Includes
- Three delicious meals daily, teas & coffees
- Morning and evening game drives with armed guides and trackers
- Daily guided bush walk with an armed tracker/guide
- En-suite accommodation
- Free WiFi
Excludes
- Telephone calls and personal expenses
- Flights/transfers to and from Mohlabetsi
- Balule Private Game Reserve entry fee - payable at the gate
- All drinks
- Curio shop purchases
- Gratuities (optional)
You may also want to look at
5 Day Kruger Park and Private Lodge Safari
A guided safari in Kruger Park (using the national park camps) is quite different to a safari at a private game lodge. Both have their advantages. This trip idea combines two nights in Kruger, followed by two nights at a private game lodge for you to experience the best of both worlds. All game drives in open vehicles with expert and knowledgeable guides.
Balule Game Reserve
Balule Private Game Reserve is a collection of private game farms and reserves with no fences between them, allowing for the free movement of game throughout the 2 million hectare Greater Kruger conservation area. The perennial Olifants River flows through the centre of the reserve, which attracts a wide variety of wildlife to this plentiful water supply.
