Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge
Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge is an intimate safari lodge in Pilanesberg National Park, offering a more traditional bush-lodge atmosphere for travellers seeking a quieter safari close to Johannesburg. With fewer rooms and a more secluded feel than many Pilanesberg lodges, it suits couples and travellers looking for a more authentic lodge experience.
Highlights
- Located inside malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park
- Smaller, more intimate lodge with 29 suites
- All meals, selected beverages and safari activities included
- Morning and afternoon game drives with experienced guides
- Optional bush walks and quad biking activities
- Elevated lodge setting with views over the reserve
- Minimum age policy (12+), contributing to a quieter lodge atmosphere
Safari experience
Guests enjoy twice-daily safari activities, typically early morning and late afternoon game drives in open safari vehicles.
Vehicles seat up to nine guests, and drives focus on Pilanesberg's diverse habitats of open plains, wooded hills and seasonal waterholes where wildlife often gathers.
Guided bush walks are also available for guests who want a more immersive experience of the reserve.
Rooms and lodge atmosphere
Shepherd's Tree offers 29 spacious suites, designed in a contemporary safari-lodge style with private outdoor spaces and views across the surrounding bushveld.
Compared with some of the larger Pilanesberg properties, the lodge offers a quieter and more intimate atmosphere, making it well-suited to:
- Couples
- Honeymooners
- Travellers seeking a more traditional safari lodge feel
Accommodation includes standard suites, executive suites and a private villa option for guests wanting additional privacy.
Getting there
Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge is located in Pilanesberg National Park, roughly 2.5–3 hours by road from Johannesburg.
Guests can self-drive to the park or arrange transfers from Johannesburg or nearby airports.
Our take on Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge
Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge is a good option for travellers who want a more classic safari lodge experience in Pilanesberg without the scale of some of the larger properties.
With fewer rooms and a minimum age of 12 years, the atmosphere is generally quieter and more relaxed, making it particularly appealing for couples or short safari getaways from Johannesburg.
For travellers prioritising intimacy and a traditional lodge feel, Shepherd's Tree is often the better fit compared with larger Pilanesberg lodges.
Includes
- Accommodation in a suite at Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
- Morning and afternoon guided game drives in Pilanesberg National Park
- Tea, coffee and light refreshments during the day
- Wi-Fi in lodge public areas
- Use of lodge facilities, including swimming pool and guest lounge areas
Most stays operate as a lodge-based safari, where accommodation includes two daily guided game drives inside Pilanesberg.
Excludes
- Premium alcoholic beverages and cellar wines
- Spa treatments and wellness services
- Transfers to and from the lodge
- Pilanesberg National Park conservation or entrance fees (where applicable)
- Gratuities and items of a personal nature
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