A turtle is any shelled reptile belonging to the order Chelonii. The term "tortoise" is more specific, referring to terrestrial turtles. "But surely tortoises doesn't swim?" Well that's what we thought until we noticed a regular visitor to our Thapama hide.  Every afternoon we would get Leopard tortoises that would not only come for a drink but also a quick swim before heading off. This called for some serious googling and here is what we found. Leopard tortoises don't have a nuchal shield (the protective scute above the neck) this makes it possible for them to raise their heads and ..read more

It all started with a good friend of ours winning the competition last year and he told us to enter this year’s competition. Luckily for me, Lance and Villiers picked my flying jackal for the overall winner. Villiers contacted me and put me into contact with Louisa from Indlovu River Lodge and the ball was set into motion for a fantastic experience. Villiers supplied me with good advice on the best time of year to go and suggested to go before the rainy season and the bookings were made. Me, my wife, Mart-Mari and Trix Jonker (one of the finalists and a good photographer friend) set off o ..read more

A typical day's meals at Indlovu River Lodge: Kick off your day with an early morning game drive on the reserve. Halfway through the drive your guides will stop in a scenic spot and serve you hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate with some traditional, South African rusks. A great way to ease into a day filled with delicious treats! Back at the lodge, you’ll be welcomed with a nice fresh breakfast prepared and presented by our staff. You’ll be able to enjoy fresh local fruits, granola, yoghurt, cereals, and of course a decadent warm breakfast with some more hot coffee and tea. At lunchtime, you ..read more

All of our packages include the following: A choice of the following day excursions: - Moholoholo Rehab Centre - Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre - Blyde River Dam Cruise - Panorama Scenic Route - Cultural Village - Hot Air Ballooning or Microlight aircraft - supplement payment of +/-R3700pp - Magoebaskloof Canopy Tour – supplement payment of R600.00pp - Elephant Back Safari – supplement payment of R1600.00pp Your own private boma and pool Every family villa has its own private boma and swimming pool – the perfect spot to relax and bond with your loved ones.   Luxury accommodation o ..read more

Spend four nights in the middle of the African Bush, surrounded by the big five (lion, buffalo, rhino, elephant and leopard) and more than 300 species of birdlife.    This exceptional experience comes with the use of our unique sunken photographic hides. These two hides are situated below ground level, with the camera lens a few millimetres above the surface of the watering hole. A rare opportunity for photographers to capture images of the birds coming for a drink or a bath, as well as their reflection on the surface of the water. Capture action photos and videos of different ..read more

At Indlovu River Lodge, we have designed our family holiday packages to be flexible – giving you a range of options to create your own perfect holiday. There are many wildlife adventures that lie in wait at Indlovu River Lodge and beyond.   We help you arrange special experiences, like hot air balloon rides and other wildlife experiences outside of our territory. For the activities within the borders of Indlovu River Lodge, we have experienced rangers, like Jonty to curate your family wilderness experience.   Jonty on the right Jonty has been taking guests on game drives ..read more

Refined, traditional cooking in the middle of the bush Our guests love the kitchen staff’s combination of traditional and European-style food – and they often remark that we over-feed them. The truth is that the ladies in the kitchen just enjoy spoiling people. Their cooking has become so ingrained in our ethos, that we’re sure most people plan return visits solely based on the food! A passion for nature that never grows old On the other side of the spectrum, we have Stefan, our youngest and newest member of the team. An already budding, knowledgeable ranger, Stefan also brings a light ..read more

Romantic Wilderness Safari near Kruger National Park Immerse yourself in our special piece of wilderness at Indlovu River Lodge, with our elevated viewpoint, our sunken photography hides at the waterholes, and our complimentary game drives every day. Let us spoil you with delicious home-cooked meals and drinks of your choice – ALL INCLUDED in your stay with us. Just sit back, relax and enjoy each other’s company over a hearty meal before you head back to your private suite. All of our suites have their own unique characteristics but they have one thing in common: They are designed for co ..read more

5. Chobe National Park, Botswana In the northwest corner of Botswana, bordering on the Okavango Delta you’ll find this incredibly diverse park. Spanning four different ecosystems, Chobe is home to an array of fascinating animal and bird species, each flourishing in their unique habitat. 4. Etosha National Park, Namibia This vast park houses the big five and many threatened and endangered species including the black rhinoceros. We love it because not only is it one of the largest national parks in the world, it is also home to some of the tallest elephants in Africa. 3. Okavango Delta, Botswana ..read more

The reality is, the things that are deemed important vary greatly depending on the type of safari you’re doing and the location. Something like shoes can make a big difference if you’re doing an active safari that involves a lot of walking, climbing, or canoeing, but this is not important when you’re doing a classic game drive – which is something that most game lodges offer. Today, we want to help you decide what is important by highlighting some of the things that are often underestimated and overestimated when it comes to packing for a safari holiday. The things that are often underestimate ..read more