Reviewed by
First-hand Stay
First-hand Stay
Reviewed by
On-site inspection
On-site inspection
Reviewed through
Sources
Sources
Best access is by road, Johannesburg to Welgevonden Main Gate is about 2.5–3 hrs drive, the lodge collects guests at main gate, private charters can land at the Northern or Western airstrips inside the reserve with a road transfer of about 45 min from Northern or about 20 min from Western to the lodge.
Guests who love constant wildlife action ask for a suite angled to the waterhole for deck-side viewing between drives, honeymooners tend to choose a corner suite set slightly apart for the quietest outlook, families prize the Family Suite for its mezzanine twin beds, two bathrooms and easy access to the lounge and pool.
A relaxed, contemporary South African rhythm, bush breakfasts after long mornings, salad-and-grill lunches on the deck and candlelit boma dinners when the wind drops, think pot-bread still warm from the coals, venison from the grill, chakalaka and pap, malva pudding to finish, the team is nimble with dietary requests and pairs proudly with Kay & Monty wines when you ask.
Neutral layers for cool winter dawns and warm afternoons, soft-soled shoes for timber decks, a light windproof for open vehicles, swimsuit for the pool overlooking the pan, a soft duffel if you are chartering in.
Time your arrival for the 12:30 pickup at Welgevonden Main Gate so your transfer becomes a mini game drive, ask for one guided walk to work the fever-tree flats and look for San rock art, pair a boma dinner with a bottle from Rare Earth’s own Kay & Monty Vineyards for a sense-of-place tasting.
Operations support Welgevonden’s privately managed Big Five reserve through nightly levies and strict no-self-drive rules that keep vehicle pressure low, the lodge employs locally and participates in ongoing reserve monitoring, protecting riparian systems, wetlands and grassy plains within the Waterberg Biosphere.
