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Best air links are to Hoedspruit (HDS) airport followed by a (~45 min) drive to the lodge or fly to Kruger Mpumalanga/MQP, followed by a (~2–2.5 hrs) drive to the lodge; many guests also fly Federal Air direct to Royal Malewane (Jackalberry) Airstrip, then ~10–15 min game-viewer transfer to the lodge; self-drive from Johannesburg is ~5–6 hrs.
With only three near-identical suites you cannot go wrong. All suites each with private deck, outdoor shower and plunge pool, plus The Farmhouse private villa with three main bedrooms and a smaller children’s room, pool and private services.
Farm-to-fork menus with a Mediterranean accent, tapas-style lunches outdoors, candlelit boma dinners and bespoke bush set-ups, with Executive Chef Brandon Souris shaping seasonal dishes, and Head Chef Kele Tsenoli’s team known for elegant desserts and thoughtful vegan options, kosher service available by prior arrangement. Signature ask: Lowveld grilled lamb with herb chimichurri, followed by warm malva pudding or a lemon tart on the fire
Neutral layers for dawn and evening drives, a light windbreaker for winter months, swimsuit for private pools, flat sandals for lit boardwalks, a soft duffel if flying FedAir, and a small beanbag or clamp for long-lens photography.
Ask the team for their tapas-style bush lunch on the deck when game viewing is hot, plan one dinner under the marula trees with the Lowveld wine pairing, and if you like to travel kosher, pre-arrange their dedicated service so the kitchen can set up correctly.
Proceeds support the Royal Portfolio Foundation’s community and conservation projects around Greater Kruger, including education initiatives and local upliftment, while the on-site Conservation & Research Centre introduces guests to current wildlife monitoring and protection work across Thornybush and the Greater Kruger system.
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