The Bush House, Madikwe Private Game Reserve.

The Bush House is less than 1km from  the Wonderboom Gate.
This is the first glimpse that you get of the lodge,
which used to be an old farm house.
Looking back towards the main lodge building from the garden.
The farm house, has been lovingly restored and renovated
by owners Sue and Gordon Morrison.
They have done this in a style that keeps the integrity and ambiance
of the original building

Relaxing on the grass.
And admiring this large flower that fell from a branch above me.

Our accommodation.
There are 6 bedrooms, all of which are decorated
in a unique style.
There is more than enough space to unpack and
relax without bumping into each other or the furniture.
With the curtains on the main sliding doors open,
the room is bright and airy.

The was a small private courtyard that
was accessible through the sliding doors.
I discovered a small metal box that was filled with birdseed.
A great eco-idea for both feeding the birds
and entertaining the guests
(there are NO TV’s or radios in the rooms)

A stack of “books” makes for a great table.

It seems as if more and more lodges
understand that a seating area in a room is important.
Not everyone wants to sit in one of the public areas.
Neither might they want to lie down.

The bathroom had both a bath and a shower.
For those who are concerned about water conservation,
rest assured, every drop of ‘grey’ water is filtered and used for irrigation.
Hence, having a bath is a requirement to keep the garden in tip top condition!

The walkway from the lounge/dining/public area to our room.
Every available space seems to be filled with indigenous vegetation
Eco- friendly AND water-wise.

From the seating on the veranda at the main lodge,
you can watch the bird life in the garden
or the various species that visit the waterhole

This is the breakfast area, if the weather allows.
It looks out over the garden, the various water features
and the waterhole.

The breakfast spread in the main dining room.
This can be found off the TV room in the main house.

No TV in the bar/lounge…
and that is a GOOD thing.
That being said there is a TV monitor,
linked to a camera at the water hole so that guests can
keep an eye on what might be visiting

I can bear testament to how comfy these couches are.
And with a “bush TV” burning in the fireplace,
there is no better place for a nap!

We had dinner on the patio on our first evening
as the weather was rather mild.

The gardens of The Bush House are truly spectacular.
The lawn, even though it was winter, was lush and green
A testament to their eco-friendly grey water irrigation system

The hide at The Bush House is what made this destination special for me.
It was the first of its kind in Madikwe Game Reserve
Open 24 hours a day,
it is easily and safely accessible from the garden
in front of the main lodge building.

I braved the cold on the nights we were in camp
and spent couple of hours here,
up close and personal with both elephant and buffalo.

One of the smaller,
more easily accessible wildlife species.
I was told that this is a resident squirrel
and that he has performed aerial acrobatics for the guests
from one of the trees outside the shop/reception.

There is NOTHING like an African sunset.
Good night from a VERY chilly Madikwe.
I wonder what awaits on our morning game drive…

This is Refilwe, at the Sandton office.
What a pleasure to deal with!
With her big smile she is the epitome of what this company portrays.

 Friendly and efficient staff who have a passion for their customers.

Based on my experiences over the past few months

and in five different cities, I highly recommend them.