It is said that you only get one opportunity to make a first impression. If that is so, then Leopard’s Lair Bush Lodge did that in spades. Although I have stayed in the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate before, I did not expect to have THIS waiting for me as I drove in!
You do not need a 4×4 to get to the main parking area at the lodge and this short drive to covered parking made getting the luggage into my room very simple.
The grounds are an oasis of green in the middle of the remnants of the winter greys and browns. Outdoor decor is kept to a minimum but is sufficient to make the grounds look welcoming.
The lodge is self-catering and to that end, it has a LARGE kitchen with fridges for the guests to store food, a gas oven as well as a microwave. It is also fully stocked with all the glassware, crockery and cutlery that one could possibly require.
The lodge has a family unit but should mom and dad want a respite from the youngsters (or if there is exciting sport) there is a TV in this corner of the main building.
Guests can choose to eat indoors, should they wish to…
This outdoor seating can double as a general relaxation space or dining area.
After wandering around the grounds and the public areas, it was time to head to my accommodation. This was the bedroom/lounge and in the left of the frame was a huge walk-in dressing room with more than enough hanging space.
The lounge. There is a bar fridge so that food can be kept in the room and there is also a tea/coffee station should you feel like a warm beverage at any particular time during you stay and you do not feel like interacting with other guests.
Double vanity in the bathroom, so there is no queue to brush teeth…
With an outdoor shower and an indoor jacuzzi bath, is there anything more that one could want? I don’t think so.
The view from the outdoor shower at my accommodation. Standing under the warm water with the myriad of stars overhead just before getting into bed is always special. A difficult shot to capture, hence this one from a more reasonable hour.
Does it get any better than an outdoor shower first thing in the morning?
In typical South African tradition, dusk is greeted with the lighting of a fire. Its purpose is two-fold. 1] To cook dinner and 2] to provide warmth and light to replace the TV that we watch when we are back at home. As an aside, unless your lodge is child-friendly(which this one is) I personally think that there should be NO TV’s, even in the public spaces. That would force guests to disconnect and to relax and enjoy themselves without wondering what is happening back in the ‘real world.
I fell asleep to the sound of a hyena making its presence known in the darkness…
To find out more about what the lodge has to offer, click on the logo to visit their website.
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