Sit back, relax, switch off and unwind.
Is this heaven? We think so!
That is what the official Bundox website has to say. And having visited, I am certainly NOT going to contradict them.
Are you looking for an authentic ‘safari’ setting without getting up at the crack of dawn to go on a game drive?
Then look no further than Bundox Safari Lodge.
This is the perfect destination to utilize as a base while you discover all that the area around the lodge has to offer.
But first a welcome drink in the reception area.
And speaking of the reception area… It was here that the paperwork got done and we were informed about what we could expect during our stay.
It is not your ‘traditional’ reception area, but being open to the elements it is indeed a welcoming space.
Nearby is the lodge office which includes a small curio shop.
Something that I was not expecting, is a lounge that overlooks a pool that guests can use…if the weather is amenable.
It is one of the few places where guests can access the wi-fi connectivity with reasonable certainty.
My wife and I both have to be able to access the internet for work purposes, not to mindlessly scroll through social media as many of the guests in the camps seem to want to do.
What did we do before mobile phones and constant connectivity? Is it THAT hard for us to disconnect? I do believe that the answer, unfortunately, is a resounding YES!
We have become so conditioned to this fear of losing out that the first words uttered by guests on arrival are “What is the wi-fi password”?
Lights for the pathway that leads from the reception area to the rest of the camp.
Solar-powered, they are placed along the path in the evenings and then allowed to recharge here during the day.
This is one of the few camps where I have seen these utilized effectively.
BTW, there are 302 steps from the main area of the lodge to the reception and the all-important wi-fi connectivity. How do I know this? I counted them personally…more than once.
This is the second pool on the property and is a short distance from the accommodation as well as the Spa.
According to those who tried it out, the water was warmer than the pool at reception.
Also, it is more convenient, as you don’t have to walk THAT far.
However, try as I might, there was NO wi-fi signal here.
There are small spaces, like this, scattered around the property where visitors can relax in peace.
This particular space is close to both the pool and Spa and the furniture is SO comfortable that I nearly tried to squeeze the armchair into our car.
Luckily, or unluckily, for both us and the lodge, it did not fit…
Sit up straight or relax on a swinging day bed.
The choice is yours.
If you choose the latter, you might awake to see the faces of other guests peering down at you.
It was my space of choice during our stay here.
While I sat outside and contemplated the vagaries of the world, my wife was inside having her cares massaged away.
The spa offers a range of treatments, and if it is a couples massage that you require, please let the staff know in advance so that a second therapist can be organised.
Our accommodation.
Hidden within the dense foliage that offers privacy for the guests, it is the epitome of tented luxury that even the most discerning guest would appreciate.
The interior.
There is more than enough space to unpack suitcases and unlike the old-style safari tents, here you can stand up and walk around.
In a way, the only real similarity to a tent is the fact that it is partly constructed of canvas.
Falling asleep, while listening to the sounds of distant lions vocalizing on an adjoining property is the stuff that memories are made of.
Step through a door that offers privacy within the tent and you will step into the spacious ablution area.
Each tent has its own shower and toilet as well as a basin and storage space.
And of course, enough countertop space to spread all your lotions and potions on.
Is a bathroom still a bathroom if it only has a shower?
But can it be called a shower room if it has a toilet?
These are questions that keep me awake at night.
Another of the spaces where guests can relax, out of sight of either staff or other guests.
You can have meals served here, should you wish to have privacy during meal times.
This particular space can be accessed via a couple of flights of stairs and allows those seated here to feel as if they are in a tree house.
It overlooks an adjoining property that had giraffe and antelope.
So game viewing is possible without leaving the property.
If my memory serves me correctly, this was called a safari space and was an area close to the lounge and the dining room.
Situated at ground level, I spent time here watching the antics of the vervet monkeys that are frequent visitors to the camp.
There are several options available to guests who have a mind to be adventurous.
Having just spent time in 3 other Bundox properties we chose to stay in camp and relax before heading back to the urban jungle and all the stresses that go with that.
What is on offer?
According to the Bundox Safari Lodge website, you can do any (or all) of these…
- Full-day guided safari into the Kruger National Park in an open safari vehicle
- Full-day guided tour of the Panorama Route
- Leisurely cruise on the Blyde Dam
- Helicopter flight over the Blyde River Canyon
- Microlighting at the foot of the Northern Drakensberg Escarpment
For more information, please use this link. https://www.bundox.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-Bundox_Activities-RackRates.pdf
Disclaimer from Travel & Things:
All the rates were correct when this post was published, but please check with the camp either before or on arrival to ascertain the current rates.
Dinner is about to be served.
The food that the chef produces in his kitchen is certainly delicious and varied.
There were plenty of vegetables on the plates, something that my wife was passionate about.
The portions were more than sufficient and dietary requirements can be catered for.
Once again desserts were eaten for research purposes.
If I were to complain, it would be about the maple-flavoured syrup that appears on the menu as maple syrup.
The former is a cheaper version of the liquid gold that Canada supplies.
I would have preferred old-fashioned golden syrup, but that is just my opinion.
Did I put the maple-flavoured syrup on my French toast and bacon?
HELL YEAH!
Our final bush sunset before heading home after breakfast the following morning.
Are looking for a family destination that will allow you to do a variety of activities while experiencing the joys of a game lodge rather than a hotel?
If your answer is “Yes please”! then Bundox Safari Lodge might be your answer.
Time your visit to coincide with the arrival of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Or book your December holiday break and activities now.
Either way, you will walk away a winner…
To find out more about the company and what it offers, click on any of the logos in this post.
Travel is the proud winner of this prestigious award from the digital British lifestyle magazine Luxlife. The award is in the category Best Travel & Experiences Blog 2024 – South Africa.
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