Your private 11 days family round trip - organized by Rhulani
Let us be your hosts for your deep dive into the South African nature
Come to South Africa as a family on holiday and immerse yourself in the life of nature, farms, fishing and wild animals on an eleven-day tour - and leave the organisation and care to us - down to the last detail.
Your family holiday in a nutshell
The private eleven-day round trip, has been carefully put together for your family by our experts. It begins and ends at ORT Tambo International Airport Johannesburg. From the first to the last moment, you will be privately looked after, hosted, entertained, instructed and transported by Rhulani's manager Tom-Hendrik and field guide Willem, who will show you secret corners of the nature of the Waterberg, Limpopo and North West region and give you an insight into the life of local farmers and their activities such as fishing
Thanks to the company of the two nature boys, who have been trained to the highest level in hospitality and know the little-explored region like the back of their hand, you will be able to immerse yourself in a life of complete peace and seclusion, unwind from your stressful everyday life, learn something about local farming and fishing techniques, from the shore or from the canoe, and spend evenings by the fire with a typical South African braai, all in a safe environment and in well-equipped self-catering farmhouses, where your rendezvous with wild nature does not come at the expense of a certain luxury.
We deliberately offer your family an experience that is far away from daily worries and routine, and where your children will leave their i-pads and mobile phones on the side and find joy in the very natural elements that surround us, such as the wild animals, a campfire, a starry sky, and a day at the fishing pond.
The trip starts with a stay in “Sediba Kwele”, a camp where, in addition to the peace and quiet, you will enjoy some adventurous activities with your children, such as floating over a dam on a zip-line, followed by a visit to the region near the Marakele Nation al Park with the fantastic, unexplored landscape, accommodated in a 5-star house of “Cypiro Leopard Lodge”, where there is no lack of luxury and you may be able to pet a falcon in the bird rehabilitation center, and then on over a 45 km long bumpy road to “Syringa Sands”, where you will feel like you are in no man’s land and where you can consolidate your fishing skills you have learned so far and perhaps cook the catch yourself in the evening.
The journey ends with a drive to Madikwe Game Reserve, where a four-day stay at “Rhulani Safari Lodge” is the final leg and the icing on the cake, and you can get acquainted with the infamous "Big 5" mammals in our award-winning lodge and expect a completely private safari experience.
The travel itinerary in detail*
*) Slight program adjustments possible depending on the availability of the individual accommodations and your own preferences.
Day 1: Arrival in OR Tambo Int’l Airport, welcome by Tom-Hendrik & Willem. Travel to Sediba Kwele Adventure Camp (169 km, 2 h 10 min)
Day 2: Sediba Kwele Adventure Camp and Roodeskoppies Dam
Day 3: Travel to Cypiro Leopard Lodge (113 km, 1h 50 min)
Day 4: Marakele National Park
Day 5: Travel to Syringa Sands Game Farm (31 km, 1h)
Day 6: Syringa Sands Game Farm
Day 7: Travel to Madikwe Game Reserve, Rhulani Safari Lodge (204 km, 3h 45 min)
Day 8: Rhulani Safari Lodge – Safari in Madikwe Game Reserve
Day 9: Rhulani Safari Lodge – Safari in Madikwe Game Reserve
Day 10: Rhulani Safari Lodge – Safari in Madikwe Game Reserve
Day 11: Farewell to Rhulani and Tom-Hendrik and Willem, travel to OR Tambo Int’l Airport Johannesburg (363 km, 4h 15 min)
Fishing is my favorite leisure activity because I can do something and do nothing at the same time.
Willem Nel, Field Guide at Rhulani Safari Lodge
Accommodation and highlights
The carefully selected accommodations and activities described below await you, offering the perfect mix of peace, nature experience and comfort.
Sediba Kwele Adventure Camp
The place: Sediba Kwele has two beautiful waterfalls with rivers gliding past the front end of the chalets, the alluring gardens and wooden bridge. The Game Reserve is secured with game fencing to ensure the safety of wild animals such as kudus, giraffes, waterbucks, nyalas, impalas, blue wildebeests, red hartebeests, tsessebes and ostriches just to name a few. The Game Reserve is 450 hectares with a dam which spans over about 15 hectare, and ideal fishing place to catch largemouth bass, carp and catfish.
The highlights: Go on a game drive or a relaxing walk to explore the area. Tom-Hendrik and Willem will prepare the fishing rods and give the first important instructions. Look forward to outstanding black bass fishing in the bushveld, from the bank or from the canoe. If you feel like it, take a short drive to visit the nearby Roodeskoppies dam where you can catch amazing carp, whilst being surrounded by wild African bushveld and also some pretty big crocodiles (don’t worry!).
In addition to the fishing experience, there is also some adventure for the children, be it on the climbing wall, at the many skill stations in the reserve, and for the brave, a fast ride on the zip-line over the dam awaits.
The guest house: The guest house is a self catering unit, with two on suite rooms (sleeps 2 persons per room) and includes an upstairs loft (sleeps four persons). Facilities of the Guesthouse include air-conditioning, wi-fi, swimming pool, firepit and braai area. Click here
Cypiro Leopard Lodge
The place: Close to the town of Thabazimbi and the pristine Marakele National Reserve you can expect the ultimate combination of African bush And European comfort, which means: stay In the bush while still living In style. You stay in a bush paradise, where you can relax-reboot-renature, and where Tom-Hendrik is already looking forward to serving you a gin and tonic by the pool. Hear the silence that Makes you feel at ease and realize nature is alive and gives you power. The animals roam freely around The lodge, so you will see them graze while sipping your drink at the poolside.
The highlights: The Cypiro Leopard Lodge invites you to take a relaxing walk where you can observe animals, and with a little luck there will be a falcon or another bird of prey in the rehabilitation station, which you can hold and even pet. The location is also ideal for a day visit to the lesser known Marakele National Park. Although the park is mostly desert, there are a few desert adapted animals living here like black mane lions, gemsbok, mongoose, wild cat, warthog and all kinds of birds. The spares vegetation allows guests to see further into the distance than they would in other parks. A highlight is the bizarre landscape and the adventurous road up to the view point, the ideal place for a break and a snack. You might like to visit the Marakele Animal Sanctuary, where you can see rescued big cats and possibly help feed them.
The guest house: We have reserved the largest and most luxurious villa for you, the "Manor House". It has five en-suite bedrooms with ceiling fans (no aircon) and an open plan living room with several cozy seating corners, TV (DSTV and smart), computer station, wi-fi, big entertaining kitchen with bar, superb viewing deck high up on a rock, a rock pool area with different decks to sit, sunbath, a big braai (BBQ) area overlooking the valley and a wood fired hot tub. Click here
Syringa Sands Game Farm
The location: This place is not that far from the Cypiro Leopard Lodge, but after driving along the bumpy 45 km dirt road you feel like you have arrived in no man's land. That means: welcome to a remote and quiet farm of rugged beauty, peace and tranquility, walking trails, game viewing, fishing and spectacular sunsets.
The highlights: Far away from everything, relax, go fishing in the nearby dam where there is bass, tilapia and catfish. The owner of the farm, Sean, will be happy to take you on a tour early in the morning, where you will get to know the beautiful corners of Syringa Sands and also meet the various animals. In the area you will notice the breeding of special antelope species, such as the sable antelope, golden wildebeest, black impala and others.
The accommodation: Enjoy a bushveld getaway in this spacious and comfortable family holiday home, the “farm house”, cool down in the rustic farm pool or walk to the nearby dam for some fishing. The off grid farm house sleeps six guests in three well laid out bedrooms, each room with a ceiling fan; it has a large open plan kitchen/lounge with fire place and a magnificent veranda and wi-fi. There is a specious bathroom with shower, basin and toilet as well as a separate toilet. Click here
Rhulani Safari Lodge - Madikwe Game Reserve
The location: Our Rhulani Safari Lodge is the final and the deserved highlight of your trip, in the middle of the 75,000 hectare Madikwe Game Reserve, home to an indescribable diversity of wild animals including the Big 5, birds and plant species. Rhulani is embedded in this natural paradise and offers you the discovery of African wildlife combined with 5-star luxury, where you will lack nothing.
The highlights: Together with Willem, you will go on safari twice a day for three hours in an open off-road vehicle, completely private, just for you. During a total of four days, you will discover a wide variety of animals and understand how the elements of the fascinating ecosystem interact. In addition, you will be pampered in the lodge with exquisite meals or soothing massages. For your children, we organize an air rifle shooting competition on our specially set up shooting range.
The accommodation: Your family will be accommodated in our Luxury Family Suite, which consists of two separate bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, wi-fi, morso fireplace, and a shared lounge with TV with a coffee machine, minibar, terrace and heated plunge pool.
I grew up on a farm, but on my professional path to becoming manager of Rhulani I got to know and love 5-star hospitality. Nevertheless, the greatest luxury you can have is the harmony with nature, the silence and a braai at the campfire with your friends under the African starry sky. I want to show all of this to our guests.
Thomas-Hendrik Basson, Rhulani's Manager
Inclusions
- 10 nights / 11 days travel according to itinerary and in the accommodations described above for a family of max. 6 persons
- All meals, snacks and drinks (including alcoholic drinks), including shopping and carrying in the self-catering accommodations
- All private transfers on the tour in 2 off-road private vehicles with trailers
- Tour guide by Tom-Hendrik & Willem, including transfers and trips, preparation of all meals, service and washing up (cooperation is voluntary), as well as instruction in leisure activities, accompaniment on tours in nature, instructions for fishing activities
- Use of equipment for activities, in particular fishing rods, canoe, fishing boots, life jackets, self-catering equipment and other
- Free wi-fi (available in all accommodations)
- Sediba Kwele Adventure Camp: 2 night accommodation in the “Guest House”, visit and tour of the farm, use of climbing wall and zip-line under supervision, fishing from the shore or from the canoe, trip to Roodeskoppies Dam
- Cypiro Leopard Lodge: 2 night accommodation in the “Manor House”, visit and tour of the farm, activity with rescued birds of prey (if available), full day tour to Marakele National Park
- Syringa Sands Game Farm: 2 night accommodation in the “Farm House”, fishing activity from the shore and from the canoe
- Rhulani Safari Lodge: 4 night accommodation in the “Luxury Family Suite” (changes possible on request), all inclusions as per Rhulani Safari Lodge's general booking conditions, in particular 2 daily safaris in private vehicle for the family, all meals and drinks on a full board base, air rifle shooting experience for the children
Exclusions
- Cypiro Leopard Lodge: Entrance fee to Marakele National Park as well as costs for additional voluntary activities such as visit to the Marakele Animal Sanctuary
- Syringa Sands Game Farm:
- Rhulani Safari Lodge: all inclusions as per Rhulani Safari Lodge's general booking conditions, in particular park entrance fee and daily guest conservation contribution of Madikwe Game Reserve
- Gratuities