Tshukudu Bush Lodge

Please do not change a single thing about this place! What a rare find to have a lodge so luxurious yet so true to the surroundings. I have been to lodges all over Africa - from budget camps to luxury accommodation frequented by celebrities, and there is something so special about Tshukudu I just want to return over and over again. It is so refreshing to find a lodge of this calibre that has not sold out to tourist commercialism of having to include gyms and spas. If you want to work out - run up and down the 130 stairs. If you want to spa, then the guides will take you to a neighbouring lodge. This rare and precious lodge needs to stay true to its original purpose; creating a quiet and tranquil setting to enjoy the surroundings. I cannot express in words how magical this place is, and worth every single penny of the cost. The staff are all helpful and attentive. Our guide, JR, was one of the best guides I have ever come across. His knowledge of the park, the flora and fauna was outstanding. His passion for the animals shone through, and he was genuinely in love with his job. Guests always came first for him and I cannot thank him enough for such an amazing and educational stay. The lodges themselves are stunning. We had originally planned to book a suite, but unfortunately these were fully booked on our dates, so we instead chose a lodge. We got so lucky with our views, and I have to say I would always book a lodge in future, as the views are second to none. The stairs - there are a lot of warnings when booking this lodge about the stairs, and a lot of warnings in the reviews. They are not lying, and do not underestimate. However, I will say this; I have a pretty severe walking disability, have undergone 2 operations in the last 12 months, am definitely not fit, and definitely am overweight. I managed. There is no one hurrying you up and down. Take your time. Take a rest (there is a bench half way). Enjoy the views and wildlife as you climb. It is part of the experience. It also makes you feel a bit better about eating the amazing food on offer! This place would not be the same if a lift was added (not even sure it would be possible). The views are phenomenal. The ambience is unbeatable. The staff are amazing. The rooms and beautiful. The drives last hours, include refreshments and toilet stops. I cannot praise this lodge highly enough, and I will definitely be back! Please, please, do not change a thing about this rare gem.

I based my review on price paid 6 nights staying there. I really wanted to give this 5 out of 5, but felt a few points need attention. Firstly, I must say, like the majority of reviews that our guide JR was exceptional, he and the other guests we met made our trip. JR had amazing communication, and his Ferrari Safaris were great fun.His knowledge of the area geological and animals was second to none, and he made a great bacardi and coke, thank you JR you are a credit to your profession. We were lucky to see the big 5 in 2 days, but this was luck of the draw as the animals are wild and roam, the views were exceptional and staying at the Lodge gave us small tour groups (max of 6) not the massive prison looking trucks you saw zooming around. Yes, there are steps 140 plus up to the rooms with a bench halfway so if you are less mobile then I would say this is not for you which is a shame.The lodges are large with stunning views and some have small plunge pools, to be honest these are great but only used ours in small amounts to cool down.Beds are firm but comfortable with all the facilities you need, hair dryer, coffee pod maker, every tea ever made, kettle, fridge and fan.Lovely double shower and separate freestanding bath overlooking water hole and double sinks. When up the top area, 2 x seating areas , one smoking one non smoking, which was great for my cigars.There is also a small plunge pool which we did not use but seemed popular. You are most probably wondering why I did not give this 5 out of 5 ? The drinks are premium, BUT I asked for Jack D on day one and was told they had run out,which is OK, but when I asked 2 days later, they checked and found it, would of been nice to have seen it on shelf when it was re-stocked up rather than in locked room around backThe cocktails selection should be improved no one ever knew what cocktail they had just given to them and a proper cocktail list with mainstream cocktails would of been nice and expected in this price bracket. Wines were good and they did keep you topped up, but I asked on the off chance for a vanilla milkshake and got one then most people got one as no one knew it was avaliable and the same goes for snacks no one knew that they were avaliable. Food was top class with 5 courses served nightly for dinner, but the bush dinner was not avaliable due to some works going on, this was a massive disappointment for me as it was one of the main reasons for going there as having dinner every night either in your room or at communal table is OK but not the experience of being out and about, they did have high tea under a tree but not do it was very disappointing. Up 5am Game Drive 5.30 Back around 8am Breakfast around 9am High Tea 3.30pm Game Drive 4pm Back around 8.15pm Dinner around 9pm The above change from Nov 1st to earlier. We were lucky to have an incredible group of people when we were there that could make or break in my opinion this holiday,(no names used but you know who you

I have just returned from the most amazing stay at Tshukudu with my family. I simply do not know where to start to describe this experience. The lodge is perfect , from the rooms to the food, the staff and the drives. On arrival we were greeted by JR who was to be our field guide for the 5 days . He took us to our room (suite with plunge pool) and explained everything. We were provided with a ruck sack containing binoculars and a tablet that gave us lots of information about the wildlife in the park. The food and drink provided during our stay was plentiful and I was never hungry. All of the food was amazing , and the 5 course evening meals were as good, if not better, than Michelin star quality. It was great to be able to try different food such as Impala and Kudu (but there is always another option if you don’t fancy this). During our stay we went on 10 drives and were never disappointed. Each one was different and we saw such a variety of wildlife and birds, including spotting the big 5 within our first 24 hours. There was so much to take in and enjoy and this was made possible by JR who was such an amazing guide who shared with us so much interesting information. I want to thank all of the staff who looked after us during our stay and made it very special. Tshukudu is a little piece of heaven where beautiful memories are made. I miss it already and definitely want to return

One of the best views you will get from any game lodge in SA; beyond peaceful. Service excellent; thanks Jafari for some brilliant guiding - and the rest of the team for the care and attention (Ernest, Tammy, Tshepo, Simon, Johnny et al). Food 10 out of 10. Saw over 50 elephant, 30+ Rhino, leopard, hippos, two prides of Lion, countless Giraffe - Pilanesberg at its best

I would like to start by saying that this place is truly beautiful, but unfortunately, that’s where my positive experience ends. Our group of six rented three rooms, and we paid around $1,000 a night for double occupancy after taxes and fees. I’ll outline the issues we encountered in each room, allowing you to draw your own conclusions. **Room 1:** No air conditioning, no hot water, extremely spotty WiFi, and no cell service. Additionally, we found rat droppings in the bathroom, and the room door wouldn’t unlock from the outside. I had to jump over the balcony and force the door open from the inside. **Room 2:** Again, no air conditioning, spotty WiFi, no cell service, a broken fan, and dead bugs and droppings throughout the room. **Room 3:** Similar issues with no air conditioning, spotty WiFi, no cell service, and no hot water. While I understand the desire to provide an “African experience,” the cost of the rooms is exorbitant for what was offered. It’s also worth noting that our WhatsApp requests for fans and maintenance went unanswered. Although they attempted to fix the door on the first night, the issue was not resolved. If you’re not prepared for a literal hike to reach your rooms, dining areas, or to meet your driver, this may not be the place for you. Accessing other areas requires significant physical exertion, and you cannot leave the patio without a guide. We felt trapped, as we could only leave the rooms when someone arrived at 5 AM or 4 PM for the game drive. It takes about 40 minutes each way to return to the main lodge, gym, or spa, despite their website and Google page advertising air conditioning in each room. Initially, we planned to stay for four nights but decided to leave after just five hours. Their response to our issues was essentially a shrug, insisting we pay the full $12,000 for the entire reservation before they would issue a refund. When we expressed that wasn’t acceptable, they insisted we pay for at least one night's stay. The woman at the front desk seemed overwhelmed and unable to provide any viable solutions. Dining is restricted to their schedule, and you have to rise at 4 AM for the morning game drive, which adds to the feeling of being confined within the resort in the middle of the preserve. On a positive note, the staff responsible for transportation and meal preparation were outstanding. They were genuinely amazing and appeared heartbroken that we decided to leave after just one night. Sincerely, Room 9

The service was excellent, the food too and the general milieu . What a great time we had at the lodge