Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe - Vaalwater, South Africa
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Big Five Game Lodge Tsheshepe

3-9 Keys 5 Bedrooms 10 Guests 5 BathsView Amenities

Description

Tsheshepe Big Five Game Lodge- Welgevonden Game Reserve

Tsheshepe Big Five Game Lodge is located within the 75,000-acre Welgevonden Game Reserve, which is located about a two and a half hours drive north of Johannesburg. Tsheshepe is a private lodge offering an amazing wildlife viewing experience where you could see the endangered rhino, lion, leopard, hippo, elephant, cheetah, buffalo, and the full range of smaller indigenous wildlife species such as impala, waterbuck, klipspringer, duiker, wildlebeest, warthogs, etc.

Welgevonden is also a birdwatcher's paradise, and the rich array of indigenous trees and flora make for wonderful game drives with stops for sundowners in the evening or coffee in the early morning. The Welgevonden terrain is very beautiful, and there is evidence of its rich and ancient wilderness everywhere – from the majestic and mystical rock formations to fascinating San Bushmen cave art.

Live like a film star and enjoy EXCLUSIVE USE. The entire lodge is booked out for one group at a time for their sole use, for anywhere between six and ten guests. It is a top-end safari facility for its owners and their guests. The lodge is managed by an experienced lodge manager and his team. The lodge staff will also service your rooms, cook for you, and handle your laundry as required.

Activities at Tsheshepe Safari Lodge focus on early morning, afternoon/evening game drives throughout the Welgevonden Game Reserve in a comfortable and specially converted open Landcruiser 4x4 vehicle, conducted by our experienced and knowledgeable safari guide. Midday is siesta time to enjoy the lodge's facilities and relax around the swimming pool.

The lodge has five bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom, including indoor and outdoor showers and a bath. All but two of the bedrooms are free-standing, made from natural stone and thatch. Two bedrooms are connected with their own private lounge and can be used by two couples or parents with younger children who wish to have their kids closer by. The main area comprises of a lounge, dining room, bar area, and swimming pool.

Access: You can self-drive from Johannesburg to Welgevonden Game Reserve's main park entrance, where you will be met our manager. Your vehicle will be safely stored at the park entrance, and from then onwards, you will be traveling to the lodge and around the Reserve on the lodge's specially converted open 4x4 game viewing Land Cruiser.

Professional transfers can be arranged from Johannesburg at additional cost if preferred. For a larger group with a budget, a charter flight in and out of camps are also a possibility.

Although the Reserve has been regarded as in a malaria-free area, there have recently been a few cases, and suitable precautions should be taken.

The lodge is unfenced, which means children in particular need to be carefully supervised and follow the instructions of the staff.


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Property Amenities

No Pets Allowed | Not Handicap Accessible

Entertainment
40"+ TV
DVD Player
Satellite/Cable TV
Facilities
Chef’s Kitchen
Workout Facility
Home security
Gated Community
Staffed Guard Gate
Location features
Laundry Service
Other
Fireplace
Washer & Dryer
Wireless Internet
Outdoor
Outdoor Grill
Outdoor Pool



Property Details

Size

Estate with 1 level
5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 5000 square feet, 465 square meters

Bedrooms

King, King, King, Twin, and Twin
10 guests maximum

Nearest airport

O. R. Tambo International Airport - JNB
3 hours by car

Property View

Facing a perennial stream 50ft from the main lodge with cliff behind, which houses a troop of about 30 baboons. Enjoy views of African wildlife during your safari adventures!

Additional Fees

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the nature and location of Tsheshepe, we offer the lodge on a fully catered and serviced basis and hence the additional costs as specified below:

2023 Fees: Minimum charge of 6 guests

6 - 7 guests - US$190 per person per night

8-10 guests - US$165 per person per night

The surcharge covers the cost of your game drives (two per day - morning and evening), plus three sumptuous meals per day, park and concession fees, local drinks (including alcoholic) and daily housekeeping.

Additional costs that will need to be settled at the lodge, in cash on departure are imported drinks or premier brands, staff gratuities and transfers to/from Welgevonden gate.. If you wish to bring your own drinks, no corkage fees will be charged. It is also important that all guests take out fully comprehensive personal travel insurance.

Access to the lodge is as follows:

1) Self drive - you can pick up a car rental at Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport and drive to/from Welgevonden - it is around 3 hours driving time

2) Transfer - we can arrange for a private transfer vehicle to take and collect you from the Park gate, where you will be met by the lodge manager. Estimated cost is around US$500 per 7 seater vehicle each way (approximately 3 hours driving time)

3) Private charter flight - this is subject to the number of guests. However a Cessna Caravan (10 seater aircraft) with maximum baggage allowance of one bag at 20kg's works out to be around US$2300 per aircraft per pick up or drop off (45 minute flight)

Please note that the above costs are estimates only and are subject to change. Accurate costs can be quoted at time of reservation

Activities of Interest

  • Arts
  • Equestrian
  • Golf
  • Hike
  • Shopping
  • Visit Bela-Bela, a town in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Deriving its name from the geothermic hot springs around which the town was built, it was formerly called Warmbaths,
  • Explore Thabazimbi - an iron mining town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The town is situated at the feet of the Ysterberg and is surrounded by the Witfonteinrand and Boshofberg with the majestic Kransberg in the background.
  • Mabatlane/Vaalwater is a charming little village in the heart of the Waterberg area. It’s a centre for surrounding agriculture and game reserves.
  • Kamotsogo Craft Art Kamotsogo - If you’re in Vaalwater looking for unusual handmade products made by locals
  • Horse riding or cycling next to the reserve with wild animals but no predators

Places of Interest

  • Enjoy Wildlife viewing, safari Trips with Sundowners and Night drives
  • Zebula Golf Course offers a superlative golfing experience on a Peter Matkovich designed golf course. Teeing off on this pristine 1 200-hectare bushveld estate is a considerable pleasure with its wildlife spectators, tranquility and vast open spaces.
  • Campfires and barbeque in outdoor boma
  • Kamotsogo Craft Art Kamotsogo - shop in Vaalwater If you’re in Vaalwater looking for unusual handmade products made by locals




Reviews

Clarissa Z.

August 2023

Exceeded expectations!

For anyone who has considered a once in a lifetime trip to see what a safari in South Africa is all about, look no further than Tsheshepe Lodge! The lodge itself is in an ideal location on a private reserve with limits on access making it a safe and comfortable environment for the many wild animals that call it home. From the day we arrived, travel-weary and jet lagged, we were greeted by Elias and Simon, two of the amazing staff who we came to learn, would help make this trip an experience of a lifetime! Elias is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about the animals, their habitat and behaviors, the trees, plants, constellations, and not to mention his whole repertoire of bird and animal calls! His patience is endless and his passion is contagious. We were so very fortunate to have him as our guide and learned so much in our short stay. Simon, Livingston, Helen and Johanna were the most gracious house staff we could ever have asked for. Not only did they delight us daily with their skills in the kitchen, each meal more delicious and beautifully presented than the one before, but they love to sing, dance and entertain! Simon even strums some tunes on his guitar providing a wonderful back drop to the evenings sipping wine around the fire pit. The rooms are private and very comfortable. Each night we would come in from a long day of game drives followed by sumptuous meals, and walk back to our rooms to find them warm and cozy because they had thoughtfully turned the heaters on to take the chill out for a perfect night's rest! We always looked forward to the hot hand towels waiting for us upon arrival back to the lodge. They went above and beyond, with so many thoughtful touches that did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. By the end of the trip we were all joking that we would miss being greeted with hot face towels at the end of a long day! Not only did we spot all of the Big 5 and then some, but we were all just amazed at how at ease the wildlife there is and just how up close and personal we were able to get as a result of the animals being so relaxed in our presence. The restrictions on the number of guests allowed in the reserve and management of access to the animals once inside the reserve is to be commended. It highlights advantages over larger, more crowded reserves such as Kruger. I cannot imagine it being better than what we experienced but we were told that we should try coming back in rainy season next time for a whole other level of activity in the reserve! We have nothing but wonderful things to say about the entire experience and while it was a long way to travel, and before going, I was confident that I could cross this off my bucket list and move on, but before we even landed back in the US we were already talking about how the trip exceeded our expectations in every way and how we look forward to bringing our older family members back next time for them to experience what we did and hope to stay here once again. Dave, the owner, was immensely helpful in getting us prepared for our trip and in sorting out the logistics of getting our large group to and from the lodge, as well as recommendations for other parts of our stay in South Africa. We must have exchanged three dozen emails and he was always very quick to reply with responses to everything we asked about. Thank you, Dave. Your Third Home property is a 5 star experience and we appreciate everything you did to make it such a fantastic and successful trip for our group. We look forward to doing it again! ”

Brad S.

March 2023

Best Trip Ever!

Tsheshepe Lodge was a home away from home with sunbathing rhinos and naughty monkeys stealing bananas during the day and rowdy family squabbles of baboons at night. From the lovely meals that filled us to overindulgence, to the exhilarating game drives that were never short of animals and always hosted a new face, or two, or four, or a thrilling charge by a bull elephant, the experience of Tshehepe never failed to amaze. And always, at the heart of Tsheshepe, was a warm and inviting atmosphere created solely by the friendly and always accommodating faces of the entire staff. Tsheshepe Lodge could not have been a better destination, made special by the people, the animals, the food, the accomodations and the daunting task of walking to our beds searching for glowing eyes at night.”

Mary M.

February 2022

Spectacular Vacation

The staff & accommodations at Tsheshepe Lodge were amazing! It was a real treat to have the lodge to ourselves. We saw some amazing wildlife. Would definitely return to this spectacular lodge!”