Tshukudu Bush Lodge
Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa
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About the Hotel
Marvel at the grandeur of wide open plains. Savor the flavors of African cuisine. Ponder the magnificent silence of the bush around a blazing evening fire. This is a typical day at Tshukudu Bush Lodge, in Pilanesberg National Park just a few hours north of Johannesburg. This Legacy Hotels & Resorts International affiliates, whose name means "place of the rhino," features six luxury cottages and an individual private balcony ideal for potential sightings of over hundreds of bird and animal speciesâ€"including the Big Five.
Location
Tshukudu Bush Lodge
Pilanesberg National Park, , South Africa
Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa
2000
Nearest Airport: HLA
Features and Amenities
Reviews for Tshukudu Bush Lodge
Exceptional safari experience
Jafari made the game drives amazing, these were so entertaining and he is so knowledgeable, these exceeded my expectations. The hotel is luxurious and understated the view is the resort. Watching the animals across the plain and water hole is truly amazing and relaxing. The food is five star with a good variety each day. I highly recommend this resort.
NKTake
A truly special safari experience
We stayed at Tshukudu for 12 nights and we loved every single minute of it. Words can’t explain how much the experience meant to us; in fact, now we are home again it almost feels like it was a dream! There were many aspects to our stay that made it so special, but the first to mention has to be our guide JR. From the first drive we knew we had got very lucky; his passion for his job, Pilanesberg and all of the animals in the park was immediately clear. Every drive we learnt something new about the animals, plants and park itself, and the extent of JR's knowledge was seriously impressive. We had a mix of drives, covering different areas of the park and seeing new sights all the time, with up to 4 other guests with us (a few drives were just us two). JR did a fantastic job meeting everyone’s expectations which is no easy job when you have some guests that have already been on many drives and others who are completely new. We can’t thank him enough – if you are reading this JR, you know how much we appreciated everything. We stayed in one of the standard rooms and it was lovely: everything was clean, the bed was comfortable, there was a fireplace we used on a few of the colder days which always had plenty of wood, the toiletries, water and snacks were restocked regularly, and the view onto the watering hole was amazing!! We had intended to use the communal pool most days in the break between the drives, but we instead ended up just sitting on our balcony watching whatever would come by – it was always something different each day and so special to watch. The schedule is tiring (morning drive was at 5.30am, dinner finished around 9.30pm) but it was 100% worth it. We did every one of our 24 game drives and despite being exhausted by the end of our stay, it was never a question of missing one to catch up on sleep – you can always nap between the two drives (we did every day). You just can’t miss a drive because each one is unique! Other things to mention are: the food (regular meals, plenty of food, the quality is excellent and every single thing we ate was delicious), the staff (particularly want to mention Simon at the bar, and the chefs Elvis, Sam and Jonny – they were all so friendly, conscientious, and always a pleasure to chat to, and also the housekeeping staff who were so thorough every day). The last thing we want to mention is the other guests we met during our stay. Both of us are quite introverted so were a bit apprehensive about spending so much time around lots of new people, but this ended up being one of our favourite things about Tshukudu. You are grouped with the same people for each drive, and have your meals with all the guests at the lodge every day, so you very quickly get to know everyone really well. We made quite a few new friends and meaningful connections at Tshukudu who we’ve fortunately kept in touch with since leaving the lodge. When it came to the last day, we were SO sad to be leaving and could happily have stayed longer. We have no doubt that we will be back to Tshukudu before long (we’ve spent the week since returning home wondering how soon is reasonable to book our next stay??). What a special place; please don’t change it too much!
151lara
Wow, what an amazing holiday!
Wow, what an amazing holiday! Our second visit to Tshukudu Bush Lodge. Having stayed for 11 nights in 2023 we opted to stay this time for 15 nights and really didn’t want to come home. Staying at Tshukudu is more than a holiday, it is an experience, one that will provide long-lasting memories, as well as hundreds if not thousands of photos. We stayed in a large suite with its own plunge pool on the decking, perfect for relaxing after the early morning game drive. All rooms are tastefully decorated in keeping with their surroundings and are located on the side of a hill looking out over the plain and a watering hole, giving an excellent view of a variety of animals, from the hippo who appeared most days to immerse itself in the water to the ‘dazzle’ of about fifty zebra who appeared one day to eat the fresh new shoots of vegetation in front of the lodge. Because there are only 10 rooms the lodge has a truly intimate and friendly atmosphere. Guests enjoy meals together, usually on one long table, and sit around the firepit with a predinner drink enthusing about what has been seen that day. Perfect for a single traveller wanting to spend time with like-minded people. And so much delicious food, you will not be hungry – a cup of tea or coffee with fruit salad if you wish before the morning game drive, hot drinks (including the indulgent option of a splash of amarula cream liqueur in your coffee or hot chocolate) and muffins half way through the game drive, a hearty breakfast on your return, high tea consisting of fancy savoury and sweet delights which would not be out of place in a top London hotel, sundowner drink (a glass of shiraz was my tipple of choice) and savoury snacks on the afternoon game drive and then a 5 course meal (if you have enough room left for the cheese) in the evening. There is a choice of main course that caters for all tastes. You really feel that the staff do care and they are so accommodating and will make every effort to ensure you have the best time ever. There is such attention to detail, from providing each room with a pair of binoculars and backpack which you can take out on safari, a hot towel on your return from a game drive, to a tablet in your room with an app providing information on the wildlife you may have encountered. A special mention has to be made about our fantastic field guide Jann-Rick, who put up with us for thirty games drives, and deserves a medal. Jann-Rick is so knowledgeable and personable and his enthusiasm is infectious. Using his experience of animal behaviour and demonstrating respect, we often found ourselves positioned with an enviable view. Even at times when the larger animals were being elusive, Jann-Rick would focus on the other somewhat overlooked wonders of Pilanesberg, using his skill and knowledge to detect and show us the beauty of all creatures from a tiny mongoose to a chameleon and telling us about the flora and fauna. To be honest I would have been happy just to sit in the jeep looking at the stunning scenery with a massive grin on my face listening to Jann-Rick’s tales. Thank you everyone. We will definitely be back.
rovermg1 - Reading, United Kingdom
Incredible experience
This place is utterly amazing. As our first safari, I seriously doubt it could be beaten. The lodge is set inside the pilanesburg national park, in a private area, so it’s lovely and peaceful. The only visitors, other than residents, are the animals you can see from your balcony. The game drives twice a day, meaning you have the best chance to see the wildlife in the park (we saw all of the big five in one drive!), with knowledgeable guides to show you all the park has two offer. We were lucky to get two different field guides, and their different styles meant we got the best of both worlds. Jafari, our first guide was determined to show us as much as he could in the days he was our guide, and he did not disappoint. His passion and knowledge of the big cats was clear, but he was equally knowledgeable about other animals and birds. Simon was absolutely superb. He could spot animals I struggled to find even using binoculars! He obviously cared a lot about all of the animals and was so informative about their habits. He also told us things about the different birds and plant life; I could have listened to him all day! The rooms were very spacious, comfortable and clean (the housekeeping staff were very friendly), with large balconies and a plunge pool for cooling off. The food was lovely and plentiful; when we were there, there were three chefs, all equally good and the table staff were so friendly and warm (I was very impressed with Simon’s language skills!). I loved that the atmosphere was so comfortable and informal. Although we adhered to the routines guided by the drives (be prepared for early starts) nothing felt rushed or pressured. It was such a relaxing holiday and I can honestly say, I’ve never been sadder to leave a place. I’ve certainly never cried at the thought of coming home before! Tshukudu is a very special place and I very much hope to return.
nicceney - Dudley, United Kingdom
Exceptional Safari Lodge
If you want an immersive experience from dawn to dusk, led by the most knowledgeable and passionate guides, with a touch of luxury between drives then you need look no further! Our guide Jafari really understood the animal behaviour , reading their body language to place us in the best spots to admire them, anticipating what they would do. The twice a day drives were never the same, and although the steps to the lodge were a physical challenge, it’s only twice a day and no rush. The meals were varied and delicious and all service was exceptional, amazing how the staff do everything behind the scenes. Would I go back - absolutely!!
SUNLOVERS40 - UK
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