Mopane Bush Lodge

Mopane Bush Lodge is a small bush retreat, graded a 4* luxury lodge, of African Renaissance design. Nestling in the Mopane bushveld, it is at Mapungubwe, the most northerly point of South Africa, in the heart of the “Africa” part of South Africa. The lodge is tranquil, quiet, and peaceful and managed by the owners with attentive personal service.

The facilities at Mopane Bush Lodge include:

Eight secluded twin-bedded thatched chalets with en-suite bathroom, each situated in their own kraal with an exclusive veranda and an additional outdoor shower. All chalets have an uninterrupted view over the mopane bushveld to the distant horizon, and no view of any other building or development. One chalet is wheel chair friendly. The spacious bedrooms are designed for a relaxed stay in luxurious comfort, with top quality mattresses and bedding, generous cupboard space, safe in each room, hair dryer, good lighting over a large mirror at the dressing table and at the bedside tables and a laundry service. There is a tea/coffee station in every room. The bathrooms have spacious showers, large thirsty towels, good lighting over the basin with a large mirror and shelf space on each side and an 110v/220v shaver plug. On a warm valley day, cool off in the sparkling pool with waterfall and martini seat beside the bar.

A comfortable lounge with a small library provides the ideal retreat for those leisurely moments, with a fireplace for the wintry nights. Delicious meals, simply prepared, are served in our spacious dining room, in the boma around the fire under the brilliant southern night sky, in the lapa around the pool or in the bush. The boma, lapa and pool areas are served by an outside bar. Shelters for all guests vehicles. Due to the seclusion of the chalets, they are not ideally suited to accommodate young children. However, children can be accommodated on the understanding that sleeping in bunk beds or cots in the chalets with parents is a compromise.

Mapesu Nature Reserve.

Mopane Bush Lodge is situated on Mapesu Nature Reserve, a 6000-hectare game farm in the Limpopo Valley. Game that is being farmed includes giraffe, eland, waterbuck, gemsbok, kudu, zebra, blue wildebeest, impala, bushbuck, duiker and steenbok. Game capture is done once or twice a year and guests can watch the proceedings. The Reserve is also home to many other species of game (no dangerous animals like elephant, lion & buffalo) and birds, and a variety of trees and shrubs, some of which are endemic to the area. This Nature Reserve is a safe environment for walking, cycling, birding, game tracking and driving in the bush either self guided or with a guide. Rates include all activities such as guided drives or walks on Mapesu Nature Reserve.

Conference Facilities:

There is a small conference facility nearby at Mapesu Lodge – 2.5km away. This is located such that conference delegates do not use the facilities of Mopane Bush Lodge, except if they are staying there. This is done to preserve the tranquillity and seclusion of the bush lodge, even when conferences or meetings are being held at the conference facility.

The facilities can accommodate up to 32 delegates cinema style. The room is bright with large windows furnished with black out curtains for projection. The room is air-conditioned.

Activities and Attractions in Mapungubwe:

There are many activities and attractions in the area around Mopane Bush Lodge in the Mapungubwe area.

Mapungubwe National Park - A new National Park with spectacular views of the Limpopo River, dramatic scenery, spectacular sandstone cliffs, riverine forests with elephants and other wildlife. Also available is an elevated boardwalk through the forest to a hide overlooking the Limpopo River and decks offering an awesome experience viewing the confluence of the Limpopo & Shashe Rivers where Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa meet.

Mapungubwe World Heritage Site – A tour to Mapungubwe Hill, the site of the first African Kingdom which reached its climax in the 13th Century, predating Great Zimbabwe. Gold and other artefacts found here prove the kingdom traded with China, India and the Arabic countries of the east in the 13th Century. This is the home of the famed “Golden Rhino” and other gold artefacts, now South Africa’s crown jewels which were discovered in 1932.

Track the endangered wild dog, accompanied by a researcher to view and experience the lifestyle and habits of these fascinating animals in the wild.

Enjoy seeing and have interpreted the special Limpopo San rock art, the art of the San people who lived here up to 4000 years ago.

Walking or cycling the Baobabwe Peace Trail. Restore your soul with the splendour and majesty of giant Baobab trees, thousands of years old, standing proud above the plains of Africa.

Try some crocodile meat and see thousands of crocodiles being bred for their skins and meat at the Ratho Crocodile Farm.

Go birding in one of South Africa’s best birding areas, with over 400 species to be seen, identified and enjoyed.

Visit the Messina Baobab Nature Reserve - home to hundreds of large baobab trees and sable antelope. See the world’s oldest dated exposed rock.

We arrange and take our guests to any of these attractions and activities as requested. Refreshments are included on all excursions.

Mopane Bush Lodge is the ideal stopover when touring the northern part of South Africa, and particularly when traveling between Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana and the Kruger National Park or the Tzaneen area in South Africa. The lodge is 2 hours from Kruger National Park and ½ hour from Mashatu in Botswana. There are other properties in the area, which offer complimentary activities & attractions, making traveling to the northern end of South Africa very rewarding.