Ezulwini Game Lodges

Overview

Balule Game Reserve, in the South African Limpopo province, forms one facet of the extensive, 23 000 square kilometer Kruger National Park biosphere. Hugging the Olifants River, 410 meters above sea level, this reserve is home to an impressive collection of 500 exotic and varied bird species, more than 380 recognised tree species, and 150 mammal groups. The impressive ecozone and rolling landscape are the perfect topographical formula for a romantic stay in the bush – a veritable fest of sights, sounds, exciting safari drives, and amazing nights spent recounting the day’s events around a fire as the sun sets.

The Zulu phrase for paradise is “Ezulwini” – appropriate in relation to the Ezulwini Game Lodges. Alive with the rustle and shimmer of local plantlife, Ezulwini stands as a tribute to the lush and mysterious bush in which it makes its home. With a diverse selection of habitats atrracting guests and enthusiasts from across the country, standing proudly as a member of the Kruger National Park conservancy. This riverine wonderland is the perfect vantage point from which to spot the Big Five, or soak in the crisp, clean air of the Kruger’s famous lowveld.

This is an ideal place for solo travellers, couples and families to experience the wonders of the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Accommodation

Ezulwini’s  game lodges provide a wonderful cross section of the local landscape – from Billy’s Lodge, flanked on all sides by impressive indigenous vegetation, to River Lodge, affixed as it is to the banks of the mighty Olifants River.

Billy’s Lodge provides luxury, thatched accommodation, with twin bed chalets and en-suite bathrooms, intimate living areas, air conditioning and overhead fans, tea and coffee making facilities, mini-bars, insect proof screening, and DSTV televisions. Sleeping up to ten guests, this riverside lodge also boasts a crystal clear swimming pool

River Lodge offers a series of thatched chalets, all with twin beds, with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning and overhead fans, satellite televisions, tea and coffee making facilites and mini-bars, and elegant insect screens. The lodge accommodates up to fourteen guests.

Wildlife

From the reserve’s impressive hippo population, to the Big Five, and less common sightings such as the honey badger and civet cat, Balule reserve is a wildlife enthusiast’s dream come true.

Adding to the experience are the abundant and colourful bird populations that guarantee a trip out into Balule’s surrounding bush is one you’re not likely to soon forget.

More Info

Children
Children 12 and over pay the full adult rate. Children under 12 pay 50% of the adult rate.
Ezulwini’s Lodge is unable to accommodate children under the age of 6 .

Excludes:
Balule Nature Reserve Entrance Fee of R50 per vehicle and R100 per person (subject to change)

Directions

Travel from Johannesburg on the Witbank Highway N12 – turn off at Belfast and head towards Dullstroom- Lydenburg – follow the R36 to Ohrigstad, go through the Strydom Tunnel and take the R 527 to Hoedspruit. Turn left onto the R 40 Phalaborwa / Mica road.

At approximately 17 kilometres from Hoedspruit, look for the thatched gate on the right hand side of the road which is the entrance to the Balule Nature Reserve – Olifants West Gate, then sign in at the gate.

BILLYS LODGE GUESTS:

Continue approximately 3km straight along Olifants Road, and turn left at Sable Road, continue for another approximately 2 kilometres and turn right at the Ezulwini sign just before the seasonal river.  Follow the road to the Lodge.

RIVER LODGE GUESTS:

Travel straight down the Olifants Road for approximately 10 kilometres until you see the sign for Ezulwini River Lodge (about 1.5km’s after the Pondoro sign).  Turn left onto the River Lodge road.  You will travel roughly 8 kilometres  following the markers. Please note that it is under an hours drive from the Balule Gate to River Lodge. Kindly note that all of the roads within the reserve are sand roads.