WIN this Heritage Month! Discover your wild heritage in the KNP

Competition is NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to our winners:

• Package 1: Sandile Dlomo
• Package 2: Elize Nischk
• Package 3: Hillary Frichol

Accommodation Packages:

1. 1st winner – Package 1: Shumbalala Game Lodge & Safari Moon Luxury Bush Lodge (R54 000)
2. 2nd winner – Package 2: Rhino Post Safari lodge, Rio Dos Elefantes River Lodge & Cape Vulture Lodge (R38 000)
3. 3rd winner – Package 3: Umkumbe Bush Lodge, Bushvillas on Kruger & Pezulu Tree House Lodge (R28 000)

1. Shumbalala Game Lodge – Thornybush Private Nature Reserve KNP:

2-night stay for two people sharing in a luxury suite at Shumbalala Game Lodge, valued at R48 000

INCLUDES: air-conditioned accommodation with en-suite bathroom. An outdoor shower, plunge pool, private viewing deck. All meals, hot beverages, bottled water & snacks. Early morning & late afternoon game drives and optional bush walks. (T&Cs apply) Prize is valid for travel between 1 September 2022 and 31 April 2023 and is subject to availability. Travel is however excluded during the months of August, October, 17 December – 05 January, long weekends, public and seasonal holidays.

Safari Lodges & Classic Retreats South Africa is committed to exceeding the expectations of guests by delivering a range of personalized, bespoke, and exceptional African experiences for local and international visitors, focussing both on the African Bushveld as well as the splendour of the Franschhoek Winelands.  

Within the portfolio, Shumbalala Game Lodge is a haven of sophisticated style and unexpected luxury in the midst of lion country, open to the Kruger National Park. This family-run lodge welcomes you into a warm and relaxed atmosphere enriched only by the professional service of dedicated hospitality staff, and field guides. The lodge boasts a modern design under high thatched roofs which lends an undeniable African charm to the ambience of every space.  

Accommodating just 12 guests in a choice of four Superior Suites and one Presidential Suite perfectly designed to offer privacy and seclusion with breath-taking views over the surrounding environment.  Inside, guests will find their every whim is accommodated in a cosy haven of luxurious respite with an interior fireplace to drive away the evening chill.  Percale cotton linen adorns the large beds, draped with mosquito netting in classic safari style. The suites are the ultimate setting for extra game viewing opportunities from the privacy of your private deck elegantly equipped with comfortable pool loungers to soak up the African Sun beside your private plunge pool.  At Shumbalala, your daily routine entails twice-daily game drives led by experienced field guides, blended with ample opportunity to relax in the lush surroundings of this unique space.  In-between game drives, meals are served on the veranda overlooking the dry riverbed, around the fire in the open boma, or in the elegant dining room.  The wine cellar, with a view over the waterhole, is the ultimate venue for a romantic dinner. 

Visit shumbalala.co.za for more info

2.  Rhino Post Safari Lodge – Skukuza:

2-night stay for two people sharing at Rhino Post Safari Lodge, valued at R28 800

INCLUDES: accommodation, early morning tea/coffee & a light snack before the morning drive. A morning game drive including coffee, a snack, juice and bottled water (6 years & older). High tea at 15h30 – substantial sweet and savoury dishes, plus tea, coffee, water or juice. Bar snacks, dinner (served at approx. 20h30) and coffee & tea after dinner. (T&Cs apply) Subject to availability. Long weekends and peak periods excluded.

Experience responsible, eco-conscious tourism, affordable accommodation, and staggering biodiversity, including the highly publicised big five. Enjoy our relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and let us show you Africa’s heartbeat. 

Rhino Post Safari Lodge, situated 30km from Skukuza in the Kruger National Park borders the famous MalaMala Game Reserve. Twice daily, on road, game drives conducted on both the private concession and in the Kruger Park offer excellent game viewing. 

Set on the banks of a riverbed this 16 bed lodge has 8 canvas, wood and thatch bush suites carefully positioned with impressive views of the riverbed from the bathroom, outdoor shower and patio deck.

On our doorstep, a mere 30 minute drive from Rhino Post, is Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris, from where exclusive walking safaris are conducted. The ultimate safari experience has got to be discovering nature on a walking trail.  Plains Camp, on the only officially declared wilderness concession in the Kruger National Park was established specifically to provide this unique and exciting experience. Plains Camp’sfocus is on exploring the 12 000 hectares of unspoilt reserve allocated for our exclusive use on foot, with short game drives to finish off afternoon walks. Our trails’ guides are highly qualified and experienced conservationists. 

This respect is reflected in the camp itself, a shady tented haven which nestles under a thicket of knobthorn trees, overlooking the Timbetene Plain and waterhole. The décor is reminiscent of a bygone era of luxury, with authentic antiques and the finest white linens.  With only four en-suite tents, the ambience and service is personal and intimate.  For the adventurous, a walk to the Sleepout Decks can be booked, where the guide cooks a traditional South African “braai” over an open fire, and the night is spent under the stars listening to the night sounds so far removed from civilisation.

Visit rhinopostsafarilodge.co.za for more info

3.  Umkumbe Bush Lodge:

1-night stay for two people sharing in a superior tented suite, valued at R13 000

INCLUDES: all meals, two safari activities per day, tea & coffee, drinking water. (T&Cs apply)

Resting comfortably under a canopy of indigenous trees in the southern stretches of the Sabi Sand, sits the inimitable and understated Umkumbe Bush Lodge. This luxury tented camp offers all the creature comforts from home, and is the first of its kind in the reserve. The build of the lodge is based on the idea of glamping, but with a luxurious twist.

Umkumbe is a beautifully designed bush lodge that offers accommodation in 9 tented style suites, 4 of which are standard, 1 luxury and 4 superior. Elevated on a wooden deck, each tented suite has its own private balcony and is fully equipped for a comfortable safari retreat.

Named after different indigenous trees found in the region, the stylish accommodation and spacious tented suites  at Umkumbe are all positioned on private raised wooden decks nestled in nature. The luxury & superior suites are totally secluded and have their own private view of the drainage line below. It also boasts a bathtub, his/hers sinks and an outdoor shower. This scenic part of the Sabie Game Reserve has a beautiful mix of environments from winding riverbeds and woodland to open savanna and riverine thickets. This wilderness reserve is home to the big-five as well as a huge diversity of different flora and fauna to discover.  There are 2 daily game drives included in a safari stay at Umkumbe Bush Lodge. The morning safari will stop for a scenic coffee pit stop and on afternoon drive, guests can enjoy a classic safari sundowner and snacks.

Visit umkumbe.co.za for more info

4.  Pezulu Tree House Lodge – Hoedspruit:

2-night stay for two people sharing in a luxury tree house, valued at R12 000

INCLUDES: dinner, bed & breakfast and one guided bushwalk per person. (T&Cs apply)

Pezulu Tree House Lodge is a small exclusive Tree House Lodge situated in the Greater Kruger area Limpopo Province, 40 minutes from the Kruger National Park’s Orpen Gate.

Celebrating its surroundings, each treehouse is built around a canopy of growing trees, ensuring our unique accommodation fuses nature and comfort. The lodge is intentionally small, keeping the experience personal for each guest.

With unparalleled views of the remarkable landscape and abundance of plains game, Pezulu offers guests a unique experience that inspires and connects one to the bush in an exclusive, natural and typically South African way.

Whether you are after excitement or tranquillity, Pezulu is perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of modern life. With a wide variety of activities, being near to the Panorama Route, home to the world’s third deepest canyon, and Big 5 nature reserves, visiting Pezulu is something you simply never forget. There’s nowhere on earth quite like Pezulu.

Visit pezulu.co.za for more info

5.  Safari Moon Luxury Bush Lodge – Hoedspruit:

1-night stay for two people sharing at Safari Moon Luxury Bush Lodge “home of the stars”, valued at R6 600

INCLUDES: breakfast and 3 course silver service dinner. (T&Cs apply)

Pepper Tree luxury Bath & Body will be sponsoring an African Baobab gift set to the value of R1 200 including luxury scented candle, room diffuser, body butter & scrub set, hand wash & lotion set and a hand & nail cream.

Safari Moon Luxury Bush Lodge in Hoedspruit has rapidly earned the reputation as the lodge that perfectly realises that tricky fusion of creating a unique and luxury living experience yet one that is still above all else homely.

It was this homeliness that led the Tom Cruise Crew to choose the lodge as their home from home for the three months they were shooting in and around Hoedspruit for Mission Impossible 8.

One can expect a luxurious and tranquil space to revitalise and rediscover one of South Africa’s most sought after safari destinations. Safari Moon provides a cultured and contemporary setting for the discerning traveller. 

Stepping into the lodge is much like entering an eclectic art exhibition, it’s inspiration stemming from around the globe, there is attention to detail in each and every aspect of this brand new 5-star boutique lodge. The lodge and living spaces are draped in luxurious finishes and fine art, from a 55-piece collection of renowned Ardmore ceramics to an array of Lionel Smit paintings and sculptures – Safari Moon provides a cultured and contemporary setting for the discerning traveller. There are 7 stylish suites to choose from during your stay, named after different wildlife species that can be seen in the estate and around the lodge. Every room has its own charm, style and story, not forgetting a vibrant collection of both international and African art. One can expect a luxurious and tranquil space to revitalise and rediscover one of South Africa’s most sought after safari destinations.

Visit safarimoon.africa for more info

6.  Cape Vulture Lodge – Hoedspruit:

1-night stay for two people sharing at Cape Vulture Lodge, valued at R5 600

INCLUDES: high tea, dinner, breakfast and a guided activity per day. (T&Cs apply)

Cape Vulture Lodge is an eco-lodge with an air of luxury, the tents are light and bright, while staying true to a classic safari camp style. Spacious interiors and quality instalments make the accommodation at Cape Vulture Lodge very comfortable while treading lightly on the environment.

The lodge is built on the Cape Vulture Conservancy, which is a 1800-hectare tract of pristine wilderness – home to the third largest colony of breeding Cape Vultures in the world. There are over 650 pairs in the Manutsa Colony, which has been and continues to be monitored by the internationally recognised VulPro organisation. Naturally, a part of the activities and outdoor experiences offered at the lodge has to do with this unique presence of vultures. Some of the activities on site include trail running, cycling, game drives, and birding. Professional guides can lead you along the mountain trails and point out the unique geological structure of the conservancy, the variety of plant and animal species, and the array of birdlife that inhabits this special place. A special activity on offer is the sunset trip up the mountain to Lookout Ridge to see the Cape Vultures and watch the sun go down.

Visit capevulturelodge.co.za for more info

7.  Rio Dos Elefantes River Lodge – Balule Parsons Nature Reserve:

2-night midweek stay for two people sharing at Rio Dos Elefantes River Lodge, valued at R4 500

INCLUDES: bed & breakfast and one game drive (4 hours) in the Balule Parsons Game Reserve – a big 5 reserve. (T&Cs apply)

Situated on the Olifantsriver in Balule Parsons Nature Reserve, bordering the Greater Kruger National Park. Surrounded by age old trees, with outstretched lawns down to the river. Location makes this an ideal getaway for tourists, spotting hippos, crocodile, all plains game and elephants directly from the lodge. 

Superb birdlife among the luscious riverine trees and foliage. Proportioned on the Olifantsriver (it is the confluency of the Blyde and Olifantsriver) the camp is situated on the Northern Bank of the Olifantsriver. Rio dos Elefantes is built on a rise above the river, surrounded by sprawling lawns and dwarfed by huge indigenous trees.

Amazing outdoor space. The location, ambience and wonderful staff will keep you satisfied at all times. Old fashioned home cooking, homemade bread and local fruits are the norm for all the meals. Game drives, bush walks, mountain safari picnics, as well as full-day Kruger Safaris in open vehicles, can be pre-booked or booked on arrival.  As we are bordering Kruger Park, Big Five will be your bonus sightings.  The best elephant sightings from your cottage on the river. A gem of a destination for bush enthusiasts and those looking for a tranquil getaway.

Owner run and managed means that your stay at Rio Dos Elefantes River Lodge receives personal attention and tailormade suggestions. Contact bookings@riodos.co.za  or whatsapp tel:+27826771179 for bookings and enquiries.

Visit riodos.co.za for more info

8.  Bushvillas on Kruger – Phalaborwa KNP:

1-night stay for two people sharing in a luxury bush villa for 6 people, valued at R3 200

INCLUDES: self-catering. (T&Cs apply)

Be enthralled by Bush Villas on Kruger! Only 5 minutes from the Kruger Phalaborwa Gate with spacious, African styled villas offering 2 bedrooms, full kitchen, lounge and loft with 3^rd bedroom.

The 20 villas are airconditioned and perfect for families, couples or friends. Choose between a standard or luxury house, each accommodates 6 people and some even up to 10. Old and young will appreciate all comforts including WIFI and flatscreen TV with DSTV. Enjoy a braai at your private deck overlooking the dam, spot amazing birds among the many fever trees and beat the Limpopo heat at the lodge swimming pool. 

With Kruger Park around the corner fill your days with game drives, river cruises, walking and mountain-biking safaris or venture into Hoedspruit, the Blyde River Canyon or the mountains around Tzaneen and Magoebaskloof. Bush Villas on Kruger will be the perfect home to return to each day! 

From June to early September we are running fantastic specials to make your stay even more attractive. What about a complimentary braai pack when you book three nights, or stay longer and book six nights but only pay for 5!

Visit bushvillasonkruger.com for more info

Competition closes Monday, 3 October 2022, at midnight.

Ts&Cs apply. Competition will run online and in print. By entering the competition, you accept The Citizen’s standard terms and conditions. Premium members get an automatic entry to all citizen.co.za competitions.

*Additional T&Cs:

• All travel expenses will be for the winners’ own accounts including flights, car hire, Uber, etc. Excludes conservation fees & TOMSA levies, alcoholic beverages, items not specified, curio purchases, anything of a personal nature. Random selection of winners.