Where luxury meets the wild.
The sweeping plains of the Pilanesberg deliver thrilling moments for adults, while the lodge ensures even its youngest guests feel exhilarated to be there. For me it was a real bush treat.
From the moment we arrived, Wandile Ngxesha, Kwa Maritane’s guest relations manager, made sure we felt looked after. Warm, attentive and full of local knowledge, Ngxesha personally walked us through the lodge’s facilities and activities, answering every question with patience and enthusiasm.
His quiet care set the tone for our stay, a professional yet personal touch that made us feel at home in the heart of the wild, where every sunrise brought the promise of new discoveries and every sunset wrapped the day in gold.
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Adventures for young explorers
The Junior Rangers programme, run by the bubbly ranger Bonolo, turns the bush into an exciting classroom, where kids learn to track animals, explore nature, and get their hands dusty in the best way possible. Bonolo’s patience impressed me so much that I wanted to know more about her, her ability to manage a car with more than five children. A skill.
Between adventures, they can run free on the playground, bounce on trampolines, or let loose in the jumping castle, while rainy days are made fun with a dedicated indoor kiddies programme.
Evenings enchant every family member. One night, we joined the lodge’s star-gazing ritual under the vast African sky. With powerful telescopes scanning the cosmos, we observed lunar craters and glimpsed Saturn’s delicate rings. Crisp night air carried the bushveld’s earthy scent, and for moments, the world felt still – time pausing as we gazed deeper into the universe.
Kwa Maritane, meaning “Place of the Rock”, sits at the foot of a rocky outcrop on the slopes of an ancient volcano. From the lodge’s deck, the land stretches out in shades of tawny gold and rich green, dotted with acacia trees and framed by the undulating curves of distant hills.
The air is alive with sound – the call of a fish eagle echoing over the valley, the rustle of leaves stirred by a warm breeze, the far-off rumble of elephants moving across the plains. This is the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park, where lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants, and buffalo roam free.
The lodge’s underground hide is one of its most thrilling features, allowing guests to watch animals at the waterhole from just metres away. As you stand there, the cool stone beneath your hands and the faint smell of dust in the air, you feel invisible, yet deeply connected to the wildlife unfolding before you.
A lodge of comfort and discovery
Kwa Maritane’s rooms are crafted for comfort after a day in the bush. Family rooms feature double beds and sleeper couches, while executive king and twin rooms provide spaciousness and understated elegance. Each is equipped with air-conditioning, private bathrooms, DStv, tea and coffee stations, and safes. Some open onto balconies where you can sip a steaming cup at dawn.
Game drives here are more than excursions: they are journeys into a living, breathing landscape. Morning drives begin in cool, dewy air, the smell of wild sage drifting through the open vehicle. As the sun rises, its warmth settles on your skin, and the silhouettes of giraffes give way to colour and detail.
In the late afternoons, the light turns honeyed and shadows grow long. Sundowner stops bring the taste of crisp drinks and the sound of cicadas before the journey back, headlights revealing glowing animal eyes in the dark.
The Bush Braai is a must-do: arriving at a fire-lit boma deep in the park, you’re greeted by the smell of sizzling meat and the crackle of flames, with the Milky Way stretched out above like a river of light.
Guided bush walks take you closer to nature’s details, the crunch of dry grass underfoot, the faint scent of wildflowers, and the thrill of spotting and touching (as Bonolo encourages a sensory bush experience) fresh animal tracks in the sand.
Kwa Maritane balances adventure with tranquillity. The Legacy Balance Spa offers treatments that ease away stress, while the gentle soundtrack of the bush plays in the background. Two swimming pools shimmer under the African sun, one with a playful slide for children. For active moments, there’s a fitness centre, tennis courts, and a climbing wall. For quiet ones, you can simply sink into a chair on the viewing deck and watch the world go by.
Meals here are unhurried, meant to be savoured as much as the scenery. Breakfasts bring the smell of freshly baked bread and strong coffee, lunches are light and refreshing, and dinners are full of flavour, often shared under open skies. The bar, with its warm lighting and friendly chatter, is perfect for a sunset cocktail, while room service means you can dine in the privacy of your room.
Beyond the lodge
This bush lodge is more than just a safari destination; it’s a sanctuary for the soul. In the hush of early morning, as the first birdsong filters through the air, peace wraps around you like a blanket.
In the heat of the day, with the view stretching endlessly ahead, you find yourself breathing deeper. And at night, under a sky littered with stars, you realise that the noise of everyday life has faded into something distant and unimportant.
With exceptional service from people like Wandile Ngxesha, activities that fill both the heart and the mind, and a setting that restores your sense of balance, Kwa Maritane lives up to its name the “Place of the Rock.” It grounds you, anchors you, and leaves you quietly changed.
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