It is actually a waste of good experiences that we don’t take the opportunity to get away for a bit more often. Living in Johannesburg can really make you get stuck in this big city life. It is a shame because Johannesburg is actually the ideal location for a short getaway to the Bush. It doesn’t always have to be the Kruger. There are plenty of lovely game reserves just a mere 2-3 hours drive out of Sandton. I have spent the past weekend about 250 km north of Johannesburg in a province called Limpopo. The Game Reserve we went to is just outside of a small town called Vaalwater in the Waterberg. Situated on a hill overlooking the Bush. There is a main lodge where they serve all meals and you have a beautiful pool deck to relax and enjoy an amazing view. Then there are about 5 luxury tents scattered around the main lodge. Each tent hidden away in the Bush yet in close proximity to the main lodge.
Since I am not a camping girl at all (I need my own bathroom and preferably a proper bed), I was very much interested in staying at least once in one of these luxury safari tents. The experience was great. It is a tent, however it also feels like a room. Especially at night you definitely feel closer to nature than you would if you were in a house.
The reserve doesn’t offer the Big Five (lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and buffalos) however, a game drive is always an adventure. Just looking at the scenery and being in the bush is already a great experience for me. At least we saw giraffes, actually a whole family of 7, we saw a bird eating a snake and we saw a stunning African sunset and sunrise. The rest of the time was well spent on the amazing pool deck, either at the pool or with a drink by the fire.
The lodge also offers a Spa. It is just a small walk down the hill and you’ll find a very peaceful and refreshing Spa area. I spoilt myself with a facial, but could have easily spent a whole afternoon there.
If someone wants to book – here are their details: Bushwa
I can highly recommend if you are looking for a weekend getaway not too far out of town or if you are arriving from overseas and don’t want to stop over in Johannesburg but you also don’t want to take a long drive to the Kruger after a 10 hours flight, Limpopo Province is a great alternative to the Kruger. There are Game Reserves that also offer the Big Five. Welgevonden being one of them.
