Tshukudu Bush Lodge
Pilanesberg National Park, Moses Kotane Local Municipality 00300 South Africa
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About
#3 of 20 Specialty lodging in Pilanesberg National Park
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Property amenities
Free public parking nearby
Pool
Free breakfast
Hiking
Airport transportation
Business Centre with Internet Access
Spa
24-hour security
Parking
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Massage
Baggage storage
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Express check-in / check-out
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Room features
Bathrobes
Desk
Fireplace
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Coffee / tea maker
Minibar
Bath / shower
Safe
Seating area
Sofa
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Refrigerator
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans
Location
Full view
Contact
Pilanesberg National Park, Moses Kotane Local Municipality 00300 South Africa
Getting there
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305Reviews11Q+A61Room tips
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j0nathan52 wrote a review Jul 2022
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom12 contributions2 helpful votes
The location, on a little hill in its own private game reserve is stunning. The staff don't just provide a service, they look for ways to make your experience better from an incredible meal out in the bush to a romantic dinner for two with five courses served by the chef and manager direct to our room. We thought when we booked it was expensive but when you realise all game drives are included plus breakfast, high tea and dinner, all of the highest standard, plus drinks set in the most incredible surroundings, it was cheap for the price. We are already saving to come again.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Value
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Service
Room Tip: Only ten rooms, all with great views
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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How do I even start to describe the extraordinary experience we have just had at Tshukudu Bush Lodge? From the pre trip correspondence with Portia to the welcome from William, our driver, arranged by the lodge, at the airport to the greeting drinks at reception on arrival, every step provided reassurance this was going to be a wonderful holiday. We were then introduced to JR our safari guide who took us the 20 minute drive to the lodge deep in the Bush. That is what makes this place stand out - the fact that it is the only Lodge within the national park - affording wonderful views and an array of animals that can be spotted from your balcony. Buffalo, wilderbeest, impala, warthogs, baboons and the roar of lion just in the week we were there. We had high tea on arrival and then we were straight out with JR on our first drive - sundowners packed and ready. We were incredibly lucky and in less than 24 hours we had seen the big five, complimented by a black rhino the next day. Indeed our first sighting was a leopard - incredibly rare. It is luck of the draw of course and the elephants and zebra were unusually quiet at first. We were there six days though, and we had no shortage later in the week. Indeed our elephant sightings were spectacular and so close to the vehicle. We were very grateful for JR's extensive knowledge and insight - always placing safety at the forefront but using his incredible skills to predict the next move. That and his ability to manoeuver the vehicle meant that we had amazing sightings with two more close ups of leopards - very unusual indeed. The lodge itself is beautiful in a traditional rustic charm kind of way. The heated plunge pool on the balcony was very special but not essential and the chalet rooms are just as lovely. The staff team are wonderful - going out of their way to make this a memory to treasure for ever. Great food, friendly conversation and additional extras like setting up dinner in your room in front of a roaring fire on occasion. Winter is a great time to come if you don't mind a morning and evening chill. JR provides blankets and also water bottles for the early drive, and a flask of coffee or hot chocolate for the break. The low foliage and quieter visitor numbers make the viewing opportunities really special, as well as no bugs! We learnt so much on those meditative drives through stunning scenery with spectacular sunrises and sunsets. JR's love of the park and incredible stories made the trip very special indeed. Thank you for an amazing mother-daughter adventure that could not have been simpler. A direct flight from Heathrow to Johannesberg, and 2.5 hour drive and you are there. The fact that it is maleria free just adds to the simplicity.…
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Date of stay: June 2022
Value
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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What can I say, that hasn't already been said in the previous reviews. From minute 1 when we arrived and met Tshepo, Portia and JR we knew this was going to be a special visit. We had planned this trip over two years ago, the expectation levels were getting higher and higher the closer we got to arriving. If I could have written a script for our visit, it would not have been as good as the real thing was. Our room was fabulous and the initial look at that view from the balcony brought tears to our eyes. All the people at the Lodge, Johnny, Nhlania and Thebe the superb chefs who prepared some incredible food for us, Thabiso, Tammy, Simon and Ernest who looked after us exceptionally well, nothing was too much trouble and they always had a smile on their faces. Tumi the general manager is a credit to the Legacy Hotel Group. His relationships with the guests and staff was excellent, it was a pleasure to meet him and his team. And then there is Jaan- Rick. I can honestly say I do not think I have met a person with more passion and knowledge about their work than JR. He has an incredible source of knowledge about the park, the ecology and the animals, but doesn't force his knowledge onto you, it just happens in conversation. He also has a wicked sense of humour which suited us, we had some good laughs whilst out and about. The game drives were unbelievable, we had some superb sightings and think we covered every hectare of the park. I find myself looking at the photo's we took and just reliving the time we spent with JR in the park. The roads were interesting but that just added to the experience, as did the 132 steps up to the lodge. Keep up the great work team, it was an honour to meet you all.…
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Date of stay: April 2022
Location
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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+1
Tshukudu is the gem in the Pilanesberg crown. I stayed for 3 nights with my wife at the lodge and each day was utter perfection. The lodge: This is the ONLY lodge within the national park. The advantage of this is that you have the park to yourselves when the park gates close during the morning and evening game drives. The lodge is on a hillside offering spectacular views of the park as far as the eye can see. Animals are seen wandering through the bush to the large water hole and these included Wildebeest, Zebra, Elephants and many more! Our room overlooked the park / watering hole and we spent the afternoons trying to relax on the balcony. I only saying 'trying' because every 5 minutes I had to grab my binoculars to take a look at the fascinating wildlife that came into view! The large comfy bed also overlooked the balcony and the bath offered a great view as well. The food was simply amazing. Restaurant quality food which you would ordinarily pay a lot of money for in the UK. Each night the chef prepares a 5 course dinner. Each course was outstanding and fresh ingredients are only used. The chef has a lot of passion in what he does and he comes out to personslly present the menu with such confidence. Game drives... Amazing. JR was our guide for all of the 5 drives we had. He is such a nice guy and makes you feel at ease from the get go. It is such a nice feeling knowing that we were spending 4hrs (per drive) with someone who is genuinely passionate about what they do. Not only does JR know A LOT about the animals, but he also talks in depth about the flora and fauna, the stars and the insects. If you're lucky, and if JR is up to it he might show you his elephant dung trick... 😉. JR is a true asset to the lodge. The staff at Tshukudu are genuinely nice people who are eager to please. You definitely pay for what you get here. 5***…
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Bring your binoculars and a good camera to capture lifetime memories.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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+1
This lodge is amazing, the individual cabins are located in the game reserve. You need to climb 132 steps to get there. You really get what you pay for and this place was worth every penny. It’s all inclusive and the dinner every evening is 5 courses. On one night the staff surprised us with a private dinner in our room in front of the fire, absolutely amazing. On the first evening game drive we also saw white rhino, 3 black rhino which is apparently a rare sighting, a pack of lions on a kill, springboks, giraffe, elephants, impala, wilder beast and hippo. This is certainly a place that I would like to return to. Just one negative for us was that the Wi-Fi did not work at all in our cabin.
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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at this very moment I am laid in the hot southern African sun with the most picture perfect view of a watering hole being visited by elephants. Does it get better than this ? The answer at Tshukudu Bush Lodge is - yes it does. From the moment we arrived 6 days ago we knew this was a very special place and we were proved right. The staff are the nicest, friendliest people we have ever met and they all go above and beyond for guests. Nothing has been too much trouble. Our suite is incredible and has every comfort you need. It overlooks a vast expanse of private reserve and have had the privilege of seeing wild animals in their natural habitat. I would recommend a suite - the plunge pool just adds to the magic of the lodge. Yes there are steps to climb to get to the main lodge but they’re a way of burning off the calories that you eat whilst there !!! The food is on par with any high end restaurant - who knew we would be eating a 5 course meal every night - well we never did as we never made it to the cheese board 🤣 We have had private dining on our room balcony which was very romantic and have met the chefs who are incredibly talented Thank you guys !! So to the safari drives - what can I say apart from there are not enough words to describe the experience. Two drives every day with the most talented rangers who gave us a glimpse into their world. Special thanks to JR - your knowledge and enthusiasm is something we will never forget. You really have made our holiday extra special. NB: we have now checked out and if we could’ve stayed forever we would. Already planning our next trip so see you all soon xx…
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
We've been to diferent safari places during our trip in SA, but none had this special personal touch as Tshukudu. The staff made us feel home right away. We enjoyed our stay so much, that we even returned for another 3 nights at the end of our trip and we arrived with the bigest smile on our faces. The Tshukdu Lodge is simple a unique place, hard to compare with any other lodge and I would recommend it to anybody, who has the chance to visit it. We will be back!
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Date of stay: March 2022
Rooms
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
We stayed for 2 nights and had a great experience. The view is absolutely amazing, and is what sets this lodge apart from other lodges in the Pilansberg. The lodge is set on a hill overlooking the plain. We really enjoyed sitting on our balcony and watching the animals come by the watering hole. From our room we were able to see elephants, zebra, wilderbeest, impalas, springboks and warthogs. Our game ranger, JR , is the most knowledgeable and passionate game ranger that we have ever met. He really made the game drives a memorable experience. Game drives are 4 hours long, which is quite taxing, particularly as you do 2 game drives per day. Food was good but not what we expected. That’s the reason for not awarding 5 stars for our experience. Breakfast was quite simple, English breakfast menu to choose from with some fruit and cheese on the side. The kitchen ran out of bread at our last breakfast, which is completely unacceptable. Dinner is a 5 course meal, which we found to be quite average. Service was excellent, with staff always ensuring we had something to eat or drink. Rooms are well sized and beds were comfortable. Overall we had a great stay and would recommend the lodge to anyone planning to have a peaceful break and enjoy a magnificent view of nature.…
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: The grass was quite long which made game viewing very challenging. Our game driver suggested...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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We enjoyed the fabulous Tshukudu Bush Lodge this past weekend to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. From the moment we were welcomed by Jann-Rick, Tumi and team we were made to feel so special. What a special treat the beautifully decorated table, delicious food and excellent service in our room for our celebratory dinner was. All of the staff are so friendly, helpful and efficient. What a privilege it was to enjoy the game drives with Jann-Rick. His passion for the bush, animals and his role as a game guide is infectious. He managed to provide us with close up viewings and photographic opportunities of leopard and lion like we have never experienced before.
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Date of stay: February 2022
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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I had the great pleasure of visiting Tshukudu Bush Lodge this past weekend and it was absolutely stunning. You are welcomed by Tumi, the General Manager who has an extraordinary sense of humour and makes you feel welcome from the moment you arrive. JR, Simon, Vince, Thomas and the rest of the team made sure that our stay was perfect. Private dinner on our balcony on the Saturday night was extra special and the bush breakfast to cap off the weekend was the icing on the cake. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a bush experience close to Johannesburg.
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Date of stay: February 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip: All rooms are good... just be ready to climb some stairs (it is worth it).
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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PRICE RANGE
US$501 - US$794 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
tshukudu bush hotel pilanesberg national park, tshukudu lodge
LOCATION
South AfricaNorth-West ProvinceMoses Kotane Local MunicipalityPilanesberg National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Tshukudu Bush Lodge
What are some of the property amenities at Tshukudu Bush Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Tshukudu Bush Lodge?
Top room amenities include a minibar, a refrigerator, and a desk.
What food & drink options are available at Tshukudu Bush Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Tshukudu Bush Lodge?
Yes, free public parking nearby is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Tshukudu Bush Lodge?
Conveniently located restaurants include Crystal Court, Bakubung Restaurant, and The Grill Room.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Tshukudu Bush Lodge?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Tshukudu Bush Lodge have airport transportation?
Yes, Tshukudu Bush Lodge offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Tshukudu Bush Lodge?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Afrikaans.
Is Tshukudu Bush Lodge accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.