The Bush House

What makes the Bush House different?

Perhaps it’s in the people who make you feel so warmly welcome, at the bar after your game drive, at the brunch table, or in the boma for dinner under the stars. We pride ourselves on really caring for our guests and being attentive to their needs. As an owner managed Lodge the personal touch is an integral part of our service.

Perhaps it's in the sense of the bushveld. The dust of the elephant herds, the closeness of the rhino, the fleeting glimpse of the leopard… or the massive power of the buffalo coming down to drink at the waterhole within meters of the front lawn.
It could be the luxuries you enjoy. The sumptuous bushveld cuisine or the service so close you only have to lift a finger. Or maybe it’s more about the whole experience than a single sighting. More about the memories you made while you were one with nature as you pulled the bushveld around your shoulders like a blanket, and in a strange, familiar way you felt completely at home.

That’s why people come back to The Bush House. Again and again. For most of our guests it’s just like that, like coming home – even for the first time.

The Lodge
The Bush House IS your home in Big Five country. Our informal style, intimate atmosphere and caring staff make you feel welcome, relaxed and part of our family.

Accommodation
We have six ensuite rooms. Four of them have private verandahs where you can sit and contemplate the world, one overlooks the garden and waterhole with another having the soothing sounds of a water feature outside the sliding door. All of our rooms are part of the main lodge so there are no unnecessary long walks to and fro.
The rooms are tastefully furnished with percale bed linen and fluffy towels. The rooms have air-conditoners and fans, hairdriers, coffee and tea facilties. The bathrooms have separate baths and showers with a variety of toiletries. We have 220v electricity and cell phone signal should you really have to make any calls!

Meals
Our Chefs, who together create a wonderful culinary repertoire, whether it is breakfast in the garden, afternoon tea packed with treats or a fire-lit dinner in the boma under the stars. We try as much as possible to accommodate all dietary requirements.

Facilities
Enjoy relaxing in the large shaded garden overlooking the best waterhole in Madikwe. Lounge at the pool while our staff take care of your every need. Enjoy a friendly game of cricket, rugby or soccer on the lawn. Two game drives are conducted daily under the expert care of our guide, take a walk through our private nature trail which is within the electrified boundaries of camp.

The Hide at Bush House
An exciting addition to our offering is an underground hide that borders on the very edge of our most active waterhole.
A water point is located close to the front opening and elephants regularly drink from this point or walk right past the front of The Hide. The roof which is just above ground level is reinforced and can carry the weight of any elephant that might wander across the top.
The Hide is accessed from a path within the Lodge garden, or from the swimming pool, so guests can safely move along the walkway and into the tunnel without being seen by the animals and in complete safety.
The front of The Hide has an expanded metal grid which is completely open and out of sight but can be quickly dropped if anyone is feeling nervous.
The pathways, tunnel and hide are all lit at night so are available for use by guests 24 hours a day.
Those guests with walkers and in wheelchairs can also use The Hide as the walkway has ramps that ensure ease of access.
Viewing of all the visiting animals and birds close up is truly spectacular and offers a whole new dimension in game viewing.

On Safari
Game drives are conducted through out the year at optimum viewing times when game activity is generally at its peak, i.e. early morning and late afternoon into evening. The morning safari departs at sunrise, and the evening drive leaves late enough in the afternoon for guests to enjoy a bush sunset and the opportunity to view nocturnal animals after dark. The spectacular southern night skies, especially vivid during the winter months, provide guests with stunning views of famous constellations such as the Southern Cross, Orion in summer and Scorpio in the clear winter evenings.
Our Summers are traditionally very hot and wet with Winter being dry and cold. Hats and sun block are an absolute must as are sweatshirts and jerseys. The varying layers of all of these are dependent on the time of the year!
Seasons differ vastly in the African bushveld, but no one season can be rated above another, for each has its own unique appeal. Spring (September) and Autumn (April) are very short seasons and usually provide milder weather conditions and subtle changes in vegetation. Summer (October to March) tends to be hot, but the bush looks wonderfully green and lush.
Many mammals produce their offspring in the height of summer (December/January) and the youngsters are a special treat on safaris. Winter (May to August) brings with it drier, more temperate weather condition and the bush takes on a stark but beautiful appearance. At any time of year, your encounters with the wild at The Bush House will be very special and memorable.