A bite-sized, slow-cooked, lamb-filled shortcrust pastry tart shouldn’t be the first thing that comes to mind when recalling a safari trip. But add to it a glass of extraordinarily good red wine, a walkway of glowing lanterns, and a caracal casually strolling past the fire, and you have the makings of a jolly memorable first impression.
Tintswalo Waterberg Lodge, found in the Welgevonden Game Reserve, is intimate … just five free-standing units accommodating up to 16 guests … all romantic mosquito nets, en suite bathrooms and outdoor showers, fireplaces for chilly evenings, and air conditioning and ceiling fans for steamy Summers.
What’s more, it’s one of the relatively few lodges that welcome – heck, encourage – children of all ages, and which has a couple of three-bedroom units, making it an obvious choice for multigenerational family trips.
We never tire of a romantic, lantern-lit safari boma dinner … where the meals celebrate local and are served shared, family-style.
The lodge is set up to be family- and group-friendly … with a communal lounge, open living areas and an expansive deck with comfy loungers. Meals – really delicious, wholesome, slow-cooked, served shared, family-style – are eaten outdoors on the deck or around the fire in the boma, where you’re bound to be entertained by the staff who put on fun impromptu dances.
Young explorers are well catered for with a spacious playroom and a children’s programme of appropriate educational activities.
With around 36 000 hectares of bushveld, criss-crossed with streams and waterways, Welgevonden is ranked up there among South Africa’s largest private game reserves. And the game viewing is plentiful. With an incredibly successful anti-rhino poaching unit, there are rhino at every corner … and it would be unusual to not spot hippo, antelope, dazzle after dazzle of zebra, lion and ellies on one of the two open-vehicle game drives offered each day. With more than 300 species, there is some great birding too.
There are options to book a two-hour bush walk with a ranger, and the newly introduced late-night game drive where you can search for nocturnal animals like the elusive pangolin and leopard, as well as porcupines, aardvarks and owls … as well as some truly spectacular stargazing.
The Tintswalo group is known for incredible attention to detail, and for ensuring every visitor is well catered for. It is no surprise that the lodge offers a fully kosher safari option, with kosher catering prepared on-site in the dedicated Beth Din certified kosher kitchen, supervised by a licensed Mashgiach. This kosher option is tailor-made for small family groups or exclusive group lodge takeovers.
From the first impression (those tarts!) to the last … the ones at Tintswalo Waterberg are exceptional. It’s a destination you won’t forget.
Sleeping out under the stars in the bush is the most incredibly exciting and romantic experience. And we can’t rave enough about the Tintswalo Waterberg’s Stargazing Sleep-out Deck. Guests are dropped off after dinner at this magical open-air deck for two … with a luxurious king-size bed draped in protective insect netting, lit by the warm glow of lanterns and the moon. It’s hidden in a secluded spot overlooking a waterhole, not scarily far from the lodge, and you can drift off listening to the sound of the nocturnal animals. And it’s within the electric fencing of the lodge, so it’s perfectly safe. Bucket list stuff right here!
Would you book a lodge because of the bathrooms? Probably not … but these newly renovated bush green and gold ones are simply spectacular! Sublime Africology products add to the luxurious feel.
Many hours are to be spent in the slipper bath!
Lion? Yes. But it’s the rhino that impress … thanks to the successful anti-poaching programme, there’s a crash on every corner.
Stuff you need to know
The area is malaria-free and the lodge does have Wi-Fi. Rates are from R5 920 per person sharing per night, which includes accommodation, full board, two safari activities per day, house drinks and a well-stocked mini bar. It excludes premium-branded alcohol, transfers, conservation fee and daily reserve entry fee. The kosher kitchen is extra, as are the late-night drives. The Stargazing Sleep-out Deck is complimentary for honeymooners, but has an additional cost for all other guests. Children of all ages are welcome; those under 16 years must share with an adult. Children between 6 and 15 years are charged 50%, no charge for younger. Only when exclusive use of the property is booked will children six years and younger be allowed on game drives. Details: www.tintswalo.com, Instagram @tintswalo_waterberg, Facebook @tintswalowaterberg
