{"id":21441,"date":"2024-10-17T08:00:33","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T06:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/?p=35795"},"modified":"2024-10-17T09:36:59","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T07:36:59","slug":"thanda-safari","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/blog\/2024\/10\/17\/thanda-safari\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanda Safari"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luxury safaris. Big Five. Brilliant birding. <\/strong>With the added attraction of supporting a lodge with exceptional conservation practices.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Out in the middle of nowhere, where there\u2019s nothing as far as the eye can see bar bushes, trees, gently rolling hills and watering holes … this is where you\u2019ll find Thanda Safari. A private game reserve in the northern reaches of Zululand, where the Great Rift Valley meets the Lebombo Mountains, it\u2019s home to an abundance of wildlife, including Africa\u2019s Big 5 and more than 400 different bird species.
\n\"\"It\u2019s a destination which offers an authentic South African wildlife experience. There\u2019s exceptional game-viewing all year, it\u2019s a brilliant option for families, honeymooners, groups of friends, and perfect for those who\u2019re wanting something extra over and above the game drives … think specialised bush walks, photographic safaris, and Zulu cultural tours in the rural community.<\/p>\n

The term room with a view is particularly apt here … it\u2019s been said that there are no bad rooms at Thanda \u2013 and we couldn\u2019t agree more. Guests are offered a few options … each as magnificent as the other.
\n\"\"The Thanda Safari Lodge is a circular structure reminiscent of a traditional Zulu rondavel, with nine suites, each with a spacious lounge area, a plunge pool, a private boma and a game-viewing deck offering panoramic views of the surrounding game reserve. There\u2019s also a spa, open for all Thanda guests, housed in the heart of the lodge.
\nOr, for those who want to go for the ultimate in bush opulence, there\u2019s the splendid Villa iZulu \u2013 a stunning safari hide-away for families, groups, even wedding parties, wanting privacy with their luxury. With five gloriously appointed suites and its own heli-pad, this extravagantly-sized villa, which has a fenced garden and lush green lawns, is available on an exclusive-use basis.<\/p>\n

\"\"A third, super luxurious hospitality option, is The Royal Thanda Club by Thanda Safari … where you\u2019ll find the exclusive-use Royal Residences. Enclosed within a high security, access-controlled, estate in the central part of the reserve, these massively spacious Royal Residences sleep between eight and ten guests.<\/p>\n

Since the opening of Thanda Safari some 20 years ago, it has embraced various aspects of responsible and sustainable tourism practices. Everything the team does is centred around responsible environmental development and management.
\nThe many conservation programmes have included protection programmes for the endangered cheetah and, most importantly, the endangered black rhino protection programme and elephant breeding programmes. Other conservation initiatives include …
\nThe identification and tracking of elephants at Thanda Safari, and the tracking and monitoring of cheetah using telemetry equipment.<\/p>\n

The identification of hyena and leopard via the use of camera traps, as well as rhino monitoring – due to rampant poaching in South Africa it is imperative that a close watch be kept on Thanda\u2019s rhinos.<\/p>\n