Hluhluwe Accommodation / Thanda Private Game Reserve Hluhluwe Accommodation / Game Lodge & Tented Safari Camp in Hluhluwe

South Africa’s most romantic destination, and winner of Africa's Leading Luxury Lodge in South Africa and South Africa’s Leading Safari Lodge at The World Travel Awards, Thanda Private Game Reserve is situated on a 7800 hectare Big Five private game reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, only an hour away from the Indian Ocean.

Thanda, meaning ‘love’ in Zulu, unites romantic decadence and exclusivity with Zulu culture and wildlife. The five-star facilities include a main lodge, tented camp and award-winning wellness centre. Encounter the abundance of African game including lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard found at Thanda. Let your tension be smoothed away at one of South Africa's most exquisite African bush spas, or feel the rush of adrenaline diving with sharks at the nearby warm Indian Ocean waters. Be transfixed in awe as you witness a hundred-year-old ritual performed by Zulu warriors, offering you a glimpse of a powerful nation that still retains its deep traditions.

Accommodation


Born from a dream to create harmony between man and nature, an exclusive hideaway awaits those who dare to share the dream. Reawaken romance in one of the luxury bush villas, or embrace nature at the colonial safari-style tented camp.

Main Lodge
The nine luxury bush villas at the main lodge each have a private infinity pool, viewing deck, private sala (thatched outdoor day bed area), lounge, fireplace and full bathroom with both inside and outside showers. Five-star cuisine can be served at the private boma (open-air reed enclosure with a fireplace) at each villa for guests wanting total privacy.

Tented Camp
The non-electrified tented camp is built in colonial safari style, offering an authentic yet luxurious bush experience. The four luxury tents have viewing decks and en-suite canvas bathrooms. Public facilities at the tented camp include a dining tent, a boma area, and a sala consisting of an open-air lounge and a splash pool.

Royal Suite
Fit for royalty and surrounded by expanses of African bush, the Royal Suite can accommodate ten guests in five luxuriously appointed suites (three queens and two doubles). Encompassing 1000 m˛ of sheer unadulterated luxury, the Royal Suite is equipped with a private boma, library, cellar, business room with internet connectivity, games room, heated swimming pool and magnificent viewing deck looking out onto a waterhole often visited by the Big Five.

The suite is available to the general public as one unit or as five separate suites for corporate and family use. Reserving the suite as a unit will entitle guests to a private game-viewing vehicle and ranger, personal chef and masseuse.

Enjoy exclusive use of the Royal Suite, which opens its doors to lead into a magnificent lounge filled with attractive Afro-chic décor with a piano and fireplace. A beautifully conceptualised dining room is ideal for the family to gather in for a light snack or a first class dinner prepared by your personal chef, who will cater for any dietary requirements. The fully equipped kitchen meets professional standards. The five richly decorated and spacious en-suite bedrooms are the pinnacle of luxury, each with its own viewing deck. The executive room has its own private outdoor Jacuzzi.

Lodge Facilities


Decorated in Zulu-chic style, the public facilities at the main lodge include a lounge, library, dining room, boma, dining deck, wine cellar, cigar bar, fully equipped business centre and viewing decks overlooking tranquil water features. Artefacts made by local artists subtly enhance the public areas in honour of the Zulu culture and craftsmanship.

Dining


A variety of exceptional dining experiences are available at Thanda. The public facilities of the main lodge include a dining room, outdoor dining decks and an outdoor boma. Private dining is available at the bush villas, where meals can be served in the private bomas or the private decks of each villa. A bush breakfast or dinner can be arranged for special occasions. Dining facilities at the safari-style tented camp include an intimate dining tent and a boma.

Wellness Centre


Winner of the Safari Spa category in the Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Spa Awards 2006, the wellness centre at Thanda Private Game Reserve offers exclusive treatments such as reflexology, aromatherapy, pressure point scalp massage and hot stone massage using African essential oils in a base of shea butter.

Unique features include hot & cold outdoor kniepp therapy pools, a reflexology pool, outdoor sala treatment area, and a steam room & hydrotherapy bath, all with a unique Zulu feel and designed exclusively for Thanda. The Thanda Signature Treatments draw inspiration from the Zulu culture and are designed to be indulgent to both the body and soul.

Weddings & Honeymoons


Thanda is an exquisite venue for a honeymoon or a bush wedding. All co-ordination requirements will be taken care of by the lodge, from the legal documents to arranging an ordained minister, ensuring that the most special day of your life is totally unforgettable and stress-free. Thanda can accommodate a maximum of 26 guests, however the lodge is able to cater for more guests for the wedding ceremony and reception, and would assist in finding additional accommodation nearby if required.

Thanda is the perfect setting to rediscover romance, with romantic turndowns, candlelight's, bush dinners lit by paraffin lamps whilst your ranger keeps a watchful eye for any wildlife, private splash pools, your own sala where you can sleep under the stars during the night listening to a lion roaring or take a nap after lunch whilst impalas graze below you, private bomas for romantic dinners with your own fireplace, relaxing massages at the wellness centre, excellent wines, foam baths with candlelight's and champagne and outdoor showers that can be used in the magical African night. Our aim is to spoil you and provide ultimate privacy.

Activities


Safaris in open game viewing vehicles are conducted exclusively for Thanda guests on the virtually malaria-free 6000ha reserve. Thanda has recently introduced a breeding pack of wild dog onto the Big Five property - the first time this has happened on private land in KwaZulu-Natal.

Vula Zulu, a traditional homestead adjacent to Thanda is a showcase of traditional Zulu warriors performing age-old dancing rites, as was done prior to and after battle with King Shaka Zulu. Thanda is contributing to the preservation of the Zulu culture, through job creation as well as maintaining an ongoing interest in the Zulu heritage.

Thanda is a unique beach and bush destination, with Sodwana Bay located merely an hour away. A day at the beach can be arranged where guests have the possibility to dive with sharks, snorkel above coral reefs, ride horses on the beach or just enjoy the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

ACCREDITATIONS

Leading Hotels of The World Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA)

Photo Gallery of Thanda Private Game Reserve
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