KAPAMA RIVER LODGE
Within the expansive Kapama Private Game Reserve, River Lodge epitomises five-star safari accommodation. The majestic northern Drakensberg mountains form the backdrop to the 64-suite River Lodge, which is positioned along a bend of the seasonal Kapama River. It’s the largest luxury game lodge in the Greater Kruger National Park area, and is stylishly furnished to ensure an unforgettable African safari experience.
River Lodge’s 7 spacious air-conditioned Standard Courtyard Suites have uninterrupted views over the Big Five game reserve from private patios, and all feature full, en-suite bathrooms with lavish amenities replenished daily. The suites are decorated to reflect old Africa in a luxury game lodge setting. Beverage stations for early morning coffee in suite and minibars for sundowners on your private patio are standard in all rooms.
The 16 Spa Suites and 4 Family Spa Suites are positioned a little way from the lodge to ensure additional privacy and proximity to the spa for unique African spa treatments. Expansive glass doors and frameless windows allow unobstructed bush views even from the privacy of your bath tub. Each suite is equipped with a minibar, coffee and tea-making facilities, as well as a safe, hairdryer and international plugs.
The Family Spa Suites have triple balconies, along with spacious bedrooms that can accommodate an additional two beds for children sharing with their parents. The rooms – measuring over 70㎡ with the balconies – are also ideal for couples wanting the additional comfort of an oversized bedroom.
River Lodge’s 33 spacious air-conditioned deluxe suites have uninterrupted views over the Big Five game reserve from any area of the room or private patio. The 60 m2 deluxe suites, including patio, offers a perfect balance of rustic elegance, modern industrial and solid oak craftsmanship finishes, with up to date room technology. The full, en-suite bathroom comprises natural stone finishes, an open rain shower and a deep soaking bath offering views of the Africa Bush with lavish amenities.
Taking luxury game lodge accommodation a step further, River Lodge has two Royal Suites that offer substantial space and include a separate lounge and extended balcony, furnished with recliner couches. The en-suite bathroom has a bath and a dual shower overlooking the surrounding bush and resident wildlife, while the bedroom is spacious and opulently appointed.
Recliners under umbrellas beckon guests to enjoy shady relaxation around one of our pools, which is also a prime vantage point for game viewing. A small, permanent waterhole lies just beyond the perimeter of River Lodge and attracts various antelope species, elephant and buffalo, so viewing the Big Five – cocktail in hand – is quite usual from here.
AT A GLANCE:
- Rooms – 7 Standard Courtyard Suites, 33 Deluxe Suites, 16 Spa Suites, 4 Family Spa Suites, 2 Royal Suites
- Child Policy – All ages accepted
- Spa – Yes
- Malaria Area – Low Risk
- Conference – Yes
- Big 5 Area – Yes
- Location – Kapama Private Game Reserve – Hoedspruit – Limpopo
- Drive Time – 5.5 hour drive from Johannesburg, alternatively daily flights from Cape Town International Airport and O.R. Tambo International Airport directly to Eastgate (HDS) Airport
THEIR SOCIAL HANDLES:
Dining venues
In true African luxury safari style, as in classic old Africa, evenings are often enjoyed seated around a roaring fire. Guests to enjoy the newly built dining experience: Xitsumbeni – meaning: “where meals are prepared and enjoyed”. The expansive restaurant, with romantic nooks and relaxing lounge areas, wraparound windows & stargazing fire-pits, will submerge guests in an African culinary indulgence. Romantic dining is epitomised by dinner set in the dry riverbed in front of the lodge, under a star-stubbed African night sky. The experience adds enchantment to any African luxury safari experience.
River Lodge Spa & Wellness centre
Considered one of the finest safari spas in Africa, the River Lodge Spa has six sumptuous treatment rooms in a setting surrounded by stillness and sweeping bushveld. Arranged around a generous central lap pool the spa evokes a sense of calm. Highly trained and experienced beauty therapists offer the trendiest global body and beauty treatments with a uniquely African twist.
Lounge, pool & cocktail bar
African artefacts adorn the lounges of River Lodge, and a palate of red and gold reflects the colours of Africa’s earth, the perfect spot to relax with a book or saunter over to the bar for a cocktail to sip alongside the sparkling rim flow pool, all the while keeping an eye out for thirsty elephants taking a sedate stroll to the nearby watering hole. Glass stack doors open onto the rim-flow pool to create an al fresco experience. The long, L-shaped lounge and bar, under double-volume thatch, follow the line of the pool to create an airy but cosy atmosphere. In winter, a double-sided fireplace provides additional warmth. For something more indulgent, make your way to the new 12m x 12m pool & cocktail bar, relax on a poolside lounger, or escape the South African sun under a shaded alcove, as you take in the sounds of nature around you.
Curio shop
You can browse through the curio shop for those special gifts for a loved one to take home.
River Lodge kiddies’ activities
Kapama has a variety of ways for our young guests to explore our beautiful landscapes and wildlife, one of which is the game drive. However, as some children might not be old enough to go on the “Big 5” safari drives, we still want all our guests, young and old to have the best wildlife experience possible. Kapama caters for children between the ages of 2 and 6 with special Bush Bumble drives. This is a shorter game drive that takes place after the regular early morning drive and breakfast. The focus will be on the smaller animals, as well as the variety of plains game that is found in abundance on Kapama. At least one parent will need to accompany our younger guests. We strongly
recommend that a family with young children that would like their whole family to join every drive, book an exclusive vehicle. In this way the ranger is able to come back earlier if necessary. River Lodge can also serve a personalised or standard kiddies’ menu to choose from. These meals can be served earlier than our regular dinner time or at dinner itself. For all children older than 6 years, they will be allowed on the “Big 5” safari. The rules of the game drive will be clearly explained to the young guests and parents by the ranger, ensuring everyone on the drive has the best experience possible.
River Lodge offers a number of tailor-made activities to keep even the busiest of bees occupied during their stay at Kapama, while mom and dad have a well-deserved break.
A few examples: Short Bush Survival Course – making rope, uses of various plants and trees in the bush, DVD in the media room, elephant dung paper making, beading, numerous board games, learn how to track, spoor casting, dung identification.
The Spa menu makes provision for a few Kiddies options such as kiddies scalp massage, Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage and a mini manicure and /or pedicure. This is at an additional charge but is present on our Spa Price List.
Kapama Fly in package
Kapama has realized that the discerning traveller requires something even more exclusive and relaxing and wants to start their vacation when arriving at ORTIA or Cape Town International. Kapama has therefore developed and built its own tarred runway for their own Kapama PC-12 aircraft. This Kapama aircraft is brand new and had its first flight in December 2017. Pilatus is a Swiss aircraft manufacturer with an astounding reputation for quality and safety. The Pilatus PC-12 has an outstanding safety history and is known as one of the most reliable aircraft in the world. This new Kapama owned and branded aircraft is now operating between ORTIA and Cape Town International for Kapama guests exclusively on request. Kapama can also service other routes on request.
To add to this extremely luxurious travel option Kapama have partnered with Fireblade Aviation and will be using the exclusive Fireblade terminal services at ORTIA for guests making use of the Kapama luxury travel option to Kapama. The Fireblade facility includes amongst others a gym, day rooms, boardrooms etc, where guests of Kapama can freshen up before they board the Kapama aircraft or when they return from Kapama and need a comfortable area and setting before returning to their destination. A 50-minute flight takes guests to the Kapama tarred airstrip where guests are welcomed by their dedicated ranger. The facilities utilized for this luxury travel option at Cape Town International will be those of Signature Flight services that provide similar facilities. The flight from Cape Town International will be approximate 3 hours 20 minutes to Kapama.
