Ezulwini Game Lodges

Balule Nature Reserve, off R40 (Balule Game Reserve) 2068

Full English breakfasts, light lunches and a 3-course dinner are all available at the lodge.

Ezulwini, the Zulu word for 'place of paradise', is where Africa remains unspoiled. The emphasis at our lodges is on friendliness and informality. Our staff are well-trained and professional, and we boast award winning chefs to ensure your stay is even more memorable.

Ezulwini prides itself on being able to offer an exceptional African setting, indigenous fauna and flora as well as unique character and charm, to provide you with an authentic, African experience.

All lodge rooms have 4-star TGCSA ratings (with 3-star prices), and include new silent climate control air conditioning and heating facilities, minibars and elegant mosquito nets.

Please note that guests are required to pay the full accommodation amount prior to arrival. Please note that rate excludes charges for airport taxes, transfers and a conservation fee for the Balule Nature Reserve.

The Balule Private Nature Reserve was created 12 years ago when a few enterprising farm owners decided to drop the game fences between their farms.

This has since grown into a 35,000 hectare private nature reserve with the perennial Olifants River flowing for approximately 20 km through the centre of the reserve.

Balule Private Reserve is expanding all the time, as other landowners join the initiative to become incorporated into the Greater Kruger National Park Management Area. This vast Nature Reserve is home to the 'Big Five' and is world-famous for its abundance of animals and bird-life.

Ezulwini Game Lodges are situated in the Balule Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park, which is approximately 17 kilometres from Hoedspruit, making it easily accessible from both Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa. It is approximately 5 hours' drive from Johannesburg.

Balule Nature Reserve is situated in a low malaria area, and there has been no reported cases of malaria in the last 10 years.

Billy's Lodge - On the banks of a seasonal river, deep in lion country, this secluded Bushveld hideaway is intimate, charming and exclusive. It has 5 air conditioned, twin or king bedded en suite chalets. Facilities include a bar, lounge, library, swimming pool, viewing decks and an underground cave wine cellar.

River Lodge - Luxury, thatched, air conditioned twin or king bedded chalets, with en suite bathrooms, on the banks of the mighty Olifants River, for a maximum of 20 guests. The Spelati Suite offers that something extra with lounge, bedroom, indoor and outdoor bathroom. Facilities include a boma, viewing decks overlooking a large dam and the Olifants River and bar.

Rates Include:
- Excellent cuisine prepared by our master chefs, using local and exotic recipes. Special meals can be prepared upon request.

- Twice daily open-vehicle game viewing drives, accompanied by a professional field guide and tracker: more than six hours’ game viewing each day.

- Spotlight game drives at night.

- Bush-walks through unspoiled African bush, learning about ecology and wildlife, accompanied by a professional field guide and tracker.

- Breakfast, lunch and teas served on the deck overlooking the bush.

- Dinner in the Boma, around a log fire, under a star-studded African sky.

- Laundry facility (stay of two nights or longer).

Rate excludes:
- Airport taxes and transfers, a ZAR 50 conservation fee for Balule Nature Reserve (self-drive).

By Car:
From Johannesburg the lodge is about 500 km.

By Plane:
SA Airlink has daily flights from Johannesburg International Airport to the Eastgate or Kruger Park Gateway Airport, where staff can meet you on arrival. There are also direct flights from Cape Town International Airport. Flying time is approximately one hour from Johannesburg and 3 hours from Cape Town. Helicopter transfers to the lodge via the scenic Blyde River Canyon may be arranged upon request.