Royal Malewane
Waterside lodge
Waterside Lodge at Royal Malewane is a vibrant, family-friendly safari retreat. The lodge blends contemporary luxury with bold, maximalist design by Liz Biden, featuring opulent interiors, bright colours, and thoughtful details inspired by the surrounding African bush. Suites at Royal Malewane’s Waterside Lodge are spacious, light-filled, and elegantly furnished, with private decks offering views over the lodge’s serene waters and bushveld. Waterside House provides exclusive-use accommodation with four en-suite bedrooms and dedicated services.
Communal areas are open and inviting, designed for relaxation and connection with nature. Guests have access to the library, family games room, reception, spa, gym, and multiple dining spaces. Meals at Waterside Lodge are flexible and personalised, featuring locally inspired menus and South Africa’s finest wines. Bush dinners under the stars create memorable experiences with lanterns, fires, and the sounds of the wilderness.
The lodge balances comfort, style, and authentic safari experiences. Twice-daily game drives are led by award-winning guides and trackers who provide insight into animal behaviour and the Greater Kruger ecosystem. Bush walks and night drives showcase smaller wildlife and nocturnal species. The lodge is set within the 14,000-hectare Thornybush Private Game Reserve, which shares unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park, offering exceptional Big Five sightings, often visible directly from the suites.
Gallery
Wildlife
- High concentration of Big 5 with large herds of elephant and buffalo, as well as large lion prides.
- Large number of White lions live in the reserve.
- Other wildlife include but are not limited to the hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, cheetah, African wild dog, hyaena, warthog and many other cat and antelope species.
- Large antelope herds support the populations of predators in the reserve.
- Over 500 bird species have been recorded in the region. Many can be seen in the reserve.
Game Drives
- Game drives take place twice a day in the early mornings and afternoons for a duration of 3-4 hours.
- Game drives are led by an experienced guide and tracker team.
- Vehicles are allowed to go off road to track and follow the wildlife.
- Strict traverse rules are in place and vehicle numbers are limited in each reserve. A maximum of two vehicles are allowed at any sighting.
- Night drives and guided bushwalks are permitted.
Activities & Facilities
- Game drives
- Guided bushwalks
- Photographic safaris
- Stargazing
- Birdwatching
- Swimming Pool
- Restaurant
- Open-air dinning
- Viewing deck
- Boutique
- Reflections Spa
- Dining areas
- Library
- Gym & Yoga
- Outdoor bar
- Wine cellar
- Family games room
- Conservation activities
Highlights
- Vibrant, family-friendly lodge blending bold maximalist design with opulent luxury.
- Accommodation includes 4 Luxury Suites, 2 Aloe Rooms, 1 two-Bedroom Baobab Suite, and Waterside House.
- Ultra-luxurious, spacious suites with private decks, heated plunge pools, serene water views, and bright, colourful interiors.
- Waterside House offers an exclusive use experience including a private chef, host, and safari vehicle with guide.
- Flexible, personalised dining features locally inspired menus, South Africa’s finest wines, and memorable bush dinners.
- Serene waters and green fever trees provide a calm, scenic backdrop throughout the lodge.
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Twice-daily game drives, bush walks, and night drives led by award-winning guides.
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Frequent wildlife sightings, often visible directly from the suites and communal areas.
Location
- Situated on the western boundary of the Greater Kruger and Kapama Game Reserve. It is located close to the Timbavati Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park.
- The Kruger National Park is almost 2 million hectares and lies in the north-eastern corner of South Africa in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.
Getting There
- Royal Malewane private airstrip is the closet airstrip, two daily chartered flights from Johannesburg are operated by Federal Airlines.
- Hoedspruit (HDS) is the closet commercial airport to Waterside Lodge, daily flights operate from Johannesburg and Cape Town.
- Flight time from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit or private airstrip: 60 minutes.
- Flight time from Cape Town to Hoedspruit: 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Road transfers from Hoedspruit to Waterside Lodge take 35 minutes.
Child Policy
- Waterside Lodge welcomes children of all ages.
- Children under 10 years old are only allowed on game drives if a private vehicle is hired.
- The Baobab Suite and Africa House include a private vehicle and welcomes children of all ages.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- Included: 2 x Game drives per day, guided bush walks, all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages, and private airstrip transfers. Waterside House includes a chef, guide and private safari vehicle.
- Excluded: Premium branded drinks, conservation levies, commercial airport transfers, and anything of personal nature.
Rates
- The updated rates are displayed for each room category below.
- Rates are charged per person, per night.
- Single supplement of 50% applicable.
- Waterside House is a fixed price for exclusive use.
- Rates displayed are valid until 05 January 2027.
Seasons
- Peak season: 20 December – 05 January
- High season: 01 June – 31 August
- Mid season: 01 March – 31 May & 01 September – 19 December
- Low season: 06 January – 28 February
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Visiting such a diverse country necessitates some expertise to determine which area, lodge and transport will suit you best. Whether you are a family, couple or traveling solo, we’ll guide you to the perfect place for an incredible safari experience
Aloe Room
Two 1-Bedroom Aloe Rooms feature a private deck with heated plunge pool, bush views, and outdoor shower. Read more Rooms are 41m² in size and include air conditioning, ceiling fans, tea and coffee facilities, mini-bar, in-room safe, telephone, smart TV, Wi-Fi, international adaptors, and a hairdryer. Read Less
| Peak Season | $ 2,570per person per night |
|---|---|
| High Season | $ 2,321per person per night |
| Mid Season | $ 2,071per person per night |
| Low Season | $ 2,071per person per night |
Luxury Suite
Four Luxury Suites feature a private deck, outdoor sala, plunge pool and outdoor shower. Read more Each suite, 155m² in size, features air conditioning, ceiling fans, tea and coffee facilities, mini-bar, in-room safe, telephone, smart TV, Wi-Fi, international adaptors, hairdryer and fireplace. Read Less
| Peak Season | $ 4,304per person per night |
|---|---|
| High Season | $ 3,899per person per night |
| Mid Season | $ 3,524per person per night |
| Low Season | $ 3,462per person per night |
Baobab Suite
One 2-Bedroom Baobab Suite features an expansive private deck, plunge pool and outdoor shower. Read more The suite, 280m² in size, features air conditioning and ceiling fans in all rooms, tea and coffee facilities, mini-bar, in-room safes, telephone, smart TV, Wi-Fi, international adaptors, hairdryers and fireplace. Guests also enjoy a dedicated safari vehicle with guide and tracker. Read Less
| Peak Season | $ 16,219per suite per night |
|---|---|
| High Season | $ 14,815per suite per night |
| Mid Season | $ 13,568per suite per night |
| Low Season | $ 13,256per suite per night |
Waterside House
Waterside House is a spacious four-suite villa accommodating eight guests. Each suite has a Read more king bed and private deck. The villa features a heated pool, indoor fireplace, outdoor braai, open-plan living spaces, and access to Waterside’s communal areas. Waterside house offers an exclusive experience with your own chef, private guide, tracker and safari vehicle. Read Less
| Peak Season | $ 25,825per villa per night |
|---|---|
| High Season | $ 23,392per villa per night |
| Mid Season | $ 21,147per villa per night |
| Low Season | $ 20,772per villa per night |
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