Time for a beach break!

Autumn is a great time to relax in Kommetjie, near Cape Town

If some serious sun, sea and sand are what you’re craving, then look no further than the beautiful Fin Whale Beach House, located just steps from Long Beach in the lovely little village of Kommetjie, a half-hour’s drive from Cape Town…

Of course, the sun isn’t a given. When you’re staying at Fin Whale Beach House there are always going to be days when the Western Cape’s often fickle weather makes staying indoors a better option than braving the elements. But it’s no stress to stay home when home is just fabulous!

With its four en-suite bedrooms, marvelous lounge and dining areas and stylish kitchen, Fin Whale really is beachfront living at its finest and offers the perfect base for groups of friends or family to explore this charming piece of South Africa’s Western Cape.

The decor is understated and the ample space makes rainy days perfect for entertaining in style or kicking back, relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere of this lovely little beachside home-from-home.

Besides being literally on the wonderful Long Beach in the village of Kommetjie, some 30 minutes from the bustling centre of Cape Town, Fin Whale Beach House is perfectly positioned to allow easy access to some of the Western Cape’s best loved tourism attractions and a range of fabulous local restaurants and coffee shops.

The entire Cape Peninsula is on your doorstep, from Chapman’s Peak and Cape Point to Camps Bay and Clifton. This is one of the most scenic drives in South Africa and takes you to Cape Town in style, with breathtaking, jaw-dropping and picture-perfect vistas along the way.

In Cape Town itself you have the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, with its range of shops and restaurants. It’s here that you can take a boat trip to the world-famous Robben Island and experience the dark history of South Africa’s more recent past, where Nelson Mandela and other leaders of the ANC were imprisoned for so many years.

And of course, there’s Table Mountain, which is easily accessible via its legendary cableway.

A short drive brings you back to Fin Whale Beach House, where you can indulge in a roaring log fire (in winter and on chilly, rainy days) and sample some of the Cape’s finest vintages…

As they say – life’s a beach (house)!

Celebrate love at eKhaya!

So much to see and do in Hoedspruit in the “month of love”

It’s the “month of love” and the last month of summer! Here in Hoedspruit we’ve been enjoying wonderful rains interspersed with gorgeous sunshine and balmy temperatures… But when you are staying in a really cool place like eKhaya Bush Villa, the heat outside is hardly noticeable!

We’re cool figuratively and literally, with luxurious surroundings at this wonderful home from home in the African bush. All of our en-suite guest rooms are air-conditioned, and with just six ensuite rooms, eKhaya is the perfect place for families and small groups of friends.

With so much to do on your doorstep, exploring the town of Hoedspruit and its surrounds and venturing into the wild of Africa on full-day safaris, eKhaya really is one of the most special places in the Greater Kruger region. It’s also perfect for celebrating love and togetherness at this special time of year!

THE WILDERNESS ON YOUR DOORSTEP…

Don’t forget that eKhaya Bush Villa is also surrounded by its own amazing piece of wild Africa. It’s located on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, close to the centre of this lovely little bushveld town and home to a variety of wonderful wildlife, including giraffe, kudu and warthog.

The entire centre section of the estate has been left as a wilderness area and is traversed by a network of dirt roads, footpaths and cycle trails, meaning that you can go and explore whenever you like, either in a vehicle, on foot or on a mountain bike (which we can hire for you if you don’t bring your own!) So take advantage of what’s on your doorstep and this lovely little piece of African paradise!

FOR THE BIRDS!

At eKhaya you are surrounded by colour, whether it’s the amazing plumage of the fabulous birds you can spot in our garden and on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, the lively African textiles you see all around you that make our decor so special or the mountains of fresh fruit that greet you every morning in our kitchen…

The birdlife is unbelievably good, and you’re likely to see a wonderful array of colourful birds during your stay with us, so it’s a good idea to bring a good pair of binoculars with you and you won’t be disappointed, as just sitting for a while in eKhaya’s beautiful garden will give you the chance to do some great birdwatching. Or you can take a leisurely walk around the estate and along the winding trails in our wilderness area to see what you can spot. We can also arrange guided bird walks if you would prefer.

GORGEOUS DÉCOR

The funky, contemporary take on decor at eKhaya combines the rich organic influences of the surrounding bush with bright, colourful tribal textiles and a diversity of textures, from intricate woven basketware to beaded artefacts and trinkets.

All of these eclectic ingredients add up to a fabulous home-from-home and the perfect base from which to explore the Greater Kruger National Park.

So come and spend some time with us and celebrate love surrounded by family and friends!

The green season is here!

Our magnificent trees are a sight to behold

Towering over our wonderful Big Five safari lodge in the Greater Kruger are some of the most beautiful of South Africa’s trees, providing glorious shade for our guests and wonderful homes for a variety of wildlife species, from birds and lizards to bats! 

Above: One of our wonderful baobab trees.

Nyala Safari Lodge and Nyala Sands are home to some marvelous trees, including the mighty baobab – Adansonia digitata. One favourite specimen is close to the Nyala Safari Lodge pool and is still small in baobab terms at only around 150 years old. How do we know this? Well, baobabs grow extremely slowly and a rule of thumb when assessing their age is to add 100 years for every metre in circumference. This particular one is around 1,5m around, but there are bigger ones out there in the bush and some giants are estimated to be thousands of years old!

The baobab resembles an upside-down tree when fully grown, with a thickened trunk and branches that look like roots! Its bark has a sheen to it and makes it look shiny. It’s able to regenerate that bark too, which is an amazing ability and helps to set it apart in tree terms.

It’s actually amazing the textures you’ll find on the indigenous trees and shrubs here at Nyala Safari Lodge and Nyala Sands, from the prickly aloes to the knotted trunks of the apple leaf, the variegated trunks of the aptly named leopard tree and the gnarly bark of the river bushwillow.

Then there’s the gloriously yellow bark of the fever tree which the early European settlers associated with yellow fever, hence its name!

So you’re not going to be short of shade when you come and visit us. Which is good because with summer now in full swing, the heat is literally on! Insterspersed with wonderful thunder storms and regular downpours, summer is our hottest and most humid time of year with the upside being that there are lots of ways to stay cool, from a dip in our lovely swimming pools at each lodge, and refreshing outside showers in our wonderful rooms. Not to mention some nice cold beers or refreshing iced tea!

We’ve also got lots of water available on our game drives to ensure you stay hydrated, which is very important, so remember to drink as often as you can, and wear a hat when venturing out.

Of course, summer rains bring out all of the incredible insect life as well, including some of the more irritating species like mosquitos, so make sure you cover up of an evening and use insect repellant to keep the little bugs at bay!

We do recommend you taking anti-malarials during your visit as we are in a malaria area and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Go on safari in the Greater Kruger

A big five experience awaits with African Trilogy

If you’re looking for the perfect way to celebrate the festive season in style, the little town of Hoedspruit in the heart of South Africa’s Greater Kruger region is ready and waiting! We have the wonderful Nyala Safari Lodge and Nyala Sands just a stone’s throw from town and the beautiful eKhaya Bush Villa on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate – so what are you waiting for?

Time stands still at Nyala Safari Lodge and its sister property, Nyala Sands, allowing you to escape the stress of modern life and reconnect with nature in a pristine African wilderness where the Big Five roam free. A safari here allows you to marvel at the beauty of iconic wildlife species, experience the thrill of guided game drives in open vehicles, led by one of our professional, qualified safari guides and discover the magic that is wild Africa.

Located just a short drive from Hoedspruit – South Africa’s safari capital – on the beautiful Balule Private Game Reserve, Nyala Safari Lodge and Nyala Sands offer perfect authentic safari retreats for groups of friends or families, giving you the chance to unwind, relax and reboot.

The ethos at Nyala Safari Lodge and Nyala Sands focusses on making you feel at home when you’re on safari, so that you feel part of the incredible Greater Kruger environment around you.

Our facilities have been designed to offer you everything to make your Big Five African safari experience exceptional, from our fully equipped kitchens where meals are lovingly prepared for you to our indoor and outdoor dining areas, our cozy lounges and bars and our tempting splash pools surrounded by beautiful shade trees, all overlooking the seasonal Mohlabetsi, whose name means “sweet waters” in the local vernacular. A waterhole in front of both lodges means there is always the chance to spot animals as they come down to drink from the shady viewing decks.

Our chalets are celebrations of African culture and the incredible wilderness which surrounds the lodges. Plush cotton linen and hand-woven textiles complement traditional artwork and carvings, creating an air of authentic, practical “barefoot” luxury in each chalet.

The feeling of being “at home” is something we pride ourselves on at all of our properties. Indeed, when it comes to being at home, eKhaya Bush Villa is the place to be – it’s name means “home” in Zulu!

At eKhaya you don’t have to mind your Ps and Qs, or put on airs and graces – just relax, kick off your shoes, lay back on the couch and watch the TV or listen to some great African tunes on the music system, read a book, pour yourself a drink and generally make yourself at home!

We’ve got more than enough places and spaces for you to unwind in, from our lovely deck and rim-flow pool to our shady sala in the garden, where you’ll find a comfy day bed overlooking the surrounding bush. Or indulge in a siesta in your gorgeous air-conditioned suite, snuggling down for 40 winks or so on your soft, plump bed. We can also arrange a massage or spa therapy session for you in the comfort of your room, if you wish.

If lounging around “at home” gets too much for you, we can arrange a variety of great activities for you taking in the very best of the Greater Kruger region, from game viewing in the legendary Kruger National Park to exploring the amazing landscapes of the Panorama Route. Or hire a mountain bike and explore Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate on two wheels!

The bottom line is enjoyment. And having the time of your life! See you soon for a fabulous Greater Kruger safari!

A home from home in the heart of the bush!

Visit eKhaya Bush Villa on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate

Taking a walk through Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, home of eKhaya Bush Villa, is one of the best things about staying with us! The estate is home to a variety of wildlife and amazing bird species, so there’s always something interesting to see on your way.

The entire central section of the estate is designated as a green belt and has been left as a wilderness area, with its own network of roads, hiking and mountain bike trails. And because we don’t have elephant, buffalo, rhino or lion, this means you can explore to your heart’s content, either on four wheels, two or even on four legs – African Dream Horse Safaris are based on the estate and offer outrides.

We encourage all of our guests to take some time out of their schedules to explore their own “back yard” and can even organise a packed lunch and a few drinks so that they can stop alongside one of our dams and have a picnic in paradise!

It pays to bring a pair of binoculars with you when you visit, because the birdlife on the estate is particularly spectacular… You can spot fish eagles and other large birds of prey as well as the smaller, more colourful species, from hornbills to woodpeckers, guineafowl to barbets and francolins to orioles. We’ve got lots of reference books on hand to help you identify what you spot, so all you have to do is make sure your eyes are open and ready to find amazing things.

You’ll also see lots of game on your walks, from our lovely little grey duikers and warthogs to impala and kudu. We’ve got lots of zebra, waterbuck and wildebeest too, and all quite literally on the doorstep!

One of the best things about visiting eKhaya Bush Villa on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate is the freedom your stay gives you to explore this little piece of African paradise, which has its own wonderfull green belt wilderness area at its heart. This is home to a variety of African wildlife species – the most iconic of which by far is the graceful giraffe!

Standing some 5m tall when they are full-grown, there’s lots to love about giraffe, with their super-long legs, elegant necks and wonderfully patterned coats. Like all mammals (humans included) giraffes have only seven vertebrae in their necks – the difference is that each of those vertebrae is around 28cm long! Their long prehensile tongues manage to wrap around the branches of acacia trees and strip off leaves while avoiding thorns – a very clever trick when you look at just how many thorns these trees have!

Sadly, giraffe are under threat across Africa. During the last 30 years their numbers have fallen by 40% and a few of the various subspecies are now critically endangered. But here on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate they have a safe haven, and can be seen regularly in towers (the collective noun for a group of giraffe standing still) as they feed from the tops of the trees and in journeys (the collective for a group of giraffe on the move) as they move from one area to another.

You are welcome to explore the estate on foot or can hire a mountain bike and explore the various cycle paths and routes that criss-cross it. Or we can arrange for you to explore on horseback – African Dream Horse Safaris are based on the estate and have regular outrides into the wilderness area.

We hope to see you soon!