Spend time with us this summer

Combine the beach and the bush for a sensational holiday

Get the best out of African Trilogy with a dual destination holiday for your friends and family, spending time in South Africa’s Greater Kruger and on one of its best beaches in Kommetjie, close to Cape Town. Here’s how…

Getting away from it all is easy with African Trilogy, thanks to our diverse accommodation offerings in two complementary South African destinations – the Cape and the Greater Kruger. With Fin Whale Beach House you have the perfect holiday home on one of South Africa’s best-loved and lauded beaches just a stone’s throw from Cape Town and at eKhaya Bush Villa you have a home-from-home in the African bush on the doorstep of the Kruger National Park and the country’s leading private game reserves.

At Fin Whale Beach House your location is perfect, thanks to its ideal position on the beach in Kommetjie – a small town that evolved from a fishing village just a half-hour drive from the hustle and bustle of South Africa’s Mother City of Cape Town.

With all of the tourism attractions of the Western Cape and the Cape Peninsula on its doorstep, Fin Whale Beach House is nonetheless quiet and peaceful and just steps from the soft white sand of Kommetjie’s breathtaking Long Beach.

It’s a little pocket of tranquility in the heart of a wonderful community where relaxation, restoration and a hard reboot for body, mind and soul are guaranteed.

There’s enough space for you, your special someone and family and friends in this beautiful beach house with its four spacious en-suite bedrooms ideal for small groups. Fur babies are welcome, so your faithful dogs can join in the holiday fun.

It’s an exclusive use, self-catering beach house, meaning that it’s all yours to make your own, allowing you to make yourself at home and enjoy all of the luxurious facilities at hand. These include a state-of-the-art kitchen with all mod cons, indoor and outdoor dining areas, a sparkling swimming pool and cozy lounge areas with open fireplaces for those chilly coastal evenings, all on one of South Africa’s most renowned beaches.

A two hour direct flight from Cape Town Internatinal Airport places you in Hoedspruit on the edge of the Kruger National Park. With scheduled daily flights, getting here from Cape Town is easy. EKhaya Bush Villa is your destination here, a home from home in the Greater Kruger, perfectly positioning you on the edge of everything that makes this sensational part of South Africa so amazing.

With lots of room for family and friends in our wonderfully luxurious guest suites and a sumptuous breakfast included in our rates, all that there is to do is arrange some amazing activities and exciting trips that will show you the incredible scenery, phenomenal wildlife and introduce you to some of the places that make Hoedspruit and its surrounds so special.

Starting with your wonderful accommodation, eKhaya Bush Villa has been designed to pamper and spoil you at every turn, from your spacious and luxuriously appointed rooms to the wonderful lounge and deck areas and the sparkling pool which is perfect for cooling off in when the summer heat kicks in.

EKhaya is surrounded by the wonderful bush of the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate – home, as its name implies, to a diversity of plains game from antelope and zebra to giraffe, hyena and even leopard! At its centre is a beautifully pristine green belt of around 400ha that’s traversed by a series of sand roads, hiking and mountain bike trails, taking you away from all vestiges of urban existence and giving you a taste of remote, wild Africa.

You’re free to explore the estate on foot, on a mountain bike, in your own car, on a guided game drive or bush walk or even on horseback. But if you are wanting more in the way of wildlife experiences, then why not consider a morning or afternoon game drive on a nearby private game reserve? We can easily arrange this for you and your family and friends at an additional cost.

Of course, the Kruger National Park is just a short drive away and full-day guided game drives here are an absolute must. Talk to us about making a booking for you or just go and explore in your own vehicle or hire car.

Indulge in some you time!

From spa treatments to guided game drives, go wild!

Being out in the wilderness is really good for you, far from the madding crowds and the stresses and strains of every day life. Here at African Trilogy we’re surrounded by the luxury of the African bush, helping to keep us calm and grounded! At eKhaya Bush Villa, for example, you get luxury in the heart of the bush, with wonderful, personal service and gorgeous surroundings.

You’ll also get to spend time with some of the iconic wildlife species that make this area their home, either by exploring Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate or heading out on guided game drives. Morning or afternoon game drives on local private reserves are on offer, or how about a full day on safari with a professional guide in the Kruger National Park, just a short drive away?

Or you can stay at eKhaya and relax next to the sparkling swimming pool or sit on the deck, find a perfect, shady spot and grab that book you’ve been meaning to read… Banish your cellphone to your room and indulge in a digital detox, letting your mind switch off from technology and tune in to the sights and sounds of the African bush…

Dining out in Hoedspruit is easy thanks to a range of wonderful restaurants, most of which offer you the chance to dine under a canopy of stars and marvel at the magic of the African night sky as you enjoy wonderful fare prepared with fresh, locally sourced incredients…

We also have some wonderful spas here in Hoedspruit offering a range of wellness treatments that allow you to indulge in some much-needed “me” time and relax body, mind and soul. We can even arrange a fabulous 60-minute massage in the comfort of your own room!

These are the things that lifetime memories are made of. So get in touch today to find out more about this wonderful getaway… We hope to see you soon!

Spring is in full swing!

We’re getting ready for the rains

There’s a saying that you can feel spring in the air. Perhaps it’s true, because although the bush of the Greater Kruger National Park is currently as dry, dusty and thirsting for the November rains, there are signs of new life everywhere. 

Fresh green leaves are sprouting on acacia trees, the first blades of grass are trying to push their way out of the parched earth and the knob-thorns have already blossomed, along with the bush willows, with their fluffy flowers puncturing the sparse landscape with welcome colour and texture.

 The impala lilies are pushing through their bright pink flowers and their namesakes are preparing for the birth of their young, which should coincide with the first real rains. At the moment most of the mature female impala you will see have nicely rounded bellies – signs that their unborn lambs are growing steadily.

They will give birth at around the same time, and after a few days the lambs will form creches on the understanding that there’s safety in numbers.

The zebras too are heavily pregnant as all life in the bush gets ready for the downpours that the annual rains bring.

There is no guarantee that November will bring the much-needed rain, but this is the time of year when first rains generally fall, so we can only hope that the winter drought is broken on time this year, as there is very little left for the animals to eat.

Every day in the build-up to the rains is a challenge, as the bush becomes painfully sparse, offering little in the way of either food or shelter. The heat also gathers momentum, with each day getting a little hotter as the hours of sunlight lengthen towards their summer peak and the sun moves to its zenith. Occasional cloud cover promises relief, but brief showers do little to help, with whatever rainfall they provide evaporating before it can soak into the ground.

Waterholes and dams are literally lifelines for our wildlife at this time of year. And this is where you will generally find the largest concentration of animals on game drives and safaris as all creatures great and small gather to quench their thirst and search for the inevitable greenery that grows close to permanent water.

Predator Hotspots

These are hotspots for predators too, as they wait patiently for opportunities to ambush animals that come down to drink. Inevitably some animals lose condition over the winter. Food is hard to come by and as they lose condition they can become susceptible to illness and disease. These animals become targets for hungry predators like lion and leopard.

In spite of the challenges this time of year brings, it is usually a great time for a safari, as the bush is at its thinnest making game viewing much easier and with a lot of animals staying close to water, stopping for a while to watch what happens at the waterholes and dams can yield some amazing sightings.

It often seems strange to visitors from Europe and the US that those of us here in Africa are so fixated on rain, especially those of us who live and work in the bush. Well, rain literally is a life-bringer here in Hoedspruit, the home of African Trilogy, so we do tend to count the days until it is scheduled to fall, often praying for its early arrival as the temperature soars and the dry season hits its climax. So yes, we are very much obsessed with our rains and if you visit us during the dry season (May to the start of November) you will soon understand why.

If our rains arrive on schedule all life changes for the better, but especially life for our wild fauna and flora. Once the first proper rains fall, the bush in the Greater Kruger region is transformed virtually overnight, as trees burst forth with lush foliage and grasses sprout everywhere. Bullfrogs that have remained dormant over the winter in their underground mucus capsules dig their way out of the ground and find their way to pools of water where they begin their distincitive calls for mates. Soon the pools fill with tadpoles of all varieties, and insect larvae too.

Seasonal rivers begin to flow, filling up oxbows and long-deserted, dried-out dams which soon attract hippos and crocodiles. Barbel come back to life after secreting themselves under the mud in mucus cocoons – their way of surviving periods of drought, aided by their rudimentary lung which allows them to breathe air.

The bush is soon filled with baby animals everywhere – from the young impala and zebra to wildebeest and, eventually, buffalo, who generally calve from January onwards. It’s a time of plenty, when there is enough for everyone, wildlife and human alike. In our local communities people become busy with their farms, growing the vegetables and maize which are staples of their diet. Their livestock also thrive on the fresh vegetation and life becomes much easier for a brief period in time.

So forgive us for our obsession, if you can! We do love our rains, and have been known to run out into the first major downfall and have a little dance by way of thanks!

Come and visit us soon, and dance with us if you like!

Discover the thrill of a Big Five safari

The African wilderness surrounds you at Nyala Safari Lodge

At our wonderful Nyala Safari Lodge in the Greater Kruger’s Balule Game Reserve, safari is a way of life! Game drives take place in the early morning and late afternoon and your safari guides are on hand to act as ambassadors for the wildlife you encounter along the way, giving you all of the information you need to better understand the magic of our ecosystems and the way nature works in complete harmony.

Early morning wake-ups are usually just before dawn, with time for a quick cup of coffee and a muffin or other delicious goodies before heading out. This way we escape the heat of the day and get to see the animals waking up and preparing for the day ahead, and the nocturnal animals getting ready for bed!

Afternoon drives are preceded by a nice cup of tea or coffee, or some refreshing juice and our take on “high tea” – usually cake and snacks to keep you going until dinner time. The first part of the drive gives you the chance to experience the afternoon “golden hour” when the bush is bathed in a rich golden light as the sun begins to dip towards the horizon. This is perfect for photography.

After a stop for sundowners, it begins to get dark and that’s when your safari guide will switch to a spotlight to help you spot animals after the sun has gone down.

So what are you likely to see here in the Greater Kruger? Well, of course there’s the Big Five – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino. We can’t guarantee that you’ll see all of these during your safari with us, but many guests are lucky and manage to tick them all off their sightings list.

We do have regular sightings of predators like lion and leopard, and also other iconic species like hyena and cheetah. Wild dog are also to be found in the Greater Kruger, but are much harder to see. Curiously, out of all of Africa’s apex predators, the wild dog is by far the most skillfull hunter, with a success rate far in excess of lions and the other big cats.

They have huge ranges, moving over areas as large as 1500 square kilometres, which makes them hard to pin down. But when they are denning and bringing up puppies, this makes them a lot easier to find when out on safari.

When it comes to the “king of beasts” – the African lion – we do have a resident pride in the area around Nyala Safari Lodge and we see them regularly on our game drives. Lions are usually night lovers, using the cover of darkness to hunt their prey.

They are active from sunset onwards, so it’s always great to pick up lion on the afternoon game drive and watch as they wake up, greet one another and prepare for the night ahead.

So be sure to visit us at Nyala Safari Lodge here in the Greater Kruger and discover the wonders of wild Africa with us!

Come on an adventure with us!

Whether its bush or beach or both, you won’t get bored!

When you travel with African Trilogy to eKhaya Bush Villa in Hoedspruit or Fin Whale Beach House in Kommetjie, you know you’re going to have an adventure-filled time of it! Here’s some reasons why…

Hoedspruit is the safari capital of South Africa and there’s a wealth of safari activities on its doorstep, offering you the chance to view the Big Five – elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion – as well as a host of other amazing African wildlife species.

If you’re staying at eKhaya Bush Villa, there’s a wealth of great tourism attractions on offer in this beautiful corner of South Africa, so let’s have a look at some of the best things to do while you are in Hoedspruit…

1. The Kruger National Park

The legendary Kruger National Park’s Orpen Gate is a short 40-minute drive from Hoedspruit, with most of the town’s surrounding private game reserves open to the park and forming the bulk of what’s now known as the Greater Kruger National Park. 

There are guided day tours into the park in open safari vehicles or you can choose a self-drive option in your own vehicle, taking one of the many exciting game drive routes inside the park.

2. The Panorama Route

Take a guided tour along the Panorama route or opt to self-drive. The route is packed with exciting things to do and see from the Blyde River Canyon and the famous Three Rondavels to Bourke’s Luck Potholes – a fascinating geological anomaly formed at the confluence of the Blyde and Treur rivers where the swirling waters have carved huge circular shapes out of the sandstone rock. End up at the wonderful Graskop Gorge Lift and plunge to the floor of a steep gorge to explore the amazing eco system you find there.

3. Eat out, Hoedspruit-style

Hoedspruit is famous for its range of wonderful restaurants, coffee shops and eateries from the legendary Sleepers and Thirsty Giraffe Pub and Grill to the Hoedspruit Café and Hat & Creek restaurant. We also have a first-class food truck – the Yum Factory – making delicious thin-crust pizzas and the Hoedspruit Brew Co, with its great range of craft beers and spirits. Feel free to ask us for recommendations.

4. Hot Air Ballooning

Hot Air Ballooning is most certainly one of the best ways to experience the majesty of this region’s fantastic scenery. Soar over breathtaking landscapes at the foot of the Drakensberg Escarpment, which forms a natural amphitheatre, providing safe shelter from prevailing winds. Flights last approximately an hour.

5. Cruising the Blyde Dam

You’ll be blown away by the amazing views of the Blyde River Canyon from the dam on a wonderful guided cruise of this amazing body of water, where the Blyde River is temporarily halted on its journey to join the Olifants River. The cruises, which operate from the Swadini Nature Reserve a short drive from Hoedspruit, take in the Kadishi Tufa waterfall and the magnificent Three Rondavels and allow full appreciation of this amazing “green” canyon.

6. Horse riding

Whether you’re a bird watcher, animal lover or just here for the ride, a horse back trail is the perfect way to experience the bush in its most natural form. African Dream Horse Safaris are based on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate and offer a range of outrides on the estate along game drive routes through the bush, where a variety of wildlife can be seen. This is a great way to experience the bush, as wild animals do not react to the horses, carrying on with their usual activities, allowing you to view them in a completely different, more relaxed and personal way.

7. Hiking, kloofing and cycling

There is a rich variety of guided and non-guided hiking trails in and around the Hoedspruit area, both along ancient Lowveld pathways and up in the Drakensberg Escarpment, around the Blyde River Canyon. Kloofing is a form of extreme hiking, taking in streams, waterholes, waterfalls and water-filled caves along the way. Ask us for more information. Or just hike or mountain bike on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate with its variety of hiking and mountain biking trails.

When it comes to getting away from it all, Fin Whale Beach House and the incredible scenery of South Africa’s Western Cape and its magnificent coastline is as good as it gets! And you can easily combine it with eKhaya Bush Villa with daily direct flights between Cape Town and Hoedspruit!

So what is there to do here at our lovely little beach house overlooking Kommetjie’s beautiful Long Beach and the gorgeous blues of the Atlantic Ocean? Here are some suggestions…

1. Take long walks on the beach

It’s called Long Beach for a reason and it’s just begging to be explored. Get up just as the sun is breaking over the horizon and head out onto the soft, white sand and breathe in that wonderful sea air as you just walk and feel your body and mind relax and keep time to the waves. Or head out in the late afternoon to watch the sun set and marvel at the incredible views. Don’t forget we welcome dogs at Fin Whale Beach House – so feel free to bring your fur babies along!

2. Explore the wreck of the Kakapo

While walking along the beach in the direction of Noordhoek and Chapman’s Peak which beckons on the horizon, stop to examine the mangled iron that forms the skeleton of the SS Kakapo – a 665-ton schooner-rigged steamship which floundered here on 25 May 1900. It’s a local legend and makes for great photo opportunities.

3. Discover the Cape Floral Kingdom on your doorstep

Take a casual hike into the foothills behind Kommetjie and marvel at the abundant fynbos plants and flowers that make up the Cape Floral Kingdom – one of the most biodiverse eco-systems in the world that includes rare and endemic species found only here. The best time for flowers is spring which starts officially in September, but many species bloom well into summer and autumn.

4. Surfs up!

Kommetjie is renowned the world over for its great surfing, so if you love getting out onto the ocean there’s no better way to do it than with a surfboard. If you’ve never surfed before, don’t worry – there are lots of operators who will gladly teach you and show you how it’s done. If you’re already a keen surfer, you’ll love it here! Just bring your board!

5. A galloping we will go…

Horse riding is a wonderful way to experience Kommetjie and its spectacular views and explore both the beach and its surroundings. There’s nothing like riding along Long Beach or winding your way up into the hills and getting spectacular views over the ocean and the mountains beyond Chapman’s Peak. You don’t have to be an experienced rider to enjoy a horse trail and you can choose how long you ride for, from an hour to a full day.

6. Wine tasting

The Western Cape is South Africa’s wine-making capital and there are some wonderful vineyards in and around Kommetjie, in neighbouring Noordhoek and out on the main Winelands tourism route. Take a full-day trip to the Franschhoek Valley and hop on and off the renowned Wine Tram, stopping at local vineyards to sample the vintages! Or tour the Kommetjie Wine Route and take in the best of our local wine estates.

7. Food, glorious food

Kommetjie and its surrounds are blessed with some stunning restaurants, eateries and cafés which, combined with the amazing food offered at the local vineyards makes this area an absolute hotspot for food lovers and cuisine connoisseurs! From farm to table, the food on offer around Fin Whale Beach House is outstanding, fresh and sustainably grown, so take the time to sample what’s on offer and enjoy eating out in style!

8. Marine safaris

Head out on to the ocean on a guided tour to see the marine big five – whales, dolphins, sharks, seals and penguins – and learn more about these amazing animals. You can take a day trip up the coast to Hermanus – the whale-watching capital of South Africa – and see the southern right whales in season (June to November) when they come here to calf. Or get an adrenaline rush with some shark cage diving, witnessing the majesty of the great white shark.

9. Diving in the kelp forests

Pull on a wetsuit and plunge beneath the waves into the incredible world beneath the surface and the gently swaying kelp forests made famous by the award-winning documentary “My Octopus Teacher”. You’ll be amazed by the wealth of marine life that calls the kelp forests home, from the humble octopus, seals and sharks to a variety of fish and crustaceans. If you are not a qualified diver, dive courses are available at dive centres in and around Kommetjie.

10. Do absolutely nothing!

That’s right. Just stay at home at Fin Whale Beach House and enjoy the feeling of switching off, relaxing and chilling out. Swim in our sparkling pool, snooze in the hammock, braai (the local term for a barbecue) with friends and family and make the most of the idyllic views, fresh sea air and fabulous facilities on offer. Sometimes doing nothing is the best holiday of all!