Tag: wildlife

Masodini Private Game Lodge – (now called Zazu)

Several years ago we came across this absolute gem of a Game Lodge…….it was Johns first time on Safari and I really wanted him to fall in love with the bush. I couldn’t have chosen better….

Masodini Private Game Lodge is ideally located in the 40 000-hectare Balule Nature Reserve. It is situated in the Greater Kruger National Park, and offers visitors a true feeling of Africa.  It is in a Big 5 Conservation area. It is a bush lover’s paradise and the lodge is surrounded by fever trees and evergreen African date palms which create a perfect oasis. Guests of the lodge can immerse themselves in the untamed beauty of the African landscape while enjoying superb amenities and fantastic service.

The camp overlooks the waterhole it is safe and fenced-in, providing protection against unwanted animal intruders. This was the view from our chalet veranda.

We could have opted for game walks but we preferred to enjoy game drives with an experienced ranger…..there were wonderful birding opportunities as well as getting up close and personal to a range of wildlife…..

Our evenings were spent enjoying the company of the other guests, eating superb food and watching the semi tame, shy bush babies come and go…all of which took place in the boma.

We had dinner bed and breakfast, now their package is Full board + 2 game drives a day….during the day we sat on the viewing platform watching wildlife come and go at the water hole or we went out and visited a local attraction.

There are so many places to visit using Masodini/ Zazu as your base, such as the Kruger National Park, Khamai Reptile Park, Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre, the Cheetah Project, the Panorama Route and local villages to name a few. We visited the Cheetah Project and on another day we went to the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre….and we still managed to fit in the morning and sunset drives at Masodini.

All accommodation is in private, secluded and elegantly furnished chalets. Since our visit all the chalets/suites and communal areas have been upgraded and the Safari vehicle has also been replaced, its name has changed to Zazu. However …when we stayed it was all very nice indeed…we can only imagine that the upgrades will have made it even more magical… Masodini is both private and  intimate, the staff provide guests with  a very warm welcome all guests can use the camp facilities. They only have a maximum of 14 guests at a time, which makes it feel very exclusive.The accommodation was really nice with a traditional African theme ….

Our visit was perfect….the price per night for full board including two game drives a day is:

RACK RATES

FEB ’25 TO JAN ‘26

Adult Rate PPS R5 900.00

13 years and under R3 540.00

3 years and under R1 770.00

Single Adult Rate R8 850.00

FEB ’26 TO JAN ‘27

Adult Rate PPS R6 400.00

13 years and under R3 840.00

3 years and under R1 920.00

Single Adult Rate R9 600.00

Prices can of course occasionally fluctuate when circumstances beyond the lodges control occur…..but this is a guideline to help with holiday budgeting.

……for something so private and so personal with a maximum capacity of 14 guests, this is a superb price ….we loved it and sometime in the near future we will be returning ….

What Zazu Private Bush Lodge has to offer…

Chalet-Style Accommodations and Privacy

• Zazu Private Bush Lodge offers 5 Individual Chalets, of which, 2 are Family Chalets (accommodating four guests), and 3 are Double Chalets (ideal for two guests). Each chalet ensures privacy, surrounded by the natural beauty of the African bush.

Family-Friendly Experiences

• At Zazu Private Bush Lodge, they pride themselves on creating a family-friendly environment. They welcome children and offer safaris where children can join Big 5 game drives when accompanied by a parent.

Included Experiences

• Enjoy 2 game drives per day and the freedom to explore the bush in a Big Five reserve, all while guided by expert rangers.

• Venture outside of the fence line on a guided daytime bush walk to track wildlife and discover the hidden wonders of the bush.

• Full-Board Dining: Indulge in an English breakfast, lunch, and a three-course dinner prepared by Chef Bianca, served around the campfire or on our scenic viewing terrace.

• Zazu offers excursions and outings into the surrounding areas allowing guests to experience all that Limpopo has to offer, including the famous Kruger National Park.

Additional Details

• Conservation Fee: A once-off fee of R115 per vehicle and R285 per person applies at the gate. (subject to changes by the reserve)

• Check-In: 2:00 PM | Check-Out: 10:00 AM (flexible by arrangement).

For more information, please contact the bookings team:

Email: bookings@Zazubushlodge.co.za Call or WhatsApp: +27 73 187 0882

This definitely is “A piece of paradise”….a little bit of heaven which has fallen to earth….if this falls within your budget we totally and thoroughly recommend staying here…be spoilt, be pampered and enjoy a real safari experience…thank you Masodini….you hooked my husband on the African bush.

Pestana Lodge Hotel, Malalani Gate KrugerNational Park.- The price of Bed and Breakfast in a deluxe room is about £120.00 for 2. This is far more a hotel than our other two recommendations. It is superbly situated within a 2 minute drive of Krugers Malalane gate. The deluxe rooms all over look the river, bridge and the far banks of the river are in Kruger …

The restaurant is mediocre…in that the buffets are like most places luke warm and unappetising. However the A La carte menu was very reasonably priced and the food was pleasant enough…it’s the deluxe room view and the convenience to Kruger which makes this a good place to stay….we will use it again…just remember not to go for the £30 a night cheaper option of £90 because your room could end up overlooking a construction site…

Another benefit of Pestana Lodge is that you can book a Kruger Parks Sunset drive and it will pick you up and return you to the hotel.

Kruger Park Camp Accommodation- the accommodation throughout Kruger is very basic…not for the faint hearted or even those who have to have 4 star plus facilities …ummmm may be 3 star plus….Kruger camp accommodation is not this sort of standard…having said this some camps are better than others….always go for the huts with a kitchen, utensils, bathroom…for 2 people go for a 3 bedded accommodation then you’ll have somewhere other than the floor to put your bags. Berg-en-dal has good, well maintained chalets. As is Lower Sabi ….. at lower Sabi our chalet had a Kitchenette…..it was a separate room to the bedroom..a kitchen and dinning room with a third bed…great for the cases, it opened out on to the veranda…very comfortable. Shingwedzi Camp has newish chalets which we were told were lovely…our old one was nice enough everything worked and it was well maintained. The accommodation in Kruger is about £80 per night depending on the style you book…get the more expensive ones as they are in better condition.

Well that’s our only recommendations……we’re happy recommending the ones we have…secure in the knowledge that if you pick the one which suits your budget you won’t be disappointed.