The need to disconnect from everyday life and re-connect to the wilderness is becoming increasingly sought after, as people are opting for experiences that are not purely for the sake of travel and adventure, but are in fact, good for the soul.
Tintswalo Waterberg is one of those special places. Situated in the Welgevonden Game Reserve, less than three hours’ drive from Johannesburg and spreading across 36,000 hectares of pristine bushveld, Welgevonden ranks amongst South Africa’s largest private game reserves. Tintswalo offers complimentary, twice daily guided game drives in open safari vehicles to view the great variety of game, including the Big 5 and more than 50 other animal species, as well as 300 bird species.
Tintswalo Waterberg can accommodate up to 16 guests in five spacious, freestanding units. There are two one-bedroom units, as well as one unit with two-bedrooms, and two three-bedroom units, positioned on either side of the main lodge and communal living area. Guest suites come with all creature comforts, including romantic mosquito nets, en-suite bathrooms with outdoor showers, fireplaces, wifi, ceiling fans and air-conditioning. The lodge may also be booked on an exclusive-use basis to accommodate a private group.
The reserve is malaria-free and the lodge welcomes children of all ages as the ideal safari destination for multi-generational families or groups of friends wanting to spend quality time together in nature. The camp is protected by electric fencing against predators and other dangerous game to allow children the freedom to enjoy the outside areas with a children’s programme of educational activities to keep the little ones entertained.
There is a small gift shop, and in-room massage treatments are available by prior arrangement. The spacious entertainment room can double-up as a conference room, providing the perfect private venue for corporate breakaways and executive retreats. Comfortably furnished, the main communal lounge and dining areas provide a warm and welcoming ambience with large, open living areas and cozy fireplaces. Outdoors an expansive deck invites al fresco dining during the summer months, with a swimming pool and sun loungers boasting endless views of the surrounding wilderness.
House drinks, as well as all wholesome, slow-cooked meals are included, featuring traditional South African dishes with culinary feasts shared family-style, and Boma dinners enjoyed beneath the Milky Way.
Tintswalo Waterberg also offers a fully Kosher safari option (at additional cost), with Kosher catering prepared on site in the dedicated Beth Din certified Kosher kitchen, supervised by a licensed Mashgiach. The kosher option is tailor-made for small family groups or exclusive group lodge take-overs. Bookings over Shabbas include the use of Kiddush Havdalah and Wine sets.
An unforgettable experience is furthermore available to those who wish to spend a night under the stars. At sunset the African bush comes alive with nocturnal creatures and as the night sky grows darker, Tintswalo Waterberg’s Stargazing Sleepout Deck is magically transformed into a romantic, open-air sleep-out deck for two. A luxurious king size bed is dressed in the finest linen and draped in protective insect netting, lit by the warm glow of lanterns and with easy access to bathroom facilities. Hidden away in a secluded spot overlooking a waterhole, here a couple may marvel at nature, before drifting to sleep surrounded by the sounds of the wild. The Sleepout overnight experience is included on a complimentary basis for honeymoon couples but may also be booked by other guests (at additional cost).
For those wanting to escape the confines of the safari vehicle, 2-hour guided bush walks may be booked (at additional cost) with a professional game ranger to explore the bush on foot. It provides a rare opportunity to immerse oneself in all of the sights, sounds and scents of the wilderness to connect with the African landscape on a deeper level (no children under 16).
Recently Tintswalo Waterberg also introduced a new late night game drive option in search of nocturnal animals under moonlit skies. These may include leopard, porcupine, aardvark, owls and the elusive pangolin, to name but a few. This thrilling adventure may be booked at an additional cost and includes drinks and snacks, as well as ample opportunity for stargazing.
Combined with Tintswalo’s signature warm hospitality and attention to detail, the marvels on offer in the Welgevonden wilderness live up to its Dutch name. A “serendipitous discovery” indeed, for modern day travellers, both young and old.
The Tintswalo Collection comprises of six family-owned and managed properties situated in five unique locations, stretching from the beach to the bush, across Southern Africa. Perched oceanside on a pebbled beach at the foot of Chapmans Peak, the award-winning boutique hotel, Tintswalo Atlantic is surrounded by the Table Mountain National Park, and is renowned as one of Cape Town’s most precious hidden gems. In Simon’s Town on the southern side of the Cape Peninsula, Tintswalo Boulders is located on Boulders Beach with views across the world-famous colony of endangered African penguins.
Sharing an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park, Tintswalo Safari is hidden within the pristine Manyeleti Private Nature Reserve, known for some of the best game viewing in South Africa. In the same private concession, Tintswalo Manor offers a luxurious, fully-catered private lodge for families or small groups seeking a tailor-made stay on an exclusive-use basis. Only three hours’ drive from Johannesburg, Tintswalo Waterberg is a comfortable family-friendly or corporate safari retreat within Limpopo’s malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve, complete with the option of a kosher kitchen. In Zambia, Tintswalo Siankaba presents an authentic African adventure with luxury tented accommodation on two small, private islands in the mighty Zambezi River.
