Wild world

Bush & Safari

Game reserves and bushveld lodges, from the Waterberg and the Kruger all the way up into Botswana's Chobe.

11 bush & safari escapes — 7 bookable online, 4 on enquiry. Dream Wild's bush and safari collection spans private game reserves, tented camps and lodges on the doorstep of the Kruger — through Mpumalanga and the Waterberg, into Zululand's big-water reserves, and north to Botswana's Chobe. Expect Big Five game drives, birding, malaria-free options within a few hours of Johannesburg, and riverside camps where elephant cross in front of the deck.

Every bush & safari escape

Burchell's Bush LodgeBook onlineMpumalanga

Burchell's Bush Lodge

Located just 1km from Paul Kruger Gate, Burchell’s Bush Lodge offers an effortless base for experiencing the Kruger National Park. Set near the Sabie River and surrounded by riverine vegetation, birdlife and the sounds of the bushveld, the lodge places you close to the wild from the moment you arrive. Comfortable self-catering chalets include fully equipped kitchens, private patios and braai areas, with air conditioning and daily servicing adding ease to every stay. Guided game drives into the Kruger are central to the experience, led by knowledgeable rangers who bring the landscape to life while seeking out elephant, rhino, buffalo, predators and other remarkable sightings. Full-day safaris offer time for deeper exploration. Between adventures, guests can relax beside the swimming pool or settle into the quiet rhythm of the bush. The nearby Skukuza Golf Course adds a distinctive experience for golfers. Burchell’s Bush Lodge combines accessibility, privacy and rewarding safari encounters in a stay shaped by nature’s rhythm.
Finfoot Lake Reserve33% offBook onlineNorth West

Finfoot Lake Reserve

Set within the Elands River Game Reserve near Vaalkop Dam, Finfoot Lake Reserve offers an authentic bush retreat within easy driving distance of Gauteng. Here, bushveld and wetland habitats meet, creating a diverse landscape rich in wildlife and more than 400 recorded bird species. Accommodation ranges from chalets and safari tents to bush chalets and a self-catering villa, each designed with earthy interiors and private outdoor space. Days can be as active or unhurried as you choose, with guided walks, game drives, Segway safaris, fishing, kayaking and specialist birding experiences offering different ways to explore. Two swimming pools, relaxed lounge areas, a games room and a full-service spa create space to unwind, while Dream Xplorers keeps younger guests engaged through nature-led activities. As evening falls, the Dinaledi Boma brings guests together for fire-cooked dishes, drumming and stories beneath the stars. Finfoot is where nature, culture and connection come together with ease.
Jackalberry RidgeBook onlineMpumalanga

Jackalberry Ridge

Set within Marloth Park, Jackalberry Ridge offers an immersive glamping escape where free-roaming wildlife, abundant birdlife and the Kruger National Park are all part of the experience. Crocodile Bridge Gate is approximately 20km away, making guided safari adventures and rewarding game viewing easily accessible while guests enjoy the quieter pace of a private bush setting. Self-catering safari tents cater to couples, families and groups, combining the atmosphere of camping with considered comfort. Each includes a fully equipped kitchen, open-plan living space, private deck and braai area, with a splash or plunge pool offering a welcome place to cool off. Daily servicing allows more time to simply relax and enjoy the surroundings. Kudu, impala and warthog are often seen moving through the area, while the communal swimming pool, jungle gym and trampoline add to the family-friendly atmosphere. Jackalberry Ridge brings together bush living, flexibility and easy access to the Kruger in a stay that feels naturally adventurous.
Ghoha HillsEnquireBotswana

Ghoha Hills

Perched high above the Savuti Plains, Ghoha Hills Savuti offers a safari defined by elevation, space and uninterrupted views. From its position on the rugged edge of the Ghoha Hills, the lodge looks across ancient wildlife corridors, seasonal marshes and vast plains where elephants, predators and other wildlife move freely below. Elevated tented suites with private decks and open-air layouts keep you closely connected to the landscape throughout your stay. Guided game drives reveal the dynamic ecosystems of Savuti, known for strong predator activity, large elephant herds and rewarding wildlife encounters. Between drives, unwind beside the pool or watch the plains from the lodge’s open communal spaces. Evenings bring sundowners, locally inspired dining and the distant sounds of the bush beneath clear night skies. Operating primarily on solar power, Ghoha Hills combines thoughtful comfort with a low-impact approach, offering a remote and responsible way to experience the scale and drama of Chobe.
Jozini Tiger Lodge & Spa25% offBook onlineKwaZulu-Natal

Jozini Tiger Lodge & Spa

Set high above the waters of Lake Jozini and framed by the Lebombo Mountains, Jozini Tiger Lodge & Spa offers a lakeside escape in northern KwaZulu-Natal where relaxation, adventure and cultural warmth come together. The resort features 70 guest rooms, from Classic and Deluxe options to family-friendly Lofts and Executive Suites, each with a private balcony, air conditioning, en suite bathroom and sweeping lake views. Days can be shaped around sunset cruises, wildlife viewing boat trips, kayaking, tiger fishing and nearby reserves offering access to Big 5 safari experiences. On site, guests can unwind at the rim-flow pool, enjoy the 227m Hillside Super Slide and kids’ splash zone, discover supervised Dream Xplorers activities for the kids, visit Mangwanani Spa or stay active in the gym. Dining flows from hearty buffet-style meals to à la carte dishes, with lake views and sundowners on the deck. Jozini Tiger Lodge & Spa delivers a lakeside escape that touches the heart and stirs the soul.
Malkoha · Lake St Lucia33% offBook onlineiSimangaliso

Malkoha · Lake St Lucia

Set on the northern shores of Lake St Lucia within the UNESCO-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Malkoha Lake St. Lucia offers a journey shaped by forest, water and meaningful connection. Your stay begins with a tranquil ferry crossing before you settle into a private timber chalet within the rare sand forest canopy. Days unfold through guided walks, lake excursions, canoeing, e-bike trails, fossil foraging and personalised birding experiences across a region home to more than 500 recorded species. Cultural visits connect you to the KwaNibela community, while the Spa invites rest and renewal. Dining is woven into the experience, from relaxed terrace meals and African High Tea beneath the trees to evenings at the Lake View Restaurant or beneath the stars at the lakeside boma, where the setting adds another layer to the experience. Malkoha is more than a place to stay. It is a carefully curated escape that connects you to the landscapes, stories and natural rhythms of Lake St Lucia.
Mantuma · uMkhuzeEnquireKwaZulu-Natal

Mantuma · uMkhuze

uMkhuze Game Reserve is one of South Africa's last quiet Big-5 wildernesses — ancient fig forests, fever-tree pans and rolling acacia savanna. On the northern edge of KwaZulu-Natal, between the Lebombo Mountains and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park — South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site — uMkhuze (its official name) stays gloriously off the beaten track. No queues at sightings. No crowded waterholes. Just you, your family, and the bush. At its heart is Mantuma Camp, the reserve's main rest camp — a relaxed mix of thatched chalets, rustic rest huts and shaded safari tents. Beyond it lie the exclusive Nhlonhlela Bush Lodge and the easy-going Emshopi Campsite: three ways to make the reserve your own, each with its own braai stand and star-bright nights. Drive your own vehicle through the loop roads. Spend an afternoon watching nyala drift in to drink at Kumasinga Hide. Cook on the fire while the bushveld settles. The team at reception have been here a long time, and they know where to point you. This is safari the old, honest way.
Mjejane Bush CampBook onlineMpumalanga

Mjejane Bush Camp

Set on the banks of the Crocodile River within an unfenced private game reserve, Mjejane Bush Camp offers a self-catering safari stay closely connected to the wilderness of the Kruger National Park. Hippos, riverine forest and distant wildlife calls create an immediate sense of place, while animals move freely through the surrounding landscape. One- to four-bedroom chalets offer river, bush or park-facing views, with fully equipped kitchens, open-plan living areas and floor-to-ceiling windows. Each opens onto a private deck with a braai and plunge pool, creating a comfortable space for families and groups to unwind between adventures. Guided game drives explore Mjejane’s wild terrain and the Kruger’s Big 5 country, led by experienced guides who share the stories of the landscape. Back at camp, guests can enjoy the pool, outdoor gym, clubhouse and convenience shop, while Dream Xplorers keeps younger visitors engaged. Mobile spa treatments and evenings around the fire complete a stay shaped by comfort, connection and the wild.
Mount Savannah Game ReserveEnquireGauteng

Mount Savannah Game Reserve

Set within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, Mount Savannah offers an easy bush escape less than an hour from Johannesburg and Pretoria. Wide Highveld views, open space and a relaxed social atmosphere make it an inviting choice for families, friends and shorter nature-led getaways. The reserve spans 2,000 unfenced hectares, allowing giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala and other wildlife to move naturally through the landscape. Spacious deluxe chalets provide a comfortable place to retreat, while the main deck, swimming pool and lounge create welcoming shared spaces for unhurried time together. Guided game drives reveal the reserve’s broader biodiversity, including wildlife that often remains deeper within the veld, while abundant birdlife rewards quieter observation around the lodge. As evening settles, the boma becomes the heart of the experience, drawing guests around the fire beneath open skies. Mount Savannah brings together accessibility, wildlife and warm, uncomplicated comfort in one of South Africa’s most significant natural heritage settings.
Nogatsaa PansEnquireBotswana

Nogatsaa Pans

Set deep within the eastern reaches of Chobe National Park, Nogatsaa Pans Chobe offers a safari shaped by space, stillness and wide-open horizons. Overlooking Kwikamba Pan, the largest of the region’s clay-bottom pans, the lodge places you close to seasonal waterholes where wildlife gathers in a quiet, natural rhythm. Elevated tented suites, private decks and uninterrupted views keep the landscape at the heart of your stay. Guided game drives explore teak forests, ancient riverbeds and open grasslands, revealing plains game, predators and abundant birdlife. Between outings, slow down beside the pool, relax on a shaded deck or watch herds move across the horizon. Evenings unfold around the fire with shared stories, considered dining and expansive starlit skies. Remote yet accessible, Nogatsaa offers a quieter perspective on Chobe, where fewer vehicles, open space and unhurried discovery create an immersive wilderness experience grounded in the rhythms of the wild.
Olifants River LodgeBook onlineMpumalanga

Olifants River Lodge

Set along the tranquil banks of the Great Olifants River, Olifants River Lodge offers a flexible Highveld escape within easy reach of Johannesburg, Pretoria and Mbombela. Its broad range of accommodation and activities makes it equally suited to couples, families, groups and travellers looking for an easy change of pace. Choose from river-view apartments, log cabins, cabanas, chalets and rondavels, or settle into a spacious campsite or caravan stand. Self-catering options include practical kitchens and braai areas, while the wider property provides plenty of room to relax and reconnect. Days can be spent canoeing, fishing, hiking, playing mini golf or enjoying the sports courts. A large heated indoor pool, outdoor pools, waterslides and dedicated kids’ areas add year-round family appeal. Gramadoelas Restaurant serves hearty buffet and à la carte meals, while the kiosk keeps everyday essentials close at hand. Olifants River Lodge brings together riverside calm, variety and warm hospitality in one easy-going destination.