Pondoro Game Lodge in Balule, Limpopo (original) (raw)

Pondoro Game Lodge is a 5 star graded game lodge offering Balule accommodation in 8 guest rooms.

Pondoro Game Lodge is set on the banks of the Olifants River inside the 40,000 ha Balule Nature Reserve, which is situated inside the greater Kruger National Park. There are no fences between Balule Nature Reserve and the Kruger National Park, which means all the animals can move freely between the two reserves.

At a Glance

What to expect at the lodge/reserve

ACCOMMODATION

At Pondoro Lodge you will have the opportunity to choose from 5 truly luxurious suites.

All our suites are air-conditioned and offer modern comforts in an exquisite African wildlife setting. Each suite has a private patio, lounge area, an outside shower and Jacuzzi built into the wooden deck in front of the suites facing the river. This is truly game lodge accommodation at it�s finest.

Each suite offers complete privacy to compliment the romantic setting at Pondoro Game Lodge.

Pondoro Game Lodge has three tastefully designed chalets decorated in keeping with the African aesthetic and overlooking the Olifants River.

All chalets have en-suite bathrooms (with a shower and bath overlooking the river), air-conditioning, mosquito nets and a wooden deck.

Experience

Pondoro boasts an overnight Treehouse Hide Experience. The hide overlooks a spotlit waterhole in the middle of the bush and is a must for those with a taste for adventure. Your adventure will begin after dinner with a late night drive to the hide. You will be picked up again during the morning safari. This can be booked as an extra activity to your stay.

Activities

Pondoro Game Lodge is situated in Balule Private Nature reserve inside the greater Kruger National Park. Regular Big 5 sightings (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard) are encountered during game drives. A reintroduction of African wild dogs has also been done in the Pondoro traversing area.

Morning and evening game drives are done in open game drive vehicles. All guides have more than 5 years experience. Pondoro has rights to traverse on more than 9,000 ha that includes a network of more than 350 km of bush roads.

All game drive vehicles are four wheel drive and this means that the Big 5 can be followed off road into the bush to get a closer view if necessary. Pondoro vehicles are in radio contact with two other lodges and close cooperation ensure good game viewing. The vehicles in the traversing area are restricted to six to ensure that the bush ambience is never lost.

Pondoro is one of the few private lodges in South Africa situated on a perennial river (Olifants River). Because of this, hippos and crocodiles are regularly seen during bushwalks with an armed guide. Three bush hides overlooking waterholes can also be visited.