The magnificent Kapama River Lodge is situated within the Kapama Private Game Reserve. Although the lodge boasts a huge bed capacity with 64 suites, it does not compromise on luxury and style, and offers nature lovers an intimate luxury Kruger Park safari experience.
The northern Drakensberg mountain range provides a majestic backdrop to this contemporary private game lodge, boasting a pristine 5-star resort atmosphere.
Spanning 13 000 hectares of pristine African wilderness, the Kapama Private Game Reserve is situated near Hoedspruit in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.
This pristine reserve is home to a spectacular array of wildlife species, including Africa’s Big Five – elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and leopard. Here, more than 40 mammal species thrive in their natural habitat.
The reserve also boasts more than 350 bird species, making it a true haven for avid birders.
Experience and knowledgeable rangers and trackers accompany visitors into the heart of the African bush during daily safaris and bushwalks. With a wide variety of habitats to explore, such as savanna and riverine forests, guests can look forward to exciting and once-in-a lifetime encounters with spectacular wildlife species.
To create the best experience possible for guests, Kapama now also boasts a private airplane and airstrip to receive guests travelling directly from Johannesburg or Cape Town, as well as a courtesy transfer service from Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit.
Mouthwatering cuisine at Kapama Karula comprise of Pan African dishes with distinct African flavours, all prepared by the passionate chefs. Only the best ingredients are sourced locally and the lodge’s vegetable garden ensures that the cuisine is fresh and scrumptious.
Dishes are paired to perfection with fine vintages from the cellar.
Dishes are beautifully presented and the range will appeal to all palates. Whether it is a scrumptious breakfast, light lunch, or delectable three course dinner, cuisine at Kapama River Lodge will impress.
The location in which to dine is up to you. You can even opt for romantic dining in the dry riverbed in front of the lodge, under a star-studded African night sky.
Scrumptious dinners ad buffets around the roaring fire in the Rhino Boma are popular among guests, and the purpose-built Siyatla Lounge is perfect for breakfast and lunches. Guests can also look forward to sociable afternoon high teas where they can choose from a wide variety of delectable freshly-baked treats.
The lodge also caters to a wide variety of dietary preferences.
Kapama River Lodge offers guests accommodation in 62 suites in total along the curve of the seasonal Kapama River. The suites comprise 40 standard suites, 16 spa suites, 4 family suites and 2 luxurious royal suites.
This air-conditioned suite boasts a bedroom with en-suite bathroom featuring a tub, his-and-hers basins and shower. Furnished in authentic old-Africa style it provides luxurious spaces for utter relaxation. The private deck has breathtaking views of the riverbed.
The spa suites have triple balconies, as well as spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms that can accommodate and additional two beds for children sharing with their parents. Expansive glass doors and frameless windows allow for beautiful views of the bush and river.
The 20 spa suites are positioned a little way from the lodge to ensure additional privacy and proximity to the spa for unique African spa treatments. Expansive glass doors and frameless windows allow unobstructed bush views, including from the en-suite bathroom.
Offering the utmost in luxury safari accommodation, the two royal suites feature substantial space and include a separate lounge and extended balcony, furnished with recliner couches. The en-suite bathroom has a bath and twin showers and overlooks the surrounding bush riverbed, while the bedroom is spacious and opulently appointed.
As the reserve is a Big Five haven, guests can look forward to sightings of lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and even the elusive leopard during early morning and late afternoon game drives in open safari vehicles. Smaller mammals such as the African wild dog and a variety of civets, as well as a wealth of bird species, also provide for stellar sightings.
The wake-up call for the morning safari drive will sound at dusk. Watching the bush wake up at the first rays of the sun, is a thrilling experience, as the animals are most active during this time of day. Your ranger will stop at a scenic spot en-route where you can indulge in some treats. Upon your return a scrumptious breakfast will await.
After enjoying a pleasant high tea with scrumptious delicacies, you will head out into the bush again. As the temperature cools down the animals start preparing for the onset of darkness. You can enjoy the magic of an African sunset, cocktail in hand.
Then it is time to search for nocturnal animals with the spotlight, an activity guaranteed to get the adrenalin pumping. Upon your return to camp your will have plenty of stories to share around the fire in the open-air boma while enjoying a scrumptious dinner.
For the more active and adventurous, a bushwalk offers the opportunity to experience the African wilderness up close.
Guided by an armed and experienced ranger, guests can enjoy an intimate encounter with nature and its wildlife which will involve all their senses, and leave them with a renewed appreciation of the wonders of the universe.
Interesting facts, such as how to track an animal by its spoor, how to tell animal tracks apart, and the messages contained in animal dung – just to name but a few – will leave participants in awe.
Bushwalks take place in the early morning before the heat sets in.
Avid birders will delight in the more than 350 species recorded on the reserve. Expect sightings of the coqui francolin, lilac-breasted roller, purple-crested turaco, secretary bird, and the southern ground hornbill, to name but a few. The field guides are experts in ornithology in their own right.
Surrounded by stillness and sweeping bushveld, the Kapama Wellness Centre takes safari spa treatments to new heights. Considered one of the finest safari spas in Africa, the six sumptuous treatment rooms are arranged around a generous central lap pool that evokes a sense of calm.
Highly trained and experienced beauty therapists remain abreast of global treatment trends, while giving them a uniquely African twist.
Alternatively, if you’d like to work up a sweat, the state-of-the-art mini gym is fully equipped. There is both cardio- and weight-lifting equipment, depending whether you want to tone or build muscle. What is guaranteed, is that a visit to the Wellness Centre will energise and uplift your spirit for the day.
Sleeping in the open air on the reserve, elevated high above the ground under the African night sky, is a uniquely romantic experience. A raised platform is evocatively furnished with an oversized bed, festooned in white linen and billowing mosquito netting. It’s completely safe, while being surrounded by only wilderness and wildlife.
The platform and luxury bathroom underneath are both animal-proof, but both a two-way radio and cellular phone are supplied for additional peace of mind. With a flush toilet, shower and his- and-hers basins, the bathroom caters for your creature comforts.
This experience is guaranteed to take your breath away.
The elephant interaction offered by Kapama, is a unique opportunity for guests to get extremely close to the world’s largest land animals. This activity offers visitors the chance to learn about African elephants, both wild and habituated, as they interact and feed these gentle giants.
Guests will visit an elephant sanctuary where they will enjoy close interaction with Africa’s giants, and will even be able to touch them and feed them delicious treats.
The interaction allows you to observe these animals in their natural environment as they peacefully go about their daily routine. Listen to amusing anecdotes about each individual elephant, each with their own quirks and antics, will keep you entertained.
The 90-minute elephant interaction includes coffee= and tea break with biscuits. For some, this up-close interaction is a life-changing experience, but it is a truly unforgettable encounter for everyone.
To see rare wildlife up close, take a late morning trip – after the game drive and breakfast – to the nearby Hoedspruit Centre for Endangered Species. Here cheetah, wild dog, serval, caracal and various other species are rehabilitated and can be safely viewed up close. An educational video is shown as part of the tour and showcases the different projects undertaken by the centre. It’s followed by a guided tour to view cheetah and other fascinating wildlife. Guests will be accompanied by a Kapama River Lodge ranger.
Kapama Private Game Reserve is delighted to host world-class photographic workshops by a leading South African wildlife photographer – hands-on in the African bush. Hosted by professional wildlife photographer Albie Venter, the workshop is aimed at novice and intermediate photographers. It also aims to bring together like-minded people who enjoy both nature and photography. During the workshop, you will learn everything, from operating a camera to how to compose and spot evocative photographs. You will also be able to put your newly acquired knowledge into action, and hone your skills during private game drives through the bush. This photographic can be customised for any number of days. Kapama is happy to quote on, and accommodate, specific guest requirements.
* Workshops must be pre-booked at additional cost
If you want to indulge in a view from the top, why not take an early morning hot-air balloon ride?
This one is not for the faint-hearted as it offers a thrill a minute!
* Rates and info available upon request.
Kapama Private Game Reserve occupies a vast area between the northern Drakensberg mountains and the Greater Kruger National Park, in the north-east of South Africa. It spans
13 000 hectares of the magnificent bushveld, teeming with wildlife, yet is ideally situated to receive fly-in guests of scheduled flights from the nearby Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit.
The Eastgate Airport, also known as Hoedspruit Airport, is just 10 minutes’ drive from the reserve entrance, and Kapama River Lodge offers complimentary transfers in open game-viewing vehicles directly to the lodge.
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MoAfrika tours and the Kruger Safari Co. are destination management companies (DMC) and are not entities of the South African National Parks Board (SANparks).