The Bush House

The Bush House A typical Game Lodge?

No, not at all The Bush House is a home away from home A place to kick off your shoes and unwind. Shrug off the stress and cares of city life.

It is an old farmhouse that after years of family laughter and happiness has been transformed into an inviting and relaxing residence.

Set in the malaria free Madikwe Game Reserve the lodge overlooks a very active waterhole where all of the Big 5 and more regularly come down to drink. Whilst relaxing at the pool or lying on a sun lounger in the shady garden you can watch animals come and go.

Staying at the Bush House is like staying in the home of a close friend- relaxed, comfortable and wonderfully familiar. That’s why people keep coming back again and again.

What makes the Bush House so different?

Perhaps it’s the staff, that make you feel so warmly welcome, at the bar after game drive, at the brunch table or in the boma for dinner under the stars. We pride ourselves on really caring for our guests and being attentive to their needs. As an owner managed lodge the personal touch is an integral part of the service.

Perhaps it’s the sense of the bushveld. The dust of the elephant herds, the closeness of the rhino, the fleeting glimpse of the leopard or the massive power of the buffalo coming down to drink at the waterhole within meters of the front lawn.

It could be the luxuries you enjoy, the attention to detail and the feeling of being completely relaxed. Or maybe it’s more about the entire experience than a single sighting. More about the memories you made while you were one with nature as you pulled the bushveld around your shoulders like a blanket.

Come make Bush House your home away from home.

The Reserve: Madikwe Game Reserve is a malaria free Big 5 game reserve

Imagine over seven hundred and fifty square kilometers of untamed bushveld the way it was long before man interfered.

The Madikwe Game Reserve, situated in the North West Province of South Africa and run by the North West Parks and Tourism Board, reclaimed over seventy five thousand hectares of farmland and turned it into a wild life sanctuary that has become home to a wonderful variety of Africa’s animals.

Guests visiting Madikwe have the opportunity to witness this wonderful interaction of game in one of the finest conservation areas in the continent. The reserve has one of the largest elephant populations, all the predators, as well as the endangered wild dog, black and white rhino, buffalo and general plains game. Bird life is abundant.

Photographic opportunities are endless, not only from the raised vantage of your vehicle whilst on game drive but also from the shaded serenity of the garden. Our water feature and feeding log ensure a steady flow of wonderful bird life during the course of the day.

On Safari

Game drives are conducted through out the year at optimum viewing times when game activity is generally at its peak, i.e. early morning and late afternoon into evening. The morning safari departs at sunrise, and the evening drive leaves late enough in the afternoon for guests to enjoy a bush sunset and the opportunity to view nocturnal animals after dark. The spectacular southern night skies, especially vivid during the winter months, provide guests with stunning views of famous constellations such as the Southern Cross, Orion in summer and Scorpio in the clear winter evenings.

< Our Summers are traditionally very hot and wet with Winter being dry and cold. Hats and sun block are an absolute must as are sweatshirts and jerseys. The varying layers of all of these are dependent on the time of the year! Seasons differ vastly in the African bushveld, but no one season can be rated above another, for each has its own unique appeal. Spring (September) and Autumn (April) are very short seasons and usually provide milder weather conditions and subtle changes in vegetation. Summer (October to March) tends to be hot, but the bush looks wonderfully green and lush. Many mammals produce their offspring in the height of summer (December/January) and the youngsters are a special treat on safaris. Winter (May to August) brings with it drier, more temperate weather condition and the bush takes on a stark but beautiful appearance. At any time of year, your encounters with the wild at The Bush House will be very special and memorable.

The Bush House is about four hours travelling from Johannesburg. Road shuttles and flights into the reserve can be arranged.

Entrance through: Wonderboom Gate Madikwe Game Reserve North West Province