Independent on Saturday

Winter holidays call for a bush breakaway of the ‘Big Five’ kind

BERNELEE VOLLMER Bernelee.Vollmer@inl.co.za

SOUTH Africa has breathtaking scenery, wildlife and adventure – and winter is prime-time for bush getaways. If you’re looking for a wild and familyfriendly getaway to the bush, here are some local destinations to consider. The Pilanesberg

Less than two hours from Johannesburg by car lies the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park, home to the Big Five.

Accommodation options are plentiful, one being Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge, near one of the park’s main gates.

A variety of on-site facilities and activities are available to keep everyone entertained, and include an underground hide, walking safaris into the park, archery, quad biking adventures, snake demonstrations, as well as the ever-popular Junior Rangers programme for the kids.

Junior Rangers has been designed as a fun and interactive educational experience to help kids learn all about the fauna and flora of the local area.

The resort is also offering an extensive holiday programme during the school break, to keep the kids entertained. And while the kids are busy, parents can break away to the resort’s Legacy Balance spa, which offers world-class, personalised treatments and therapies to destress.

Kruger Park

The Kruger area remains a bucketlist destination for many, and Legacy’s Kruger Park Lodge and Elephant Point properties are just a few minutes from the closest Kruger Park gates. Both lodges offer unforgettable bush experiences for couples, friends and families overlooking the serene Sabie River.

Kruger Park Lodge is home to the one of the most tranquil hippo hides in the country, where guests can see hippos frolicking in the water.

The property also features a 9-hole Gary Player-designed golf course, and it is common to see wildlife moving through the fairway. Kids can get stuck into a game of putt-putt or enjoy the playground with jungle gyms, trampolines and a bike track.

On Kruger’s border lies the uber-luxurious Elephant Point, a secure estate on a private reserve offering 22 villastyle lodges run by Legacy Hotels & Resorts. Each lodge offers a luxury experience with airport shuttles, game drives, private chef experiences and boma dinners above the Sabie River. Greater Addo, Eastern Cape Fully wheelchair accessible Kuzuko Bush Lodge in the Greater Addo area is set high on a hill overlooking the Big Five reserve below.

Guests at Kuzuko can savour 5-star authentic Karoo cuisine at the deck bar and restaurant, or choose from a long list of activities including star-gazing, observing the conservation and wilding of captive born-and-bred cheetahs, photographic safaris, horse-riding, bird-watching and quad-biking.

Personalised game-viewing experiences and a local community outreach programme make Kuzuko a stay that will remain in the mind forever.

The property also offers the Legacy Cubs’ Junior Ranger programme, with fun educational activities to get kids excited about nature.

TRAVEL

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2022-07-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-07-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

http://independentonsaturday.pressreader.com/article/282007561087371

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