About Tintswalo Safari
Wonderfully stylish and luxurious lodge with private plunge pools - it also offers perhaps the least crowded and rushed safari experience in the Kruger area!
The Manyeleti is perhaps the best kept secret of all the lowveld reserves. It’s substantial 27 000 hectares are basically surrounded by the most famous reserves in South Africa, sharing unfenced borders with the Sabi Sand to the south, Kruger Park to the east and Timbavati to the north – so as you can imagine the game viewing on offer is truly top-drawer! Why then is it less well-known than its immediate neighbours? Ultimately this is basically due to there only being a small handful of commercial lodge operations in the entire reserve, so as a result there’s been far less publicity and exposure. But rest assured that game viewing here is excellent, with the reserve being known for its predator numbers and breeding herds of elephant and buffalo (sightings of 600-strong herds aren’t uncommon here!)
But it’s this lack of commercial lodge development compared to its neighbours that makes a stay at Tintswalo such a special and exclusive experience.
Between the handful of lodge operations in the Manyeleti there are about a dozen vehicles going out on game drives through this vast expanse of bush, so it’s quite likely that you’ll never encounter another vehicle whilst out on drive (unlike the Sabi Sands or Timbavati for example which boast many more lodges and hence even more vehicles) Whilst the feeling of being in the true wilderness is one advantage of this very low vehicle density, the chance to spend much longer, unrushed periods at prime animal sightings is another huge plus point – instead of spending perhaps 10 minutes at a leopard or lion sighting before having to make way for another vehicle that has been waiting in the queue, at Tintswalo you’re under no pressure to move. So if that pride of lions is on the hunt, you may get the chance to spend the next couple of hours watching them – which could end up being the difference between a merely good game sighting and a truly unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience.
Further good news is that the lodge itself is quite frankly superb! Entering the lodge, you’ll be struck by the stone-packed walls that’ll no doubt evoke the Zimbabwe Ruins in your imagination. Arriving into a massive foyer, you’re met with expansive views of the dry riverbed and African bush beyond. On one side lies a grand colonial dining room, to the other a spectacular lounge furnished in over-sized and wonderfully comfortable furniture that leads out to an outdoor deck shaded by towering riverine forest. There’s also a library for quiet moments spent browsing through the lodge’s collection of rare books. Probably the highlight though has to be the small waterhole or pool of water perched literally next to the lodge deck from which you can enjoy stunning sightings of animals coming to drink, with elephants being almost permanent residents!
Raised wooden boardwalks lead you to the lodge’s 8 luxurious suites which are situated along the banks of the seasonal Nwaswitsontso River and amply separated for supreme privacy. They’re all named after famous 19th century African explorers (Livingstone, Speke, Burton, Stanley etc) and whilst there are minor décor differences, the air-conditioned suites all boast a huge sense of space and tasteful luxury, with lovely claw-foot baths and indoor/outdoor showers leading out onto your own private deck. You’ll also no doubt enjoy wallowing in your own private plunge pool during the heat of the lowveld summer, whilst at the same time enjoying great birding and game viewing! Another experience on offer (when the nearby Manor House isn't occupied) is the chance to sleep outdoors on a platform overlooking a very active waterhole!
Just to put the cherry on top of the whole experience, the dining at Tintswalo gets consistent rave reviews from guests (just remember that drinks aren’t included in the special rates that we’ve negotiated for SA residents) You could end up having dinner under the stars in the boma, on the deck or even a romantic set-up in the lodge's wine cellar! And if all this still sounds too much like hard work, then there’s also the chance to head to the lodge’s Vital Source Spa for a relaxing massage or perhaps a soak in the hydrotherapy bath overlooking the bush. Ahhh bliss…
