Unique African bushveld experience at umThiba Bush Lodge in Hluhluwe

Umthiba Bush Lodge

umThiba Bush Lodge is a unique, self-catering accommodation in Hluhluwe. The lodge is ideal for families, groups or romantic couples looking to escape into the northern KwaZulu Natal over a weekend or two.

Hluhluwe is situated between the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park on the banks of the Hluhluwe River. The area remains relatively untouched by modernity and thus, well-known for its amazing national parks, natural diversity and cultural heritage.

The area’s weather is relatively pleasant all-year-round.

It is in this setting that you will experience umThiba Bush Lodge. You will notice that the lodge carries a rustic, colonial or old-world character, but with luxury, modern amenities. It certainly gives guests a glimpse of the early days of wealthy travelers on safari in South Africa.

Expect everything you will need for memorable stays. See their gallery HERE.

Previous guests also had many wonderful things to say about the excellent, friendly service they received from the owners and their staff.

Accommodation at umThiba Bush Lodge

umThiba is fully-equipped for self-catering stays in Hluhluwe. The main lodge includes three comfortable, air-conditioned bedrooms – two are en-suite rooms and the third room uses the guest bathroom.

Inside is a large, open-plan lounge-cum-dining and kitchen, which open onto a large wrap-around verandah.

There is also a separate fully-equipped, self-contained cottage for two people. It is situated off the boma area and comes with a comfy double bed and kitchenette.

In total, the umThiba Bush Lodge can accommodate up to 10 people (a maximum of eight adults). The lodge is child-friendly and children rates are calculated upon room selection.

Amenities include TV with DStv in the lounge; large, comfy beds with fine linen and blankets. Each room has sleep nets for added peace of mind. The large bathrooms feature beautiful, large tubs or showers as well as bathroom towels and products. 

See their accommodation rates HERE.

Facilities at umThiba Bush Lodge

Besides cleaning and laundry services, the lodge has a large boma with a fire pit where you can enjoy amazing summer and winter nights around a fire under the bushveld sky.

For those relaxed, summer days, you also have a refreshing swimming pool at your disposal. The adjacent space is also ideal for bushveld braai’s.

There is secure, undercover parking for two cars. The area is generally safe though.

Since it is a safe reserve, you can bring your bicycles.

Hluhluwe activities

The Kuleni Game Park is a great place to experience the African bush even on foot. This is due to the absence of dangerous game. The park residents are giraffe, warthog, wildebeest, zebra, nyala, impala, duiker & other species of animals and birds.

The game is carefully managed to ensure your safety and the animals’ freedom.

If you still want something a little more thrilling, Hluhluwe has a wide variety of activities. This includes Big 5 safaris, diving, horse riding trails, walking trails, a crocodile and snake park, canoeing, boat cruises, mountain bike trails and cultural villages as well as curio shops.

Reviews from umThiba Bush Lodge guests

“Five star luxury in the bush! Very special energy & awesome flow in this amazing little piece of heaven! Thanks Chris for allowing everyone to enjoy your special spot!” wrote Gordon Swensson on their Facebook page.

Billy Suter added; “Family and friends had a wonderful stay here. Peaceful, luxurious, private, spacious and air-conditioned! Being in a sand forest it offers various walking trails that allow one to roam among wildlife. We were meters from giraffes and saw plenty of nyala on our walk. We will be back!”

“A very nice place to stay, very clean and neat, love the outside showers. A good place to get away from everyday things. Just love being in the bush,” said Rosalyn Bruwer.

umThiba Bush Lodge is located at Kuleni Park, Hluhluwe. For bookings, call +27 (0) 31 303 5425 / +27 (0) 82 312 4877 or email bookings@umthiba.co.za or visit www.umthiba.co.za. Alternatively, you can do your bookings online HERE. Here is their location on Google Maps. Also follow them on their Facebook page

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About us

Actually, Home Food and Travel offers a lot more than just reviews of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities.  We also visit great destinations, receive advice from interior designers and stop to smell the roses and taste the coffee.

Our team of journalists are seasoned travels and love visiting the myriad of exciting places around South Africa.  Whether it is off the beaten track or in the heart of the top attractions of the country, we’ll be there,

Home Food and Travel advice on finding the right accommodation

So what is the right accommodation?  Well more often than not, it’s your travel budget that dictates the type of accommodation that you choose. 

Expensive is not always better.  Our team at Home Food and Travel will tell you that they have camped in areas with limited ablutions and had a wonderful holiday.  They have also spent a night in a five star hotel only to be disappointed because their expectations exceeded the experience.

The reason for your travels will also affect your choice.  A business trip requires different amenities to a beach holiday. 

Our articles, reviews and experiences can certainly help you make your decision.

Restaurants with a good mix of service, food and ambiance

To my mind a great restaurant offers three things – excellent service, great food and a wonderful ambiance.  Of these, service is the most important. 

No matter that the food is delicious and the setting delightful, poor service can ruin the occasion.  However, great service combined with mediocre meal and a plane jane restaurant can still be a pleasant night out.

We’ve eaten in restaurants that are really dirty but with incredible food and couldn’t help but give a rave review.  We’ve also hardly noticed what we ate because the setting was just amazing.

However, the best restaurants come with the best of service, food and ambiance.

Spas are the ultimate relaxation aid

How do you know when you have had a great spa experience?  The answer, of course, is when you doze off on the treatment table. 

Well that’s our theory anyway.  It also doesn’t take a grand location with enormous facilities for a spa to be really good

A small, personal spa that is owner run can result in the best massage you have ever experienced.  However, the grand spas in five star hotels offer unsurpassed facilities in an environment that just makes the stress in your shoulders and neck melt away before you even finish checking in.

Adventure!

You don’t have to be an adrenaline junky to enjoy an exciting experience.  In fact, what are commonly termed adventure activities usually have incredibly high safety standards and unblemished safety records.

Ziplining, bungy jumping and shark cage diving are all very safe.  It’s just that our mind tells us we are craaazzzzyyyy to be doing this.

On the road to great places of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities

If you’re driving, be safe and make use of all the wonderful farm stalls that populate South Africa’s open roads.

If you overhear somebody asking a lot of questions or see someone taking photos of empty bedrooms chances are it’s one of our Home Food and Travel team members.

We’re out looking or those great places of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities.

See you on the road!

 

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