Kuname Lodge

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Pricing

pp/night sharing

normal price: R11 140 (save: 62%)

Advance Purchase

1 Jan - 31 Dec '26

Luxury Suite

R 4280

1 Jan - 31 Dec '26

Premier Suite

R 4680

Includes:

Accommodation
All meals
2 game drives daily
One sundowner drink per person on dusk safari – choice of local beer, house wine, or soft drink

NOTE: Rates apply only to SA residents

Our Verdict

Just 5 suites in a stunningly pretty location overlooking the Kuvjename River – add in the chance of excellent leopard sightings and the unfailingly friendly personal service on offer and you can see why Kuname is a big favourite with guests!

Lodge Gallery

Our Ratings

8.2

Overall

7.5

Luxury & style

9.0

Setting

8.0

Game Viewing

8.0

Romance

Our Ratings

8.2

Overall

7.5

Luxury & style

9.0

Setting

8.0

Game Viewing

8.0

Romance

What's Hot

Kuname boasts a wonderfully pretty location – it’s nestled in gorgeous riverine forest overlooking a riverbed with the nearby Drakensberg mountains making for a magnificent backdrop!
At Bushscapes we love outdoor showers and baths – and here at Kuname you actually have both! Imagine soaking in bubbles under the African sky surrounded by bush and romantic candles!
With 4 rivers flowing through the reserve acting as a water source, there are plenty of animals in Karongwe – consistently excellent Big 5 viewing is the result and we enjoyed some of our best leopard sightings ever
As the furthest west of the lowveld reserves it is closer to Gauteng than most of the other private reserves in the greater Kruger area

What's Not

Kuname is the most upmarket and intimate of the Karongwe portfolio but perhaps doesn’t boast the same cutting edge contemporary style as some competitors – then again it’s far more reasonably priced too and still wonderfully romantic!
Rooms are not particularly spacious compared to many more contemporary lodges
Some may find the reserve a bit too small at 9000 hectares – but we never felt "hemmed in" at all and never came close to traversing the entire reserve during our 4 days in the reserve

Kuname Lodge each suite features an en-suite bathroom which includes an outdoor shower and for the more adventurous there's even an outdoor bath - the perfect spot to enjoy a romantic soak in a bath of bubbles lit only by candles and a canopy of stars!

Lodge Profile

Quick Overview

Location

Karongwe

Drive Time

5 hours drive from Johannesburg

Malaria

Yes - low risk area

Setting

Overlooking a riverbed

Rooms

5 Chalets - 4 luxury and 1 premier chalet

Aircon

Yes

Pool

Yes

Spa

Yes

Camp Fenced

Yes

Tracker

Yes - ranger and tracker

Off Road

For lion sightings

Child Policy

No children under 12

Set in the Limpopo Province, Kuname Lodge is a small, unashamedly exclusive, luxury safari lodge set in about 9 000 hectares of pristine African bush in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve. Bordered by an awesome backdrop of the towering majestic Drakensberg mountain range in the west and set in game-rich, lush, riverine vegetation, this lodge has a variety of breathtaking views, diverse landscapes and offers excellent Big Five game-viewing and bird watching opportunities. It really is a haven for those in search of a high quality and romantic bush experience!

As you enter the lodge for the first time you will be blown away by the stunningly pretty location, with the lodge nestled in a beautiful forest glade with its swimming pool perched over a picturesque river bed. Built on the banks of the Kuvjename River, Kuname Lodge boasts 4 Luxury Suites and 1Premier Suite, all of them air-conditioned chalets nestled in the shade of the lovely riverine forest.

The thatched chalets are elegant yet still quite rustic - built from natural materials of hewn rock and fine woods, they’re tastefully decorated with original arts and crafts to give that real feeling of Africa. As an older lodge, it's noticeable that the rooms are not as spacious as many of their newer competitors and cupboard space is also fairly tight. On the other side of the equation, one of the highlights for us is that each suite features an en-suite bathroom which includes an outdoor shower and for the more adventurous there's even an outdoor bath - the perfect spot to enjoy a romantic soak in a bath of bubbles lit only by candles and a canopy of stars! With just 5 rooms, this is truly a lodge where you can relax in a tranquil environment surrounded by the raw beauty of the African bush – and you can take it all in from your inviting private wooden deck.

The main lodge houses a large, elegant lounge and dining area and cozy bar, which lead onto an elevated outdoor viewing deck which have fantastic views of the river and mountains. It's the perfect spot to relax with a ice cold drink whilst looking out for game in the riverbed below. A gorgeous infinity rock pool on the deck offers the ideal setting to escape from the heat of the day - if you're lucky you might even see a herd of elephants cross the river whilst you’re busy doing your own wallowing!

Dining at Kuname is a delight with every meal an unforgettable occasion. Here you can take in the earthly scents of the African bush with a braai or a more elegant bush dinner can be savoured either around the roaring fire in the boma, on the wooden viewing deck or in the more formal inside dining room – or a more intimate dinner can be enjoyed for couples who wish to dine alone in the beautifully designed wine cellar!

Traversing over 9000 hectares of prime bushveld with lovely views of the escarpment as your constant backdrop, Kuname is home to the Big Five as well as a wealth of other creatures – the Karongwe reserve is very well watered with 4 rivers including the perennial Makhutsi River flowing through the reserve. This enhances the game carrying capacity of the land as well as providing stunning riverine vegetation – add in the magnificent views of the towering Drakensberg escarpment and, dare we say it, but Karongwe provides arguably better game viewing and more pretty scenery than many of the better known private reserves in the lowveld! Whilst 9000 hectares is fairly small compared to some other reserves, we never even came close to traversing the whole reserve in the 4 days we spent there, so it feels plenty big enough. The quality of the game viewing we enjoyed was fantastic, with great sightings of a number of different leopards being memorable highlights!

Bush walks at Kuname are a chance to step into a world that few get the opportunity to experience and where you get to see animals at their own level. You’ll also learn about traditional medicinal plants from your Shangaan tracker, not to mention see veld skills in action that have been passed down from generation to generation!

Afterwards retreat to the lodge and enjoy the stunning scenic backdrop as you sip a glass of champagne beside the cool, clear waters of the rock pool - or spend a lazy afternoon browsing the library while you unwind. Kuname Lodge will touch you deeply, rejuvenate you and soothe your soul, and quite frankly you will be blown away how the staff make you feel like a member of their ‘family' and treat you like royalty from the moment you arrive to the moment you depart! The hosting here is wonderfully warm and personal and makes Kuname one of our favourite lodges of all!

Pricing

pp/night sharing

More Information

Booking Notes

Karongwe Game Reserve charges for gate entry fee/ tourism levy and conservation fees
Subject to availability
2 Night minimum stay

Child Policy

No children allowed at Kuname main lodge

Useful Links

Lodge Website

Visit the official lodge site.

Trip Advisor

Read guest reviews for this lodge.

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Kuname Lodge

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Pricing

Advance Purchase

1 Jan - 31 Dec '26

1 Jan - 31 Dec '26

Our Verdict

Our Ratings

Our Ratings

What's Hot

What's Not

Lodge Profile

Quick Overview