Laluka

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Pricing

pp/night sharing

normal price: R12 600 (save: 48%)

SA Residents Special

1 Jan - 31 Dec '26

R 6500

Includes:

Accommodation in a suite
All meals, tea & coffee daily
Twice daily game drives with drinks and snacks on game drive

Our Verdict

One of the most attractive lodges in the Welgevonden with the public areas and 6 suites exhibiting understated contemporary style and luxury - the private plunge pools, stunning bathrooms and waterhole hide are particular highlights!

Lodge Gallery

Our Ratings

8.2

Overall

9.0

Luxury & Style

8.0

Setting

8.0

Game Viewing

8.0

Romance

Our Ratings

8.2

Overall

9.0

Luxury & Style

8.0

Setting

8.0

Game Viewing

8.0

Romance

What's Hot

We love the stunning bathrooms with their stylish walk-in showers and sleekly contemporary stand-alone bathtubs which contrast beautifully with the rustic rough stone walls – the feature-window views out over the bush and the gorgeous outdoor shower are the cherries on top!
At Bushscapes we’re massive fans of owner-run lodges and Laluka is a great example of why that is – the genuinely warm hospitality and passion for the business results in a truly personal guest experience!
The private plunge pools overlooking the wooded valley are the perfect place to relax during your down-time between game lodges. Of course, if you fancy being even more pampered then head to the Spa for a relaxing massage!
A stunning feature of staying at Laluka is the chance to see big game up close and personal at the adjacent hide with its eye-level views out over a busy waterhole – elephants in particular are regular visitors which makes for unforgettable photographic opportunities!
Since the lodge opened, guests have consistently raved about the delicious food on offer – so expect to return home having loosened your belt by at least a notch! Much of the fresh produce comes from Laluka’s own organic farm nearby!
We love the gorgeous open fireplace in the main lounge area with its stunning contemporary chimney that looks like a huge vuvuzela!

What's Not

Getting to the rooms along the wooden walkways does involve some steps, so Laluka is perhaps not the most appropriate choice for those guests with limited mobility

Laluka the highlight of the suites for us has to be the stunning bathrooms with their walk-in showers and sleekly contemporary bathtub – the way the minimalistic and luxurious modern bathroom fittings combine with the rough stone walls is simply genius!

Lodge Profile

Quick Overview

Location

Welgevonden

Drive Time

3.5 hours from Johannesburg

Malaria

Setting

On small ridge overlooking valley with adjacent waterhole and hide

Rooms

6 suites

Aircon

Yes

Pool

Private plunge pools and lodge pool

Spa

Yes

Camp Fenced

Elephant wire

Tracker

No - only ranger

Off Road

Here at Bushscapes we make no secret of the fact that we love owner-managed lodges – quite simply we find that it results in authentically warm hospitality being shown to guests and there’s generally a noticeable passion and commitment running through the business, resulting in a truly personal touch that makes for a great guest experience. And Laluka is a fine example of this philosophy in action (with a lovely back story too!)

The lodge is owned by the Eeden family from Belgium and the catalyst to the whole project was young son Simon, whose dream was to become a game ranger in Africa. Whilst attending a year long guiding course in South Africa, he met his Italian girlfriend Guilia and they subsequently went on to work together in lodges both in the Kruger and Tanzania. Simon’s father Didier, a successful commercial banker in Belgium came over to visit and he too had his heart captured by Africa. The three of them then dreamt of owning their own safari lodge and after a long search and much planning and strategizing, the result was Laluka, a gorgeous new lodge in the Welgevonden that opened in 2020.

What they have created is one of the most attractive lodges in the entire Welgevonden reserve with a lovely location overlooking a wooded valley and the surrounding hills! With most of the lodges in the reserve having been built back in the mid-late ‘90’s when Welgevonden was first opened, many of them understandably exhibit a very similar (and now quite traditional) design style fashionable at the time. Laluka by comparison is much more contemporary in many of its architectural and décor touches as well as boasting features like private plunge pools, yet at the same time it doesn’t fall into the trap that you sometimes see with other newer lodges of being so stark and contemporary that they almost don’t seem to fit into their natural surroundings but instead seem to shut off guests from the surrounding bush.

There are 6 rooms at Laluka which are connected to the main public buildings by winding wooden walkways. The rooms are stylish and luxurious is a minimalistic way with gorgeous wooden floors and expansive glass sliding doors that give great views out over the valley below as well as access onto your private deck. The highlight for us has to be the stunning bathrooms with their walk-in showers and sleekly contemporary bathtub – the way the minimalistic and luxurious modern bathroom fittings combine with the rough stone walls is simply genius! A massive feature window looks out from the bathroom over your deck with its lovely private plunge pool and there’s also a very attractive outdoor shower too! Back inside, cleverly positioned spotlights create a hugely atmospheric ambiance at night lighting up the inside of the suite’s thatched roof!

The same sense of style is exhibited in the lodge’s main public areas. The high thatched roof and large open-plan space could have easily lead to an empty, almost cavernous feeling, but this has been cleverly avoided by the stylish use of multiple woven light fittings hung at various heights which fill up the space beautifully along with the feature fireplace/chimney which hangs like a massive vuvuzela above the hearth! The comfy contemporary sofas invite you to curl up alongside the fire on chilly evenings or you can relax at the bar or outside deck and enjoy the views.

Leading off from the lounge area, a wooden walkway takes you to another of Laluka’s highlights, a hide which gives eye level views over a busy watering hole. This is the perfect place to enjoy some truly close-up game viewing – perhaps of the elephants which are regular visitors – and snap some wonderful photos of the animals quenching their thirst! Of course, there’s also the opportunity to go on twice daily game drives and enjoy the reliably excellent game viewing that the Welgevonden offers – with rhino sightings being particularly impressive – as well as the gorgeous and varied scenic landscapes that are a feature of the reserve. And as you would expect given the game ranging credentials of Simon and Guila, the owners have placed a special emphasis on quality guiding!

Back at the lodge you’ll no doubt enjoy some of the delicious food that guests have been consistently raving about since Laluka opened. Much of the fresh organic produce is sourced from the owner’s nearby farm and it’s lovingly transformed into delectable and imaginative meals by the very talented kitchen team! And don’t forget to also take advantage of the pampering treatments at the lodge’s Spa – after all, there really is little to beat a relaxing massage between game drives!

Pricing

pp/night sharing

More Information

Booking Notes

Special rates offered above are based on bookings for a minimum 2 night stay
Rates exclude a Welgevonden Conservation Fee of R 170 per person payable directly to the lodge
Guests will be collected at the Main Gate of the Welgevonden reserve in an open game-viewing vehicle between 11h00 - 11h30
Guests must leave their vehicle at the Main Gate – there is 24-hour security.
On day of departure, guests will be transferred back to the Main Gate at 10h30

Child Policy

Complimentary: Children 0 to 2 years old
Half rate: Children 2 to 12 years old
Full rate: Children 12 years and above
* Children below 4 years old are not allowed on game drives/safari activities
- Baby sitting service can be arranged at the lodge
- Camping cot available at the lodge
* Children 4 to 12 years old are allowed on game drives if:
- Private vehicle is booked
- Minimum 3 rooms are booked
- Exclusive use of the lodge
* Children above 16 years old can participate to bushwalks and sleepouts activities
* For children sharing with their parents, can add 1 or 2 single beds in the room

Useful Links

Lodge Website

Visit the official lodge site.

Trip Advisor

Read guest reviews for this lodge.

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Laluka

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SA Residents Special

1 Jan - 31 Dec '26

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What's Hot

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Lodge Profile

Quick Overview

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