Unlike many “statement” lodges that seem determined to impress and awe guests from the moment they arrive, Nedile is the type of lodge that we love at Bushscapes – unpretentious and unassuming but delivering a consistently excellent bush experience that has happy guests returning again and again. Situated in the far west of the 37 500 hectare Welgevonden reserve, Nedile enjoys gorgeous views from its hilltop position over the undulating landscape of the Waterberg. This has to be arguably the most scenic of all the major South African reserves, with a wonderfully varied and diverse terrain that includes majestic mountains and rolling grassy plains slashed by steep ravines and river valleys.

Nedile's 5 luxurious rooms have been positioned perfectly between rocky outcrops situated high up on the hillside, so you can enjoy the great views over the breathtaking Waterberg mountain range – you can even wallow in your bath and admire the views through the massive showcase window! The suites at Nedile are spacious and stylish but in a very understated way – don't expect glitz and glamour here; instead the recipe is far more traditional safari style here with a neutral colour palette and solid furniture that adds up to being both comfortable and easy on the eye. Two of the suites may be used as family units with an inter-leading entrance hall, but otherwise they've been designed for complete privacy, relaxation and comfort – they each have their own private deck where you relax and drink in the views without interruption. There are 2 things that we particularly love about Nedile's rooms: firstly they each have a fireplace (perfect for making the room cosy after a chilly winter's game drive!) and you've also got the choice between indoor and outdoor showers (we love that absolute feeling of freedom that having a shower in the great outdoors seems to deliver!)

Up at the main lodge it's a similar story with the same lovely African feel to the décor making it a wonderfully restful place to spend time in – something that isn't always the case with those lodge's that seemingly have interior designers that seem to be trying too hard to impress guests rather than worrying about their comfort. Again the main lodge enjoys a beautiful setting with wonderful views over the Waterberg without feeling detached from the surrounding bush. In fact ellies are quite regular visitors to the lodge's swimming pool, sometimes seeming to prefer it to the natural waterhole situated below the deck! Then there's a bar, dining room and comfortable lounge all of which invite you to sit back, relax and take in the peace and tranquility of your surroundings.

Talking of game viewing, the Welgevonden certainly does deliver even if it's probably not quite up to the lofty standards of the top lowveld reserves like the Sabi Sands – nonetheless you're likely to enjoy excellent sightings of rhino and elephant in particular, whilst there are plenty of lion that happily prey on the many antelope that graze on the grassy plains. Where the Welgevonden does easily surpass those lowveld reserves though is in the spectacular landscapes that make the game drives more than just a charge through featureless veld in search of the Big Five. Here you'll be split between looking out for animals and admiring the stunning vistas which seem to change around every corner! One of the bonuses of having such a diverse terrain is that there is also a wide variety of animals to be seen other than the Big Five and you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some more unusual animal species like the aardvark, brown hyena or the rarely seen honey badger– all best spotted during evening game drives!

Another great option if you fancy feeling even more closely connected to the bush is to head out with your ranger on foot through this untamed African wilderness – it lends an entirely different perspective to the experience of seeing game, and you'll no doubt also pick up a load of interesting titbits about the bush from your knowledgeable ranger. After a walk through the heat and dust of the bush what could then be better than to chill and cool down in the rock swimming pool (which in fact has one of the best views of the valley below!)

Who says the day’s activities have to end when the sun goes down? Why not enjoy a drink on the deck with only the flickering light of lanterns and the stars for company – here you can learn about the different constellations of twinkling lights from Orion and Taurus to Scorpio and the Southern Cross - including stories about the stars from the African perspective! Nedile is the perfect getaway for you to relax and enjoy this magical and unspoilt place – with your stay filled with delicious meals, gorgeous views and attentive staff who aim to make your stay as comfortable as possible, how could you possibly not enjoy your stay at this luxurious 5 star lodge!