At Bushscapes we always welcome lodges that are just that little bit different and which aren’t afraid to have a distinct character and personality. Well the gorgeous new flagship lodge of the Thornybush reserve– Saseka Tented Camp – certainly has this in spades! Saseka is the vision of legendary lodge designers Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens – responsible for some of the most stunning game and island lodges in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean!

Located on the banks above a gorgeous bend in the dry riverbed of the Monwana river in the north-eastern portion of the Big 5 Thornybush reserve, they’ve managed to create something as remarkable as the stunning setting. The result is a lodge with a strikingly unique layout which finds a superb balance between cutting-edge design, classical style and feeling connected to the bush outside. Saseka is the Tsonga word for “beautiful” and the lodge certainly lives up to this description and more!

The lodge blends a wonderfully spacious and light, modern look with natural materials and textures, finished with elements reminiscent of a bygone era. Saseka’s main area, a combination of wood and stone cladding, blends naturally into the surrounding environment and offers both an upper and lower-deck with the colour palette drawn from the natural surroundings - hues of ivory, dark green, apple, sage and subtle flushes of pink echoing the characteristic tones of the flowers found in the bush. The lodge’s main area is a celebration of nature with the use of light being key. The extraordinary ceiling filters light into the space – imitating the natural dappled light of a tree canopy and additional illumination comes from the unique chandelier, constructed from metal, wood and rattan.

Influenced by the romantic narrative of tented camps from yesteryear, the tents at Saseka have been reimagined with a gentle nod to nostalgia, but with the emphasis very much on 21st century design and comfort. The 8 Luxury Tented Suites enjoy an elevated position above the dry river bed and are designed to allow the sights and sounds of the bush to filter in to give a truly immersed safari experience. Fronted with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, each air-conditioned tent has a spacious, off-white wrap-around environmentally friendly statement deck overlooking the sandy river-bed, a private plunge pool with loungers and chairs as well as an outdoor shower.

Attention to detail is present wherever you look, a great example of this being the fabric used on the interior ceilings of the tents - designed exclusively for Saseka, it features prints from the herbarium in Pretoria of all the region’s plants. Another unique signature is the use throughout the suites of exposed metal framework for everything from room divider screens to supporting the vanities and classical standalone bath – the overall effect really is very different indeed from any other lodges we’ve seen!

Then there’s the breath-taking Little Saseka Villa accommodating up to 6 adults in 3 separate rooms – it also allows up to 1 child per tent (so a maximum 3 children) The villa also boasts a central entertainment area featuring a lounge and dining area for private meals, separate from the rest of the lodge. The large outdoor deck features a splash pool with pool loungers for ultimate privacy and relaxation – it really is perfect for exclusive use by families or smaller groups!

Of course, any stay at Saseka also gives you access to the consistently excellent game drives available on this game-rich Big 5 reserve – the fences separating Thornybush from Kruger have been removed in recent years allowing game to wander freely. So, what are you waiting for? Saseka Tented Camp promises to give you the bush experience of a lifetime!