Tambuti is one of the newer lodges in the Pilanesberg and definitely one of the nicest – with just 5 absolutely gorgeous suites set within a tamboti forest, this is a hugely romantic lodge which gives an authentic bushveld experience!

Tambuti Lodge actually lies in the Black Rhino Private Reserve, a small private reserve on the north-west border of the Pilanesberg reserve – however there are no fences between the 2 pieces of land and the lodge’s vehicles are able to traverse both properties, including on non-public roads within the main park.

At Bushscapes we think that Tambuti has some of the nicest accommodation of all of the lodges in the Pilanesberg area! There are just five luxury suites at Tambuti so you’re guaranteed a very personal welcome and great service at this most intimate of bush camps. What we especially like about the suites here is that they manage to perfectly fuse the earthy background colour palette and building materials with loads of contemporary décor touches, fabrics and accent colours to really lift the rooms’ aesthetic appeal way above the norm - the result is rooms that are classy and elegant yet bang-up-to-date!

The suites are surrounded by striking tamboti trees and you can relax on your private viewing deck with a good book whilst enjoying views into the surrounding bush. All of the suites are large and spacious with quality bedding and linen and feature beautifully appointed luxury en-suite bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers as well as twin vanities. The five suites are comprised of two pool view suites (named Hippo and Zebra) as well as two bush view suites (Lion and Elephant) – then there’s a gorgeous suite (called Rhino) which adds a jacuzzi on your private deck which overlooks the tamboti trees. Each suite has the traditional thatched roof and combines this with modern finishes and contemporary décor, complete with stunning black and white photography and throw cushions in different vibrant accent colours. The space has been used well too, incorporating large glass doors which fold away to open up the room onto your private deck (as if these large rooms needed any more space!)

The suites might be great, but the whole experience is then backed up by the superb personal service and hospitality offered by the Tambuti team (you’ll probably even get a greeting from Hibou, the lodge’s hand-reared spotted eagle owl!) –check out the Tripadvisor reviews and you’ll see that the guests consistently rave about the staff and management of Tambuti! Those rave reviews also extend to the food and dining experience at Tambuti and the lodge tries to keep things fresh and varied – one night you might be dining by candlelight on the deck next to the swimming pool, the next you’ll be enjoying a braai around the fire in the boma under the stars; if you fancy something especially romantic you could end having an intimate set-up on your own private deck!

The game viewing doesn’t disappoint either. The area around the lodge is characterized by a huge number of tamboti trees which results in regular sightings of the shy and scarce black rhino. These trees also play host to an incredibly wide variety of bird species thus making the area a birding paradise. The reserve is positioned between the dry Kalahari and the wetter Lowveld so you get a mix of game, tree and bird species that would never be found cohabiting in another area. Because of this, the species here are incredibly varied and unique from other reserves within Southern Africa – in fact it's home to over 354 different animal species native to Southern Africa, including the Big Five, the endangered wild dog and other rarer species such as Roan, Tsessebe and Sable antelope. You'll also likely have the pleasure of seeing buffalo on regular occasions as they often take shelter in these more remote areas that are not accessible to public visitors in the park.

At Tambuti you can view all the Pilanesberg has to offer on morning and late afternoon game drives in an open 4 x4 game vehicle with an expert ranger (note that off-roading is not allowed in pursuit of sightings) You can also enjoy interpretive guided bush walks (remember to pack those comfy shoes) offering the bird watcher, botanist and the nature enthusiast the ultimate bush experience - the walk itself is relaxed and the experienced ranger uses his vast knowledge of the bush to identify and explain many of the hidden secrets! After your twice-daily game drives the park also offers other activities to fill your jam-packed days with – there are a number of wonderful picnic spots hidden around the camp (if you could possibly succeed in eating more!) numerous hides for game watching or a walk in an aviary! If you choose to do something completely different you can book a hot air balloon flight which floats over the park - here you can view herds of game from above whilst sipping a glass of bubbles! But ultimately you’ll probably be happiest back at gorgeous Tambuti, taking a dip in the pool or just chilling on the deck with a good book!