Tshukudu Lodge

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Pricing

pp/night sharing

All Inclusive

1 Jan - 31 Dec '26

Luxury Chalet

R 6054

1 Jan - 31 Dec '26

Tshukudu Suite

R 8454

Includes dinner, bed and breakfast, High Tea, 2 game drives daily and local beverages

Includes:

Transfers between Bakubung & Tshukudu
Accommodation
Welcome drinks on arrival
3 meals daily
All local beverages
High tea
2 Game drives
Teas & coffees

NOTE: Rates apply only to SA residents

Our Verdict

Long regarded as one of the most prestigious lodges in the Pilanesberg, the luxurious rooms at Tshukudu are set high on a hilltop with great views over a plain complete with waterhole below.

Lodge Gallery

Our Ratings

8.4

Overall

8.5

Luxury & Style

8.0

Setting

6.5

Game Viewing

8.5

Romance

Our Ratings

8.4

Overall

8.5

Luxury & Style

8.0

Setting

6.5

Game Viewing

8.5

Romance

What's Hot

Definitely the most upmarket, stylish and luxurious place to stay in the Pilanesberg reserve – a far more intimate lodge too compared to the large “bush hotels” which make up most of the accommodation in the reserve
Lie back and wallow in Tshukudu’s signature “bath with a view” from where you can enjoy great views down over the animals coming through to drink at the active waterhole on the plains below!
Just a couple of hours drive from Johannesburg and malaria-free too – the perfect hassle free and convenient quick breakaway for the weekend
Our pick has to be the 4 newly built Tshukudu Suites which are more spacious than the standard Cottages and also add a lovely private deck complete with heated plunge pool and outdoor shower (2 of our very favourite things!)
No kids policy and limited number of rooms makes for a quiet and romantic atmosphere suited to couples looking to reconnect

What's Not

The ever-present stairs at the lodge are a reality with a schlepp involved getting between your room and the main lodge building – definitely not recommended for the mobility-challenged (or terminally lazy!)
Quite a premium price for the Pilanesberg which doesn’t offer the same quality wildlife experience on game drives as the private reserves
The lodge’s hilltop position means that you’re quite elevated above the waterhole so viewing the animals on the plains below is not as close and easy as other lodges with waterholes

Tshukudu Lodge the winding 132-step path up the hillside will certainly get the heart pumping, so perhaps there should be a health warning against the jaw-dropping views as they serve to further take your breath away!

Lodge Profile

Long regarded as one of the most prestigious lodges in the Pilanesberg, the luxurious rooms at Tshukudu are set high on a hilltop with great views over a plain complete with waterhole below.

Quick Overview

Location

Pilanesburg

Drive Time

2.5 hours drive from Johannesburg

Malaria

Setting

Overlooking a waterhole

Rooms

10 suites

Aircon

Yes

Pool

Yes

Spa

Camp Fenced

Yes

Tracker

No - Ranger only

Off Road

Yes

Child Policy

No children under 12 allowed

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

With its spectacular hilltop location Tshukudu takes a bit of effort to reach, but the views out over a waterhole and across the vast savannah that greet you make it all worthwhile. The winding 132-step path up the hillside will certainly get the heart pumping, so perhaps there should be a health warning against the jaw-dropping views as they serve to further take your breath away!

JUST 10 ROOMS

All of the other accommodation options within the Pilanesberg reserve tend to be of the large “bush hotel” variety, so Tshukudu with its 10 rooms is a far more intimate, boutique affair which really sets up well as an ideal romantic getaway for couples (no children under 12 are allowed) There are 2 different room types - 6 Luxury Cottages and 4 newly built Tshukudu Suites – all of offer luxurious and elegant spaces perfect to laze the mornings and evenings away with your significant other. Whatever your room choice, both offer spectacular views from decks that look out upon the plain below with its active waterhole.

BATH WITH A VIEW

The Luxury Cottages are a cosy delight. A comfy double bed sits at the end of an open plan lounge that features an iron fireplace showcased against the natural rock feature wall (perfect for those chilly winter evenings!) a selection of books and magazines, and a fully-stocked minibar so you don’t have to make your way to the bar every time you fancy a drink. A private balcony sits at the edge of the cottage, the ideal spot for a glass of bubbles to celebrate the end of another beautiful day whilst admiring the view. The calling card of the rooms though has to be the deep sunken bath sitting with a panoramic window view out to the waterhole and plains below – and hey, champagne tastes even better when you’re reclining in steaming hot water with a view on the wildlife below!

UPGRADE TO PLUNGE POOL HEAVEN

Our choice though has to be the 4 newly built Tshukudu Suites. These keep the same basic recipe that has made Tshukudu’s Cottages such favourites already (the fireplace, bath with a view, stone feature walls) but makes it roomier and adds a larger private deck complete with your own plunge pool (heated so using it isn’t just restricted to the summer months) and a gorgeous outdoor shower! As in the cottages, in the centre of the room is the pièce de résistance: the crystal chandelier, sending gleams of light around the room.

LET’S GO GAME VIEWING

Whilst the lodge’s waterhole is active and the lodge’s location gorgeously private, no doubt you’ll want to head out on game drive too. You do need to be aware that the game drives through Pilanesberg National Park do take place on the reserve’s public roads so it’s obviously a less exclusive experience than in the various private reserves and off-roading isn’t allowed. The reserve is home to the Big Five (leopard can be pretty tough to spot as always) not to mention a myriad other species as the Pilanesberg lies in the transition zone between the drier Kalahari to the west and the comparatively wetter lowveld to the east. The rangers here know their stuff too, so the game drives are usually pretty rewarding.

BACK AT THE LODGE…

But it’s back at the lodge that Tshukudu truly shines. High above the rest of the lodge, the aptly titled “Nest” grants her guests an unrivalled vantage point over the rolling savannah of the Pilanesberg. Here, you and your partner can organise private candle-lit dinners or delicious lunches to take a break from the rigours of the day and just enjoy this special place together. Otherwise enjoy a meal with your fellow guests at the large dining table where you can swap stories on the day’s sightings. The food at Tshukudu by the way gets consistently excellent reviews, so it’s perhaps a good thing that you’ve got those steps to negotiate to and from your room to keep the waistline from expanding too much!

TIME TO CHILL

When it comes to a convenient weekend away, Tshukudu gives pretty much everything you could want. The no kids policy means that the atmosphere is quiet, tranquil and romantic – perfect for couples looking to re-connect. You can even enjoy a relaxing massage in your room or perhaps in the pool area whilst your partner relaxes on a lounger with a long, cold drink in their hand courtesy of the ever-friendly barman!

Pricing

pp/night sharing

More Information

Booking Notes

Child Policy

No children under 12 years allowed

Useful Links

Lodge Website

Visit the official lodge site.

Trip Advisor

Read guest reviews for this lodge.

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Pricing

All Inclusive

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