Nambiti may be one of the lesser-known Big Five reserves in South Africa, but it’s one which gets us pretty excited at Bushscapes for a variety of reasons! For one there’s Nambiti’s very convenient location just a short hop off the N3 near Ladysmith in KZN – this makes it an easy drive both from Johannesburg (about 4 hours) as well as Durban (around 2 and a half hours). Then there’s the reserve’s scenic beauty – it may be quite small at about 9000 hectares, but it’s a real gem of a reserve boasting wonderfully varied and memorably scenic landscapes which vary from the waterfalls and tumbling rapids of the Sundays River valley to an extensive area of grassy plains that remind one inevitably of the Serengeti. Then to complement the excellent and ever-improving game viewing on offer at Nambiti you have the choice of some truly excellent and characterful lodges, of which Umzolozolo is an excellent example. The cherry on the top of all this is that prices are consistently good and the Nambiti lodges certainly offer excellent value for money!

Umzolozolo was the very first lodge to open in Nambiti back in 2005 and since then it has built an enviable reputation for great hospitality. Much of that is no doubt due to the fact that the lodge consists of just 8 luxurious suites which means that a stay at Umzolozolo is always a very personal experience where you’ll get to know your ranger and tracker and the lodge managers and no doubt also enjoy meeting up with your fellow guests too over a drink at the bar. That’s always the beauty for us of smaller and more intimate lodges like Umzolozolo: the fact that you inevitably seem to make new friends and get to know people personally.

The 8 suites at Umzolozolo are wonderfully secluded, stand-alone rooms but are otherwise quite varied in character even if they carry identical price tags. Positioned at the top of the pile is the Presidential Suite which boasts a number of standout features: these include a private Jacuzzi on your wooden deck, a stunning stone bath placed right next to large open window through which you can enjoy stunning views of the bush below, a double sided fireplace which keeps both the bedroom and bathroom nice and cosy during winter; there’s also double indoor and outdoor showers!

Then there’s the Honeymoon Suite, another gorgeous and very secluded suite offering great privacy as well as a Jacuzzi on a view deck looking over the valley (perfect for relaxing in with a chilled bottle of bubbles whilst you soak up the great views!) For families or 2 couples travelling together there is a Family Chalet with 2 separate bedrooms both of which have access out onto the veranda area. There are 2 Luxury Chalets which boast an exceptionally spacious bedroom and a lounge area (note that these chalets can also accommodate kids through the use of pull-out beds in the main bedroom) It's the 4 luxurious new Suites set high up on the hillside and with the most modern styling and decor that would probably be our pick though. But whichever room you end up in you’ll enjoy the comfort of air-conditioning as well as large picture windows which maximise on the views even from inside (although you may choose instead to relax on your private wooden deck with a good book between periodic glances to see what wildlife has wandered into view)

During those hot summer days you can cool off in the pool at Umzolozolo, situated high above the valley on the viewing deck of the main lodge and offering panoramic views of the bushveld below! Another lovely feature is that the pool water cascades over the rim flow pool into a rock pool below where animals gather to drink. You can also tan and relax on pool loungers under the shade of umbrellas whilst browsing through a magazine or enjoying a home-made juice (or perhaps even snoozing off to the sounds of the birds and gently flowing water!) If that isn’t relaxing enough for you, why not enjoy a pampering massage (the lodge’s trained Spa therapist will visit you in the comfort of your room or even on your private deck overlooking the valley below!)

Umzolozolo is a lodge where you will be able to enjoy the spectacular landscapes of the game-filled reserve in near solitude! When you arrive you will be introduced to your personal tracker and ranger – they will be available to you during your stay and will escort you on two game drives daily in an open topped 4x4. In fact if you have a particular interest in any species, the ranger will make it his personal mission to try to find it and share his in-depth knowledge of African wildlife with you! Whilst out on drive not only will you be able to enjoy excellent sightings of a variety of game, you’ll also no doubt enjoy the incredible scenery on offer, including two magnificent waterfalls on the Sundays River which flows through Nambiti.

Returning to Umzolozolo you’ll enjoy an atmospheric dinner in an enclosed boma where a blazing log fire creates an opportunity to relax with other guests and recall the events of the day. The open air boma encourages you to take in the unique sounds and smells of Africa – the soundtrack to your meal could even be the spine-tingling roar of a lion staking out his territory, the cough of a leopard or the whoop of a hyena! Afterwards you can relax in the comfortable lounge next to a roaring log fire with a glass of good red wine and pat yourself on the back for choosing to visit Nambiti..and of course, for choosing to stay at Umzolozolo!