At Bushscapes we’re obviously exposed to a plethora of game lodges, so for one to truly stand out and get us excited takes some doing! To say we’re excited about adding Ximuwu to the website qualifies as one of the understatements of the year – this really is a hugely exciting lodge which manages to successfully stand out from the crowd in so many ways!

Architecturally Ximuwu very much follows the very modern, contemporary style being increasingly seen in many of the newly launched lodges – the usual styling cues of flat roofs and huge floor to ceiling glazing are present and correct, but it’s from that point on that Ximuwu starts to carve a truly unique and distinctive path! This is particularly noticeable in the feature materials utilized as well as the furnishings and distinctive décor elements that the lodge showcases so effectively. Perhaps the lodge’s signature materials are the extensive use of rusted Corton steel in everything from feature room screens to signage to innovative fire-pit features - complementing this distinctive rusted steel look is the use of recycled old wooden railway sleepers which add a warmth and organic charm that is often missing in lodges with very contemporary design (which can sometimes verge on being overly clean and clinical) Add in ceilings in fairly rough-hewn timber, dark plastered walls and plenty of leather (in various forms, from rugs to gorgeously stylish seating) and then splashes of colour courtesy of the lovely contemporary artworks and the overall effect is warm, charming and quite intimate! All in all this has to be one of the most attractive and welcoming new lodges that we’ve seen in ages!

That’s not where Ximuwu’s distinctly different characteristics end though. Perhaps the most noteworthy point of difference is that this is arguably THE most wheel-chair friendly game lodge in the entire country! The founder of the lodge had a back operation which temporarily confined him to a wheelchair in the same period during which he was conceptualizing the new lodge. He quickly realized that every game lodge he had ever experienced were pretty much inaccessible to people using mobility aids. Needless to say, that experience hugely shaped the resulting design brief for Ximuwu, with every pathway, passage, doorway and suite interior being specifically designed as wheelchair friendly. Even the game drive vehicles have been modified to effortlessly accommodate mobility-challenged guests.

Ximuwu was also initially largely conceptualized as an exclusive-use lodge, hence having just 4 luxurious Suites to accommodate the typical size of a family or friends group travelling together. This also informed some of the resulting design choices – for example, rather than each suite having a private plunge pool, the original idea was to rather to encourage the group to socialize together as much as possible in the lodge’s main public areas. The result is one of the most attractive public lodge area we’ve yet seen, with a stunning swimming pool overlooking a very active waterhole and the plain beyond. Alongside is the attractive fire-pit circle, the perfect place to come together after arriving back from the evening game drive to chat with fellow guests over a refreshing drink! Inside the bar is simply stunning, again one of the most attractive of any lodge out there. The lounge and dining area is similarly attractive, and the interior succeeds in feeling warm (literally helped by the double-sided fireplaces with their exposed flues!) and quite intimate despite the large physical area it occupies. Those exposed fireplace chimney flues and some large and very appealing modern chandeliers cleverly succeed in visually filling in the space opened up by the lodge’s high ceilings whilst a glass encased wine cellar cleverly divides the space visually and physically.

The 4 spacious and luxurious Suites carry through with the same basic look and feel as the main public areas, even boasting their own closed-combustion fireplaces to add a welcoming warmth in those chilly bushveld winter evenings!  We particularly like the open-plan bathrooms with their huge walk-in showers, gorgeous stone double vanity and the stylish stand-alone baths which enjoy front-row seat views over the bush outside! Perhaps the only criticism is that, with the lodge having pivoted away from exclusive-use to being booked on an individual room basis, the rooms (and the overall quality of the lodge as a whole) scream out for the introduction of individual plunge pools to truly complete the whole modern-day top-end luxury lodge experience.

Other than that specific perceived short-coming though, Ximuwu delivers a delightfully different and very high-quality safari experience. There’s not one but TWO photographic hides for example – the first at the lodge waterhole (and wheelchair friendly of course) and the other a short drive away. Whichever you choose promises to deliver superb water-level photo opportunities of big game coming in to drink! Then there’s the attractive sleep-out deck experience - again boasting views over a nearby dam/waterhole – for a truly unforgettable night out under the African stars!

As far as game viewing is concerned, the expansive main lodge deck provides a consummate “sofa safari” experience, where you can enjoy views of animals coming down to drink at the busy waterhole sprawled out on a comfy armchair or pool lounger. Going out on game drive, the innovations continue. We mentioned the specially modified game drive vehicles to aid mobility-challenged guests, but Ximuwu also offers both “sound safaris” (using directional microphones and amplifiers to allow you to focus on the sounds made by the animals which would normally be completely drowned out by the noise of the bush), as well as night drives where you can see the nocturnal animals clearly through the use of “night vision” thermal binoculars!

And in keeping with the whole top-end experience, you’ll never have to worry about feeling crowded either on your vehicle (even if all 4 Suites are occupied, 2 vehicles will then be used to accommodate guests) nor at sightings – for at least 6 000 hectares of Ximuwu’s traversing area, they are the only commercial lodge operating (you may encounter the odd private landowner vehicle) That lends itself to leisurely and relaxed sightings with no pressure to make way for other vehicles which happens at so many of the other private reserves. In fact, for the bulk of your stay you really may feel like you’re have this bushveld paradise all to yourself!