Tshukudu Bush Lodge

My husband and I "disappeared" into the Pilansberg for two nights in May 2025 - Tshukudu was our obvious choice, after hearing so much about the Lodge. Lucky for us, the Lodge wasn't full and we were upgraded to a Presidential unit, which included a heated plunge pool - whatever time we spent in the unit, a good chunk of it was spent in the pool, watching wildlife visit the watering hole. The food is exceptional, but not in that "I'm too stuffed" kind of way. Meals were well-balanced, tasty and ... dare I say it ... healthy. There really is a lot of food on offer - from a well-curated High Tea at 15:30, just before your afternoon game drive, dinner (5 course) and late breakfast (after the morning game drive). Units are really comfortable - the outside shower is another winner! The +100 stairs to the dining and bar area may sound really daunting, but it isn't. It felt like a whole other experience and by the second day, we were both making the climb easily. An unforgetable experience. JR was our game driver - lexceptional and we were lucky enough to have witness a cheetah, amongst the other usual fare. Read less

My wife and i have been on numerous safaris in Southern Africa and this lodge and experience is hard to beat. Rated as four stars but accommodation and service were definitely five star. The only lodge actually in the national park and as you approach it the accommodation looks spectacular on a rocky hill top. There are over a hundred steps to the lodge but the exercise is made worthwhile by the stunning view out over a plain that stretches for miles. Upgrading to an executive room was well worth the small extra cost as it boasts a sizeable decking and a plunge pool where you can spend your time catching the sun and spotting game from your lounger. With only 12 rooms this is a quiet lodge and all the staff were wonderful. The game rangers are knowledgeable and make each drive an experience. The only slight downside is that being a national park in which the public can drive their own vehicles there can be an occasional short traffic jam when one of the big five is spotted. We highly recommend this lodge. It is a comfortable three hour drive from Johannesburg and only twenty minutes, but a million miles in class, from Sun City. Andre and his team are magnificent and helped create some magical memories. Read less

A spectacular location and a top-rate place to enjoy privacy and quiet along with your game viewing. Wonderful views, good service, beautiful rooms and lovely food. We felt fortunate to have JR as our bush guide: knowledgeable, funny, kind and absolutely the tops at what he does. We learned so much. Thanks to all of you at Tshukudu for an impeccable stay. Mandy, Selva and Daniel. Read less

The lodge is absolut fantastic. Euch day you can participate in a morning and afternoon game drive where you can see many animals (antilops, elephant, rhino, zebra, lions, ...). The service and food is excellent. After the early drive and the following breakfast you have the chance to relax at the pool or just enjoy the perfect view from your room to a waterhole where you have the chance to see different Gameboy as well. Read less

Tshukudu Bush Lodge, Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa. What a remarkable place! The lodge is located on a hillside in the south-west corner of the park. The lodge is located inside the park and consequently you get access to the park before the gates open and after they close! It is the only lodge inside the park. The nearest access gate is by Bakubung Lodge (about a 3hr drive from OR Tambo airport, Jo’berg). We arrived around 230pm after the 11hr overnight flight from London. On arrival We were greeted by the dedicated Tshukudu check-in manager and after a bit of paperwork and a refreshing drink we took a twenty-minute drive through the park to the lodge. On arrival, we were met by our field guide ‘JR’ (Jann -Rick Louw) Instagram: @Jrlouw_wildlife (more about JR later) who escorted us to our suite and briefed us on the facilities and the timings for the game drives and mealtimes. Our bags arrived while we were talking and after a quick freshen up, we were up the steps for a drink & high tea (this is a light late lunch served at 330pm each day) before our first game drive at 4pm! Accomodation – there are 6 luxury chalets and 4 luxury suites with a balcony plunge pool (heated), tucked away on the hillside overlooking the park. All have wi-fi. Access is via a natural stone path which from bottom to top number 132 steps! At the summit is the main lodge where you will find the restaurant and bar and a small rock plunge pool (unheated) Our suite overlooked the watering hole and most days you could see a variety of animals roaming across the landscape not to mention the occasional ‘Dassi’ (Rock Hyrax) sitting on rocks below the balcony. The rooms are clean, well equipped, with a large comfortable bed, our suite had a bath and shower (indoor and outdoor) with a view, toiletries, hairdryer, safe, water, tea and coffee making, sweet treats and a fridge that can be filled with beverages of your choice. There is a small rucksack with binoculars and IPad and books about the wildlife. Remember, you are in the wild, so occasionally you may get the odd visitor in the room. The chalets and suites have thatched roofs so are ‘animal friendly’. We had a few large moths and a field mouse but in warmer months you may see other wildlife! Consequently, it’s a good idea to keep your doors and bags closed when not in use. For peace of mind there is a medical service on call in the unfortunate event you need it. Staff – Tshukudu has a small team, 22 or so, they are friendly, accommodating and adept at ensuring that guests are provided with everything they need to enjoy their stay. Our room was cleaned twice a day (when you are on the drive) and consequently the service is efficient and unobtrusive. Food – 3 meals a day, which is plentiful and eclectic. Breakfast is served from 830am, after the morning drive and is available til 10am, hot a cold drinks, fruit, cereal and continental &/or hot breakfast is available, with a good choice of cooked food. ‘High Tea’ (late lunch) is served at 330pm, just before the afternoon ‘drive’ and consists of savoury and sweet hors d’oeuvres, cheese and biscuits, hot and cold drinks. Dinner (5 courses) is served around 8pm each night, after the evening drive and consisted of an amuse bouche, starter, soup, main (choice of two), desert and if desired cheese a biscuits (nobody managed this in the 5 days we were there!). Food is varied and plentiful but could at times have been hotter. Each evening the days chef would ‘announce’ the menu and it’s likely you will have the opportunity to eat something you haven’t tried before! Special dietary needs are also catered for on request. Game Drives- these are included and operate twice daily (0500hrs and 1600hrs) and last around 3 1/2hrs. The vehicles are purpose built and can accommodate 9 guests but never take more than 6 guests. Each guide is equipped with a radio, which enables animal sightings to be shared. We had 6 drives on our own, 2 drives with 4 guests and 2 drives with 6 guests. We visited in late March / early April, and it can get chilly on the drives so bring something warm. The weather at this time can also be unpredictable, so a light waterproof jacket is advisable, the vehicles are also equipped with blankets and waterproof lined ponchos if needed. It is difficult to describe the exhilaration of a drive, tracking animals across the park and being confronted by a Rhino road block (other animals are available!). Indeed, even on days when the big-five may prove elusive, the abundance of other fauna, flora and birds across the park is spectacular, all set in their natural surroundings. Comfort breaks are scheduled midway on each drive but in the event that you need to stop for a ‘bush wee’ JR will find you a ‘safe’ spot to relieve yourself! Field Guides – There are 3 field guides at Tshukudu, ours, ‘JR’ was just brilliant. His knowledge about the park and its inhabitants was amazing and he was a great host and raconteur on the ‘drives’. He’d grown up in the area and explained how he and his father (a Rhino conservationist at Pilanesberg) used to drive around the park when he was young, exploring the terrain, learning about the occupants, and sketching in his notebooks. A guide for a decade, he was incredibly knowledgeable. He explained that he had spent the last 10 years at Pilanesberg and was passionate about the place. As ‘first timers’ he brought the ‘park’ to life for us, making it educational as well as thoroughly enjoyable, punctuated with stories, photo’s and occasional video’s of the many fantastic moments he has captured over the years. Park facilities – There are some paved / tarmacked roads in the park but they are generally in a poor state of repair. Consequently, these and the many dirt tracks that interest the park can make for a bumpy ride. The vehicle is well able to cope with the terrain though and is generally comfortable. There are stopping points scattered across the park where you will take your morning coffee or evening sundowners. Most are fenced areas with toilet facilities but be warned, the toilets are basic and at times unpleasant, so be prepared! There is a small shopping complex near the centre of the park where you can purchase local produce, gifts, clothing and hot and cold beverages. Most major credit cards are accepted. Other – We stayed for 5 days and frankly could have stayed longer. They are long days, so a degree of stamina is required. However, despite daily 430am starts, within 5 minutes of starting a drive you quickly forget any fatigue. Perhaps the most challenging aspect is navigating the 132 stone steps to the main lodge & restaurant which are fairly steep & uneven so bring sensible footwear. You don’t need hiking boots, but comfortable walking shoes or trainers are a must. Clothing, the weather can be unpredictable in Mar/April so it’s difficult to give advice. However, what is clear is that whatever time of year you visit, Tshukudu is very much ‘come as you are’ so most days the clothing worn for the afternoon drive was worn to dinner by most guests. Consequently, my advice is pack light & don’t bother bringing any formal wear. Tipping is ubiquitous in South Africa (ZAR) but is neither expected nor required at Tshukudu. That being said, the standard of service you will receive demands consideration, and it was a pleasure to recognise the exceptional service we received from arrival to departure. For those so inclined, envelopes are provided in the folder in your room to discreetly thank your guide and your team for a truly memorable experience in a unique and beautiful environment. Bring cash as there are no cashpoint facilities in the park. It's fair to say that Pilanesberg and Tshukudu in particular, captured our hearts, and we will undoubtedly return. It is a magical place and reminds you of the simple beauty and therapeutic properties of spending time in the environment and seeing animals in their natural habitat is not to be missed. Read less