Dinokeng Private Bush House | Unbranded

DINOKENG PRIVATE BUSH HOUSE

DINOKENG, GAUTENG

African Gem Safari

Well, do we have good news for you! We’ve been searching for so long for a beautiful private house in the Big Five Dinokeng Game Reserve, and we’ve finally found a perfect bush hideaway in every sense of the word. Once you’ve spent some time here, of course, you understand that this is a safari gem in more ways than one: for busy weekenders it’s a mere 50km north of Pretoria, but for international guests flying in (or for Capetonians like us) it couldn’t be easier and quicker to get to from OT Tambo (literally an hour away), which means that it makes the perfect last stop before heading home, or a very chilled beginning to a South African holiday – whether you’re continuing onto the Greater Kruger or starting out on a road trip.

With 7 000ha traversing rights within the 22 000ha reserve, game drives are rewarding but if you’re a seasoned safari goer, you can do things differently here too. Besides chilling round the pool or boma at the house, there are mountain bikes to enjoy within the inner fenced reserve and hot-air ballooning nearby. Loveman Jack, the guide, was superbly knowledgeable of the area and great company on game drives and Timo Mlezakwimba, the chef, managed to work magic with our ingredients, presenting delicious meals with a beaming smile.

The bush house is a luxurious home-away-from-home, with a self-contained safari unit that sleeps four plus three additional and separate bedroom suites all linked to the house by wooden walkways. From the earthy cedar and wild bergamot scent of Cape Island’s Safari Days to divinely comfy beds, each suite is a private cocoon with its own deck area to enjoy – ideal for weekends away with friends when you also cherish some quiet time to breathe in deep lungsful of African bushveld air, all the while pinching yourself that it takes only a little longer to get here than it does to the office. So what are you waiting for?