Plan a Bushveld break
Somewhere between Thabazimbi and Lephalale, the first fat raindrops hit the windscreen. White thunderclouds tower in the sky, their bellies purple with rain. The grass on the road verge is tall and lush, backed by game fences and dense thickets of thorn trees. A road sign warns about kudus, and a warthog darts across the road with her four tail-in-the-air babies in tow.
The area surrounding Lephalale (formerly Ellisras) is full of private game farms. We’ve chosen five places to stay where you can have a bit of the Bushveld all to yourself, whether you camp on a riverbank or stay in a tree house in the branches of a tamboti.
1 GNU RANCH
When you turn off the R510 tar road and drive through the gate to Gnu Ranch, you basically vanish into the Bushveld. Trees tower overhead and block out the sun. Some wildebeest cross the road and a zebra keeps a wary eye.
Signs reading “Sterk op pad”, “Nog ’n entjie” and “Amper daar” lead you to three self-catering units in the 22 km² game reserve. Facilities: Looking for a place to celebrate your wedding anniversary? The two Luxury Tents (pictured above) are in a quiet corner away from the other
