Thanda Private Game Reserve

Situated 23km north of Hluhluwe in northern Zululand, Thanda Private Game Reserve is a celebration of the Zulu people and their rich culture. Not only will guests have the opportunity to learn more about their history and traditions, the people from the adjacent tribal land will benefit in many ways from the creation of Thanda Private Game Reserve. It´s the magic of romance and Zulu culture that makes the Thanda wildlife safari experience unforgettable.

Born from a dream to create harmony between man and nature, an exclusive hideaway awaits those who dare to share the dream.

The philosophy 'For the love of nature, wildlife and dear ones' embraces Thanda's vision of creating harmony between man and nature. 'Thanda' - 'love' in Zulu - is truly a game reserve centred around 'love'. Originally purchased as degraded cattle farms, heavily infested with alien invasive plant species, the land is in the process of being restored to re-establish the natural equilibrium. The full suite of animal species, including the Big Five, which roamed the area in the past has been reintroduced and current management interventions are such that they work in tandem with natural processes.

Thanda's awards and accolades

• Thanda Private Game Reserve has been deemed the most luxurious destination in Africa, winning ‘Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge’ in the 2007 World Travel Awards ceremony at a gala evening in Abu Dhabi.
• Winner of the Leading Safari in South Africa category in the 2006 World Travel Awards
• Winner of the Safari Spa category in 2006 Les Nouvelles Esthetiques spa awards
• Winner in the Best Social Involvement Programme category in the 2006 Imvelo Awards for Responsible Tourism
• The only safari lodge in the world to be a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World
• First private game reserve in KZN to introduce a breeding pack of the endangered wild dog.
• Luxury Travel Awards winner "One of the World's Best New Hotels 2005" - Luxury Travel Magazine
• Winner of the Best of SA in the Lodge Spa category by House and Leisure/Visa 2006

Relax in one of the lounges or at the bar

Take heed of your body and mind’s desire for inner peace and close your eyes whilst life’s daily stresses vanish beneath skilful hands.

The wellness centre offers a variety of therapies and beauty treatments to ease the effects of life's daily stresses on your body and mind. Qualified health and skin care therapists will ensure that your soothing full body aromatherapy massage or healing reflexology, to name just a few, will aid you to unwind and relax in the beautiful surroundings of Thanda Private Game Reserve.

Let your senses awaken with sumptuous decadence, and candlelit culinary masterpieces impeccably served in your private boma.

Thanda invites you to experience ultimate luxury and world-class service. The public area at the main lodge has a lounge, library, dining room, boma, dining deck, wine cellar, cigar bar, fully equipped business centre and viewing decks overlooking tranquil water features. Artefacts made by local artists can be found in the curio shop adjacent to the business centre.
The accommodation in the nine luxury bush villas is pure indulgence. Each spacious bush villa has a private splash pool and viewing deck, sala, lounge, fireplace and a full bathroom with an inside as well as an outside shower. The private bomas offer absolute privacy should that be your choice.

In the coolness of the night, dine on tender delicacies to the echoing sounds of triumphant creatures feasting.

Our dedicated and professional chefs will skilfully prepare an exquisite variation of Western and traditional Zulu cuisine.
And you choose where you would prefer to savour the masterpieces that will be presented to you: in front of a roaring fire in the dining room in winter, under sparkling skies on clear nights in the boma or in the bush, or for a more romantic or private option, in your own secluded private boma or terrace. Guests staying at the tented camp can partake in their meals at the dining tent, or at the dining facilities at the main lodge.

Free your adventurous spirit with the thrill of Big Five game viewing, the exhilaration of diving with dolphins, or the wonder of whale watching from sun-drenched beaches. Or perhaps you would prefer to restore your soul with a leisurely cruise through tropical estuaries followed by a refreshingly cool swim in your private splash pool?

An abundance of activities awaits guests who would like to enjoy all that the area has to offer. The Elephant Coast, as this part of KwaZulu-Natal is now called, has 21 different ecosystems and is home to a rich variety of fauna and flora. Sand forests, lakes, lagoons, wetlands and pristine stretches of beaches are home to many animals such as hippos, crocodiles, giant turtles and over 460 bird species.

Sawubona; welcome to our land! Open your mind to a spiritual culture of rhythmic dances, colourful beadwork and intricate reed creations as King Shaka's descendants share their ancient tales of the powerful Zulu people.

The focus point of Thanda Private Game Reserve is to fully embrace the Zulu culture by including elements of it throughout all aspects of the lodge. From the décor to the cuisine, guests will truly learn to appreciate the rich and still very much alive traditions of the Zulu people.

Vula Zulu, a traditional 'kraal' is the setting for guests to have the privilege of watching fifty to one hundred Impis trained by an associate of a Zulu prince, performing age-old dancing rites, as was done prior to and after battle.

A guided tour to a nearby Zulu tribal village will offer guests an insight into the daily life of the community. Visit local historical sites and battlegrounds, or witness young children's enthusiasm and ambition during a visit to a local school. Learn about Amazwi Writers, an initiative sponsored by Thanda to share Zulu history and traditions with the world. Our rangers will embrace the close connections and traditions between nature and the Zulu people, and in the library at the main lodge, you can read about the many fascinating aspects of the Zulu nation, from culture and history to myths and legends. Even the Zulu songs will stay with you long after your visit to Thanda!

In this way, Thanda will be contributing to the sustainment of the Zulu culture, through job creation as well as maintaining an ongoing interest in the Zulu heritage, and offering guests a unique opportunity to experience all aspects of this incredibly interesting culture, not found at any other lodge.

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