Waterbuck Game Lodge

Property class: 4

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At Waterbuck Game Lodge, you can look forward to a free breakfast buffet, game and wildlife viewing, and a swim-up bar. The on-site restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Free in-room WiFi is available to all guests, along with a poolside bar and a terrace.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning

Room options

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A spacious bedroom with a large bed, a wooden ceiling, and a view of a kitchen and outdoor area.

Suite

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 204 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds
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About the neighborhood

Located in Thornybush Game Reserve, Waterbuck Game Lodge is on a river. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Selati Nature Reserve and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, while Nyani Cultural Village and Mafunyani Cultural Village are cultural highlights. Visit our Thornybush Game Reserve travel guide
View more Lodges in Thornybush Game Reserve
Map
Thornybush Game Reserve, Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, 1380

What's nearby

  • A dirt path with a lion walking away from the camera.
    Selati Nature Reserve
    20 min drive - 8.4 km
  • A leopard resting on a tree branch.
    Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
    35 min drive - 15.9 km
  • Ehlanzeni Collage
    54 min drive - 33.3 km
  • Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
    55 min drive - 28.2 km
  • Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate
    56 min drive - 45.7 km

Getting around

  • Hoedspruit (HDS)
    33 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Bush Pub & Inn
    24 min drive
  • Kapama Southern Camp Restaurant
    40 min drive
  • Boma
    37 min drive

About this property

Waterbuck Game Lodge

  • Upscale lodge by the river
  • A free breakfast buffet, game and wildlife viewing, and a swim-up bar are just a few of the amenities provided at Waterbuck Game Lodge. The on-site restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Free in-room WiFi is available to all guests, along with a poolside bar and a terrace.
  • Additional perks include:
    • An outdoor pool along with sun loungers and a swim-up bar
    • Free self parking
    • A safari, a roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge), and babysitting (surcharge)
    • A front-desk safe, wedding services, and game drive on site
  • Room features
  • All guestrooms at Waterbuck Game Lodge include perks such as air conditioning and bathrobes, as well as amenities like free WiFi and safes.
  • Other conveniences in all rooms include:
    • Bathrooms with separate tubs/showers and free toiletries
    • Wardrobes/closets, patios, and electric kettles

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Frequently asked questions

Does Waterbuck Game Lodge have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Waterbuck Game Lodge pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Waterbuck Game Lodge?

Check-in start time: 1 PM; Check-in end time: 5 PM. A fee applies for early check-in (subject to availability). Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Waterbuck Game Lodge?

Check-out is at 11 AM. Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability).

Does Waterbuck Game Lodge provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request.

Where is Waterbuck Game Lodge located?

Situated on a river, this lodge is 3.1 mi (4.9 km) from Selati Nature Reserve and within 12 mi (20 km) of Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and Nyani Cultural Village. Mafunyani Cultural Village and Tintswalo Hospital are also within 20 mi (32 km).

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Reviews

Waterbuck Game Lodge Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

9.8

Cleanliness

9.4

Location

9.8

Staff & service

9.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 15 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 15 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 15 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful place! Great service. Good food. The ranger and game drives were a blast. Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Home in the bush

Waterbuck Lodge is a small, intimate lodge with only four rooms. Our room was beautifully appointed. The bedroom is sizeable, with a very large comfortable bed. There is plenty of storage space (both hanging and shelving), a dressing table and an armchair. There is a small safe in the wardrobe to keep your valuables secure. A ‘drinks station’ with a kettle, tea and coffee is provided, almond with yummy home made biscuits and rusks. There is also a fridge to store your choice of drinks in the room. The bathroom has both indoor and outdoor showers, a fabulous deep double ended bath and a ‘loo with a view’. The food was excellent. Breakfast, served after game drive, consisted of a buffet of cereal, fruit, yoghurt ,cold meats and cheeses. A hot portion was then cooked to order, usually consisting of your choice of eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes and mushrooms. Afternoon tea was served at 3:30, just before the afternoon game drive, and usually included a couple of savoury and salad choices and a sweet selection. Evening meals were varied and tasty three course affairs. In ten days we never had the same menu twice. The game drives utilise both ranger and tracker on the vehicle, and Marnus and Solly are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The lovely staff are not always visible at the lodge during the day. They have an ‘honesty bar’ system, where you mark down drinks you have had in a ledger. If you want ‘Butler service’ go elsewhere - otherwise, come here!
Giant, comfortable beds
The view from the room
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Empfehlenswerte, familiäre Lodge

Tolle Lage, schöne Bungalows, Pool mit Liegen und feines Essen. Ganz hervorragend sind die Gsme Drives. Wir haben sehr viel gesehen und viele interessante Infos erhalten. Wir haben den Aufenthalt in der familiären Lodge sehr genossen und können sie nur weiter empfehlen. Danke der ganzen Crew.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Experiência legal !

O lodge é muito confortável e bonito ! Achei que por estar no meio da savana teria problemas com insetos , mas não ! São muito cuidadosos com a limpeza e não vimos insetos nas dependências e isso realmente agradou muito ! A alimentação surpreendeu , tudo maravilhoso e farto ! Os games foram razoáveis ! A reserva é muito grande e os animais ficam bem espalhados ! Andamos bastante tempo sem avistar nada ! Mas a natureza é imprevisível , obviamente ! Senti falta de um adaptador no quarto ! Um lodge tão caro e temos que carregar nossos aparelhos na recepção ! Alegaram que os hóspedes acabam levando os adaptadores ! Mas por esse preço da diária não daria contar com essa possível perda ?
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Ótimo. Funcionários solicitos. Consegui ver os big Five.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Excellent service and value for money

The general staff and cook were excellent. He guide and tracker very knowledgeable and made our trip amazing
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Unforgettable

We saw everything we came to Africa to see in three days. Our first game drive yielded three different groups of elephants, a pride of lazy lionesses sleeping off a meal, giraffes, a Cape Buffalo, impalas, a spectacular male kudu and others. By the middle of the second day we had seen each of the Big Five except the leopard. That's when Hannes, out ranger, and Lodrick our tracker decided it was time to focus. We spent three drives following the tracks of a large male who always managed to keep his head down just as we went by. That night Lodrick spotted something and sure enough there he was. It was a terrific thrill to follow him, he finally decided to cross the road and we got some great shots of one of the most elusive and beautiful beasts in the world. And the food was divine, too!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Serviço de altíssimo nível. Inesquecível.

Ficamos muito satisfeitos com a estrutura do hotel, os games drives que fizemos e principalmente com o staff do hotel que em nenhum momento mediu esforços para nos agradar. Recomendamos fortemente esse hotel. Hannes and Waterbuck team, congrats for your excellent job. Thank you very much.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Safaris bien menés avec un Ranger et un tracker compétents et gentils. Excellente land cruiser, neuve et confortable, très bien adaptée. Cuisine excellente.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing lodge!

We loved our time at Waterbuck! They have a max of 8 ppl so your experience is very personalized. Loderick and Franco made the trip as they were great fracker and guide. We are way too much but it was delicious! Look forward to coming back.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Gemütliche Safari Lodge

Wir waren 4 Tage in dieser Lodge und wurden von dem Waterbuck Game Lodge Team perfekt umsorgt.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018