Amenities
River Lodge Overview
The northern Drakensberg mountain range provides a majestic backdrop to the largest private game lodge in the Greater Kruger National Park region. Kapama River Lodge is situated within Kapama Game Reserve, and presents the perfect blend between luxurious safari accommodation and a generous bed capacity of 64 bedrooms. Although large, it is so stylish and roomy and beautifully positioned along a dry riverbed, that guests fall in love with it.
Each spacious room at Kapama River Lodge features a full en-suite bathroom and terrace with uninterrupted views into the leafy-green Big 5 game reserve. The central guest entertainment areas include a large rim-flow swimming pool with sun umbrellas and recliners for lazy afternoons. The long L-shaped relaxation lounge and bar under a double-volume thatch, curves around the pool and on either side is a huge double-sided fireplace creating a wondrous open-plan yet cosy atmosphere. The Rhino Boma dining area with tables arranged under a low thatch in a horseshoe curve, has a central open space where a roaring outdoor fire gives a glow to evening meals. Buffet-style meals introduce African flavours with Pan African dishes using fresh local ingredients and specialist dishes featuring venison like kudu and impala.
Kapama River Lodge is so named because it lies in a curve of the Kapama River, which is usually dry but floods from time to time and can reach the steps of the lodge swimming pool. A small permanent water source lies just beyond Kapama River Lodge perimeter fence attracting animals like antelopes, elephant and buffalo. Watch this truly African spectacle from the warm blue water of the big rim flow swimming pool, or relax in the shade of an umbrella on loungers around the pool.
For those occasions when you really want to catch up on world news on cable TV, watch a sports game or entertain the children with a wildlife DVD, pop down to the Kapama River Lodge Media Room. This area is also adapted for small conferences of 20 delegates or less, with breakaway rooms seating 8-10 people.
Lounge
African pots, stools and artefacts grace the illuminated recessed alcoves in the L-shaped lounges and bar of Kapama River lodge. Chairs are softly upholstered in reds and golds and the high yellow thatch reflects a warm light back into the beamed lounges. A wide chimney divides each lounge area, and the dual-facing fireplaces throws light and warmth into all areas.
Wooden-framed glass concertina doors can be pulled closed to keep it cosy or opened up completely for views beyond the rim-flow pool into the sandy riverbed. A special feature of Kapama River Lodge is the straw-clad plaster walls, helping to seamlessly merge the inside with the outside.
Dining
Kapama River Lodge extends itself with three different dining venues:
Rhino Boma is the most popular buffet dinner venue where a delicious variety of dishes is eaten under an open-sided thatch around a crackling fire.
The Riverbed is a romantic place to dine, with a star-studded African night sky above you and the sand of the dry riverbed beneath you.
Siyatla Lounge is newly built and perfect for large groups, formal functions, product launches and conferences. It has its own bar and lounge with two huge fireplaces with chimneys extending up to the open-beam thatched roof. Huge wizened leadwood trunks create a truly African feature inside the hall. Concertina glass panel doors open the space completely to let the sounds and smells of Africa in.
Dishes are prepared with seasonal local produce and fresh herbs grown at Kapama River Lodge. Ethnic dishes and accompaniments like mielie pap (African-style polenta) and chakalaka (a hot and spicy relish) are used to give the taste of Africa, but more familiar food is also on the menu. Safari game drives have the habit of giving you a raging appetite so blow the diet and dig into specialist dishes like warthog stew and kudu casserole, impala sausages and mild oxtail curries. Fish eaters get an option on the menu and vegetarians are well catered for with fresh African vegetables like sweet potatoes baked in their skin, wild spinach and feta cheese, spiced zulu cabbage and steamed gem squash.
Wine Cellar
Kapama River lodge has a wine cellar worth boasting about. Three big plate glass windows allow you to look into the perfectly humidified environment storing more than 600 bottles of fine wine. Apart from some French Champagne, all the wines and Cape Classique sparkling are from South Africa's finest Cape vineyards.
Suites
Kapama River Lodge features 40 spacious air-conditioned suites, with modern yet distinctly African furnishings and log-beam ceilings under a golden thatch. Step onto your private balcony with an iced drink from your mini bar, and while away free time looking lazily into the bush for animals that may pass by.
There's tea and coffee at your disposal too. Bathrooms are all en-suite with his and hers basins, bath and shower, complimentary amenities are supplied daily.
Spa Suites
The 20 Spa suites, completed in November 2008, is positioned close to the Spa on a private setting away from the rest of the lodge and all rooms have magnificent private views into the reserve. The ebony and ivory colors and the use of frameless glass panels in the bathroom as well as the 3 meter high doors makes it possible to fully enjoy the magnificent views from every corner of the room. The room includes all other luxuries such as a minibar and coffee and tea making facilities, hair dryer, minisafe and even have a built in international plug that can accommodate most electric power plug configurations.
The Kapama Family Room is situated together with the Spa suites and includes three balconies and a separate area with two beds for younger kids if guest want their kids to be accommodated in one room. This room is in excess of 70 m² including the balconies and is also ideal for guests who just enjoy the comfort of a large room.
Royal Suites
Pamper yourself at the two Kapama River Lodge Royal Suites. These suites are bigger in every way and have a separate lounge and extended balcony with recliner couches. Your en-suite bathroom has bath and a dual shower cubicle looking towards the bush.
Game Drive (included in the tarrif)
Two daily game drives are part of the fully inclusive tariff and your skilled ranger and tracker do their best to find the animals of Africa for you to admire.
Expect a wake up call at between 5am and 5.30am and gather for tea or coffee and rusks before heading out at first light. If you are lucky, the big cats will still be around after their night of hunting. This is Big 5 country (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo) all of which are possible to see during a two-day safari in Kapama Game Reserve.
There are also many other species to be seen, large and small, as well as fascinating plants and colourful birds. Stop halfway through the morning game drive for hot drinks and rusks from the Landrover snack box and return at around 9am for breakfast. During the rest of the day, you are likely to see wildlife like nyala antelope and vervet monkeys around the lodges.
At about 3.30pm everybody convenes for high tea, before departing with the same ranger/tracker team for the day's second African bush safari.
Enjoy a sundowner drink along the way (not included in the tariff), and get out of the vehicle to stretch your legs and watch the sun go down over the distant Drakensberg Mountains.
As darkness descends it's time to return to the safety of the Landrover and let the tracker scan the landscape with a spotlight
picking out the glinting eyes of nocturnal animals. Return to the lodge at around 7pm, where there is time to freshen up before dinner.
Bush Walks (included in the tarriff)
Get some African soil under your feet with a bush walk after breakfast. Explore the environment with your ranger, learn about curative properties of plants and identify animals from their footprints and dung. Large game is avoided when on foot but animals can often be seen from a safe distance. Please note that this will be done under ranger discretion.
Kapama Wellness Centre
Exquisitely nestled in the African bush is a piece of paradise designed to uplift your mind, body and soul. Complete with a state of the art gym, equipped with cardio and weight training facilities, the centre energizes and uplifts in the healing presence of nature.
While connecting with the call of the wild indulge in an array of uniquely designed spa treatments. These include facial, body and beauty treatments. Two signature treatments romantically merge the needs of couples. The Marula Rasul Steam Treatment is a sensual experience for two. Merging the wisdom of the Orient with the raw energy of Africa, this magical treatment balances the elements of water, fire, earth and air within the body. Another unique treatment for couples is the Kapama Pinotage Bliss; combining a deep body massage with an aromatic bathing experience in a detoxifying vine extract.
Stepping from one invigorating treatment to the next, a lap pool welcomes you to lie back and relax under a breathtaking bushveld sky. Reconnect with your inner beauty and strength as you lose yourself in an African panoramic vista.
Hot air baloon
The giant candy-striped balloons lift off at first light and drift at the mercy of the wind for about an hour. The hot air balloon landing can be bumpy, so hold on tight then celebrate with a glass of bubbly. This memorable experience is highly recommended.
R3,200.00 per person (Adult)
Elephant Back Safari
This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here in Kapama Game Reserve to ride on the back of an African elephant. Meet the herd in the early morning or late afternoon and learn just how to get onto the back of an elephant and move to its rhythm as they walk through the bush. Elephants need to feed for many hours a day, so just because you are on top, this doesn't stop them from pulling down branches and grabbing a trunk full of grass as they walk. They are the largest creatures in the African jungle so other animals that you may come across will give way to you. After walking for about an hour, the elephants will return you to the elephant boma. A video can be made of your experience for an additional fee.
R 1,775.00 per person including return transfer to your Kapama lodge subject to availability.
Elephant Interaction
The elephant interaction offers the visitor the unique opportunity to get amazingly close to an animal which can usually only be viewed from a respectful distance. This activity takes place after breakfast and guests return in time for lunch at the lodge. It is therefore ideal for guests who want to take full advantage of the morning and evening game drives but also wants the opportunity to interact with these gentle giants.
Your ranger will drive you to a pre-arranged location in the bush where you will get to see sixteen African Elephants, which range in age from less than eighteen months, to thirty years. These trained elephants take half an hour out of their day to act as ambassadors for their kind. After a brief introduction, some of the elephants are brought forward for you to meet and interact with. Here you can see, feel and even smell the elephant while both feeding and photographing them.
It is and ideal forum to learn about elephants, both wild and trained. An experienced handler accompanies each elephant and is there to educate and inform the guests about the individual animals, the herd in general and of course to answer any questions. You will see the behavior of the babies playing together while under the watchful eyes of their mothers, while witnessing the more mature habit of the adults.
At the end of your time with the elephants, guests are driven back to their lodge by a ranger while the elephants continue feeding in the bush.
R 650.00 per person.
Hoedspruit Centre for Endangered Species
This is an ideal activity for the restless to fill up a morning after breakfast. A guide will take your to the Hoedspruit Centre for Endangered Species facility where cheetah and a number of other rehabilitated animals can be viewed at close range. An educational video is shown to explain the projects undertaken by this unique establishment. A guided tour will follow to view the cheetah and other animals.
Standard Tour
R 400.00 (Adults)
R 280.00 (Kids)
Romantic Sleepout in Kapama Game Reserve
Sleeping out under the African moon on the Kapama Romance Platform could be one of the most memorable nights of your life! Arrive at the double-story wooden platform, to a vision of billowing white mosquito netting surrounding a giant bed of white linen. It will take your breath away. This is your most private night in the bush; it is just you and the African animals in the wilderness.
You are quite safe, as the platform and luxury bathroom underneath (complete with flush toilet, rose-head shower and his and her's basins) are animal-proof. You are nevertheless, supplied with a radio and cellphone for your peace of mind.
Arrive before sunset and enjoy the peacefulness of the bush with a nice sundowner, a pre-arranged 5 course menu option will be supplied for your dinner choice back at the lodge where your personal chef will arrive later to prepare this at the platform, or come after your lodge dinner and witness an African bush fairytale, with lanterns glowing in the darkness. Relax and absorb the sights and sounds of wild Africa before sinking into a slumber.
As dawn breaks you can call your ranger on the radio or set an appointed time in advance.
R 5,000 Per couple additional to lodge accommodation rate. (Including private meal and bottle wine or sparkling wine).
