A bit about this place

Otters Den is a River Lodge on an island in the Blyde River at the foot of the Drakensberg Escarpment, near the Orpen gate to Kruger National Park. We offer fully catered accommodation and a variety of activities for nature lovers or adventure seekers. Whether you prefer more peaceful pursuits like birding and hiking, or adrenalin boosting excitement like white water rafting in the Blyde Canyon and Hot Air Ballooning over game reserves, our qualified and experienced staff will arrange it One reaches the camp by crossing the Blyde River by suspension bridge, symbolizing your escape into wilderness. The camp is designed to accommodate a group of up to eight guests comfortably in four chalets. The chalets are combination stone/thatch/canvas structures with timber decks on stilts, overlooking the river. The central lodge area has a fully equipped kitchen, dining room, sundeck, bar, braai, plunge pool and mini-conference area. The island is 50ha of forest, veld and wetland and has 2km of river front on the main channel of the river. Anglers can try for a variety of fish species including Largescale Yellowfish, Catfish, Tilapias and even Largemouth Bass. An experienced field guide is available to take you hiking through indigenous forest, field and stream. There are 110 tree species and the list is growing. The bird list tops 220 species, including Fish Eagle, Narina Trogon, African Finfoot and Purplecrested Lourie. Small game like otter, serval, genet, bush pigs, bush babies and small antelope can be spotted if you are patient and observant. Hippo and crocodile are often seen Otter's Den is an ideal base from which to visit the Kruger Park, the nearby Reptile Park, the Blyde Canyon Nature Reserve, the Cheetah Breeding Project and the Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre. The meals are sumptuous. Due consideration is given to guests with special dietary requirements. Much use is made of home grown fruit, vegetables and herbs. Mosquitoes are seldom a problem and in summer, your ceiling fan can be turned on for a cool night's sleep and also to fend off any mosquitoes that might want to visit. Anglers: We encourage catch and release, but guests are welcome to keep a fish or two for consumption in the camp.