Pondoro Game Lodge

Description

Introduction to the most beautiful four star game lodge in South Africa. Pondoro Game Lodge is an owner Managed Lodge which has been operating as a commercial lodge for the past thirteen years. At Pondoro you are invited to indulge in the ultimate luxury when selecting anyone of our five luxury suites during your stay, all our suites are air-conditioned and architecturally designed offering modern comforts in an ancient setting. Each suite is provided with a private wooden deck, lounge area, Jacuzzi and an outside shower for those who are adventurous at heart.

Pondoro is set on the banks of the Olifants River inside the 40 000 ha Balule Nature Reserve, which is situated inside the greater Kruger National Park. There are no fences between Balule Nature Reserve and the Kruger National Park, which means all the animals can move freely between Balule and the Kruger National Park. Balule is a Big 5 game reserve.

Pondoro has three architecturally designed luxury chalets overlooking the Olifants River. Each chalet has been beautifully decorated with an African theme. All chalets have en-suite bathrooms with a shower overlooking the river, air-conditioning, mosquito nets and a wooden deck. At Pondoro you are invited to indulge in the ultimate luxury when selecting anyone of our luxury suites during your stay. All our suites are air-conditioned and architecturally designed offering modern comforts in an ancient setting. Each suite is provided with a private wooden deck, lounge area and an outside shower for those who are adventurous at heart.

Meals are an extraordinary culinary experience where Traditional African Cuisine fuse effortlessly with modern European trends. To compliment the food wine can be selected from our extensive wine cellar. Vegetarians are specially catered for. All meals are served on a wooden deck high up in the tree canopy overlooking the Olifants River. An unforgettable bush dinner will await those who stay for a third night.

Awards and Nominations: Pondoro voted as one of five finalists in the category Luxury Game Lodges in the prestigious World Luxury Hotel Awards in 2008 and 2009. The lodge was voted as the most romantic luxury hotel in South Africa in 2010 and in 2011 it was again a winner in the category Best Luxury lodge in South Africa. The World Luxury Hotel Awards are the world’s most prestigious awards exclusive to the luxury hotel industry and recognize the best facilities and service excellence the industry has to offer. The World Luxury Hotel Awards utilize a panel of 50 leading tour operators and travel industry consultants. They receive constant feedback from guests that have stayed at the hotels at any given time. These travel industry role players cast voting once a year. The Awards judging criteria are based upon facilities and service excellence provided by hotels.

Pondoro has also been nominated for a Good Safari Guide Award 2009 in the following categories: Best Safari Property-South Africa, Best Lodge Guiding Team, and Best Safari Cuisine. Again in 2010 in the Travellers’ Choice category. In 2011 the lodge was as a finalist in the Safari Awards in the category Best Safari Spa. Pondoro has also won a Diners Club Platinum award for its wine list in 2009 and 2011, which is highly regarded for two decades now by both the restaurant and wine industries.

Pondoro Game Lodge is situated in Balule Private Nature reserve inside the greater Kruger National Park. Regular Big 5 sightings lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard are encountered during game drives. A reintroduction of African wild dogs has also been done in the Pondoro traversing area. Morning and evening game drives are done in open game drive vehicles. All guides have more than 5 years experience. Pondoro has rights to traverse on more than 10 000 ha that includes a network of more than 350 km of bush roads. All game drive vehicles are four wheel drive and this means that the Big 5 can be followed off road into the bush to get a closer view if necessary.

Pondoro vehicles are in radio contact with two other lodges and close cooperation ensure good game viewing. The vehicles in the traversing area are restricted to six to ensure that the bush ambience is never lost. No more than three vehicles are allowed at a sighting. Pondoro is one of the few private lodges in South Africa situated on a perennial river Olifants River. Because of this hippos and crocodiles are regularly seen during bushwalks with an armed guide.

Three bush hides overlooking waterholes can also be visited. The lodge is situated near Hoedspruit and is easily accessible by car and in close proximity of Phalaborwa, Hoedspruit (Eastgate) and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airports. We provide transfers to and from the airports.

Check-In  01:00 PM   Check-Out 11:00 AM

Price & Availability

Pondoro Game Lodge Map