Lush Private Game Lodge

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 20/10 – An Unforgettable Stay We had the most incredible stay at Lush Private Lodge – everything exceeded our expectations. The staff and service were beyond exceptional, making us feel welcomed and cared for from the moment we arrived. The food was outstanding, and what made it even more special was the variety of dining experiences – each meal set in a new, thoughtfully chosen location. The team goes above and beyond to create a truly magical atmosphere. Our guide, Andrew, deserves a special mention. His legendary reversing skills and determination meant that we had the most remarkable sightings. His stops for coffee are well planned and we enjoyed Amarula coffee with crunchy pancakes made by him while looking at Giraffe just meters away. – including cheetahs and lions – all within the rhino reserve. Thanks to him, we never once needed binoculars; the wildlife encounters were that close and spectacular. This was more than just a safari – it was a luxurious, personalized adventure that we’ll never forget. We will definitely be back. Steve & Yana

Incredible stay in the bush with my family. I enjoyed the warm hospitality at THE LUSH and my daughters were delighted with the experience. We would like to come back again!

This Is Life. This Is Lush. Words are just that… words. And try as I might, I don’t think I’ve got the vocabulary to truly capture the magnificence of our stay at Lush. From the moment we arrived, we knew we were in for something extraordinary. A warm, heartfelt welcome from Dalmane, followed by Phindi’s expert walk-through of the lodge and our suite, set the tone for a weekend soaked in care, comfort, and quiet luxury. Our suite? Simply unbelievable. A full-service bar, spacious lounge, workstation, and a private deck that catered to our every whim. And then the outdoor indulgence…our very own heated splash pool, twin outdoor showers, a glorious outdoor bath, and an elevated viewing deck where the bush unfolded before us. As if that wasn’t enough, Sphe made sure our nights were pure bliss…hot water bottles tucked into an emperor-sized bed, and a hot bubbly bath run just at the right time. It was thoughtful, personal, and beautifully done. Friday night? That was something else. We were spoilt with an intimate wine tasting experience on our own private deck, hosted by the ever-knowledgeable Phindi, followed by a sumptuous three-course dinner served with flair and expertise by Sphe. To top it all…Sphe and his choir sang Happy Birthday to Vonnie as we celebrated her 60th in the bush. It was one of those moments where time stands still. And the meals didn’t stop impressing there… Breakfasts, lunches, dinners…all exceptional. The Chef and her team created dishes that were full of flavour, personality, and care. Saturday night’s Braai was introduced to Lush’s international guests by Talo with pride and authenticity. A feast at the Chisa Nyama table became even more memorable with a herd of elephants quenching their thirst at the nearby waterhole. It was surreal… and unforgettable. And then, there is the bush… Our field guide Sean was nothing short of brilliant. Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and downright entertaining…he made every game drive a joy. From hot water bottles and warm blankets to perfectly timed bush coffees and reverse gear engagements, he didn’t miss a beat. And the sightings? Incredible. Zebra, giraffe, baboons, monkeys, wildebeest, impala, kudu, warthogs, and hippos. The Big Five - lion, lioness with cubs, rhino, buffalo, elephant, and leopard made appearances, much to our delight. But the highlight for me? The cheetahs. Two sleek males marking their territory… and the crème de la crème…a female cheetah with her two cubs. The young cubs’ colouring beginning to change from the silver honey badger look along their backs to their mature spots. To celebrate, Sean treated us to a classic bush sundowner with G&T’s, breadsticks, biltong, stuffed peppadews, and other treats. This made me fall in love with Africa all over again. To round off our weekend, Kea and Teresa welcomed us into the spa for massages that transported us to another realm. Their treatments, the setting, the calmness… it was healing in every sense of the word. T

I’ve just returned from the most magical weekend at Lush private Big 5 game lodge in the Pilanesberg—and I’m still in awe of the entire experience. ✨ From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warmth and exceptional hospitality. The staff and rangers went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable. The food was absolutely phenomenal—every meal a delicious, beautifully presented experience. A highlight was our private dinner in the lodge’s wine cellar, followed by dancing and laughter that made the evening feel unforgettable. The game drives were spectacular, with incredible sightings of Africa’s wildlife and well-timed sundowner stops that made each outing even more special. But one of the absolute highlights for me was the guided bush walks. Our ranger Clinton was incredibly knowledgeable and made us feel completely safe and comfortable walking through Big 5 territory. Seeing rhino, elephant, and zebra on foot was absolutely mind-blowing—but it wasn’t just about the big sightings. We learned so much about the bush: trees, butterflies, plants, and animal tracks. There’s something deeply humbling about being on foot in the wild, truly present and connected to nature. This was, without a doubt, one of the most memorable weekends of my life—luxurious, enriching, and utterly unforgettable. I can’t recommend this experience highly enough! A big thank you to Emmanuel , Shaun , Andrew and Clinton for the incredible game drives and bush experiences ! Phindi for your extensive knowledge on wines and wine pairings , and Dalmane for your impeccable hospitality! All the staff were fantastic ! If you are looking for a luxurious big 5 experience with the warmth of a Christmas with the family , this is definitely the place ! Enjoy !❤️ Tarryn

Deze lodge is echt fantastisch! Het personeel, de locatie, de guide, het eten. Alles klopt hier en ze hebben het beste met je voor. De kamers (villa) zijn ontzettend groot en van alle gemakken voorzien. Het personeel blijft je verrassen. Echt een absolute aanrader!!!

WOW. WOW. WOW We have just returned from a 9 night stay at Lush and cant fault a single thing. Weve had the please of staying in some fantastic properties around the world and this tops the lot. This will be the longest review ive ever done but Lush Private Lodge deserves all the praise I can give so ill break it down into parts. Arrival. We arrived via a private transfer at 1pm and were greeted by 2 of the staff waving and smiling at the entrance. we were given warm towels to refresh ourselves after the journey. This also happened on returning from every game drive. Our room wasnt quite ready but we were shown into the open dining area and had a fantastic lunch and a few beers/wines but more about the food later. We were shown to our suite at 2 oclock. Our room was the furthest suite and took about 90 seconds to walk to which was always a pleasure as the surrounding are fantastic. Our Suite. We stayed in the Superiro Deluxe Suite. The decor was spot on and all very well thought out. There is a sitting area with a huge leopard print sofa and 2 large arm chairs. The bar area, not a mini bar as that would be a huge understatement was huge and had 3 types of lager (3 bottles of each), red and white wine, soft drinks anf juices, gin, single malt whisky and i think port in a decanter. Also water and an ice bucket which was always full. There is a kettle with all different types of tea and a coffee pod machine. all of the items were constantly restocked. This area has sliding doors on to the patio area. There is also a writing desk behind the sofa and a zebra print armchair by the front door. A safe was also provided inside a cupboard by the front door. The bedroom had a huge window looking at the mountains. The bed was big. At least 7 feet wide. and covered in cushions and a bolster. The duvet covers were thick cotton and very comfortable as was the mattress. The beds are turned down at night and a hot water bottle is placed either side of the bed which is a loveley addition. At night net curtains are drawn around the bedroom area which gives it a more cosy intimate feel. The bathroom area has a large freestanding bath, a walk in shower, 2 sinks a dressing area and a seperate toilet. The made came in I think at least 4 times a day when we were out on game drives or meal times to refresh the room. It was always spotless. The bathroom area also had another door out on to the patio which had 2 outdoor showere and another free standing bath along with a heated plunge pool. There were 2 loungers and also a covered lounge area witha sofa and 2 arm chairs as wll as a dining area. Out the front door and up the stairs was our veiwing area which was partly covered and had a sofa and 2 chaise lounges. We saw many animals from here including Zebra and Giraffe at the base of the mountain and many Kudu, Impala and Mongoose right outside the room. The bird life is also abundant. At night you can see the milky way. It really is fantastic. Meals. These are all fa