Tulela Safari Lodge

Let us set up a special picnic at our favourite place in the bush – under a huge jackalberry tree affectionately known as Big Jack. In an open clearing in the shade of this big, evergreen tree, we lay a table for a feast, light a welcoming campfire, serve the champagne on ice, and have the chef cook up a sizzling breakfast spread.

Get familiar with the bush and see tracks and signs in detail on an interpretive bush walk. Whether it’s a short child-friendly exploration along the riverbed with your guide and tracker, or a three-hour-long guided walking safari through the reserve, this immersive experience is a fantastic way to deepen your connection with the nature around you.

Conservation project involvement

Getting involved in conservation projects is one way to make an impact and we would like to offer our guests the opportunity to do so during their stay. Join a team of vets, pilots, and reserve managers on a rhino-dehorning operation, or work with experts to track and collar African wild dogs. Available at an additional cost and with prior notice.

With the wind in your hair and the sun on your face, head out into the reserve with your guide and tracker on a private game drive. This iconic safari activity offers the chance to encounter the Big 5 in breath-taking ways, watching them from the comfort of our custom-made game viewers. We can head out any time of day or night you like!

Kids activities are tailored to suit different seasons, children's ages and preferences, and can be personalised for our guests' unique safari schedules. There is a range of activities catering for ages two to 16 that will suit those who are adventurous and curious about the bush, or those who like to engage their creative sides.

The Star Deck is designed to enthral and to elevate an experience in nature. Without compromising on comfort, it strips away the layers of four walls and places you in a soft cocoon as an offering to the indigo sky. There’s nothing like the twinkle of eternity to remind you of life’s possibilities and reset your path on Earth.

An incredible and unique way to immerse yourself in the bush around you is through a guided sound safari with Derek Solomon and Call of the Wild. Each session takes place at dawn, when guests will spend 45 minutes at a quiet place at the lodge, listening to the chorus of birds and animals through individual sets of headphones attached to a powerful stereo microphone system. Some mornings, one can identify up to 40 birds and a handful of mammals calling during the listening period. This is an additional activity available at an extra cost and must be arranged in advance.

Guided by Ben Coley of Celestial Events SA, this dedicated star gazing session takes guests into a night sky safari experience. Using top technology and telescopes that expose the far reaches of the Milky Way, guests will gain insight and knowledge into a lot of the cultural mythology behind the constellations and not just science. It is as much a story-telling experience as it is a viewing experience. Celestial Events uses a 10 inch Meade LX200 SCT telescope on a GPS aligned equatorial mount that showcases the moon, planets, nebulae, star clusters and even distant galaxies. This is an additional activity available at an extra cost and must be arranged in advance.