Frequently Asked Questions

Bush Villas on Kruger is a small-scale, comfortable lodge in Phalaborwa, South Africa, just 5 minutes from the Phalaborwa Gate of Kruger National Park. Our lodge consists of 20 thatched villas spread spaciously across beautiful park-like grounds with stunning vegetation and water features. We offer authentic, warm accommodations for 6 or 8 people where adventure and relaxation come together effortlessly. A place where you truly feel at home, but with the Big Five just around the corner.

All villas are privately owned, mainly by Dutch owners with a great love for this special place. This means that each house has its own personal atmosphere. Despite this unique character, all homes offer the same comfortable level of facilities, furnishings and decor.

With us, you combine the best of both worlds: exciting safari adventures around the corner and relaxed comfort with the feeling of home. Plenty of new experiences to gain in the area and at the same time all the space to relax in your home at Bush Villas on Kruger. That's why you can easily stay here for weeks and discover South Africa from one trusted home base. Our unique location near the entrance of Kruger Park ensures that you have maximum time to spend among the Big Five instead of being on the road outside the park for long periods because you constantly have to drive back and forth to a Kruger Park gate. The natural beauty of the Panorama Route, Tzaneen and Magoebaskloof is also exceptionally accessible from our lodge. And finally, you experience complete peace in our well-equipped, comfortable villas with housekeeping for the ultimate vacation feeling.

Bush Villas on Kruger is located in Phalaborwa, Limpopo province, in the northeast of South Africa. Phalaborwa is a medium-sized town that has grown due to mining activities. The lodge is situated on the outskirts, between Kruger Park and the town center. The advantage of our location is that you can drive into the park in 5 minutes, while many other lodges are located much further from the Kruger Park entrance, resulting in valuable safari time lost traveling back and forth to the entrance. Our lodge is therefore extremely suitable for (short) safari trips, whether self-guided or organized.

The world-famous Kruger Park has an enormous appeal to nature lovers. However, to protect that nature, the park is completely fenced and has only a few entrances (gates). Our lodge is located around the corner from such an entrance (Phalaborwa Gate), which means you can actually be inside the park within minutes. Unfortunately, we see many hotels and lodges advertising a location near Kruger, while the entrance is kilometers away. That costs you a lot of travel time on your safari adventure. Time that, in our opinion, you could better spend spotting the Big 5. Due to this strategic location, short visits to Kruger Park are possible from your home at Bushvillas on Kruger, for example if you want to have lunch with a view of the Big 5 at one of the excellent restaurants in the park's rest camps. Or even catch the wildlife at sunrise in the park before settling down with a book on the veranda. With the short attention span of younger children in mind, these short trips are a real blessing. It's all possible from your home at Bushvillas on Kruger.

Yes, the villas are cleaned every three days during your stay. Towels and bed linen are also refreshed.

The unique location of Bush Villas on Kruger offers plenty of adventure and relaxation. You'll find the following activities and day trips within easy reach: Kruger National Park After 5 minutes you can drive straight into Kruger park. Drive yourself for an unplanned self-drive safari or book a guided game drive, walking safari or braai-safari with experienced rangers. Blyde River Canyon Africa's largest green canyon with breathtaking views. Here you can go rafting, hot air ballooning, quad biking and spectacular hiking trails. Tzaneen & Magoebaskloof Discover the green surroundings with beautiful hiking trails, exciting canopy tours through the treetops and impressive waterfalls. Panorama Route Explore one of South Africa's most beautiful routes with viewpoints such as God's Window, The Three Rondavels and Bourke's Luck Potholes. Phalaborwa The town itself offers a special golf course with big game on the green, various restaurants, supermarkets and cozy local markets. Social projects Visit the Cruyff Court in Phalaborwa, made possible by our homeowners, and discover how local initiatives support thousands of children through sports and education.

For certain activities such as organized safaris, rafting, ballooning, quad biking and special tours, we recommend booking in advance, especially during high season. You can go on safari in Kruger National Park yourself without a reservation (day tickets can be purchased at the gate), but for guided game drives, booking is recommended. We're happy to advise you on this.

Yes, in Phalaborwa you'll find various supermarkets (Spar around the corner, Pick n Pay and Woolworths in Eden Square Mall 5 minutes drive away), a gas station, pharmacies and various other shops. You can get everything you need for your stay in Phalaborwa.

Yes, Bush Villas on Kruger is located on a fenced and 24/7 guarded property. You can safely walk around the lodge without worries. Phalaborwa itself is a quiet town. As anywhere in South Africa, it's wise to use common sense and not leave valuables visible in the car.

There is no big game on the lodge property itself, although we regularly see monkeys, various birds and reptiles. This means you can walk freely on our property and are not dependent on ranger guidance.

Yes, the tap water in Phalaborwa is generally safe to drink. Many guests still choose to buy bottled water, which is cheaply available in local supermarkets.

Yes, all villas have wifi. Please note that the speed may vary depending on the South African network. Each villa has a backup power supply, so you stay connected even during power outages.

South Africa regularly experiences power outages. Every villa at our lodge is equipped with a backup system that keeps important facilities such as refrigeration, lighting, TV and wifi available for our guests during power outages. We advise against using air conditioning during load shedding.

You can book directly online via our booking module on the website. Prefer personal contact? Feel free to get in touch with us via reservations@bushvillasonkruger.com or call/WhatsApp us on +27(0)66 302 4499. We're happy to help you get started.

Yes, that's possible. Get in touch with us via reservations@bushvillasonkruger.com or +27(0)66 302 4499, and we can place a hold for you. We're happy to discuss the terms and duration of the hold period with you.

After your booking, you'll receive a confirmation email with all the details of your reservation, including payment instructions and practical information about your stay. Have questions? We're of course available to help you with your preparations.

That depends on the season and availability. For popular periods (such as school holidays, Christmas and South African summer months) we recommend booking at least 3-6 months in advance. Last-minute bookings are sometimes also possible. You can always see via our booking tool which booking options are still available.

Our villas are spacious and comfortably furnished with all the facilities you need for a stay with children. Each villa has 2 full bedrooms with their own en-suite bathrooms, a loft with multiple beds and a sitting area, and a third bathroom with toilet. We also happily provide a crib for the little ones. The enclosed grounds are guarded 24/7 and safe to walk around, with no dangerous animals, so you can freely explore the lodge through the beautiful gardens. The swimming pool and central ponds are not enclosed, so supervision of young children is important. Please note that Bush Villas on Kruger also wants to be a place of rest for its guests. Although there is plenty to do in the region, not all activities are suitable for the very youngest. SANParks, for example, has a minimum age of 6 years for guided game drives in open safari vehicles. Of course, this minimum age does not apply when driving yourself in the park. Always inquire in advance about age requirements for specific activities.

Our villas are perfect for families with older children and teenagers. There is plenty of space and privacy, and the surroundings offer plenty of adventure: from safaris to rafting, golfing and other activities. WiFi makes it possible to stay connected with home.

Unfortunately, our villas are not fully wheelchair accessible, as they are located on an elevated veranda with stairs and also have a beautiful loft. Please contact us to discuss your specific situation. We'd be happy to see what's possible and which villa might work best.

The villa rental price includes accommodation for up to 6 people (if Lalapalm: incl. 8 people) in a fully furnished villa with all basic amenities, such as bedding, towels, kitchen linens, WiFi, air conditioning, backup power supply and access to the large shared swimming pool with sun loungers and beautiful gardens. Each home also has a spacious private veranda and braai (African barbecue). There is housekeeping that comes to service the villas every three days. For a 7th and 8th guest, we charge a surcharge (except for Lalapalm, this villa is rented incl. 8 people). Safaris, activities and meals are not included in the price.

Yes, when confirming your booking we require a deposit of 50% of the total amount. We would like to receive this within 10 days. The remaining amount must be paid before arrival. If the booking is made for a stay within 30 days, the payment is immediately 100% of the total amount. You will receive the exact payment terms with your booking confirmation.

You can pay via bank transfer (international transfer) or via the payment link on the proforma invoice. We will send you all payment details after your booking.

No, full payment must be made before arrival according to the payment terms in your booking confirmation.

For specific payment options, please contact us via reservations@bushvillasonkruger.com.

Yes, we work with a deposit at booking and you pay the remaining amount before arrival.

From abroad, most guests fly to Johannesburg (OR Tambo International Airport). From there you have three options: Option 1: Fly to Hoedspruit Take a domestic flight to Hoedspruit (approximately 1 hour flight). From Hoedspruit Airport it's about 1 hour drive on the R40 to Phalaborwa. You can rent a car at the airport or use our shuttle service. Option 2: Private bus from Johannesburg There are shuttle services that take you directly from Johannesburg to Phalaborwa. The journey takes approximately 5-6 hours. We're happy to advise you on reliable shuttle companies. Option 3: Rental car from Johannesburg Rent a car at OR Tambo Airport and drive to Phalaborwa yourself (5-6 hours). There are multiple routes possible: the northern route via Tzaneen (N1 towards Polokwane, then N1 further to Tzaneen, and via the R71 to Phalaborwa), or the southern route via Dullstroom. Both routes are beautiful and offer plenty of opportunities for a lovely lunch along the way. A rental car is definitely recommended for your stay in South Africa.

You can rent a car at Johannesburg or Hoedspruit airport. Well-known international car rental companies such as Avis, Hertz, Budget and Europcar are available. We recommend booking online in advance for the best rates. Driving in South Africa is quite manageable, but remember that you drive on the left.

A regular car is sufficient. The roads to Bush Villas on Kruger and in Kruger National Park are well maintained. A 4x4 is not necessary unless you plan to drive to more remote areas.

Vaccination requirements may vary by country. We advise you to contact your local health organization or travel clinic for current advice on required vaccinations for your situation. They can inform you about recommended and mandatory vaccinations based on your country of origin and travel history.

Phalaborwa is located in a malaria risk area, especially during the rainy seasons (October to May). We advise you to contact your local health organization or travel clinic in advance for advice on malaria prophylaxis. We recommend our guests: • Wear shoes, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outside • Stay indoors between sunset and sunrise (when mosquitoes are most active) • Use mosquito spray with DEET (not suitable for small children) • All beds in our villas are equipped with mosquito nets. For urgent questions or concerns, you can contact the South African Malaria Hotline: +27 (0)13 735 5638

Phalaborwa has a hospital and various medical facilities. We advise you to take out travel insurance that covers medical costs abroad. Upon arrival, we can inform you about the nearest medical facilities.