Becks Safari Lodge

The Deluxe Safari Suites at Becks Safari Lodge are modern and stylish, each one fitted with air-conditioning to help maintain a constantly comfortable climate, and built from locally-sourced wood and steel, giving them a natural appearance that blends into the surrounding landscape. With a choice of waterhole or river views, guests can enjoy watching approaching wildlife as beautiful animals such as elephants, giraffes, lions and leopards wander over for a drink.

Each of the suites includes a comfortable king-size bed, fitted with soft sheets. Alternatively, twin beds are also available. The spacious suites are light and airy, with private decks outside that offer sweeping views of the floodplains and distant Drakensberg Mountains. Two sets of adjacent suites are available for families or groups of 4 travelling together.

Guests can look forward to three delicious meals a day at Becks Safari Lodge, served either in the indoor dining room, or outside beside the crackling fire pit. Kickstart the day with a hot mug of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and risks, before venturing out on a morning game drive. On returning, a hot breakfast shall be served.

Guests can then enjoy a hearty lunch around 1pm, before venturing out on afternoon activities and enjoying a late afternoon game drive. Dinner is served after 7pm, as the day turns to night and the evening stars begin to emerge, and those dining around the firepit may hear the distant growl of a big cat.

Enjoy twice-daily game drives across the Karongwe Private Game Reserve and look out for incredible wildlife including the Big 5, cheetahs, wild dogs, and giraffes. Game drives in the morning allow visitors to see predators returning from hunts while the other animals graze in the cooler climate before the heat of the day.

The late afternoon drives see animals flocking to the water sources where they are easier to see, especially during the dry season. As the afternoon wears on, guests are more likely to spot elusive leopards and some of the reserve’s nocturnal species that only emerge once it is dark.

This incredible 4-hour workshop offers guests both a practical, hands-on experience as well as expert advice and lessons in capturing amazing wildlife images. Learn from a photography expert and get more familiar with capturing shots of the fast-moving creatures of the wilderness. Guests will go through camera basics, such as shutter speeds and apertures, and more technical information.

Get creative with experimenting with different angles and compositions, and explore the different equipment available to use. Guests will receive a notebook for jotting down information, recorded versions of the lessons for future reference and access to a WhatsApp group chat to ask any further questions during their stay.

Enjoy a selection of soothing and refreshing spa treatments in the lodge’s relaxing treatment rooms. Guests can choose from full-body massages, deep tissue massages to relieve tired muscles,  cleansing body scrubs, exfoliation and body wraps, skin treatments, hand treatments, herbal salt foot baths, and traditional African wood massages. All of these tranquil experiences are sure to pamper you into a state of serene bliss.

Ventrue out on a unique and unforgettable experience with a 4-hour anti-poaching walk through Karongwe Private Game Reserve, where guests will be able to learn about tracking methods and protecting wildlife from the looming threat of poachers from a trained anti-poaching specialist. Explore on foot, and experience the wilderness through the eyes of an anti-poaching team, where you will be able to recognise ‘kill zones’ and ‘ambush zones’ where animals are most threatened. Learn to spot the places where poachers lie in wait and get a sense of how vulnerable the reserve’s animals are and how important it is to have teams in place to protect them.

Take a trip to a local village and meet members of the community. Guests will be able to spend an hour learning about the people of Limpopo and see how they live day to day. Learn about their culture and interact with local children. Trips to the community can involve home, school and orphanage visits.

Experience a gin themed afternoon with gin pairing and tasting. A must for gin lovers, guests will be able to try a range of delicious local gins, matched with fresh fruit, in the comfort of the beautiful bushveld.

Learn new styles of cooking with an interactive cooking lesson with local chefs, exploring the traditional cuisine of South Africa and putting your culinary skills to the test. Guests can choose between African dishes and warm Afrikaans cuisine, and learning these dishes will enable you to take a little part of your trip home with you.

Sample delicious food and build lasting memories with your travel companions as you delight in a traditional Shangaan African dinner. Learn about Shangaan culture and gain a new appreciation of this fun-filled experience while gaining an insight into new cultures and diversity.

Leave a lasting and positive impact from your stay in Africa and plant an indigenous tree in the local community. Guests will be able to make a contribution to the environment and will receive a t-shirt marking the occasion. Leave your mark on the landscape and help restore the beautiful natural world, as well as offset carbon emissions.

Tae to the skies in this unforgettable experience and view the famous Olifant River Gorge from a helicopter. Guests can enjoy flying over the beautiful forests and winding river which flows from the Mpumalanga Highveld to Kruger National Park. Take in the breathtaking scenery on this 40-minute flight and pass over the amazing landscape and flora, seeing herds of giant elephants and giraffes from a bird’s eye view.

Enjoy a short climb to the top of Karongwe Private Game Reserve’s highest outcrop with a professional guide, and enjoy the spectacular views while sipping on a delicious sundowner beverage. Gaze across the floodplains to the towering Drakensberg Mountains in the distance, and enjoy a range of tasty picnic snacks with panoramic views.

Lie back and relax in a comforting hammock while gazing up at the dazzling night sky. Guests can learn about the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere and the stories that inspired the different patterns and shapes. Listen to the stories of Orion, his dog Sirius, Taurus and Scorpio, and lucky guests may be able to view different planets through a pair of binoculars depending on the time of year.

Enjoy a relaxing yoga and meditation experience in the heart of the South African bush. Guests can receive classes from certified local instructors who were trained at the Nourish Eco Village, a non-profit organisation that helps to train local candidates. Guests will practice Ubuntu Yoga, an African practice, and be able to unwind and cleanse their souls, helping them to get the most out of their escape to South Africa.

Karongwe Portfolio is dedicated to working alongside the surrounding communities, collaborating as partners in order to empower local people and conserve wildlife. This includes Karongwe’s work with young people and helping them to receive an education. Karongwe has been involved with local schools and or[hanages to help the children there reach their full potential, and unemployed adults have been given the opportunity to participate in training programs and develop their skills. Karongwe has also been helping local people to find work within the hospitality sector and gain an income to support themselves and their families.