Nyati Safari Lodge

Luxurious Nyati Safari Lodge offer a unique African safari experience. At the lodge you can pamper yourselv with first class gastronomy and a fine selection of South African wine, beers and all other beverages.

The lodge came to life back in 1998 and is 100% Danish owned. However in order to ensure your tryly authentic South African experience the lodge is run on daily basis by a South African family and their choice of staff.

Nyati Safari Lodge is situated on 10.000 hectar privately owned wildreserve with direct access to the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa. When staying at Nyati Safari Lodge 2 daily game drives are included in your stay (depending on your arrival and departure times.)

We do our outmost to ensure our guests have the safari experience of a lifetime! Due to the fact that Nyati Safari Lodge is situated in a private corner of the well known Kruger National Park, we always have very good chances of spotting the “Big Five”: “Big 5” is a traditional hunters’ way of describing lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes.

The game drives take you on an exciting drive through the bush in open Jeeps, with your experienced safari guide. There will be stops in some of South Africa’s most beautiful view points in order for you to stretch your legs.

Along the way you will have ample opportunity to spot “the Big 5” and the natural South African wildlife. When game driving in the afternoon, we stop for refreshments and watch the beautiful sunset. Back at the lodge you will have time to relax before pre-dinner drinks in the bar. And tomorrow morning? A new game drive awaits you.

Not only is Nyati Safari Lodge situated with direct access to Greater Kruger National Park, but all accommondation types are also facing Olifant River. Olifant River never dries out, no matter how dry the summer gets, and the wildlfe knows this.

No matter which type of accommodation you choose at Nyati, you will always have you own private private terrase. This means that you can spot wildlife while sipping a drink on your terrace. Not bad, right? Life is truly at it´s best at Nyati Safari Lodge

Affordable luxury and delicious food
The Nyati Safari Lodge an all-round affordable luxury experience. The surroundings are unique, accommodation top-of-the-range, excursions and activities offer adventure and the culinary aspects are an experience in their own right.

The wide range of optional activities cater for every individual interests and offer our guests the ability to set the pace of the holiday themselves. We have an enthusiastic team of cooks who will serve supreme meals of international and South African national dishes and specialities.

For lunch and dinner you will have a starter, and then for the main course a selection of fish, meat or vegetarian dishes followed by a delicious dessert. Choose to complement your meals by a wide selection of the best South African wines, beer, juices or soda. The choice is yours and you can drink whatever you wish. All is included at Nyati Safari Lodge.

THE SPA
At NYATI Bush Spa you´ll find two rooms for treatment, giving you an excellent opportunity to relax and get extra spoiled in between the many excursions. Choose from a variety of treatments, such as full body massage, shoulder and back massage, pedicure or manicure.

We aim to serve, why opening hours are flexible in order to fit your safari program. Please book either at the reception in the Main Lodge or directly at the Spa. We recommend to make reservations at least one day before required start of treatment, in order to ensure the most optimal schedule for you. All guests staying at NYATI Safari Lodge are welcome to use our spa.

THE SWIMMING POOL 
NYATI Safari Lodge offer a swimming pool for all guests. Enjoy a dip in our spacious pool after an excellent Game Drive. The pool is open for all guests daily from 06:00 – 22:00. The swimming pool is heated when cold, in order to be enjoyed year round.

Are you staying at Olifant Villa Suites or at Cheetah Camp you will have your own private pool, available exclusively to you. Both pools are heated when cold just like the pool close to the main lodge.

FITNESS
Should you wish to stay in shape, not gaining a pund from the delicious food at NYATI Safari Lodge, you have full access to our complementary fitness facilities.

Here you find a small open gym with a nice view of the surroundings. Who knows, you may be animal spotting while exercising the treadmill. At the gym you will find a bench with weights, fitness bike, treadmill and a rowing machine at your disposal. Opening hours daily 06.00 – 22.00

NYATI BIG 5 WILDLIFE
At NYATI Safari Lodge you are out in the wild! Here you will be staying in your own exclusive bungalow overlooking the the Olifants River and the amazing wildlife of South Africa.

NYATI Safari Lodge showcases the very best of safari in its own private 10.000 hectare game reserve with an unfenced border to the commercial part of the world renowned Kruger National Park.

Early morning and evening game drives will give you an opportunity to see the famous “Big 5” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) as well as the plethora of other wild species residing here. Below we have gathered the most commonly viewed wildlife at NYATI Safari Lodge.

THE BIG 5
Africa has the world’s largest and most varied stock of wildlife. At NYATI Safari Lodge you have optimal conditions for experiencing the wildlife in its natural environment and if you are in luck you will see “The Big 5”, which is an old hunting term for elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino.

Why are big animals like giraffe and hippos not included, you might think. The answer is that the term “Big 5” is not about size but about the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved.

This is also why it is only the black rhino, which is included in “The Big 5” although it is actually smaller than the white rhino. Both rhinoceros species are found around NYATI Safari Lodge though.

The best way to experience all the animals is to go with a professional ranger. The experienced team of rangers at NYATI Safari Lodge are trained to read the animals’ languages. A broken twig, the remnants of a carrion, excrement or a footprint void the animals’ movements – they can tell you all about the signs of nature.

The elephant, for example, leaves a footstep of 50 cm in height, the white rhino has a size 30 cm in shoes closely followed by the hippo, which sets a footstep of 28 cm. Despite its height, the giraffe only has 20 cm hooves, and the king of animals and his lioness only have a paw print of 14 cm.

NYATI Safari Lodge is one of the best spots in South Africa to view the magnificent African elephant as the lodge is located on the banks of the “Olifants” River, named after one of the elephant’s old migration routes.

The rhino population is considered safe here, as NYATI is working together with the South African Government’s anti-poaching unit to protect the rhinos in the area from poachers. Our 10,000 ha are patrolled every night, to protect the rhino in its natural habitat.

Our game reserve is also large enough to sustain the big cats and buffalos are abundant in the area too. Did you know that “NYATI” means buffalo in the local tongue? This means there is ample opportunity to spot “The Big 5” on NYATI’s private game drives.

MORE BIG WILDLIFE
“The Big 5” are the celebrities of the African bush, but you will find much more exciting wildlife living in the bush, on the savannah and in the grasslands around NYATI Safari Lodge. Did you know that this area is also extremely rich in birds and home to no less than 500 bird species? And that we do special bird viewing safaris as well for bird enthusiasts?

Below we have gathered some of the other big animals commonly viewed around NYATI Safari Lodge. There are plenty of giraffes and zebras, which often walk by the lodge on their way to drink water from the Olifants River.

In the river in front of the lodge you will see pods of grunting hippos hanging out as well as crocodiles basking in the sun with their mouths agape to keep cool.

Baboon troops often pass by the lodge in search for food or other exciting gadgets (so a good advice is not to leave your stuff lying around outside on the lodge). The largest living species of bird, the ostrich is also common to the area and is often spotted on our daily game drives.

ANTELOPE SPECIES
Antelope are herbivorous even-toed animals of the Bovidae family with social structures ranging from the very social wildebeest to the solitary steenbok.

Antelope are generally more deer-like than other bovids and all antelope have horns. Kruger National Park has a strong antelope population with a multitude of species found in varying concentrations in the different areas of the park.

Listed below are the most common species around NYATI Safari Lodge with the most frequently viewed from the top, including the blue wildebeest (gnu), which looks like a mix of ox, horse and buffalo with its mane and horn, the graceful impala which is one of the most widespread antelope as well as the waterbuck, the impressive kudu and the bush buck, which sometimes grazes along the fences surrounding NYATI Safari Lodge.

MORE CATS
There are several other cat species around NYATI Safari lodge including the cheetah, the serval, the caracal, the African wildcat, the civet, the large- and the small-spotted genet, of which the latter is slightly smaller with more distinct black and white markings.

Genets are slender cat-like animals with a long body, a long ringed tail, large ears, a pointed muzzle and they are relatively common. The serval is a slender, medium-sized cat characterized by its long legs and golden-yellow coat spotted and striped with black.

It is solitary and is active both night and day, so you have a good chance to spot it on our daily game drives. The caracal in contrast is is highly secretive and difficult to observe as it is typically nocturnal.

The African wildcat is more common but is often mistaken for a domestic cat despite its longer legs and different ear coloration. The civet is also a nocturnal cat, characterized by its distinctive musky scent, so it is more often spotted on our night safaris.

Finally, the world’s fastest land animal, the cheetah, can be spotted day and night, but the species is listed as vulnerable and NYATI Safari supports the work to save the cheetah in the wild. Learn more about the local conservation efforts by visiting the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre during your stay at NYATI Safari Lodge.

DOGS
Several animals display dog-like characteristics including the hyena, the aardwolf, the African wild dog, the bat-eared fox and the jackals.

Specifically, the black-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal are relatively widespread in the area, and despite being mainly nocturnal they are regularly seen during the day, whereas the African wild dog is more rare as its population is declining on an ongoing basis due to human persecution, habitat fragmentation and disease outbreaks.

The spotted hyena, also known as the laughing hyena, is common in Kruger National Park and is most often seen on our night safari drives, as it is a nocturnal animal. Sometimes the hyena ventures from its lairs in the early-morning hours though, so you may be able to spot it on our morning game drives too.

The solitary, shy and elusive aardwolf is more difficult to spot as it strictly nocturnal, this unusual species of hyena is entirely harmless as it feeds mainly on termites – of which it can consume anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 on an average night!

The bat-eared fox with its characteristic enormous ears is nocturnal too, which makes it difficult to spot, and it too feeds mainly on termites.

SMALLER ANIMALS
We can almost guarantee that you will meet warthogs when visiting NYATI Safari Lodge, as several warthog families have made a habit of “mowing” the lawns around the lodge. The same goes for the cheeky vervet monkeys, which roam around the trees surrounding the lodge.

There are plenty of other smaller animals to be spotted around NYATI Safari Lodge including several species of mongoose and hare, the honey badger, the bushpig, the curious looking antbear, the elusive cape otter, the little tree squirrel, the porcupine with its long sharp spines, the ever so cute bushbabies, the small but special rock dassie being the African elephant’s closest living relative in spite of the size difference, the striped polecat which is legendary for its ability to emit a foul smelling substance from its anal glands for protection, and finally the extraordinary and critically endangered pangolin with its characteristic large keratin scales covering its skin.

THE LITTLE 5
Our professional team of rangers are trained in spotting even the smallest animals, so you have a good chance of catching a glimpse of the little residents of the Krugerpark too. Actually, there are five small animals which share part of their names with “the Big 5”.

These fine little creatures are often spotted on our bush walks where you get an even closer look at nature on foot. They include the rhino beetle, which is one of the largest beetles in the world, as well as the red-billed beetle buffalo weaver, the leopard tortoise, the eastern rock elephant shrew and the antlion, which digs little pits to trap passing ants or other prey.

BIG 5 GAME DRIVE
“Big 5” is a traditional hunters’ way of describing lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes. We begin with an exciting drive through the bush in open Jeeps, with your experienced safari guide. There will be stops in some of South Africa’s most beautiful view points so you can stretch your legs.

Here there will be ample opportunity to spot “the Big 5” and the wild life. We go on a safari drive, known in South Africa as a game-drive, and before heading back we will stop for refreshments and watch the beautiful sunset. Back at the lodge you will have time to relax before pre-dinner drinks in the bar.

RIVER SAFARI WITH BUSHWALK & GAME DRIVE
Join an eventful trip on foot, on the river and in open safari vehicles through The Greater Kruger National Park. The tour starts early in the morning with a safari walk through the bush, where one of NYATI’s rangers tells about the flora and fauna along the way.

The walk ends with a delicious breakfast cooked by NYATI’s chefs in the bush at one of NYATI’s beautiful view points. Continue by car to the dammed part of the Olifants River, where you arrive approx. in the middle of the day.

Embark on an incredible river cruise offering close encounters with the South African wildlife such as crocodiles, hippos and elephants along the river banks of the Olifants River bordering and open to Kruger National Park.

The river cruise is also a fantastic way to experience the rich bird life along the river. You will have lunch on the boat while you enjoy the sounds of the bush and the beautiful view of the wildlife.

After the boat trip another safari adventure awaits. You will be picked up by one of NYATI’s open safari vehicles and go on an evocative sunset game drive through The Greater Kruger National Park with a good chance to see “Big 5”.

The safari experiences ends at one of NYATI’s beautiful sundowner spots, where you can enjoy the sunset over the South African bush with cold drinks and snacks before going back to the lodge. Please note that the tour is weather dependent. Lunch is included. Departure from the lodge early morning, return right after sunset.

MOHOLOHOLO REHABILITATION CENTRE
As South Africans we do as much as we can to protect our wildlife, enjoy a one and a half hour walking tour through the Moholoholo Rehabilitation centre to get a better insight on the recue and rehabilitation of numerous animals.

Moholoholo is sure to raise awareness not only on the natural injuries/deaths caused to the animals but also the human impact these animals have to suffer.

Moholoholo is home to numerous birds of pray including Africa’s largest eagle and endangered Vultures, Lion, White Lion, White Duiker, Dassie, Cheetah, Hyena, Rhino, Zebra, Wild Dog, Leopard, Black Leopard and more.

HOT AIR BALLOON
To hover silently over the landscapes is a truly magical experience. The balloon ascends at sunrise, so you get to experience the awakening bush from high above.

The tour will take you over the scenic, Lowveld section of the Blyde River offering stunning views of the Drakensberg Escarpment and the South African bush. Sparkling wine and snacks will be served after the balloon flight and a full breakfast will await you back at the Lodge.

The activity is highly weather dependent and will only be offered on days when the local balloon skipper believes it to be “balloon weather”. Departure from the lodge may be as early as 3 in the morning and will be confirmed the day before the flight (minimum of 4 participants).

JESSICA THE TAME HIPPO
In March 2000, Tony and Shirley Joubert found a little starved orphaned baby hippo at the edge of Blyde River. The couple “adopted” the little hippopotamus, and therefore it has grown up among humans and domestic animals.

Today, the tame hippo, named Jessica, is one of the biggest attractions in Hoedspruit, where both adults and children visit it. On this excursion you will have the chance to experience a day with Jessica, where she, for example, plays with the family’s dog, gets feed from the hand and petted. Jessica is very affectionate and love beeing close to people.

FISHING TRIP 
An active fishing trip is both relaxing and exciting at the same time, maybe more exciting than hunting … On a fishing trip, you have less influence on the result and you are in the hands of the weather and the fish, as they decide if they want to bite the hook or not. Go with NYATI on a fishing trip with a professional fishing instructor and try to catch for instance

• Common catfish up to 50kg
• Silver catfish up to 30kg
• Kurper/Tilapia up to 2kg
• Yellow Fish up to 3kg
• Common carp 2- 14kg

The trip starts early morning with a cup of coffee at NYATI Safari Lodge before departure. At the boat there is a light morning snack with coffee / tea before heading out to the Olifants River.

The next 3½ hours you can enjoy sailing peacefully through the stunning scenery surrounded by the wildlife of the bush while trying to get one or more fish on the hook. Which fish can be caught and their size depends on the season – and may also differ from trip to trip.

There are good chances to catch a fish. The instructor knows the river very well and which areas are best to go fishing in this particular season. Around 10.30 there will be brunch on land before the trip continues back to the lodge. Fishing equipment (rod and reel fishing utilizing, Carp species fishing rods and bait runner reels) and license are included in the price.

BUSHWALK & BUSHBREAKFAST 
During your stay, why not start your morning with a bushwalk through the scenic South African bush while one of our professional rangers explains about everything you see, big and small.

The walk will finish at our most beautiful viewing point where a traditional bush-breakfast will be served outdoors in the shade of the acacia trees. The Bushwalk takes place on either Monday or Wednesday mornings and is weather dependent.

NYATI SAFARI ON FOOT 
NYATI Safari on Foot is a one-of-a-kind mobile safari experience in South Africa. This is one is for the adventurers and nature lovers who are looking for a walking safari experience like no other.

We offer 3 nights camping in the Maseke Balule Game Reserve. Each day is spent walking through the 8.000 hectare reserve in the Greater Kruger Park, and each night is spent at a new, fully set up mobile campsite in a scenic location in the wilderness.

A maximum of 8 guests (sleeping in 4 tents) are taken on the Kruger walking adventure of a lifetime. A professional On Foot trained guide and tracker team will lead an informative, thrilling, and unforgettable walk in the wild.

FULL-DAY TRIP TO THE DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS
At NYATI Safari Lodge you have the option to purchase a full day trip to the Drakensberg Mountains. Along with what is known as the Panoramic Route, you will find several amazing look-out points.

You follow the 60 kilometre (35 mile) long Blyde River Canyon and along the rout you will stop at the “Three Rondavels”, Gods Window”, and either Lisbon or Berlin falls. The lunch is served in the small village of Graskop with time for some shopping. Lunch is included. Departure from the lodge early morning.

QUAD BIKE SAFARI
A fantastic and different kind of safari where nature and wildlife sets the agenda. Experience the South African bush away from the highway on quadbike, which is a four-wheeled motorcycle especially suitable for off-road driving. A fun activity for the family and for anyone who wants to take another chance to get close to the wild nature and get the pulse a little up.

Guests are driven 15 minutes up the terrain, from which the tours take their starting point under the guidance of a local guide. The tours depart after breakfast around 09.30 AM and lasts for. 1.5 hours (2 hours inclusive transfer to and from the lodge).

GOLF AT HANS MERENSKY
South Africa also offers world-class golf courses and is in many ways a paradise for golfers. If you play golf, do not miss the opportunity to play golf among African wildlife. Approx. one hour drive from NYATI Safari Lodge you find Hans Merensky Country Club’s 18-hole course designed by Bob Grimsdell.

The course is medium-level and is located just on the border with the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Therefore, the wild animals have priority – also on the green. Giraffes, antelopes, monkeys and warthogs cross the fairway and remind you that you actually play golf at their home – the South African bush.

Hippos and crocodiles reside in the ponds, so you should remember to bring spare balls. The area where the golf course is located was once part of the national park and is therefore an unusual golf experience in a fantastic setting.

However, there are major water restrictions in the area, which unfortunately means that the quality of the golf course is not the best anymore. Remember, you can also practice at the driving range at NYATI Safari Lodge.

VISIT TO AFRICAN VILLAGE
South Africa is a country with great contrasts. On one hand, a modern country with well-functioning economy and infrastructure – and on the other hand, the original and authentic Africa. A visit to a local township is one of the best ways to get an impression of the local culture and its traditions.

You will visit a pre-school, you will be invited home to a local family and you will experience the local witch doctor at work. A light lunch will be served underway, where you will have an opportunity to taste local specialties.

Website: www.nyati.com

Rooms: 22

Price: from 682 EUR per night