About this hotel
General information
Tintswalo Safari is an intimate lodge in the family-owned Tintswalo Collection, set in Manyeleti Nature Reserve, which shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park. Stone, thatched cottages line a seasonal river among old trees, linked to the main house by raised wooden walkways, and the main deck looks out over a dry riverbed where elephants often come through. In Shangaan, the reserve’s name means “place of the stars”.
There are just eight suites with ten bedrooms between them, each decorated in its own character and each with a private deck and plunge pool. Full board, house drinks, two safari activities a day, Wi-Fi and laundry are included, and guests in the Presidential Suite have their own chef and butler. Children aged nine and over are welcome in most suites, and the Presidential Suite welcomes children of all ages.
Location
The lodge lies in the 24,000-hectare Manyeleti Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger, in the Hoedspruit area near Orpen Gate, Mpumalanga. The reserve runs unfenced into Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand and Timbavati, and has one of the lowest vehicle densities in the region. From the Manyeleti gate it is about 8 km on a sand road to the lodge; by road it is roughly 505 km from Johannesburg via Dullstroom (around 5 hours 40 minutes) and about six hours from Pretoria.
Spa
Bushwillow Spa works with Babor products. The menu runs from facials (hydrating, skin-restoring and anti-ageing) to a back, neck and shoulder massage, a full-body massage and the deep-tissue Matimba massage, poppy-seed and marine-salt scrubs with wraps, bath rituals built from salts, oils, herbs and flowers, and hand and foot treatments. Treatments can also be given in the suite, and there is a gift shop alongside.
Sports & leisure
Twice-daily drives in open vehicles with a guide and a Shangaan tracker follow the Big Five, and cheetah and wild dog are also seen on the reserve, which counts 147 mammal and 517 bird species. Other experiences include:
- guided bush walks of two to three hours focused on small creatures, plants and birds (for guests aged 16 and over);
- a thermal night safari with thermal binoculars, followed by stargazing;
- a sound safari with microphones and headsets, from evening bush sounds to the dawn chorus;
- a night under the stars on the sleep-out deck, under mosquito netting;
- an off-road 4×4 driving experience through dry riverbeds;
- conservation work such as fitting tracking collars to spotted hyenas and marking rhinos for monitoring;
- workshops: a silver or copper bangle, and pottery with local women artisans;
- a gym overlooking the bush;
- further afield: a helicopter flight over the Blyde River Canyon, a boat cruise on the canyon’s dam, hot-air ballooning over the Blyde River, helicopter trips for trout fly-fishing or a mountaintop picnic, a full-day Panorama Route tour and a guided visit to a neighbouring community.
Restaurants & bars
Meals are on a full-board basis, and room service is available in the suites.
- the dining room — breakfast and dinner at the heart of the lodge;
- the large wooden deck — overlooking the dry riverbed where elephants come by;
- the bar and lounge — house drinks and premium labels;
- the wine cellar — tastings and a seven-course dinner paired with South African wines.
Swimming
Every suite has its own plunge pool on its private deck; in the Family Suite it is a larger pool shared by the two bedrooms.
Rooms
Eight suites — six Explorer Suites, plus a two-bedroom Family Suite and a two-bedroom Presidential Suite — are linked to the main lodge by wooden walkways; each has its own décor, a bathroom with a bathtub and an indoor/outdoor shower, and a private deck with a plunge pool.
Each suite has air-conditioning, a wood-burning fireplace, a minibar, an electronic safe, a hairdryer and vanity table, tea and coffee, Wi-Fi and room service.
Explorer Suite
One of six standalone suites, each individually decorated, with a king-size bed (twin beds possible in four of them) and a bathroom with a bathtub and an indoor/outdoor shower. The private wooden deck with a plunge pool faces the bush; it sleeps two adults.
Family Suite
A villa of two en-suite bedrooms with king-size beds (one can be set up as twin), a shared lounge and a deck with a large plunge pool. It sleeps up to four adults and comes with its own safari vehicle and guide.
Presidential Suite
The lodge’s largest suite: two bedrooms with full bathrooms (bathtub and indoor/outdoor shower) joined by a lounge, a deck with a plunge pool and a private boma for fireside dinners. It sleeps up to four adults and comes with its own vehicle, ranger and tracker, a private chef and a butler.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.