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Lukimbi Game Lodge | South Africa
[South Africa Hotels and Accommodation] |
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Lukimbi Game Lodge is one of the few exclusive private game concessions (15 000ha) in the Kruger National Park. It lies in the southern part of the Kruger between Malelane and Crocodile Bridge areas.
The main lodge is beautifully designed with high ceilings, dramatic fireplaces but also plenty of places to relax in solitude. Below the lodge there’s a beautiful pool with a waterfall and Jacuzzi rock pool, a library with a selection of books and internet access, a wine cellar, gym and a separate children’s playroom. Raised teak walkways connect the 16 spacious suites. All suites are extremely spacious with a sunken sitting room, luxurious bathroom with a huge oval stone bath offering glorious bushveld views as well as an outside shower. There’s also a private deck offering the perfect place to relax and enjoy some bird-spotting or game-viewing. Other facilities include air-conditioning, fans, minibars and tea/coffee facilities. The huge Giant Eagle Owl suite and King Cheetah suite also have private plunge pools, dining room and second bathroom.
Lukimbi doesn’t focus on ticking off the Big Five, though all are present at Lukimbi, but on explaining the natural cycles of the bush, the symbiotic relationships between animals as well as local uses of trees and plants. Vehicles mainly say within the concession where controlled off-road driving is permissible, but have the whole park available to give the best sightings. Another strength is their excellent cuisine served in a variety of settings: in the boma, around the pool or perhaps an intimate candlelit dinner on the deck.
Lukimbi is a very child friendly lodge with a specialized programme of activities and games and a special Children’s co-ordinator. A maximum of two children under 12 may share with parents in a suite on extra beds. Lukimbi also provides some stunning cots for younger children designed as animals. All families with children will be booked into the same wing of the lodge. |
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Family
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Romantic
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Spa
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Walking
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Country: South Africa
Region: Mpumalanga and the Kruger National Park
Area: Southern Kruger Park
Accommodation Rating: Luxury |
Rooms: 16
Meals: Full board and game activities
Location: Bush
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1 May 2008
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30 Sep 2008
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1 Oct 2008
to
30 Nov 2008
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| Per person sharing |
ZAR R 2,890 |
ZAR R 4,150 |
| Prices may be based
on current exchange rates and are subject to change prior to booking. |
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| We recommend Lukimbi for the quality of its guiding, the excellent cuisine and the superbly thought-out family programme. One of our consultants will gladly help you with any further questions you may have.
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Kate stayed there with her family:
"We were all delighted with Lukimbi. There were four areas which particularly deserve praise.
1) Excellent guiding
Jacques was a font of knowledge on so many different aspects of the bush, engaging children and adults to equal measure. I really enjoyed learning about the medicinal and otherwise local uses of some of the bushes. Emma (aged 9) has made the bushwillow tea at home and drunk it. This was interspersed with good game-viewing for a holistic experience.
I was pleased to see that Lukimbi vehicles seem to stick to their concession to the most part which preserves the exclusive game-viewing experience. However I also appreciated that sometimes you would want to go outside the concession to see a particular sighting.
2) Children's Programme
It was very well planned giving children a sense of progression in developing their bush knowledge. The after breakfast activities also allow parents the chance to join the bush walk or to relax if they preferred - either option would be very welcome for most parents. I also liked the fact that children could (usually) join game drives and that early supper was provided afterwards followed by a central playroom/TV for children rather than being stuck away in their bedrooms with a babysitter.
3) Excellent food
The food provided was some of the best that we had on our trip. Interesting and well presented dinner and breakfast.
4) The rooms were luxurious and would suit the most discerning tastes and yet were not over the top. Of course special mention must be made of the 'animal' cots which are amazing.
CHILDREN'S SAFARI PROGRAMME
Usually younger children under six will be able to accompany their parents on game drives, though this is not guaranteed unless a private vehicle is reserved at an additional cost. In practice Lukimbi tries to put two families together in a vehicle so that your children’s needs can be more easily catered for. If there are several children at the lodge, they also organize special kids drives which are enjoyable for children (and parents) alike. There is a play room which is supervised from 7am to 1pm and from 4pm until you take your children to bed. Games, wildlife movies and toys are available there.
This level of child supervision and interaction enables parents to enjoy the morning bush walk at Lukimbi (which is usually not an option for parents at most game lodges), or to simply relax in your suite or by the pool.
We recommend at least a three or four night stay so that your children (ideally 7 to 12 years) can participate in the Basic Tracker programme. This takes place after breakfast and in the mid afternoon (prior to the evening game drive) and includes nature walks, target practice, tracking spoor, basic bush survival skills and children receive a Basic Tracking Certificat at the end. Please ask us to send you the full programme.
Teenagers are also catered for with bush walks, astronomy evenings, special boma dinners and a Day in the Life of a ranger sessions as well as game drives of course.
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