Notten's Bush Camp

OVERVIEW:

Notten’s Bush Camp is a friendly, fourth-generation family-owned safari lodge with history, character, and an adventurous spirit. It occupies a superb setting in South Africa’s wildlife-rich Sabi Sand Game Reserve, offering excellent value for a property of its calibre in such a coveted location. As it has just nine suites, guests can expect an intimate, laidback atmosphere paired with warm hospitality and a genuine care for the surrounding environment. Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis and includes all meals, a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, twice-daily game drives, a daily bush walk, and a laundry service. The camp is open throughout the year.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Notten’s Bush Camp is located in the southern part of South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park. Guests usually fly by scheduled light aircraft from Johannesburg to Skukuza Airport, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, or Hoedspruit, followed by a short game drive transfer (depending on wildlife sightings en route).

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT NOTTEN'S BUSH CAMP: 

Guest accommodation at Notten’s Bush Camp consists of nine atmospheric, rustic-chic suites with the unique feature of being lit up with candles and paraffin lamps instead of electric lighting. Air conditioning and charging points still feature in all the rooms, so guests can rest easy knowing that modern conveniences haven’t been forgotten, despite the ambience recalling a bygone era. Each suite has a double or twin bed/s, bedside tables, a writing desk, a tea-and-coffee station, and seating areas. Wood-framed sliding doors lead outside to a private deck with enchanting views of the surrounding bushveld, and the large, wood-framed windows have screens for keeping insects out while the breeze circulates. Each room has an en-suite bathroom containing a flush toilet, twin washbasins, indoor and outdoor showers, and a bathtub.

Notten’s Bush Camp’s communal areas connect to the guest rooms via neat pathways through the trees, lit with lanterns at night to enhance the camp’s magical ambience. There’s an airy open-sided lounge and dining area, with a deck – here, guests are welcome to dine al fresco or settle in on one of the cushioned wicker sofas. Dining is typically enjoyed communally around a long table or outside, where hearty bush fare is served in the traditional boma next to a roaring fireplace. There’s also a well-stocked bar where you can pull up a bar stool and gaze at the beautiful bush views with a cold drink. A range of soothing massage and beauty treatments is offered at the spa, and a nicely sized swimming pool is perfect for cooling off in the heat of the day. Internet and cell phone reception are available at Notten’s Wi-Fi hut.

ACTIVITIES AT NOTTEN'S BUSH CAMP:

The camp offers a range of activities centred on game viewing in Sabi Sand Game Reserve:

• Game drives

  – Expertly led game drives take place in open-top safari vehicles during the morning and late afternoon. Sabi Sand Game Reserve shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park, allowing the wildlife to roam freely between the two spaces. Comprising 65,000 hectares of savannah, woodlands, and the Sabi and Sand rivers, the reserve is home to all Big Five – lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. This area is particularly renowned for leopard sightings, while other carnivores in residence include cheetah, hyena, jackal, and the occasional wild dog. You’ll likely come across giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and plenty of antelope among the herbivore count.

• Bush walks

  – 1–2-hour long bush walks are led by an experienced armed ranger offering full chapter and verse on conservation, ecology, and the natural environment. There’s also an extraordinary variety of birdlife here, including rare treasures such as the Diedrick’s cuckoo, Pel’s fishing owl, southern ground hornbill, kori bustard, and the spectacular martial eagle. Notten’s bush walks offer the perfect opportunity for travellers to scope out the reserve’s smaller details, including insects, plants, grasses, and perhaps the occasional frog, lizard, or tortoise.

• Kruger National Park excursions

  – Conducted by a Notten’s ranger, half or full-day excursions are offered to Kruger National Park, heading off from camp along the banks of the Sabi river. Kruger National Park is one of the continent’s most biodiverse wild spaces and well worth exploring during your stay. You’ll stop for a picnic lunch at the scenic Nkuhlu picnic area on the edge of the Sabi river and head north-east on the return, winding along the equally scenic Sand river.

• Golf trips

  – Golf enthusiasts will be pleased to find that sessions can be arranged at the Skukuza nine-hole golf course, a 45-minute drive from Notten’s Bush Camp. This is a unique opportunity to play golf in an unfenced Kruger National Park area. 

• Cultural tours

  – Those keen to learn more about local culture can take a 2–3-hour visit to a nearby Shangaan community, where you’ll gain insight into their traditions and rural way of life. A great way to break up the game-viewing activities and learn something about the people from this region.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.