Escape to Sangasava Bush Lodge in Balule Game Reserve

Posted on 13 April 2011

A quiet bushveld retreat nestled on the banks of the Olifants River, Sangasava – which means ‘circles in the sand’ in the local Tsonga language – is the perfect place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

A 45-minute drive from Hoedspruit in the Limpopo Province, the small, self-catering bush lodge has two units looking out over a riverbank teeming with life: from troops of patrolling vervet monkeys to the snorting denizens of the muddy waters – the hippos that wallow lazily in the eddying current.

From the moment you arrive, the river begins to wash away your troubles as it wends its way through the woodland hills of the Balule Game Reserve. Balule shares a border with Klaserie Game Reserve which, in turn, borders the Kruger National Park. Since the fences between the three reserves have been taken down, the only boundary hampering the movement of wildlife is the meandering Olifants River.

The wonderful, welcoming owners of Sangasava, John and Terry Sadie, boast a wealth of knowledge on some of the area’s secret wonders and, along with their friendly staff, go to great lengths to ensure that guests have everything they need right at their fingertips.

Accommodation

Sangasava offers an impressively cheap and quieter alternative to the nearby Kruger National Park, and forms a perfect base from which to explore the region.

The two adjacent units – the spacious Kambaku rondavel and the Shingwedzi stone cottage  – are both fully equipped, including ceiling fans in the bedrooms, which help to stave off the often sweltering heat in the summer months.

Kambaku has two bedrooms and a loft, accommodating up to six people, or four adults plus four children. Shingwedzi, meanwhile, with its three bedrooms, also sleeps up to six people. A sleeper couch accommodates an extra two people if necessary.

The cute little communal swimming pool and braai area next to John and Terry’s mango grove is complemented by braai units at both buildings – firewood and ice can be bought at the entrance gate.

Regional attractions

Trumpeter hornbills feed on the wild figs in front of Kambaku and John and Terry’s dog, Shadow, conducts regular monkey patrols amongst the mango trees. The area has abundant animal, bird and insect life. You will be hard pressed not to spend most of the morning simply lounging about soaking up the sights and sounds of nature as the Olifants wends its way through the woodland hills.

The elephants, from which the river gets its name, can often be seen coming down to drink, while bushbucks shyly slip through the bushes and warthogs trot comically past. But if you do decide to venture into the surrounding countryside there are plenty of additional attractions to entrance and delight. Driving out of the reserve one morning, we were treated to a sighting of a female leopard walking along the road ahead of us, before slipping under the fence and inspecting us from a safe distance amongst the trees.

The Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and the Kapama Cheetah Breeding Project, both of which I will profile in a future blog, are found nearby, while landscape lovers will be enthralled by the grandeur of the Blyde River Canyon and the stunning vista stretching out below God’s Window towards Mozambique.

Other attractions in the area include the famous Bourke’s Luck Potholes – carved out over the millennia by the meeting of the Blyde and Treur rivers – several beautiful waterfalls, the Echo Caves, the largest baobab in the world, 4×4 trails, and a number of golf courses for those looking for a bit of sporting relaxation.

Sangasava is truly a tonic for the soul – if you love the bush, you will love the ‘circles in the sand’.

Information

Visit the Sangasava website at www.sangasava.com to find out about rates, activities and more.






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