Bukela Game Lodge – What You Need To Know For An Epic Safari Visit

UPDATED FEB 2020. My number one travel bucket list item has always been to go on an African safari. The Lion King was the first movie I ever saw at the cinemas and, that day, the dream seed was planted. I didn’t have a specific country in mind, I simply wanted to live out my Lion King dreams, see the pridelands, and, specifically, see a lion. I’m happy to say that it finally came true. The country was South Africa (which turned out to be really cool because The Power of One is another one of my favorite movies and is set there), the location was the Amakhala game reserve, and my accommodation was Bukela Game Lodge. Let me take you there with a review so you know what to expect when you plan a visit.

Bukela Game Lodge – What You Need To Know For An Epic Safari Visit

Disclaimer

There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.

The basics

Location: Amakhala Game Reserve, South Africa

Accommodation: Bukela Game Lodge

Time of visit: September

Style of trip: Solo

Suited for: Couples, solo travelers, friends – not kids

Highlights: Luxury experience, welcoming staff, animal encounters

Bukela Game Lodge entrance

Planning basics

What’s included in your stay

Included in the price of your accommodation is your room, meals (they’re delish), basic house drinks, and 2 – that’s right TWO – game drives each day.

The price tag for the accommodation is high, but keep in mind when you visit you don’t have any expenses aside from fancy drinks (if you want them), extra activities (if you want them) and tips for the staff.

For a bucket list dream as big as this, I think if you’re going to do it, you do it well.

Best time to visit

When I asked the staff, many agreed that October and November are the best times of year to visit as the weather is still mild and the reserve is in its springtime gorgeousness.

March and April were the second best times suggested, just before winter hits.

Whenever you visit, keep in mind that peak season is December – February and low season is May – September.

How long should you stay at Bukela Game Lodge?

Many people visit for 2 nights. I think this is great if you are visiting as part of a longer road trip, or aren’t obsessed with the animals.

Personally, I would say 3 nights is ideal, especially if you are really interested in seeing the wildlife.

This allows for a more relaxing time, and wiggle room in case you get bad weather or low animal sightings one day.

Add meaning to your visit

If you want to add meaning to your visit, pick up a copy of my latest book “Your Vacation, My Office.”

It profiles people who work in the travel industry around the world and features a staff member from Bukela Lodge, Vuyani.

You’ll learn what it’s really like to work this close to wildlife, what keeps him motivated, and insight for working in the hospitality industry. Most of all, it’s storytelling that will add meaning to your visit.

My experience at Bukela Game Lodge

Accommodation goals

I stayed in one of the Luxury Safari Tents and it was absolutely stunning.

Even though it’s a tent, it is anything but regular camping – it’s all luxury baby!

The tents are sprinkled in the bush around the lodge and connected by walkways. This offers privacy and peacefulness that was something I loved.

The lodge is not cordoned off from animals so it’s not unusual to see visitors at the waterhole. It’s safe to walk on the paths during the day, but at night a ranger escorts you to and from your room.

All-inclusive accommodation

It’s a luxury stay remember, so you don’t have to pull down your own Zebra when you get hungry.

All your meals are included and, let me tell you, they are mouthwatering!

At breakfast, you can feast on meals like biltong eggs benedict and smoked salmon scrambled eggs, all of which are accompanied by juices, fresh coffee, pastries, fruit, yogurt, and other snacks.

High tea in the afternoons offered up a selection of snacks and even dessert treats to get you fueled for the evening game drive.

And can we talk about dinner for a second? You’ll get a four-course meal each night that will blow your mind – I even got to eat different types of antelope!

Leisure time

In between the game drives, you are free to experience the lodge at your leisure. The goal here is to relax and rejuvenate.

You can take a swim in the pool, order a drink, and laze about on one of the lounge chairs. Keep an eye out for monkeys in the trees surrounding the pool as you might see them jumping from tree to tree or even coming to the pool’s edge for a drink.

The main area of the lodge has lounge areas with comfortable couches and chairs where you can relax. They’re perfect if you have a good book to read or travel journal to update.

Or you could also relax in the privacy of your room.

Your balcony comes equipped with sun chairs and the bar fridge in your room is stocked with a selection of cold drinks that are included in your stay. You have everything you need to just relax.

There are extra activities offered, including bushwalks or in-room massages, that you can also add to your day.

Game Drives at Amakhala Game Reserve

As I mentioned, you get 2 game drives each day included with your visit. The game drives usually last 3 hours.

Amakhala Game Reserve looks like the Lion King circa Mufasa or Simba’s reign. The landscapes, the sunsets, the wildlife – it’s so picturesque.

You’ll get assigned a ranger for the duration of your stay. Unless there is a staff changeover of shifts during your visit, you’ll get the same ranger each time.

I loved this because it created such a personalized experience. When you have the same ranger each day they know what animals you’ve seen and what you haven’t and are able to balance it all. For example, my ranger Siya would say ‘OK, we saw rhinos this morning so this afternoon let’s look for giraffes’.

Siya was incredibly talented and to say that he made my stay memorable is a huge understatement.

He taught me so much with his thorough knowledge of the plants and animals and his humor and personality made the game drives a lot of fun.

Seeing Simba!

Being on these game drives was an incredible experience, and yes, we saw a wild lion! As soon as the jeep stopped and my eyes locked onto the majestic animal, I just started crying.

I was so overwhelmed with happiness that the moment I had thought about for so long was actually happening!

I didn’t get photos or video for my vlog in this sighting, I just soaked it in and, even now as I write this, I feel emotional at how incredible it was.

Luckily, I got to see them more than once and I was able to pull myself together and snap a photo of them.

What animals can you see

Aside from Simba and Narla, you also have the opportunity to see giraffes, elephants, rhinos, lots of different types of antelope, warthogs, cheetah, leopard, buffalo, and jackals.

When it comes to nature, you can never guarantee what animals you will see each time.

Sometimes the lions were sleeping and we couldn’t see them, other times they were out roaming. There are definitely plenty of animals to see. The vehicles kept a distance from each other so that you weren’t in ‘safari traffic’ or overwhelming the animals which was also great to see.

Night game drives

I also added night game drives which were an extra fee but 100% worth it in my opinion.

Seeing the reserve at night was a very different experience.

I got to see some of the nocturnal animals as well as see what the day animals get up to at night. I even got an up-close encounter with the only cheetah in the reserve who walked along in front of the jeep for ages, as if leading the way for us.

I’m confident that if you want the dreamy, luxury glamping, big 5 safari experience in South Africa – this is the place to do it.

Other guides for planning your visit to South Africa

• Glamping In South Africa – Tips For Planning Your Stay At Bukela Lodge
• What To Wear On Safari In South Africa – Practical And Minimal Guide

For more information:

Visit the Amakhala Game Reserve website

Stay up to date with the latest news and deals on their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

If you found this post useful, return the favor by sharing it or following me on Instagram!