Royal Thonga Safari Lodge

Royal Thonga Safari Lodge (a 4-star lodge) is architecturally designed to emulate the local Thonga building style, and each of the fourteen villas is uniquely positioned to offer guests total privacy and luxurious comfort within a sand forest in Tembe Elephant Park.

Natural materials and timber give a warm organic ambience and invite the outdoors in. All rooms are appointed with quality furnishings and bathrooms come complete with an indoor and private outdoor shower. The orientation creates cool shady interiors and the covered verandas provide shelter from the African Sun. All rooms feature king-size beds that can be converted into two single beds upon request and then fitted with a mosquito net.

The privacy of the suite allows guests to enjoy delightful outdoor showers whilst enjoying uncluttered views of the forest.

The main lodge area is a stylish space filled with contemporary designs that are accentuated by natural materials, textures, raw and recycled wood and African hues. Some sculptured features and earthy tones complete the overall chic and relaxing space.

The area boasts a comfortable lounge, library and restaurant area where guests can sit back and enjoy a chilled beverage whilst taking in the view from the lounge deck. In addition to the bar, the lodge provides guests with a 24/7 self-service hot drinks station.

The restaurant focuses on creating innovative and delicious meals by combining traditional home-style cuisine infused with a local twist. Each meal can be paired with fine South African wines from the fully stocked wine cellar.

Royal Thonga places a strong emphasis on responsible tourism and strives to ensure the protection of Africa’s spectacular natural heritage within a manner that is beneficial to the locals who inhabit the land. The lodge celebrates traditional Thonga and Zulu culture as well as their pastoral way of life.

Things to do

Game drives are conducted within the Tembe Elephant Park which is home to the biggest Tuskers in South Africa. This ‘Big 5’ reserve offers plenty to see. Enjoy a traditional Reed Dance which is an annual historical event where Zulu virgins participate in a procession before the King in traditional attire. Experience a 3 Lakes Boat Trip by exploring the late system from the February mouth through to the third great lake. Along the way, guests are treated to views of an abundance of wildlife such as crocodiles, hippos and birds. Head over to Sodwana to enjoy epic scuba diving sessions that are PADI certified.

About the Tembe Elephant Park

Tembe Elephant Park is a 30 012 hectare game reserve in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is adjacent to Ndumo Game Reserve. The park was developed by Tembe Tribal Authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

It was established in 1983 to protect elephants which used to migrate between Maputaland and southern Mozambique. These elephants were traumatised by poaching during the civil war in Mozambique so the park was only opened to the public in 1991. The park is now home to 250 elephants which are the largest in the world. Isilo, the largest living tusker in the southern hemisphere, died in 2014.

200 more elephants which used to be part of the same group living in the Maputo Elephant Reserve in Mozambique. The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area is planned to link the two reserves and the Lubombo Conservancy in Swaziland in a single transfrontier reserve.

More than 340 bird species have been recorded in Tembe, including the rare Rudd's apalis, the rufous-bellied heron, the Natal nightjar and the Woodward's batis.

This park is to be included in the: Usuthu-Tembe-Futi Transfrontier Conservation Area.