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Lodge · Amakhala
Amakhala 5-Star Bush Lodge
The Bush Lodge is a picturesque 5-star retreat located just 45 minutes east of Port Elizabeth, offering guests an immersive escape into a more tranquil and enchanting world. Nestled within the spectacular Amakhala Reserve, this lodge is set in an open valley surrounded by rolling hills and lush riverine vegetation.
From R 12 180 per person sharing, per night
Lodge · Amakhala
Amakhala 5-Star Bush Lodge
From R 12 180 per person sharing, per night
Enquire nowThe Bush Lodge is a picturesque 5-star retreat located just 45 minutes east of Port Elizabeth, offering guests an immersive escape into a more tranquil and enchanting world. Nestled within the spectacular Amakhala Reserve, this lodge is set in an open valley surrounded by rolling hills and lush riverine vegetation.
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Amakhala 5-Star Bush Lodge
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Amakhala 5-Star Bush Lodge
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About the lodge
An overview of Amakhala 5-Star Bush Lodge.
The Bush Lodge is a picturesque 5-star retreat located just 45 minutes east of Port Elizabeth, offering guests an immersive escape into a more tranquil and enchanting world. Nestled within the spectacular Amakhala Reserve, this lodge is set in an open valley surrounded by rolling hills and lush riverine vegetation.
Highlights
- Big 5, Black Wildebeest, Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra, and numerous other antelope.
- All-inclusive 5-star experience.
- Luxurious accommodations, each with a private viewing deck and plunge pool.
- Experience twice-daily game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles.
You Should Know
Children aged 12 and above are welcome.
The Details
Discreetly tucked between the treetops, this intimate lodge features wood, canvas, and thatch, providing the perfect base to explore the African wild. The lodge includes a lounge, bar, and elevated outdoor boma. Private plunge pools, on-site therapists, and alfresco double showers emphasize comfort. Wi-Fi is available in public areas by the main lodge.
Each of the eight private rooms offers en-suite facilities, a private lounge, and climate control. The Big 5 roam the hills and plains of Amakhala alongside a variety of birds and diverse vegetation. Guests can enjoy the spectacular scenery from every angle, including sundowner canoe safaris and a cheese and wine boat cruise.
Accommodation
6 King/Twin Luxury Safari Tents
Built in the bush at the top end of an open valley, each tent overlooks a watering point with stunning sky views. Structures feature thatched roofs, tented walls, and wooden floors.
2 Luxury Safari Family Tents
These tents also overlook a watering point and include a king-size bed with a bath in the main room and twin beds in a second room with their own toilet.
Dining
Savor cuisine that excites the palate and offers a true taste of African culture, hosted by attentive local staff. All meals are enjoyed in the Main Lodge and are included in your stay.
Activities
Game Drives
Join our Big 5 Safari Adventure on the malaria-free Amakhala Game Reserve. Morning and evening game drives depart from your lodge, guided by professional rangers in open Land Rovers. Experience abundant wildlife, diverse vegetation, and the dramatic landscape of the Eastern Cape.
Horse Riding
Amakhala Horse Trails provide a unique perspective of the bush. Riders can enjoy incredible views and get close to wildlife such as eland, wildebeest, zebra, hartebeest, and giraffe. Trails cover 1,700 hectares, offering opportunities to canter across plains, trot to appreciate views, or walk quietly along river lines. These trails cater to small groups of up to six intermediate to experienced riders, with younger experienced riders aged 10 to 15 welcome if accompanied by a guardian. Horseback safaris typically last two to three hours, with plenty of time for wildlife viewing and refreshment breaks.
Big 5 Wilderness Walks
Explore the ancient landscape with an FGASA-accredited Professional Trails Guide and a Specialist Birding Guide. Walkers might track and view African giants like elephants and rhinos, and discover countless small creatures and the tracks and signs they leave behind.
Price Includes
Accommodation, meals, selected house beverages, and two game drives per day.
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup.
The same as booking direct
Rates and dates.
Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.
Valid until 10 Jan 2027
Peak / migration
1 Aug 2026 – 19 Dec 2026
All Inclusive - All meals, selected house beverages and two game drives per day
R 12 180
per person · night
Festive
20 Dec 2026 – 10 Jan 2027
All Inclusive - All meals, selected house beverages and two game drives per day
R 13 990
per person · night
Rates are per person sharing, per night. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.
Family policies
Travelling with children.
What our safari specialists know about bringing children to Amakhala 5-Star Bush Lodge, current as of May 2026. They plan family trips here all the time, so anything below that needs arranging, they will sort. For the bigger picture, see our guide to safari with children .
- Minimum ages
- Stay 12+ · Game drives 12+ · Walking safari 12+
- Child rates
- 0–2 years: no charge. 3–11 years: 50% of the adult sharing rate. 12+ years: adult sharing rate. In practice Bush Lodge is 12+ years welcome, so child rates rarely apply on-site.
- Family rooms
- No dedicated family unit.
- Care
- No dedicated kids' programme
- Exceptions
-
Bush Lodge operates a strict 12+ years welcome policy, so although the reserve-wide child rate structure exists (0–2 free, 3–11 at 50%), under-12s do not typically stay at the lodge. Private vehicles are available on request at additional cost, subject to availability, which can accommodate children from age 6 on game drives. The reserve-wide "Kids under 12 stay free" and "16 and under pay child rate when sharing" specials explicitly exclude Bush Lodge — those apply at sister lodges (Safari, Hlosi, Induli, Woodbury Lodge, Leeuwenbosch, Woodbury Tented Camp), not here. No dedicated family suites are offered at Bush Lodge; family suites are available at sister lodge Hlosi.
Imagery
A closer look.
"Hi Chantal The Summit place guest house was First class , the warmest welcome Robyn was a first class host , the day drips to the wine region and Cape of Good hope etc where really good also. Limoni apartments where lovely, we were looked after by the maids and the property was fantastic . Amakhala service was fantastic, really first class couldn’t fault it. No issues with the cars or anything everything went well, thank you for organising it for us we would recommend you and your company!"
Speak to a safari specialist
Let's design your stay.
From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at Amakhala 5-Star Bush Lodge: multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
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