Lodge
Chacma Bush Camp
About the lodge
An overview of Chacma Bush Camp.
Chacma Bush Camp is a small, owner-run Big Five safari camp tucked into 8,000 hectares of the Maseke Balule Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger. Three thatched chalets sleep just ten guests, and a waterhole in front of camp draws elephants through the drier months. Twice-daily game drives explore the rocky outcrops and Mopane woodlands above the Olifants River.
Highlights
- Big Five game viewing across 8,000 hectares of the Maseke Balule Game Reserve
- Intimate, owner-managed camp sleeping only ten guests in three thatched chalets
- Waterhole in front of camp frequented by elephants in the dry winter months
- Twice-daily guided game drives plus guided bush walks through Mopane woodlands
- Family-friendly, with rooms set up to accommodate parents and children
You Should Know
- Children from age 5 are welcomed on standard bookings
- Children of all ages are accepted when the camp is booked for exclusive use
- Children aged 12 and over pay the full adult rate; under 12s pay 50 per cent
- Conservation and bed levies are added to the invoice and are not included in the nightly rate
- Premium imported drinks are charged in camp
The Details
Location
Chacma Bush Camp sits in the Maseke Balule Game Reserve, a management area of the Balule Private Nature Reserve within the Greater Kruger, between Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa in Limpopo Province. The traverse covers roughly 8,000 hectares of undulating terrain marked by mountainous ridges, boulder koppies and the course of the Olifants River.
The camp is accessible to self-drivers, who are met at the gate and escorted in, and to fly-in guests via Hoedspruit (Eastgate) or Phalaborwa airports. Scheduled road transfers from OR Tambo connect via Three Bridges Restaurant.
Accommodation
Three stone-and-thatch chalets sleep a maximum of ten guests, giving the camp a private, owner-run feel rather than a lodge atmosphere. Chalets open onto a central deck with a swimming pool overlooking the waterhole, where bushbuck, kudu and plains game drift through the surrounding Mopane woodlands.
Dining
Meals are served communally on the deck or around the boma fire, with all teas, coffees and three daily meals included. The fully inclusive rate adds local soft drinks and alcoholic beverages; premium imported brands are charged separately in camp.
Activities
Twice-daily game drives explore the rocky outcrops, riverine vegetation and Mopane woodlands of the Maseke traverse, led by experienced guides on open vehicles. Guided bush walks offer a slower-paced way to read tracks and observe smaller wildlife on foot. Honeymooners and guests marking a special occasion can book a Honeymoon Sundowners experience, complimentary for honeymoon couples and charged at R500 per couple otherwise, weather permitting.
Price Includes
- Accommodation in a thatched chalet
- All meals, teas and coffees
- All local soft and alcoholic drinks
- Two guided game drives daily on open safari vehicles
- Guided bush walks with an experienced ranger
The same as booking direct
Rates and pricing.
Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.
Valid until 31 Dec 2026
Why book through us
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup. What you get on top is a specialist who knows Chacma Bush Camp personally, looks after every detail of the trip, and stays reachable on WhatsApp from the moment you enquire to the day you come home.
By season
Low season
1 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2026
All Inclusive - All meals, all local drinks, game drives, teas & coffees
R 6 350
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.
Honeymoon offer
For couples celebrating a wedding.
Documented from Sun Destinations's 2026 rate sheet. A formal offer you can claim, not marketing language.
Honeymoon Sundowners
Complimentary Honeymoon Sundowners Experience for honeymooning couples (R500 per couple for non-honeymooners)
Honeymooners at Chacma Bush Camp can enjoy a complimentary Honeymoon Sundowners Experience. Couples not on honeymoon who wish to book the same experience are charged R500 per couple. The experience is weather permitting and charged in camp.
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Terms and eligibility may change. Your specialist confirms all offers at the time of booking.
Family policies
Travelling with children.
What our safari specialists know about bringing children to Chacma Bush Camp: minimum ages, activities, family rooms and child rates, 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
- 6+
- Game drives
- 5+
- Walking safari
- 12+
Programmes & care
No dedicated kids' programme.
Accommodation
Family unit available.
Child rates
2027 Rates: Children 6–12 (at time of travel) sharing with adult(s) charged at 50% of adult sharing rate; one child must share with a minimum of one adult per tent. 2026: 12+ full adult rate; 5–11 pay 50%; 3–4 pay 30%; 0–2 free.
Notable exceptions
- Minimum-age policy has shifted across rate sheets. The most recent 2027 state that children under six years are not permitted unless the entire camp is exclusively booked by the same group or family (subject to management discretion). Earlier 2026 accepted children from age 5, with all ages welcome on exclusive-use bookings, and the 2026 sheet accepted children of all ages. A private game vehicle can be arranged for groups at an additional cost (R2100 per drive in 2027) and may help accommodate younger children on game drives. Children 6+ must remain under permanent parental supervision at all times; management reserves the right to terminate the stay if rules are not observed. The camp accommodates a maximum of 10 guests and the two Luxury Tented Suites are recommended for families with children aged 12 and under.
Imagery
A closer look.
9 photographs · click any image to expand
Speak to a safari specialist
Plan your dream safari at Chacma Bush Camp.
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 Chacma Bush Camp: 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.
Ready when you are
Let's design your stay.
Your specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours with availability, exact pricing, and suggestions for what to combine it with.