Lodge
Karongwe River Lodge
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Karongwe River Lodge
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Live availability
Karongwe River Lodge
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About the lodge
An overview of Karongwe River Lodge.
Traversing over the 9000 hectares of supreme African bushveld, the Karongwe Reserve is home to the Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant) as well as a wealth of other creatures.
Highlights
- Enchanting river views and occasional game viewing from your private deck
- Delicious Pan-African cuisine
- Big Five safari game viewing
- Incredible safari encounters and off-road game drives
You Should Know
- Children 0-3 years old: Free of charge
- Children 3-11 years old: 50% of the adult rate
- Ages 12 years and up: Adult rate
- Children under the age of 6 years are not allowed on game drives
- Little Paw Centre with a children's program available at an additional cost (subject to availability)
The Detail
At Karongwe River Lodge, a delightful dining experience awaits you. Dining under the stars has never been as romantic as when you enjoy our Pan-African cuisine in a rustic outdoor boma or, on alternate evenings, in the beautifully appointed dining room. To complement your meal, choose from our extensive selection of top South African and imported beers and wines, alongside a variety of spirits and soft drinks.
Spend the afternoon relaxing beside the pool or watching the game from your private deck before being whisked away on a late-afternoon safari in an open game drive vehicle. The enchanting view over the Makhutsi River is a natural treasure, offering insight into the secret life of the river. The spacious lounge area leading onto a vast deck provides endless opportunities to view elephants as well as grazing antelope.
Settle in at your leisure in one of our 11 spacious and air-conditioned suites, each featuring en-suite bathrooms. River Lodge offers guests a choice of five luxury suites, two family suites, and two executive suites, with the two presidential suites enjoying their own private plunge pools.
Traversing over 9,000 hectares of supreme African bushveld, the Karongwe Reserve is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant) as well as a wealth of other incredible creatures. Our open vehicle game drives are perfect for wildlife viewing, and you can enjoy a sundowner as the sun sets over the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains.
The spectacular game viewing provides perfect photographic opportunities. Take in the breathtaking views of the Lowveld from a “kopje” surrounded by lush vegetation, a huge variety of trees, and over 365 different bird species. Game drives are conducted by our qualified game rangers and Shangaan trackers, who will share their deep knowledge of the African bush, including an opportunity to view cheetahs on foot.
Price Includes
- All meals, teas, coffees, and snacks
- Accommodation
- Dawn and dusk safaris in open game drive vehicles
- Drinks on dusk safaris (limited to one drink per person with a choice of local beer, wine, or soft drink)
- Limited WiFi at all lodges
- Reserve fees
- Transfers from the southern boom gate are included
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 Karongwe River Lodge 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
Green season
1 May 2026 – 31 Jul 2026
All Inclusive — All meals, teas, coffees, snacks, twice daily game drives.
R 5 890
Peak / migration
1 Aug 2026 – 31 Dec 2026
All Inclusive — All meals, teas, coffees, snacks, twice daily game drives.
R 9 790
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 Karongwe River Lodge: 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
- All ages
- Game drives
- 6+
- Walking safari
- 16+
Programmes & care
Kids' programme
Babysitting available
Accommodation
Family unit available.
Child rates
Children 0–2 years stay complimentary (reserve fees payable). Children 3–11 years pay 50% of the adult tariff when sharing a family room/unit with adults. Children 12 years and older are considered adults and pay the full tariff. No triple room requests.
Notable exceptions
- Children of all ages are welcome to stay at Karongwe River Lodge. Game drives: children under 4 are not permitted; children aged 4–5 may join at the discretion of lodge management after an on-site evaluation, or via a private vehicle (subject to availability, at extra cost); children 6 and older may join scheduled drives. Bush walks remain strictly 16+. Note: portfolio-wide T&Cs list stricter rules at sister camps (Kuname Main Lodge: no under-12s; Becks Safari Lodge: no under-6s) which do NOT apply here. There is a conflict between the 2027 T&Cs (under-4 not permitted, 4–5 at discretion or via private vehicle) and the 2026/supplier contract; the more recent 2027 T&Cs are applied here. The Little Paws Programme (under 12s) and babysitting are available at additional cost.
Speak to a safari specialist
Plan your dream safari at Karongwe River Lodge.
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 Karongwe River 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.
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.