Lodge
Waterbuck Lodge
Live availability
Waterbuck Lodge
Please hang on while we search…
Please choose a check-out date that comes after your check-in date.
Live availability
Waterbuck Lodge
Tell us a little about your trip and a safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
Live, available now
About the lodge
An overview of Waterbuck Lodge.
Situated in the southern region of the private Thornybush Game Reserve and adjacent to a water estuary, Waterbuck Game Lodge offers an extraordinary safari experience from the comfort of a safari vehicle and from the lodge's viewing deck that overlooks an active waterhole.
Highlights
- Enjoy morning and afternoon safaris conducted in open 4x4 vehicles, led by professional guides and Shangaan trackers.
- Birding safaris can be arranged, as Waterbuck Lodge is a paradise for bird-watchers.
- Nearby activities include boat cruises, helicopter flights, cultural tours, hot-air ballooning, treetop canopy tours, and visits to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.
You should know
- Children will be accommodated on a roll-away bed.
- Children aged six years and over are permitted on game drives at management's discretion.
The details
Waterbuck is truly a "home away from home," boasting four air-conditioned Luxury Suites with magnificent views from both the spacious bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms. Each suite also features air conditioning, minibars, in-room safes, indoor and outdoor showers, a hairdryer, and tea and coffee-making facilities.
The lodge facilities include a swimming pool, a library, an outdoor boma, and laundry services.
Waterbuck Lodge is ideal for solo explorers, couples, and families looking for a rewarding safari experience.
Price includes
- Accommodation, all meals, two daily game drives, bush walks, water, hot beverages, and Wi-Fi in the main area. *Waterbuck does not include any other beverages.
- Our rates are per person, sharing unless specified otherwise.
- Single supplements may apply.
- Request a quote or speak to one of our agents for the best and most up-to-date rates available.
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 Waterbuck 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
8 Apr 2026 – 31 Jul 2026
All Inclusive - All meals, two daily game drives, bush walks, water, hot beverages, and select local drinks and house wines
Special offer
R 8 630
Normally R 11 500
Peak / migration
1 Aug 2026 – 31 Oct 2026
All Inclusive - All meals, two daily game drives, bush walks, water, hot beverages, and select local drinks and house wines
R 11 500
Shoulder
1 Nov 2026 – 15 Dec 2026
All Inclusive - All meals, two daily game drives, bush walks, water, hot beverages, and select local drinks and house wines
Special offer
R 8 630
Normally R 11 500
Festive
16 Dec 2026 – 31 Dec 2026
All Inclusive - All meals, two daily game drives, bush walks, water, hot beverages, and select local drinks and house wines
R 11 500
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.
Exclusive offer
Already reflected in the rates above.
The reduced rates shown in the table apply for the periods listed. Here is what is running and why.
Stay & Pay
Stay 4 nights but only pay for 3 nights when booking during these dates: 7 Jan - 2 Apr, 8 Apr - 31 July, 1 Nov - 15 Dec 2026
Combo
Franschhoek Country House & Villas and Waterbuck Lodge: 3 Nights accommodation at Franschhoek County & Villas in a Standard Suite including breakfast and a two course dinner at the Monneaux Restaurant on an evening of choice & 4 nights accommodation at either Waterbuck with the 4th night complimentary including all meals, hot beverages, local branded drinks, bottled water, 2 daily game drives. Terms & Conditions Apply
Honeymoon offer
For couples celebrating a wedding.
Documented from Safari Lodges & Classic Retreats South Africa (SLACRSA)'s 2026 rate sheet. A formal offer you can claim, not marketing language.
Honeymoon Special
50% discount on accommodation for one member of the bridal party
For stays at Waterbuck Lodge (and sister properties Shumbalala Game Lodge and Shimungwe Lodge), one member of the bridal party receives a 50% discount on their accommodation. A minimum 4-night stay is required, available during three seasonal windows in 2026. The offer is not combinable with any other specials or discounted rates.
- Minimum stay
- 4 nights
- Valid
- 7 January 2026 – 15 December 2026
- Combinable
- Not combinable with any other specials / discounted rate
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 Waterbuck 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
No dedicated kids' programme.
Accommodation
Family unit available.
Child rates
Children 6–11 yrs at 50% of adult sharing rate; Children 2–5 yrs at 25% (e.g. R2,875). Adult sharing with one child pays adult sharing rate plus applicable child rate. Conservation levy R330 pp/day applies to all guests including children of all ages.
Notable exceptions
- Children of all ages are welcome to stay; accommodated on a roll-away bed in the Standard Suite (max occupancy 2 adults plus child on roll-away). Children 6 and over are permitted on game drives at management's discretion. Game walks remain strictly 16+. In the event of a single child aged 6 and over sharing a room with 2 parents, an adult single supplement will apply. Lodge does not offer babysitting.
Imagery
A closer look.
9 photographs · click any image to expand
Speak to a safari specialist
Plan your dream safari at Waterbuck 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 Waterbuck 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.