3 Days Safari in Balule National Reserve and Kruger National Park, South Africa

During this safari, you will be accommodated at Baluleni Safari Lodge. This tranquil and peaceful, owner-managed, and full catering safari lodge is situated on the banks of the Olifants River, in the 50,000 hectares Balule Nature Reserve inside Greater Kruger National Park. The place offers the splendor of the natural African bush with breathtaking sunsets, wildlife, which includes the Big Five, birdwatching, safaris and bush walks, and boma dinners under the stars. Baluleni Safari Lodge is often referred to by guests as paradise or heaven on earth.

The place is a completely un-fenced camp with frequent visitors, such as elephant, lion, leopard, hippo, giraffe, and a variety of antelope species such as bushbuck, impala, duiker, kudu, and waterbuck that move in and out of camp. You can enjoy sitting on your veranda or at the pool spotting animals strolling through camp. The butterflies are also a wonder to witness. Moreover, you can listen to the sounds of the African bush while dining under the stars or simply relax and let the animals come to you!

Baluleni Safari Lodge aims to give visitors a truly unforgettable safari experience by creating a home away from home atmosphere in a small tucked-away bush retreat. They created an authentic bush experience where people and animals live as one. The place consists of chalets and tents and no parties, music, or noise is allowed. Enjoy nature, animals, birds, and peace and tranquillity.

Thatched Chalets

Baluleni Safari Lodge has five secluded thatched chalets (including a Honeymoon Chalet) and each chalet consists of two meters queen size bed with an en-suite shower, a washbasin, a toilet, a built-in wardrobe, a lounge area with a comfortable sleeper coach (except for Honeymoon Chalet), a private patio with view to the Olifants River where guests can enjoy nature, birds, and animals or relax in tranquility, air conditioning, fan, mosquito nets, a fridge, tea and coffee-making facilities, a dressing table with mirror and hairdryer, and bathroom amenities.

Luxury Safari Tents

Baluleni Safari Lodge has two luxury safari tents and each consists of two three-fourths beds with en-suite bath, a shower, a washbasin, and a toilet, a wardrobe, a private patio with view to the Olifants River where guests can enjoy nature, birds, and animals or relax in tranquility, a fan, a fridge, tea and coffee-making facilities, a dressing table with mirror and hairdryer, and bathroom amenities. The tent is on a concrete base, has a wooden entrance door, a brick bathroom with bath and shower and a very large veranda. The only difference to a masonry house are the tent walls and this makes the night in the bush so interesting, as you can hear everything around at night.

Driving directions from Johannesburg

• Take the N12 (or N4 from Pretoria) towards Witbank (Emalahleni), Middelburg Plaza.
• Turn to Belfast, Dullstroom, Lydenburg (Mashishing), Ohrigstad, Abel Erasmus Pass, and J.G.Strijdom Tunnel.
• 10 kilometers from the tunnel, turn left at fuel service station towards Tzaneen / Phalaborwa.
• Travel another 10 kilometers to the signboard "Phalaborwa" and turn right towards Phalaborwa.
• Travel 27 kilometers to T-junction and turn left towards Phalaborwa R40.
• Pass the Balule, Parsons Gate sign, and continue on R40 (about 20 kilometers) until Grietjie signboard.
• Turn right into the dirt road.
• Follow the dirt road for 2.7 kilometers to the gate.
• After 1.8 kilometers, go straight at the crossing.
• After 2.8 kilometers, keep left on Y-crossing.
• After 450 meters, turn left into Baluleni Safari Lodge, Plot 13 Grietjie.
• After 800 meters, you have reached the lodge.

Driving directions from Hoedspruit

• Follow the R40 from Hoedspruit for 51.2 kilometers.
• At the Grietjie signboard, turn right and follow the dirt road (2.7 kilometers) to Balule Gate.
• Follow another 1.8 kilometers overcrossing.
• After 2.8 kilometers, keep left on Y-crossing.
• After 450 meters, turn left into Baluleni Safari Lodge, Plot 13 Grietjie.
• After 800 meters, you have reached the lodge.

Driving directions from Phalaborwa

• From Phalaborwa, turn left on the road towards Hoedspruit.
• After about 20 / 25 kilometers, turn left at the Balule Grietjie signboard.
• Follow the dirt road to Baluleni Safari Lodge, plot 13.

Driving directions from Polokwane

• Follow the R71 from Polokwane to Tzaneen through to Gravelotte and continue on straight.
• Do not turn to Phalaborwa at Gravelotte but continue straight for another 30 kilometers until T-junction.
• Turn left towards Phalaborwa and continue for about 20 kilometers.
• Turn right at Grietjie signboard onto the dirt road to Baluleni Safari Lodge, plot 13.

Arrival by bus

There is a transfer service available from Three Bridges to Baluleni at 280 ZAR in 2018 and 360 ZAR in 2019 per bus.