Nedile Lodge Review & Guide
Just 3.5 hours from Joburg, a long weekend at Nedile Lodge is the perfect safari getaway. The lodge is surrounded by bush and overlooks the Welgevonden tree canopy, making for beautiful sunrise and sunset views. Nedile Lodge offers full room and board. You’ll just have to pay for extras like alcohol and spa treatments.
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Getting to Nedile Lodge
Drive the 3.5 hours from Joburg to the Welgevonden Game Reserve West Gate. Here, you’ll leave your car in the elephant-proof parking lot. You must arrive at the parking lot by 12 pm as the Nedile Lodge Jeep collects all guests only once each day. Your Nedile Lodge guide will take you on a 30-minute safari as you head to the lodge.
If you are unable to reach the West Gate by 12 pm for the Nedile Lodge pick-up, you can arrange a different pick-up time with the lodge for around R400.
Nedile Lodge Safari
I recommend you stay 2 nights at a safari lodge. This will give you 2 morning and 2 evening game drives. It really is plenty of time to see everything. The first game drive will probably be the most stunning as you’ll be seeing everything for the first time.
The Nedile Lodge itinerary includes two 3–4-hour game drives each day (besides arrival and departure day). The itinerary varies a bit between the summer and winter months to account for sunlight.
Arrival Day
The day you arrive, there is a mini safari between the West Gate and the lodge. You’ll likely spot more common animals like zebras, antelope, and maybe an elephant or two. After your arrival at the lodge, you’ll have 1-2 hours to unpack and have lunch. After lunch, you’ll go on your first evening game drive!
You’ll stop for sundowners with your choice of drink. Our stop was a beautiful field with grazing zebras. We arrived just as the sun was setting so the sky was pure gold.
Full Days
If you stay 2 nights at Nedile Lodge, you just have one full day. You’ll be brought coffee or tea with some rusks at 6 am and at 6:30 am, you’ll be off! The morning game drive will be around 3.5 hours depending on what you find and how long you stop at animal sightings.
My favorite part of the game drive (besides the cute baby rhinos we saw) was stopping for morning coffee at the beautiful viewpoint over the reserve. Then, you’ll head back to a full breakfast at the lodge.
Enjoy the pool until lunch. Then after lunch, you’ll head out on the evening game drive. You’ll likely stop at a different sundowner location.
Departure Day
You’ll head off on a morning game drive, then have breakfast back at the lodge. At 11:30 am you’ll check out and be driven back down to the West Gate.
This is the itinerary that was shared with us in February 2021. Please check with Nedile Lodge for the most up-to-date information.
Your guide
If your guide is Barend, you’re in luck! He is an excellent safari guide with not only a lot of knowledge about the animals (birds and bugs included!), but he also has immense respect for the animals and land. He answers all questions and gives information about the animals that you wouldn’t think of asking.
Animals
What will you see? Welgevonden Game Reserve is home to the Big Five.
What you’ll definitely see
The Big Five: we saw the lion, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo on our drive.
We got really lucky and saw two young, female lions eating a zebra after a kill. (We didn’t see the chase in action). My pictures are graphic as the guide used binoculars to zoom in on the lions and take pics using our phones; I didn’t include them in this post But it was a really interesting experience. The lions didn’t care we were there, and we got pretty close in the jeep.
Other animals: Giraffe, blesbuck, wildebeest, vervet monkey, warthog, jackal, duiker, reedbuck, springbuck, impala, and many other antelope species
You probably will not see this ostrich. A flock of ostriches was introduced into the game reserve some years ago, but lions and other animals hunted them down. The ostrich in the photo above is the last one on the game reserve.
What you’ll be lucky to see
The Big Five: With a little bit of luck you’ll also see a leopard. Our guide received a tip that a leopard was spotted and he rushed over to the sighting location. Everyone in the jeep kept an eye out but we couldn’t see it. Though, the jeep that left as we arrived did catch a glimpse.
Other animals: hippos, aardvark, hyena, and honey badger
This hippo was really active on our game drive! She was splashing around and roaring. (Do hippos roar? That’s what it sounded like anyway…)
Check out Welgevonden’s full mammal species list here. Check out all the animals, reptiles, bugs, and trees here.
Nedile Lodge Review
The lodge is 5-star accommodation and it’s easy to see why, not only in pictures but also when you arrive and are greeted by the excellent staff and views.
Full room and board for 2 adults is upwards of R5100 (around $350) per night.
I truly enjoyed my time at Nedile Lodge and would definitely return.
Food
Breakfast is a combo of fruit, yogurt, granola, and your choice of eggs.
At lunch, you’ll be offered 2-3 options for dinner to choose from. The chef is excellent and is able to cater to varying diets. We requested veg or fish options. Be sure to note any special dietary needs to the lodge when you book.
On the Saturday we visited, dinner was served at the Boma. A Boma is an outdoor gathering place where friends and family gather around to share stories and food. Food is prepared on the outdoor grill and two bonfires are lit. I ate at least two severings worth of food!
Lounging
The lodge staff are attentive while allowing you to peacefully enjoy the lodge. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot animals coming up to the watering hole as you eat or chill by the pool!
Enjoy the view and read from your private balcony, take a bath, or head to the pool! We were told that sometimes the elephants come straight for the pool rather than use the watering hole.
What to bring
- Even in the summer months, you’ll want to bring something warm for the safari drives. Cool morning/evening air combined with the open-air jeep may make for a chilly 4-hour ride.
- Binoculars! You may get close to some animals but to get a good look, it’s best to bring your own binoculars.
- Water for the safari rides and sunscreen.
- Bathing suit for the pool!
Random tips
The lodge jeep accommodates around 4 couples (in COVID times). If you want to be sure to sit next to your travel peeps, plan to get in the jeep 10 minutes before the game drive departure. Everyone else knew this except us so we didn’t sit next to each other until the 3rd game drive of our trip.
Bonus stop
If you’re driving to/from Joburg, think of stopping at the Geluksfontein Goat Milk Farm & Restaurant for lunch on your way back to town. You can get a delicious cheese platter and see the cute goats.
What did you think of the Nedile Lodge Review & Guide? Have you been or do you need more info? Let me know in the comments!