Tintswalo Safari

For our first time in South Africa, we stayed at Tintswalo Safari Lodge two weeks ago. It set a very high bar for our stays in other camps. We stayed in the Livingstone Suite which is closest to the lodge and the waterhole, where elephants visited every day. The suites are spacious and beautifully decorated, and supplied with everything (and more) that we needed. Our housekeeper, Eunice, left us a sweet note and towel made animal decoration on our bed every night as she did her turn-down service. Food was delicious and the staff made an effort to give us different venues for dinner each night (wine cellar, outdoor tables on deck, BBQ in Bomba) as well as surprising us with a breakfast out in the bush one morning. The ranger and tracker, Eric and Dimingo worked hard to enable us to see the Big 5 (6 if you count the wild dogs) in our short 3 night stay. They give new meaning to the words: off-road driving! We felt so pampered during our stay, that it was very hard to leave. This was a perfect place for us to stay: small number of suites, a gym, wine cellar, no more than 6 people to a jeep, plunge pool, AC, and many animal sightings! You won't be disappointed if you stay here!

Our recent stay at Tintswalo was so far beyond our expectations that it’s hard to describe. The lodge itself is beautiful and very comfortable. The staff is skilled and professional as well as helpful and kind. The wildlife we observed was totally awesome in every way. To start with, there is a fresh water tap just off the back deck and every elephant in the region knows about it. The staff turns on the tap and the elephants flow as fast as the water does. We got to watch them from the back deck, from our suite’s deck, from the ground level observation area and they watched us right back. It was a life altering experience for sure. The safari staff is well trained and skilled as well. Our driver, Brandon, and our guide, Elvis, found us some wonderful viewing opportunities. I lost count of the lions we saw, along with zebra, kudu, many different antelope and birds, and so many other species, including a not-to-be-named big guy with a horn. We learned about all these animals, and the efforts to conserve them for future generations. We learned about the stars in the Southern Hemisphere and the constellations we don’t see here in the north. We were only there four days but I could have stayed for a month. The food was very good and very plentiful, as was the drink, including wines from South Africa. I can recommend this lodge without hesitation and I would go back again in a heartbeat. We did not see a leopard here but it wasn’t because Brandon and Elvis didn’t try. That’s just how it is when Mother Nature is in charge. She still put on one heck of a show!

Every moment of our safari was extraordinary. Thoughtful touches — from water bottles in the jeep to breakfasts and dinners in the bush — made us feel pampered. Our room and housekeeping were impeccable, and Floyd and Titos delivered once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters: cheetahs, wild dogs, a leopard, and seven rhinos! Elephants joined us for brunch, afternoons by the plunge pool were blissful, and every meal was unforgettable. Their kindness, expertise, and attention to detail made this a truly magical experience.