I recently took a mini bush break to the beautiful Bakubung Bush Lodge, and what an amazing two day adventure it was. Located about a two hour drive from Joburg, and very close to Sun City, Bakubung is popular as a family vacation spot and it’s no surprise why.

Malaria free, and located on sprawling grounds with every amenity you could desire, this is a holiday destination for the discerning traveler. From volleyball, to tennis courts, to a family pool, private spa, kiddies play area and conference center – this is literally a paradise for local and international travelers alike.

On arrival we were greeted by a 5 piece Marimba band playing a merry welcome tune and were ushered in to reception and greeted personally by a representative from the lodge who expedited our check in and gave us a map to help us locate our rooms on the large property.

Our rooms were upstairs on the double storey accommodation block, and beautifully air-conditioned with a really comfy king-size bed, en suite bathroom, which included a shower and a bath, separate loo, and a large room safe, as well as plenty of closet space.

The large lounge area also came with a tea/coffee machine, colour TV (with DStv) and a hairdryer, as well as wi-fi (that was fast and allowed us to connect throughout the hotel – now that is something that excites me, as often one struggles to connect, or the connection keeps dropping.)

All rooms have either a view of the park or the hippo pool, and I was excited to be able to view zebra and bush pigs from my balcony, while enjoying a G&T in comfort.

After unpacking, we headed up to the spa for our pre-booked pamper packages, a full body scrub and massage that left me so relaxed and silky smooth that I didn’t want to even get up off the bed afterwards. As our dinner table was booked for 19h00 we headed back to our rooms to freshen up, then wandered down to the bar area to grab a drink before dinner, a delicious and vast buffet stocked with fresh salads, soups and home made rolls, veg and a carvery with several delicious meats and accompaniments which left us very full and happy.

Our game drive wake up call was set for for 04h30 the next morning, so we called it an early night and headed to bed.

The vehicles depart at 05h00 sharp, and we were so excited to get started. After a slow spotting start, and seeing some lions in the river valley but not being able to get close enough to them, our guide got a call on the radio and all of a sudden we were off at speed, and what followed can only be described as one of the best game view drives of my life.

We spotted a elephants, rhino, lions, even a leopard and variety of buck, bush pigs and giraffes. All we were short of was the buffalo to complete our Big 5 viewing, but even though we did not manage to spot one, the amazing array of animals, and not to mention the numbers seen, was a fantastic start to the day.

We returned back to the lodge hungry, and headed straight to the breakfast buffet, which was super extensive. From your cereal, fruit and yogurts, through to the hot buffet, individually made omelettes, to the cold meats and cheeses and the most delicious homemade breads and pastries I have had in a long time, there was certainly something to cater for all tastes, and even the most picky of eaters.

Replete and satisfied we headed back to our rooms to change in to our costumes and headed back to the spa. A short walk up the hill, and we were back at what I can certainly say is my favourite place on the property. We lazed on the loungers, took several dips in the pool, and even ordered drinks and lunch which were sent up from the restaurant for us, as well as enjoying a few more smaller treatments like mani’s and pedi’s.

In the afternoon we strolled back to our rooms and in the early evening got back on to the game vehicles to head across to the bush boma dinner, which I was really looking forward to.

Upon disembarking from the vehicle you are greeted with great big fires, the amazing aromas of food and the sounds of drums and singing, the true feeling of Africa. The boma can seat roughly about 600 people and has two serving stations. Once you have placed your drinks order you join the queue and get all your fave local foods – or if you are an international visitor, then you get to taste some of our amazing local meat dishes, pap and sauce and loads more, as well as local desserts too – I am always a sucker for a delicious malva and custard.

Local entertainment included singing and dancing, as well as drumming, and guests were invited to get up and join in the fun. We were so tired from all the fresh air and outdoors that we were ready to head back to bed soon after dinner, and had an early evening.

The next morning after breakfast we headed back to Joburg, as we had a busy week ahead to prepare for, but the option to spend part of the day at Sun City was pretty tempting too, might I add. Bakubung is certainly a great spot for two night, or even a week, depending on your requirements, and is far enough out of Johannesburg to give you that feeling of total escape from the city.

Find out more about Bakubung and their offerings here…