The exclusive Ulusaba Private Game Reserve is Sir Richard Branson's safari lodge located in the Western sector of the Big Five Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve in South Africa. Guests can taste the spoils of Africa in peace and tranquillity and book individual rooms or exclusively hire individual lodges.
Ulusaba, meaning 'Place of Little Fear' strikes the perfect balance between nature and nurture - as well as being an excellent place to observe the 'Big Five', it is also an ideal place to kick back and unwind. Ulusaba re-defines the rules of a safari lodge and taken a step away from the traditional colonial style by offering swimming pools, gymnasiums, a wine cellar, Aroma Boma spas with panoramic views, a Bush Observatory perfect for star gazing and tennis courts.
With all of these facilities, you really need to plan your days so you can enjoy safari walks, moon-lit bush dinners and of course, the twice daily game drives.
Guests can share their time between the two lodges - Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge which offer two unique experiences to your holiday as many guests choose to split their time between the two. Rock Lodge is perched high on the summit of a koppie and provides panoramic views over miles of bush, the wildlife roaming within and the beauty of the lowveld below.
The luxurious Safari Lodge at the Ulusaba Game Reserve is built along the banks of the dry Mabrak river- bed, where guests will love the sense of adventure as they cross the swing bridges between exquisite tree house rooms while elephants, bushbuck, lion and other local wildlife pass by.
Children of any age are welcome at Ulusaba's Rock Lodge but must be 12 or above to stay at the Safari Lodge. Younger pride members of the family can visit the Cub's Club, which runs a fun daily programme of activities aiming to both entertain and educate cubs about their surroundings.
With unique sights, sounds and smells of Africa on your doorstep in the kind of style and luxury you'd expect from a five star boutique hotel, Ulusaba is perfect place for all age groups and for any occasion to experience a safari.
Things to do at the Ulusaba Game Reserve
All about relaxation
The Aroma Boma Spa at the Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge at Ulusaba offers a fabulous range of treatments to help you relax and unwind after the excitement of game drive.
Guinot Treatments offered at the health and beauty spa at Ulusaba include a liftosome facial uses a high concentration of vitamin C and proteins to strengthen elasticity and firmness whilst stimulating cellular regeneration. Our resident beauticians also offer aromatherapy massages, manicures, pedicures and waxing. Price list available on request
'Nose and swirl' around a few reds and whites
There is a Wine Cellar at Ulusaba's Safari Lodge with an outdoor dining area for up to six guests, great for private dining. The wine cellar overlooks the waterhole with views on the dry riverbed and surrounding bush. Guests from Rock Lodge are welcome to use the Wine Cellar at Safari Lodge.
Seeing the stars
Guests can now enjoy a star gazing evening as part of their game viewing experience at our new Observatory tucked away in the bush.
Shopping
The Curio Shop at Ulusaba is filled with a selection of arts crafts, small gifts and clothing ranging from caps, shirts, beanies and gloves at Safari lodge. It's perfect for gift ideas for your friends, family or even yourself and has all the bits and pieces you may need when on holiday.
Tennis in the bush
Fancy a spot of tennis! Ulusaba features two floodlit tennis courts for you to play on during your stay. Don't worry about tennis rackets, tennis balls, we have everything you need including a fully stocked bar! No additional charge.
Walking in the Bush
The daily walk usually commences after breakfast. This is a fascinating activity as it allows you to observe the smaller animals that you would usually not see while out on drive. The knowledgeable Rangers and Trackers will enthrall you with stories about the medicinal properties of plants, local beliefs regarding the wildlife and fascinating facts regarding the animals. No additional charge.
Working out
There is a gymnasium situated at both Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge, which is available for guests to use 24 hours a day. No additional charge.
Excursions: Helicopter trips: Cascades and Canyons Spectacular
This is an exhilarating flight that swoops over deep and mysterious gorges, through lush valleys bursting with vegetation and colour. You will linger above cascading waterfalls, allowing for spectacular photo- graphic opportunities. The flight will continue along the escarpment to God's Window, which offers awesome panoramic views of the bushveld below and on to the fascinating and dramatic rock formations of the 1000-metre-deep, 30-kilometre-long Blyde River Canyon, (the third deepest and greenest Canyon in the World). You will have a bird's eye view of the curious Three Rondavels! You will then land at a sight with magnificent views of Mpumalanga Lowveld, where you are invited to enjoy a delicious picnic.
Children at the Ulusaba Game Reserve
an infant: a guest aged 5 years old and under
a child: a guest aged 6 to 11 years old
an adult: a guest aged 12 years and over
• Children of all ages are very welcome at the Rock Lodge however children and infants cannot be accom-
modated at the Safari Lodge.
• Children are welcome to participate in game drives but unfortunately are not able to participate in Safari
Walks.
• Infants are not able to participate in the regular game viewing schedule however they do operate a Kids
Programme at Rock Lodge complete with an Ulusaba Activity Book, games, books and lots more.
• Baby-sitting is available at no extra cost.
• As with any guest, special food and beverage requests can be accommodated, however the lodge will
need advance notice. Simple snacks and light meals for children such as sandwiches can be prepared at
the lodge on request.
• In some rooms the Lodge can accommodate children on rollaway or fold out beds. In these cases where
adults are paying double or triple rates, extra children will be accommodated at an additional charge per
child, per night. Occasionally due to restrictions on the number of guests and vehicles allowed in the Sabi
Sand Reserve, the Lodge may not be able to accommodate extra children in rooms.
Cubs of all ages are welcome at Ulusaba's Rock Lodge and will be invited to take part in the Ulusaba Cub's Club. Because the Rock Lodge at Ulusaba is small and intimate, and because the staff at the Lodge knows each cub is different, they do not operate a set programme, rather they have a set welcome pack then a range of great activities that are available on request.
On arrival at Ulusaba all cubs will be given a Cub's Club Backpack which contains lots of little goodies to help keep them entertained and to help to educate them about the African Bush. In every cub's room there will be a special welcome letter and a list of phone numbers they can dial from their room so it is easy for them to get hold other members of their pride, along with Ulusaba staff. Also for their safety, we have security guards on duty all night that will pay particular attention to rooms occupied by cubs. Other Cub's Club features include...
• A welcome treasure hunt to help familiarise themselves with their surroundings
• Story books in the Lounge. These include old favourites and ones with an African or animal theme.
• Educational books in the Lounge that help them get the most out of their experience in Africa.
• A great range of new and classic children's DVDs and videos that they can watch in the lounge, along
with music CDs.
• We have lots of games up our sleeve and we always try to combine entertainment with some education.
• Your ranger will be more than happy to spend time with your cubs to tell them all about the bush and the
animals they see.
• We regret that very young cubs (under 6 years) cannot participate in our regular game viewing
programme and due to safety, cubs are not able to participate in Safari Walks, but short excursions can be
arranged around the Rock Lodge at Ulusaba to spot birds, insects, lizards and so on.
• The staff at Ulusaba can arrange bedtime story telling in the Lounge complete with milk and cookies, or
whatever normally helps get your cubs ready for bed!
• On departure, all cubs will be invited to become permanent members of Ulusaba Cub's Club and will
receive a bi-annual newsletter and a birthday card.
In addition to this the Lodge can also arrange Cub's Cuisine if you wish, such as pizza, toasties, pasta etc. and a babysitting service is available at no extra charge, however please be aware that off-duty staff who have experience with children are used for this. Due to our location the Lodges does not have professional child carers available, but with advance notice this could be arranged at an extra cost.
If guests have a rather large pride with lots of cubs the Lodge can arrange a set programme provided advance notice is given - just let us know the ages and interests of the cubs concerned, and we'll come up with something to keep them entertained.
Culture, Wildlife and Scenic Tours
Breeding Project Tour
This tour features the Cheetah and Endangered Wildlife Breeding Project, and the Blyde River Canyon, where the escarpment rears 1900 metres above the lowveld. They include a visit to the Swadini dam and museum. A wonderful tour, featuring exquisite natural beauty and some of the excellent conservation work-taking place in the area. Prices available upon request.
Canyon's, Cultures and Contrasts - Panorama Discoverer
A day on the famed "Panorama route" along the Drakensberg Escarpment. This tour features the Blyde River Canyon, Gods Window and Bourkes Luck Potholes. This day is steeped in exquisite beauty and the history of the regions hardy pioneers. The old wagon trail can still be seen on the Abel Erasmus Pass. Prices available upon request.
Community Tour
The community tour takes place outside the reserve in the local village. This tour offers a fascinating insight into modern Shangaan lifestyle. You will be welcomed into a pre-primary school where the children will delight you with their songs. You can also expect to see some traditional singing and dancing as well as being welcomed into a traditional home where you will see corn being ground and be given a chance to taste traditional foods.
Please note that all trips are weather permitting and excursions should be pre-booked to avoid disappointment. All prices are subject to change.
Click here to view Ulusaba Game Reserve
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