Taking its name from Tswana for Aardvark, Thakadu Safaris is set on the beautiful and tranquil banks of the Mogol River which offers the perfect setting for the nature lover, a family affair, team building or corporate conference to relax and enjoy over 350 species of birdlife, botany and an abundance of African game.

Thakadu Safaris is located 47km north of Lephalale (Ellisras) on the ‘malaria free’ Mokolo Route, only 40km south of the Botswana border and a 3 hour drive from Pretoria.

The luxurious private game lodge forms part of the Thakadu Private Bushveld Estate with limited 1 hectare riverbank and bushveld stands within the 3300 hectare reserve.

Vegetation is typical sweet Limpopo bushveld with a wide variety of trees including the Marula, Red Bush Willow, Leadwood, Knob thorn, Camel thorn and many more.

A magnificent large Baobab tree, the historical Post Office of Lephalale, completes the tracking of trees and provides breeding area to a pair of eagles.

Main Lodge area:

The well planned architectural designed Main Lodge and Chalets are set on the river banks with thatched covered viewing decks overlooking the Mogol River with occasional hippo and crocodile.

The Main Lodge offers an air-conditioned open plan lounge area with leather sofas, a formal dining area, bar, snooker table, upstairs TV-room with DSTV, ladies and gents toilets, fully equipped kitchen, walk-in fridge, freezer and pantry.

A spacious wooden deck opens through enormous sliding doors of the Main Lodge and flows to the outdoor pool area.

A boma area set alongside the wooden deck provides all round seating to peacefully enjoy a braai and stargaze all night long.

Chalets and Open Air Chapel:

Thakadu Safaris Lodge has two luxury en-suite thatched chalets with each having a private thatched deck area overlooking the river.

Guests are welcome to make use of one or both, as well as the use of the Main Lodge facilities.

Chalet no. 1 has two air-conditioned separate en-suite bedrooms with each bedroom sleeping 2 person (sleeps total 4 persons).

Chalet no. 2 is a double storey facility with loft area for the children.

Chalet no. 2 has four air-conditioned separate en-suite bedrooms. The two ground floor bedrooms sleep 3 persons and the two 1st floor bedrooms sleeps 2 persons each (sleeps 10 persons excluding the loft for the children).

Both Chalets includes a daily cleaning service, all linen, a fully equipped kitchen and open air boma braai area with fire wood supplied for each day.

The two chalets are conveniently located on either side of the main lodge facility to ensure privacy, but also provide quests the opportunity to enjoy the main lodge pool and deck area.

An open air Chapel on the edge of the water provides a perfect setting for weddings or can be used for an open air thatched conference area (seating 8 persons).

Apart from the indoor facilities available within the Main Lodge, Thakadu Safaris offers a variety of outdoor facilities to be enjoyed under the African sun and stars.

The river banks allow fly-fishermen access to the more elusive fish, and the many trails and lookout spots give nature-lovers a chance to view game, small mammals as well as butterflies and other insects.

Many trees have been tagged and a check-list is available for tree, mammal and insect identification.

Birders will be thrilled by the carefully designed bird hides overlooking calm waterholes.

Wildlife
The 3300 ha private game reserve is home to various plains game species such as warthog, impala, bles buck, red hart beest, blue wilde beest, kudu, njala, eland, oryx, sable, giraffe, zebra, water buck, leopard, brown hyena, rooikat and several smaller animals of prey.

Thakadu Safaris is proud of our game breeding facility which includes prime game such as black impala, sable and buffalo.

Birding
With over 350 species of birds identified by birding societies, the game reserve is home to the following birds of prey such as the White- backed vulture, Lappet-faced vulture, Martial eagle, Brown Snake eagle, African Fish eagle and Baterleur.

A variety of activities are available to all guests including the following:

Game drives
Game drives are available twice daily and night drives on special requests.

Hiking
Enjoy a walk through our beautiful Bushveld environment.

Birding
We offer phenomenal birding with bird hides overlooking many waterholes to attract so many species in this area.

Vulture Restaurant
Enjoy watching the White-backed and Lappet-faced Vultures feed off carcasses at the Raptor Society endorsed “Vulture Restaurant”

Mountain Biking
Explore the bushveld on your own or take the main road up towards the Botswana border.

Fishing or Fly-fishing
Enjoy catch and release fishing from the banks of the Mogol River.

Clay pigeon Shooting & Archery
Practise your skills at our shooting range.

Shooting Range
A shooting range is available.

Trophy and biltong hunting can be booked on the well defined hunting area on prior notice.

Thakadu Safaris offers concession rights in the greater Northern Province and can arrange hunting of the Big 5 on special request. Excellent slaughter facilities and cold rooms form part of the hunting experience.