Imagine snuggling up to your partner by the fire, surrounded by Bushveld sounds ─ crickets practising their acapella ensemble, the drumming out of the fiery-necked nightjar’s “good Lord deliver us”, and the successive yelps of the black-backed jackal. 

Here, in your own, private piece of nature, you and your loved one can win back some of the equilibrium we’ve all lost during this crazy year. To make your Bushveld escape a reality, LekkeSlaap has compiled a list of secluded bush stays, perfect for a couple, that will have you dreaming of your future stay in just a few scrolls. 

The Pod 1 @ Thaba eNtle

Thabazimbi

The Pod 1 @ Thaba eNtle is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway. Nestled in the tranquil hills of the bushveld in Thabazimbi, this unique accommodation offers an intimate and peaceful setting for couples seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. The luxurious and modern wooden container home is designed to provide a romantic atmosphere, with a comfortable queen-size bed, a private deck with a wood-burning hot tub and braai area, and stunning views of the surrounding countryside. 

Available facilities and activities: self-catering facilities, swimming pool, braai facilities, daily cleaning service, guided game drives as an extra, bird-watching, mountain biking, cycling, walking trails

Please note: There is a short gravel road leading to the property. Pre-ordered food boxes and picnic baskets are available. There are e-bikes for hire and you can book a game drive with sundowners at an extra cost. 

Click here to view the rates.

Syringa Sands Mountain Cottage

Waterberg

A dazzling view from up high and complete privacy await at this one-bedroom, self-catering cottage on a game farm on Rankin Pass. You can only reach it by foot, 4×4 or pre-arranged drop-off which ensures you’ll have the place all to yourselves! Does an outdoor shower and the romance of oil lamps sound good? Well, then this solar-powered, rainwater-fed cottage is the perfect place for you. 

Available facilities and activities: braai facilities, basic self-catering facilities, bird-watching, game viewing, a five-kilometre hiking route to Rankin’s Beacon or a nine-kilometre route down the mountain to the large dam 

Please note: The cottage can only be reached by foot, 4×4 or pre-arranged drop-off. There is no cellphone signal. There is only an outdoor shower. Solar power operated. 

Click here to view the rates.

Letlapa Pula Game Farm Stone House

Waterberg

Just 154 kilometres from Pretoria’s city centre, this stone house is the ultimate Bushveld escape for two. It boasts one bedroom with air-conditioning and is fully equipped for a self-catering stay. The lounge has a large fireplace and opens onto a deck with braai facilities, a swimming pool and a view to die for. Though very secluded, the house can be reached with any vehicle. 

Available facilities and activities: braai facilities, self-catering facilities, swimming pool, fireplace, free Wi-Fi, guided game drives, game viewing, guided walks, mountain biking trails

Please note: Though very secluded, the house can be reached with any vehicle. There is no TV in the unit. 

Click here to view the rates.

Syringa Sands Forest Cottage

Waterberg

The drive to this Bushveld stay’s gate is a trip to look forward to in and of itself! Forty kilometres of gravel roads with game farms on either side will get you to this cottage on the malaria-free Kransberg Plateau. The two-bedroom cottage is fully equipped for a self-catering getaway and the lounge boasts a large fireplace and two day beds if extra guests are keen to come along. Enjoy a braai with the sunset as company and keep an eye out for free-roaming game and a wealth of birdlife. 

Available facilities and activities: braai facilities, self-catering facilities, mountain-biking trails, guided game drives by arrangement, game viewing, bird-watching, bass fishing

Please note: Pets allowed by arrangement. No cellphone reception. Guests need to bring firewood or briquettes and drinking water along. A high-clearance vehicle is needed to reach the cottage. 

Click here to view the rates.

The Hidden Valley

Hoedspruit

The Hidden Valley in Hoedspruit is a relaxing getaway for couples looking to escape to the Bushveld. Situated on the banks of the Blyde River, this farm offers breathtaking views and an intimate atmosphere in a wilderness estate. Each wooden cabin is beautifully designed with a private, covered stoep with a kitchen and dining area from where you can enjoy the view. You also have access to braai facilities. Make the most of the river location by enjoying activities such as swimming, tubing and fishing. 

Available facilities and activities: braai facilities, free Wi-Fi, service on demand, fly fishing, bass fishing, cycling, guided walks, bird-watching, game viewing

Please note: The cabins are accessed via stairs and the property is reached by a gravel road. 

Click here to view the rates.

Moonriver Mountain Retreat

Waterberg

Bring your loved one for a stay in a secluded valley in the Waterberg Plateau near Vaalwater, where rare plant and animal species, some on the IUCN Red List, have made a home for themselves. Accommodation is available in two private chalets and a three-bedroom house, so you have your pick of secluded styles and would be able to bring the whole family or stick to a romantic getaway. Each unit is equipped for a self-catering stay and has glass frontage to offer a beautiful sunset view. 

Available facilities and activities: braai facilities, self-catering facilities, swimming pool, mountain-biking trails, bird-watching, stargazing

Please note: Guests need to bring firewood or briquettes and ice along. 

Click here to view the rates.

Bushveld Bivouac Dragon Rock

Hoedspruit

This luxury, off-the-grid bush camp is calling your name! Bushveld Bivouac Dragon Rock is located on a 300-hectare farm four kilometres from Mica, Hoedspruit. The camp is elevated to maximise your breathtaking view of the bush and boasts a plunge pool, sun loungers and a fire pit. You have access to a private kitchen tent with all the facilities you need for a comfortable self-catering stay and there is also a dining area where you can enjoy your meals while taking in the natural surroundings. 

Available facilities and activities: plunge pool, braai facilities, self-catering facilities, free Wi-Fi, bird-watching, game drives, guided walks, mountain biking

Please note: Bath towels are provided, you must bring your own swimming towels. 

Click here to view the rates.

Griffons Bush Camp

Waterberg

This bush camp is hidden in an amphitheatre in the Waterberg’s Marakele National Park. There are four rustic rock chalets to choose from, some with wooden decks, which share a basic outdoor kitchen, but have their own ablution facilities. The camp is located among fig and haakdoring trees and guests can join a group on a walking route and take a dip in mountain streams along the way.  

Available facilities and activities: braai facilities, communal self-catering facilities, airport transfers on request, daily cleaning service, game viewing, Big Five, game drives, guided walks on request at extra cost

Please note: Guests share a communal kitchen. Griffons Bush Camp is a self-catering bush camp, and not a luxury game lodge. A high-clearance vehicle is needed to reach the establishment.

Click here to view the rates.

Mamagalie Lodge

Mooinooi

This secluded lodge in the mountainous Magaliesburg is less than a hundred kilometres from Johannesburg and Pretoria. Mamagalie offers six self-catering units of which Forest Lodge, Serenity Lodge, River Lodge and Tranquility Lodge are secluded two-sleepers, perfect for a romantic escape. Some of the units are built to flow into the natural landscape and are hidden among fig and maple trees. Some units have spa baths, others have Jacuzzis and outdoor showers or are close to private rock pools, but all guests have access to the hiking trails on the premises, some of which wind all the way to mountain streams where game comes to quench their thirst. 

Available facilities and activities: braai facilities, Jacuzzis, self-catering facilities, cleaning service available on request, personal safe, bird-watching, cycling, mountain-biking trails, swimming in rock pools, game viewing 

Please note: No sound systems allowed. No single-night bookings. Gravel road leading to the establishment. 

Click here to view the rates.

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Pick, click and look forward to your next romantic adventure. It’s as easy as that!

Cover image: Letlapa Pula Game Farm Stone House on LekkeSlaap.co.za

This article has been updated by Daniëlle Terblanche in 2023.