A stay at Ekhaya Bush Villa puts you in the pound seats when it comes to experiencing what it’s like to live in the African bush… Located on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate in the heart of the thriving, vibrant little bushveld town of Hoedspruit, just five hours from Johannesburg by car (or a short, 40 minute flight with Airlink from OR Tambo International Airport to Eastgate airport), Ekhaya is surrounded by pristine wilderness that’s home to a rich diversity of wildlife.

At 700ha in size, the estate has allocated a good deal of its land to nature, with a vast wilderness area at its heart criss-crossed by hiking and mountain biking trails and game drive routes.

With three large dams -that each have their own lookout hides, as well as many other singular hides strewn across the green belt – and incredible views of the northern section of the Drakensberg escarpment.

In the estate you will see warthog, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, duiker, waterbuck and impala, as well as the occasional jackal and hyena and, if you are extremely lucky, even a leopard!

From mongoose of all descriptions (we have banded, dwarf and slender mongoose in abundance) to genets, civets and African wild cats, as well as honey badgers and the aforementioned hyena and leopard, there are carnivores aplenty on the estate.

The birdlife is off the charts with more than 170 species recorded including birds of prey like the African fish eagle, white-backed vulture, martial eagle, Bateleur and Wahlberg’s eagle to Lowveld staples like the red and yellow-billed hornbill, black-headed oriole, orange-breasted bush shrike, lilac-breasted roller and blue waxbill!

The even better news is that this amazing environment is free for you to enjoy during your stay, especially on foot, with well-marked trails available for those who would like to explore it in depth. Walking on the estate is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in nature and you can choose to do it under your own steam or we can arrange a knowledgeable guide if you prefer.

Take a backpack and lots of water, a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and your camera and spend as much or as little time out there as you prefer… In the warmer months it’s always better to walk in the early morning before the heat of the day kicks in. Alternatively, if you are self-driving, take your car and stop at one of the dams for a picnic and enjoy a moment observing the wildlife at close quarters.

So remember to bring a pair of good walking shoes and we hope to see you soon!

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Originally Posted : Sep 29, 2020