Royal Thonga Safari Lodge

Royal Thonga Safari Lodge is the culmination of a dream of the local Tembe community and private investors to create a natural paradise for visitors to this unique reserve. The lodge is architecturally designed to emulate the local Tonga building style, and each of the fourteen chalets is uniquely positioned to offer guests total privacy and luxurious comfort within a sand forest in Tembe Elephant Park.

Natural materials and timber give a warm organic ambience and invite the outdoors in; all rooms are appointed with quality furnishings, and bathrooms come complete with an indoor and private outdoor shower for those whom enjoy immersing themselves in their surroundings in rare solitude and perfect tranquillity.

A comfortable three and a half hour's drive from King Shaka International Airport, and on the doorstep of Southern Mozambique's decadent beaches, Tembe Elephant Park is renowned as a unique and unforgettable location, and one of the few remaining wilderness areas in Southern Africa. This Big 5 reserve, set in an area of sand forests, pans and wetlands in northern Thongaland, falls within a transition area between tropical and sub-tropical forms, and is therefore home to a great diversity of vegetation; with this diversity of habitats Tembe is home to a spectacular variety of animals and birds.

The eHlatini restaurant at Masizwane Lodge focuses on creating innovative and delicious meals by combining traditional European-style cuisine infused with a local twist, and avails of a fully stocked wine cellar offering fine South African wines.

The main lodge building houses the restaurant and a comfortable lounge area, where guests can sit back and enjoy a chilled glass of wine while watching birds flocking to the birdbath in front of the lounge deck, or just relax after a long day's activities. The restaurant serves al fresco lunches and set dinners, either seated in the restaurant or in the Boma area under a million African stars. Fine meals are prepared with fresh ingredients, and are often infused with local flavours to create unique and tantalizing dishes. The reception area avails of a fully stocked curio shop, displaying goods and handmade artefacts which are produced by the local communities.