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The arrival courtyard at Mabula Game Lodge at dusk, with lit walkways, a central fire pit and thatched buildings among large trees

Mabula · Family safaris

Mabula Game Lodge

A large family safari lodge in the malaria-free Waterberg, with horse rides, quad bikes and balloon flights alongside the game drives.

FromR5 576pp / night sharing

The lodge

Ninety thatched rooms and suites in a malaria-free Big Five reserve, about two hours' drive from Johannesburg.

Mabula Game Lodge has hosted safari guests for more than thirty years. It stands inside the Mabula Private Game Reserve in the Waterberg, a malaria-free Big Five reserve about two hours' drive from Johannesburg, and has ninety thatched rooms and suites, a spa, a pool and padel courts.

The rate covers three meals and two game drives a day. Children of every age are welcome, and under-sixes stay free when sharing with two adults. Horseback and quad-bike safaris, guided walks, night drives and hot-air balloon flights can be added at a charge.

Highlights

  • Malaria-free Big Five game viewing, about two hours from Johannesburg
  • Children of all ages welcome; under-sixes stay free with two adults
  • Horseback, quad-bike and hot-air balloon safaris
  • A spa, a swimming pool and padel and pickleball courts

In pictures

A look inside

Your stay

Where you sleep, how you spend the days

Accommodation

  • Superior rooms, some with a sleeper couch for two children under 12
  • Three suites with a lounge, a king bed and a sleeper couch
  • Air conditioning, television, a mini fridge and tea and coffee in every room
  • One wheelchair-accessible superior room and three pairs of inter-leading rooms

Activities

  • Morning and afternoon game drives in open vehicles
  • Night drives and star gazing on four nights a week, at extra cost
  • Guided walks on weekdays for ages 16 and up, at extra cost
  • Horseback and quad-bike safaris from age 5, at extra cost
  • Hot-air balloon flights, booked with the reservation, for at least eight passengers
  • The Ground Hornbill experience on Wednesday mornings

The fine print

What your rate covers

Included

  • Three meals a day
  • Two game drives a day
  • Wi-Fi

Not included

  • All drinks
  • Transfers
  • Conservation fee: R220 per adult and R110 per child per stay, under 5 free
  • Spa treatments and optional activities

Good to know

  • Rooms are priced by type in 2026: R5 576 per person sharing for a superior room, R7 389 for a suite
  • Children 6 to 11 pay half the adult rate when sharing with two adults; from 12 they pay the adult rate in their own room
  • Children under 6 join family game drives at management's discretion

Getting there

Finding your way to the bush

Routes and transfers

  • 212 km from Johannesburg, about two hours by road via the N1 and Bela-Bela
  • Road transfers from OR Tambo can be arranged at extra cost
  • The lodge has its own 1 300 m dirt and grass landing strip

Every stay is arranged around you. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will confirm availability and shape the rest.

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Tell us when you would like to stay

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