Ivory Wilderness River Rock Lodge — Hotel in Bushbuckridge

As a Travel & Safari Specialist for Africa, I had the pleasure of visiting this quaint and secluded property during a site inspection for potential clients. I only stayed one night, but that was more than enough to recognize the magic this place holds.

Location This lodge is tucked away in a beautifully remote corner of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, which shares open boundaries with the Kruger National Park. Wildlife moves freely between the two, yet Klaserie offers a quieter, more exclusive safari experience with fewer lodges and vehicles. The setting is raw and unspoiled, ideal for those seeking full immersion in nature.

Scenic Beauty and Privacy This area of the reserve feels quite distinct from the better-known regions of Kruger. It features rocky ridges, mixed woodlands, and elevated viewpoints. The environment is peaceful in a way that is hard to describe. The lodge's location deep within the reserve offers true privacy and silence. Given the rugged nature of the roads, I suggest booking a private transfer unless you’re an experienced safari traveler or local.

Lodge Setting Positioned along the year-round Klaserie River, the lodge has been thoughtfully designed to blend into its surroundings. There’s a pool, a comfortable sala, and a variety of lounge areas that invite rest between game drives. Meals are privately served at your own table and there are various settings throughout camp, allowing for a new view each time.

Accommodation The rondavel-style rooms are cozy and consistent in layout. Built in the traditional "cone-on-cylinder" African hut design, they include mosquito nets, air conditioning, dual sinks, showers, and bathtubs. While the rooms are well-appointed, most of your time will likely be spent out exploring the bush.

Guiding Experience My guide, Wynand, was exceptional. His calm, intentional energy brought a grounding presence to each drive. With nearly a decade of guiding experience, he demonstrated deep knowledge and respect for the bush. He shared thoughtful insights that extended well beyond standard safari facts. Even with my own background in guiding and years of time spent in the wilderness, I learned things that were new to me. Francois, the other guide at camp, also brings experience and expertise, although I did not go on drive with him personally.

Wildlife Sightings Despite being there for just 24 hours, the game viewing was outstanding. We saw a large herd of buffalo, including a solitary “dagga boy” enjoying a mud wallow. Elephants grazed near the river. A female leopard rested in a shaded drainage line. We also spotted several antelope species and an incredible variety of birdlife. For such a short visit, the sightings were truly impressive.

Bush Walk After breakfast, I joined a guided walk and found it to be one of the highlights of the stay. We focused on the subtle wonders of the bush—tracks, insects, and ecological patterns that you might miss from a vehicle. I especially enjoyed observing a golden orb spider up close and learning about a nearby termite mound. This property has an excellent reputation for walking safaris, so if that interests you, be sure to mention it when booking so the team can plan accordingly.

Hospitality The hospitality was warm, sincere, and personal. Danell, Prudence, and another kind woman whose name I can’t recall were all incredibly thoughtful and attentive. Although I arrived later than expected, the team ensured I was welcomed with a delicious lunch and great care.

Meals The food was hearty and satisfying. Each meal had a comforting, homestyle feel and highlighted traditional South African flavors. It was simple and nourishing—perfect for the setting.

Value for Money This is an excellent option for travelers who are a bit more adventurous and appreciate an authentic safari experience. The lodge offers meaningful comfort, genuine hospitality, and incredible value for what you receive. It is well suited to those looking for a more intimate and off-the-beaten-path escape.

With Gratitude, Katherine Kuntz Hope...

If you are looking for a safari experience that offers both 5 star luxury while exploring the untouched African bush then look no further than Ivory Wilderness. Craig, Warren, Joselyn, and their whole staff treated us like royalty from the moment we arrived at their camp until we left. ||The accommodation was absolutely stunning (the outdoor shower was a true highlight). But being able to fall asleep to the sounds on lions and hyenas calling in the night was just incredible. The main part of the lodge also deserves praise. The wide sprawling deck allows you to glaze out over the African Savanna while you sip on South African wine and truly just take it all in. Every day we could see impalas and water buck across the river living in their natural habitat. We had picture perfect weather during our stay so we used the pool every afternoon to cool down and relax before the evening game drive.||Everything we ate was delicious! The ladies that served and prepared our food could not have been any nicer or more accommodating. We were never hungry or thirsty during our stay. Every day we started off with muffins and fruit before our morning game drive. Then when we returned to camp late morning a hot breakfast of either a savory, sweet dish, (or both) was served. If we wanted a snack before lunch they brought out dried fruit, biltong, and nuts. Lunch was light but still filling and dinner was always a three course meal. If you are able to, I highly recommend you request a bush dinner. I wasn't sure what to expect but this experience exceeded all expectations. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to ruin how incredible this experience was but trust me you won't regret it.||4:30am might sound early to wake up while on vacation but you'll be so excited you'll forget how early it is. Plus there is something magical about driving around the African Savanna in an open air vehicle as sun is coming up. Craig and Warren we fantastic guides. I can't say enough great things about them. Their knowledge of all the wildlife was impressive. And they were just as excited to see and look for the animals as we were which made this experience that much better. We had the opportunity to do a few bush walks as well. I felt very comfortable out of the vehicle with them. It was obvious how important the safety of their guests as well as the safety of the animals was to them. ||Staying at Ivory Wilderness was like a dream. Thank you to the staff for their hospitality and for making our first safari experience...

Intimate lodge tucked into the Klaserie Private Game Reserve which is adjacent to Kruger National Park. If you’re looking for a luxury safari experience, you have found it. We spent 4 nights and 5 days here and went on 7 game drives and a bush walk. We saw all the big 5, and so much more.

Our guide Wienand, was very knowledgeable about the park, wildlife behavior, tracking, and so much more. We found out the this reserve has a strict number of safari vehicles allowed from each lodge, as well as a strict number of cars allowed on each sighting. This provides you the most peaceful setting while viewing game. We have been in other parks and had 25 cars around us at any given time 🤯

Equally as enjoyable as the game drives were the accommodations! Each rondavel is equipped with the most comfy beds, flush toilets and showers, a tub, and gorgeous tile floors. They kept the windows open and it allowed us to hear hyena, lion, and elephant all night long. The dining area is refreshed daily to move you from the patio to the deck overlooking the river, and had beautiful place settings each day!

We loved starting our day with pre drive coffee and muffins. The food, was not only delicious, but the presentation was incredible! I have celiac disease and was so blown away by their desire to recreate every meal for me gluten free!

The best part of the camp was their wonderful staff. Prudence and spweigh (sp) greeted us with the most beautiful smiles every time we saw them! Their attentional to detail is fantastic. Misty and Dannel oversaw everything and were wonderful to connect with throughout our stay! Misty’s smile will make your cheeks hurt, I think she and Prudence are in strong competition for the happiest people on earth.

We will absolutely be booking another trip back to Ivory Wilderness...