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Situated in the 12,000 hectare Mabula Private Game Reserve that boasts the Big Five and over 300 bird species, Kingfisher Villa is ideally located in the heart of the area, complete with a private dam.
A family affair
Recent studies indicate that 33% to 40% of leisure travel is, in fact, inter-generational, with South Africa listed as a much-favoured destination. As the Baby Boomer generation retires and is desirous of exploring the world around them, they’ve found unlikely travel partners in their millennial family members. Marry the two groups’ shared love of experiential travel and the driving force behind the inter-generational travel trend becomes more apparent.
A critical factor in determining the ideal destination for such groups is the ability to provide for a broad range of needs, offering a little something for everyone.
The same thinking can be applied to small-group travellers, where a more bespoke offering is sought that can be tailored to suit the unique needs of a particular group. These small groups could see friends taking time out together, perhaps couples on safari or families celebrating a milestone event.
Your slice of the bush on your terms
Kingfisher Villa offers a sense of sophistication in the heart of the Waterberg Mountain Range of Limpopo, just two and a half hours from Joburg. This exclusive bush getaway consists of five luxuriously appointed suites decorated by award-winning designer Esley Georgiou, who has interpreted the African bush in the warm, neutral hues used throughout the villa. Textured wood and elegant decor pieces allow statement artworks and focal points to come alive in the extensive public areas, complemented by natural light from the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows.
A concierge-style service ensures guests are able to design their bush experience according to their needs. Plan your game-viewing schedule with input from your personal field guide who, armed with the latest sightings of the day, is able to spirit you into the heart of the action in the villa’s dedicated game-viewing vehicle. Late-afternoon game drives end with sundowners as stories of sightings of giraffe, rhino and lion are shared amongst friends, with the flicker of the paraffin lamp adding drama to the tales.
Back at the villa, pre-dinner drinks are enjoyed at the boma on the edge of the villa’s private Mvubu Dam, the roaring bonfire and old-school wooden camping chairs welcoming intrepid explorers. A rustle in the bush may have some concerned as to its source, but it soon turns out to be your butler, inviting guests to the dinner table. The Kingfisher Villa experience includes a private chef to ensure guests maximise their downtime enjoyment.
Leisure time at the villa is spent soaking up the pristine bushveld from the deck overlooking Mvubu Dam. A rim-flow pool ensures you can cool down during the heat of the day before returning to your oversized hanging daybed for continued relaxation. The joy of such a bespoke destination is that you set the pace – from meal times to the number and length of game drives per day.
Out and about
Kingfisher Villa’s nearby sister camp offers a variety of activities for those with itchy feet, including tennis courts, a kids’ wild zone, eco-adventure safaris on quad bikes and guided bush walks. Booking is essential and subject to availability, so be sure to enquire about these activities when you arrive. For those seeking a safari with a difference, horseback viewing options are available, as well as conservation experiences, which could see you up close and collaring a rhino, lion, wild dog or cheetah.
Naturally, a timeout would not be complete without a spa treatment. The Kingfisher Villa team are on hand to arrange an array of private in-room treatments from the nearby Mabula Spa.
Kingfisher Villa offers a quintessential, modern-day safari experience with exclusivity and privacy. This luxurious hideaway on Mabula Private Game Reserve provides activities to suit most needs, balanced by the ability of guests to arrange private time alone if so desired, making inter-generational and small-group travel a true win-win for all.
The Villa can be contacted via their website www.kingfishervilla.co.za or by calling +27 14 734 7000. Reservations can be made by calling +27 11 516 4367, by emailing res@kingfishervilla.co.za or directly via the website.
