There’s something to be said for a safari lodge that is 100 percent family owned and run. The African bush is in the blood, hearts and souls of the Notten’s clan who pride themselves on paying personal attention to making your safari experience everything that you would hope it to be and more. Small and exclusive with 8 private chalet-style suites, the decor and facilities at Nottens Bush Camp’s are extremely comfortable and well appointed without falling into the trap of feeling like an urban hotel in the bush. The genuine warmth and hospitality of the owner’s and their staff translates into charming details that enhance the authenticity of your safari experience here: for example, ceiling fans do the job of keeping the suites cool rather than eco-unfriendly air conditioners.
Also conjuring up the nostalgic spirit of safaris from days gone by is the absence of electricity in the Nottens Bush Camp suites, with candles and lanterns providing light so as not to compete with the stars.
Guests congregate in an open-plan lounge and on the deck overlooking a watering hole, the bar and wine cellar, communal pool and, at night, in the boma for delicious three-course meals infused with traditional flavours.
A spa treatment preceding a late-afternoon high tea/lunch is a wonderful way to indulge yourself at Nottens Bush Camp. The main event is, of course, the game viewing. Twice-daily bush drives by experience rangers and optional walking safaris deliver a million Kodak moments. A cultural tour can also be arranged to a local Shangaan village.
Nottens Bush Camp stands out as one of South Africa’s most authentic safari lodges where things have been kept simple so as not to detract from the profound backdrop provided by Mother Nature.
