
REVIEW : OUR BUSH WEEKEND AT BAKUBUNG
What an awesome weekend away we had at the Bakubung Bush Lodge to celebrate our 5th Wedding Anniversary this past weekend. We arrived quite late on Friday evening, having only left literally after work. Our arrival was further delayed due to the lack of signage from the main road leading up to the lodge, or visible signage in the dark of the night.
From the moment we arrived the service and attention from the staff was amazing. Throughout the weekend I didn’t once feel rushed. Spacious rooms at the lodge, delicious meals. Just two hours out of Jozi, it was an amazing destination to completely switch off all the stress and enjoy some quality family time.
Now we have a gas braai … (don’t be judging us) … so for some reason, I had assumed our son had seen a real life fire before. Not! He was like a kid in a candy store when he saw the fire.
“DadE, look a fire!” So much enthusiasm in his voice. This is obviously something I take for granted and for some reason had assumed he knew what a real fire was like. It was super heartwarming to share this moment with him. He loved how warm it was, and that he could sit close by, taking every precaution not to burn himself and alerting me to the dangers of a fire.
The rooms at the lodge were super spacious for us three. Two queen-size beds, I’m thinking there was a bit of extra length there as we did not feel crowded. Plenty of space throughout the room, that we never felt overwhelmed by the lack of space. I am sure even if we were a family of two adults and two kids, it would have been fine. The windows open up as sliding doors out onto the lodge’s gardens. Although the rooms are close by to each other, the setup still felt like we had privacy and not intrusive.
There’s “Kiddies Club” on the premises. Although we were informed that they cater for kids from age 2, I actually believe that they cater for older kids from age 6 or if younger they attend with an older sibling.
The play area is small, I assume that this is because normally there aren’t plenty of families with kids.
As there were not many of us at the time in the area it didn’t feel crowded.
I also tried out the Bakubung Spa who is running a special at R790 for three treatments from a selection of about 5/6 treatments if can’t recall correctly. The location of the spa itself is on the side of one of the many hills surrounding the lodge. It’s a little bit of a mini cardio workout to the entrance but feels so refreshing and secluded once you get there.
I was met by Ruth who was my therapist for the afternoon. An amazing deep tissue back massage, followed by a feet massage and a pedicure to end the therapeutic afternoon in time for the rugby game between the Bokke and the Pumas aka the Argentians National Rugby team.
For our second dinner at the resort, hubby whisked us off to the Boma. A beautiful welcome to warm us up and a feast of delicious local and western cuisine awaited us. Bonfire going as well, allowing those seeking a little more warmth to sit and enjoy. On our way back to the lodge we got to see some rhinos in the dense darkness of the night. A true treat.
Sunday morning, we were back on the road for a morning full of wildlife to view. Although we did not get to see a lion, we managed to see elephants, cheetahs, plenty of buck, more rhinos, hippos, wildebeest, zebras, giraffes a true treat for us three during the game drive, with a 30 minute stop to stretch the legs and grab a smoke if you so inclined in a designated smoking area considering our surrounds.
A wonderful much-needed break from our reality.
Bakubung “People of the Hippo” are currently running a special on the accommodation, just in case, you want to experience it too. Luxury accommodation in the bush, superb!
Sounds so lovely. One needs a spoil once in a while.
Bakubung was stunning. We need to explore the beauty around us more.