Lodging · Kruger National Park
Exclusive-use riverfront bush lodge for self-sufficient groups
Overview
Roodewal Bush Lodge is Kruger’s take on a private, off-grid bush stay: your group gets the whole place to yourselves, set right above the Timbavati River. It’s quiet, wild, and designed for self-sufficient travelers who value privacy over resort frills.
Map
Local know-how
Check in at Satara and stock up on supplies at Satara or Olifants before driving to the lodge.
Bring headlamps and power banks; there are no plug points and lighting is limited.
Pre-book guided drives or bush walks through Satara if you want ranger-led activities.
Pack strong insect repellent and consider malaria prophylaxis in summer.
Plan self-drives for early morning and late afternoon when wildlife is most active.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Kruger Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Kruger National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Kruger audio tourRecorded for this place
Roodewal: An Exclusive Off-Grid Lodge“You're driving near the turnoff for Roodewal Bush Lodge. This isn't a public rest camp, but an exclusive one where a single group books the entire place.”
Plays as you drive up to Roodewal Bush Lodge in the Parkwolf Kruger Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
You’ll find Roodewal about 44 km north of Satara and roughly 28–30 km south of Olifants, perched above the seasonal Timbavati River. Capacity is 18 guests, and it’s an exclusive-use lodge—no day visitors. Accommodation is spread across separate cottages, plus a communal kitchen and dining area that seats the whole group. Exact room layouts vary slightly between sources (some mention lofts, others all en-suite), so confirm bed/bath configuration when you book.
This is an off-grid setup: solar runs lights and ceiling fans; gas handles hot water and cooking. There are no plug points in units for appliances like hairdryers or kettles. There’s no shop, restaurant, ATM, fuel, or reception on site—and no cell phone signal—so plan to check in at Satara and stock up at Satara or Olifants before heading in. Braai facilities and a proper communal kitchen make self-catering straightforward. A generator may be used for lighting at night.
The river draws life. Expect classic central Kruger game—elephants and lions are the headliners—with rewarding birding (martial eagle, night heron/egret) and nyala in the thickets. The lodge’s signature is a stilted viewing deck over the Timbavati: bring binoculars and let the sightings come to you between drives.
Roodewal itself doesn’t run activities. If you want guided game drives or bush walks, arrange them through Satara (subject to availability). Otherwise, this is perfect for self-drive safaris—head out at gate times, focus on early and late light, and use the heat of the day to enjoy the deck.
Wildlife
1,312 sightingsLionMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
727 sightingsLeopardMost seen around 5 AMSighting map
2,403 sightingsElephantMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
425 sightingsWhite RhinocerosMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
547 sightingsBuffaloMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
502 sightingsWild DogMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Kruger. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Parkwolf’s Kruger ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
