Tshwene Lodge

Tshwene Lodge A luxury safari lodge from Rare Earth Retreats, situated in the heart of Welgevonden Game Reserve

Surrounded by magnificent rock outcrops, Tshwene Lodge is a secluded oasis in the rugged valley of the Taaibos River. The Chacma baboon, after which the lodge is named, calls late at night to alert of pending danger. Rich in bird life, Tshwene offers peace and tranquillity for those seeking to get away from it all. The five strategically located suites all offer exhilarating views of the valleys b

elow and the hills beyond. Nestled within a rock outcrop, Tshwene Lodge is intimate and peaceful. The main facilities include two lounges, pool, indoor and outdoor dining areas set on a huge wooden patio with magnificent views. All meals are prepared by our local chef for a delicious culinary experience.

Each and every guest that steps foot into Tshwene Lodge has a story to tell. And we love stories around these parts. Tha...
04/09/2026

Each and every guest that steps foot into Tshwene Lodge has a story to tell. And we love stories around these parts. 

That’s why we cherish our Sightings Book, located in the central lounge, where guests can read and record daily wildlife sightings from their game drives. Memories that can live on and be shared forever. 

“A novel idea I hadn’t encountered before; I felt like I went on a mini-safari as I read through the stories – even adding our own.”

What’s your story from a stay at our treetop escape?

📍 Tshwene Lodge just three hours from Joburg, perfect for a weekend escape in the Welgevonden Game Reserve game reserve.

📸 Jared Ruttenberg

Follow the lights (and your heart) to our romantic hideaway perched in the treetops of the lush Welgevonden Game Reserve...
03/09/2026

Follow the lights (and your heart) to our romantic hideaway perched in the treetops of the lush Welgevonden Game Reserve game reserve.

A secret gem is the honeymoon suite where you can enjoy your private whirlpool bath before a nightcap in front of the crackling fire, surrounded by beautiful views and tranquil sounds of the bush. 

*Only 3 hours from Johannesburg 🙂

📸 Claire Gunn Food & Restaurant

27/08/2026

When the staff’s greeting echoes through the lodge: ‘Tshwene Lodge is my home, sweet home.’ The camaraderie and joy here are unmatched. Thank you for making every guest feel like family! 💛

📹 James & Kirsty Hughes || Cabin Fever

📍Welgevonden Game Reserve

20/08/2026

The haunting wail of a black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) echoing across the Waterberg at dusk is pure bushveld magic. 

They might not have the sheer power of the apex predators, but they are easily some of the cleverest animals in the savanna. They mate for life, defend their territory as a fierce tag team and actively nurse injured partners back to health. 

They deliberately mark high points like termite mounds to make themselves look bigger to passing rivals. By marking those fertile termite mounds, they plant Jackalberry seeds in the absolute best soil to grow.

Small stature, incredible heart. 

🎥
game reserve

09/07/2026

Named after the original guardians of the valley 💛
Tshwene Lodge takes its name from the Setswana word for baboon, specifically honouring the Chacma baboons that inhabit the surrounding Taaibos River valley.

Famous for calling out late at night or in the early hours of the morning, their voices act as a natural alarm system, alerting the entire bushveld to potential danger. Watching them navigate the rugged canopy from the lodge deck is a daily reminder of whose home we are truly sharing.

Stay until the end to catch the magnificent silhouette of a valley resident watching the sunset.

📍Tshwene Lodge
Welgevonden Game Reserve Game Reserve

A tower of giraffes checking if the views from Tshwene Lodge are as good as everyone says. Spoiler alert: They’re unmatc...
26/06/2026

A tower of giraffes checking if the views from Tshwene Lodge are as good as everyone says.

Spoiler alert: They’re unmatched 🙂

We love them because even with those massive 11kg hearts, they still manage to be the gentlest giants in the Welgevonden Game Reserve Game Reserve.

📸 Claire Gunn Food & Restaurant

17/06/2026

You can’t buy happiness, but you can go on safari, watch a zebra drink water in the Welgevonden Game Reserve Game Reserve, and that’s close enough.

📍Tshwene Lodge
📹 Roaming Media

Slow safari, Tshwene style in the 37,000-hectare, malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve Game Reserve[The Tshwene “Rule:”...
11/06/2026

Slow safari, Tshwene style in the 37,000-hectare, malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve Game Reserve

[The Tshwene “Rule:”Wherever you are standing right now, at the spa, sitting down for lunch, or waking up in bed, you’re surrounded by magnificent treetop views.]

We could tell you all about the incredible food, the absolute bliss of our treatments, or the leisurely pace of a slow safari where time doesn’t exist... but we’ll let our guests do the talking:

“Tshwene Lodge is a hidden gem in the mountains... the view from our room was unbelievable. Waking up to the sounds of the birds and looking out over the valley was pure magic.”

“From the minute we arrived, the service was world-class. The food was absolutely delicious, beautifully presented, and served with a view that you just can’t get tired of.”

“An incredible, intimate lodge tucked into the cliffs. It feels totally secluded and romantic. The perfect place to slow down, enjoy a massage, and just breathe in the bush.”

P.S. Did we mention the views? 😉
P.P.S. 3-hour drive from Johannesburg

📸 Claire Gunn Food & Restaurant

A place of soulful happiness.” “I left a piece of my heart there.”Our guide Steve (everybody loves him) remembered what ...
02/06/2026

A place of soulful happiness.” “I left a piece of my heart there.”

Our guide Steve (everybody loves him) remembered what you hoped to see and stayed out until you saw it.

Sinah cooked every meal to perfection. The outside shower at golden hour. A massage Peet says might be the best of his life.

Guests from France, the UK, South Africa, and more, all leaving the same way. Counting down until their next stay.

Reading these, we remember exactly why this (romantic) treetop hideaway matters.

📍 Game Reserve 

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📹 .media

30/04/2026

They may look like they’re wearing armor, but rhinos are all heart 🦏💛

A rhino calf will stay by its mother’s side for up to three years. During that time, she’ll teach it everything, from where to find the best grazing spots, to how to navigate the thickets.

Fun fact: They are surprisingly quiet, light on their feet, and their closest living relatives aren’t elephants or hippos, but horses and zebras. We love it! 😅

🎥

📍Welgevonden Game Reserve

Address

Welgevonden Game Reserve
Vaalwater
0530

Telephone

+27115680384

Website

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