Location: South Africa » Mpumalanga » South Kruger » HoedspruitToro Yaka Bush LodgeToro Yaka Bush LodgeDescriptionSet apart from others by its seclusion, intimacy and privacy, Toro Yaka allows nature lovers to experience wildlife at close proximity.
The lodge has been designed for true bush elegance, and combines personal service and closeness to nature. The six air-conditioned, private en-suite double rooms ensure tranquillity and comfort at all times. The cuisine is a fusion of European and traditional African, prepared mostly outdoors over an open fire.
Animals can be viewed at the drinking holes from the deck, and there is an abundance of bird life and tree species. Game drives and game walks, accompanied by professional field guides, afford every opportunity to see the Big Five and other fauna. The Olifants River, which flow all year-round through Balule, is home to crocodiles and hippos. This is also an area of great scenic splendour, with the northern Drakensberg mountain range being visible from most points.
The lodge is only an hours drive from two of the main gates to the Kruger National Park. Other attractions in the area include a wildlife rehabilitation centre, a cheetah project, the famous Timbavati white lions and the Hans Merensky golf club. | Steve & Nicole got married on January the 14th under a Weeping Boer bean in the dry river bed of the Great Hlararalumi River. With 12 close family & friends as witnesses, a troop of Baboons in the surrounding trees and elephants in earshot, they said their “I Do’s” and started on a new chapter of their lives together. This could not have been a more perfect wedding for these two bush babies. | | | Steve was born in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia). Because of the war, his family moved to Johannesburg when he was six and to his total disgust, that is where he grew up. From a very early age, he decided he was going to be a “Game Ranger”, and although there were a few obstacles to over come, nothing stood in his way. He was in the bush for his 21st birthday and every one since then. As a young man, armed with loads of enthusiasm, he started his career in the Pilanesberg National Park, working as a field guide at Bakabung. He is one of the early members of FGASA(field guide association of SA) and has his level 3, SKS tails guide qualification as well as SKS Birding. He has also worked with Africam on various projects (including, as a presenter on the program “Live and Wild” in 2000) and is passionate about conservation. | | | | Nicole’s life was very different. She was born in Pretoria, loved the city and made a good living working in the Complimentary health field. She is a qualified, reflexologist, massage therapist and kinesiologist. One day the opportunity to work at a Game lodge presented itself and after some thought she decided to give it a go. Her new life could not have been more different to her old, but Nicole fell in love with the bush and it did not take long before the seed was planted. She would own her own piece of African bush, from where she could practice her various therapies. | | | One and a half months after Nicole started working in the bush, Steve came to the lodge as a freelance guide, and that is how they their paths crossed. Together they worked in the Sabi Sands, Timbivati and the Kalahari. Their shared dream, of owning their own lodge was never far from their thoughts and 4 days after they got married they walked into Toro Yaka for the first time. They had seen the advert in the Africa Geographic and, since they were in the area.................!!!!!! It was love at first sight! Finally, after a couple more stumbling blocks, on 15 June 2006, their dream became a reality. Toro Yaka Bush Lodge (which means MY DREAM in Northern Sotho) was their platform from which they could live their dream and share their passion and love for the African bush with others. | | | Steve and Nicole’s ideas for Toro Yaka Bush Lodge, was to create a bush paradise where nature as a whole is the main attraction, and that incorporated aspects of 5 star lodges, but remained a more affordable bush escape, where you can find good food, great hospitality, unforgettable nature experiences and go home feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, with good memories and stories to tell. | | | The staff at Toro Yaka are always friendly and helpful. Pinkie has been there from the beginning. She is capable in many aspects of the running of the lodge and is developing her cooking skills. She is also in the process of getting her drivers licence. In August 2006 Vusi joined the Toro Yaka family. He started out as a general assistant and is busy undergoing training to be a guide. He has completed a birding course and a basic field guide course and is in the process of getting a drivers licence. Patience joined in 2007. She is responsible for the house keeping the house keeping. Mildred started helping as a temporary staff member in 2008. Wherever Mildred is needed is where you will find her. When needed Mpho or Sibusiso are brought in to help as general assistants on a temporary basis. | | | At Toro Yaka conservation and environmental responsibility is a priority. Eco-friendly products are used, recycling is common practice and food scarps are fed to earthworms or composted. Sound land management practices are implemented, with alien vegetation being removed and mattress packing is done to prevent soil erosion. Wherever possible local communities and industry is supported This special lodge is nestled in the heart of the Balule Nature Reserve, a 38 000 hectare conservancy, which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park biosphere. ToroYaka means “My Dream” in Northern Sotho, one of South Africa’s local languages, and the creation of Toro Yaka Bush Lodge has fulfilled the dreams of Steve and Nicole, by establishing a haven of peace and tranquillity from which to share their passion for nature. The lodge has been designed in a modern elegant style, with a relaxed atmosphere, allowing guests to sit back, relax and feel at home. The six en-suite double rooms ensure tranquillity and comfort at all times. Steve has spent more than a decade sharing his knowledge and love for the bush with clients from all over the world at luxury game lodges throughout South Africa. Nicole is a qualified holistic massage therapist and takes care of all the tiny details. Together with the Toro Yaka Staff, they will ensure your stay to be a memorable one. Balule is home to a large variety of plants and animals. From the smallest spider to the largest elephant, from the tiniest flower to a 1000 year old Leadwood tree, owls at night and eagles by day, every aspect of the ecosystem is explored. The Olifants River, which flows year round through the Balule, is home to hippos and crocodiles, and the whole area is one of scenic splendor, with the northern tip of the Drakensberg mountain range being visible from many points. Together with all of this, Toro Yaka Bush Lodge offers you good home cooked food, friendly service, warm South African Hospitality and loads of enthusiasm. |
  
AttractionsAll our bush activities are done by Steve, who is a professional SKS trails guide, qualified through FGASA (Field Guide Association of South Africa) and has been guiding for the last 14 years at lodges all over South Africa. - Morning bush walks offer a wonderful opportunity to see nature from a different perspective. Steve believes the only way to truly experience the pulse of the African bush is through your feet. Observe how mammals, insects, birds and reptiles, live and inter-act their roles, within the savannah ecosystem.
- The game drives, in an open 4x4 land rover, give you a good chance to see big game of all varieties. Balule has a very high number of Giraffe. These are exquisite animals to see and form a large part of the diet of our local lion pride. The games drives can be conducted either in the morning or late afternoon.
- Birding in the Balule Nature Reserve is very rewarding and Steve’s Balule Bird List to date is >250 species long. A large variety of birds are found in Toro Yaka’s garden, including sunbirds, kingfishers, owls, francolins, cuckoo’s and many more. The Region, with its diverse habitat of mountainous forest, riverine forest and bushveld savannah, hosts 80% of the country’s raptor species. All of the birding “Big 6” (Kori Bustard, Ground Hornbill, Lappet faced Vulture, Pels Fishing Owl, Martial Eagle and Saddle billed Stork) have been recorded here.
| | | Massage Treatments | | | Spoil yourself with a relaxing massage to round the day off. Nicole is a qualified therapist and has been doing massage work for over 10 years. |  | Massage treatments on offer include: - Aromatherapy
- Reflexology
- Shiatsu
- Swedish massage
- Indian Head massage
Nicole is also qualified in Kinesiology and The Reconnection (level 3). | | | Other Activities within the Kruger to Canyon Biosphere include | | | - The Kruger National Park
- Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre
- Khamai Reptile Park
- Hot Air Balloon flights.
- The Panorama Route.
- Horse Riding.
- White Water Rafting
- Boat trips on the Blyde Dam or the Olifants River
- Mafunyane Tribal Village
|
  
Facilities Toro Yaka is Owner managed by husband and wife team, Steve and Nicole, who will personally ensure your stay to be something to remember.
Six en-suite double or twin rooms equipped with overhead fans, air conditioners and mosquito nets. Beautiful English Colonial décor, all under thatch, ensures luxury but fitting accommodation.
Game viewing from your room or wooden deck in front of your room is an added bonus.
The pool deck, dining room and entertainment area all overlooks a waterhole to watch animals at your leisure. A spotlight gives you the opportunity to view animals at night. | The Lodge | | | The Main lodge has been designed to maximize interaction with nature. During winter the warthogs are regular visitors and most nights the bush babies can be seen. The communal area includes indoor and outdoor dining areas, indoor and outdoor lounge areas, and an honesty bar. The Boma offers an African dining experience around an open fire under a starlit sky whilst the 9m swimming pool is a refreshing relief from the summer heat. The gardens’ indigenous trees and flowers attract an abundance of bird species, and animals gathering at the waterhole can be viewed from the communal lodge area and pool deck. | | | | | | Accommodation | | All the rooms are air-conditioned, with ceiling fans, mosquito nets and private decks. The en-suite bathrooms have both inside and outside showers, double basins and separate toilets. They are spacious and comfortable and the insect screens ensure closeness with nature, whilst keeping the insects out. |
Special offers
DirectionsFrom Gauteng:
Follow the N4 towards Nelspruit. Take the Belfast off ramp and drive through Belfast, Dullstroom, Lydenberg and Origstad. Go over the Abel Erasmus Pass, through the Strydom Tunnel and on to Hoedspruit. Once in Hoedspruit, turn left at the 4 way stop onto the R40 towards Phalaborwa. Approximately 17km from the 4 way stop; turn right into the Olifants West gate entering into the Balule Nature Reserve. A reserve entrance fee is payable at the gate. Once inside, turn immediately left into Marula lane. The road runs along the fence for approx. 500m before it turns away from the fence to the right. Follow this road until a 4-way intersection is reached. Turn right onto Sable road and continue straight until the Toro Yaka sign on your right. The drive along the dirt road is approximately 7km and can be done in any car. We will be waiting at the lodge to meet you.
Ways to get here:
1. Flights are available through SA Express and SA Air Link to Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa and Nelspruit. The 2 closest airports are in Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa.
2. Transfers can be arranged through the lodge.
3. Self drive - This is a safe option, and the roads are well marked. Watch out for occasional potholes, but mostly the road is good. From JHB, the drive is 5-6 hours long, unless you decide to drive through the Blyde Canyon. Being the scenic route, it will take a little longer.
 
|
Toro Yaka Bush Lodge
+2782 3085763 
+2712 991 5984
+2782 3085763 