Rockfig Safari Lodge

The architect and interior designer of RockFig Safari Lodge is inspired by the Timbavati setting of this luxury South African safari lodge to create a relaxed ambience with indoor and outdoor guest spaces that segue into each other, and enable both communal and private moments suffused with an authentic bush feel.

Spending time in Timbavati is always a nourishing experience, and this is reflected in
the layout of the indoor guest areas at RockFig Safari Lodge, just as much as in the menus with their emphasis on locally grown ingredients.

The open-plan kitchen is a favourite with younger guests, who love to sit at the counter and watch their meals being prepared, while it’s hard to resist the pull of the fireplace in the lounge on a winter’s evening.

Subtle touches of opulence are throughout, including the dreamy chandelier that hangs over the impressive, 4m-long table, which is perfect for shared meals and safari stories. Many of the pieces of furniture in the lodge were commissioned from local artisans, while the colours take inspiration from the Rockfig tree and the area’s lovely lichen-spotted rocks.

A second, long dining table can be found outside, where you can feel the energy flowing in from the surrounding bush … a vibrancy which in turn is reciprocated by the warmth and hospitality of the RockFig Safari Lodge staff.

The undoubted outdoor centrepiece is the comfortable covered lounge with its arresting views, although the pool deck, overlooking the waterhole, is just as inviting. A dip into the pool perfectly symbolises the feeling of being immersed in the rhythms of Timbavati, while its surrounding loungers are responsible for a perfectly relaxed afternoon, perhaps punctuated by pizza from the outdoor oven.

The boma area becomes the focal point on starry nights, as the crackles of the firewood compete with the cackles of hyaenas and the hushed, happy whispers of guests. Stepping outside at RockFig brings you even closer to the bush, without ever feeling that you’ve left the comforts of your new home-from-home behind.

Suites

RockFig Safari Lodge features just six chalet-type suites, making it ideal for exclusive-use bookings for families or groups of friends.

The sense of place comes through strongly, with the colour palette in each room inspired by the purple and green hues of local birds and plants. Although guests are always conscious of where they are, no stone is left unturned in the quest for comfort and luxury, with each suite featuring both indoor and outdoor showers, a private verandah ideal for romantic candlelit dinners, a minibar and a bath.

Specially commissioned watercolour paintings add notes of cool beauty, and – as with every space in the lodge – the aim is always to delight the guests who’ll stay here. There’s a thoughtfulness to the decor, with the emphasis being on the guest experience – but also an unmissable sense that it’s the natural beauty of the Timbavati bushveld that’s the true hero.

Dining

If you have a taste for adventure, the lodge dining experience at RockFig Safari Lodge will more than whet your appetite. As with every moment in Timbavati, expect the unexpected, with fresh local ingredients, impeccable service and warm smiles all adding up to a menu worthy of the venue.

Spending time in the African bush both increases your appetite and sharpens your senses. So a Timbavati game drive or walking safari – or a good night’s sleep – is the perfect preparation for the lodge-dining experience at RockFig Safari Lodge.

Just as this luxury South African safari lodge blends seamlessly into its surroundings, the menu reflects the richness of the location, with locally sourced ingredients – think beef and game, maize (aka corn), tropical and citrus fruits and macadamia and other nuts – making a distinct contribution to the cuisine.

The flexibility that’s a hallmark of RockFig Safari Lodge activities carries over into the kitchen. So much so, in fact, that the long indoor and outdoor dining tables (perfect for telling tall tales) are just two of the places you could find yourself eating. Enjoy a romantic dinner in your room, toast to a special occasion on your private verandah, or mix it up on the guest deck or by the pool, both overlooking the waterhole.

If your family includes junior MasterChefs, they’ll love watching from the kitchen counter as their meal is prepared – or choosing ingredients for their own homemade pizza (now that takes some topping!).

Having one of the guides join you for lunch or dinner provides the opportunity to discuss the day’s sightings, and gain deeper insights into the wildlife behaviour you’ve witnessed. The five-star butler service is attentive without being intrusive, and unique safari touches serve to remind you that your taste buds are not playing tricks: you really are in the middle of the bush.

Luxurious yet leisurely, eating at RockFig Safari Lodge can be as formal or informal as you like. Tell us when and where, and our jovial team will be there with anything from kudu carpaccio to an ice-cream sandwich. We’ll also take any dietary requirements in our stride.

Buffet or à la carte, the almost all-inclusive offering (which excludes only the very high-end drinks you might choose for special celebrations) is a delicious blend of fine linen, beautiful glassware and easy living.

Safari

Set in the heart of Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, adjacent to the famous Kruger National Park, RockFig Safari Lodge is well situated for forays into the African wilds. Game drives let you cover some ground in the comfort of a vehicle, while walking safaris put you right on the ground, exploring the area under your own steam.

Whatever you prefer (and we suggest you try both), these exciting activities – and their inevitable wildlife sightings – are sure to get your blood pumping. They’ll also work up an appetite, which you can satiate with the feasts you’ll find at the bush breakfasts, as well as safari-style meals back at this luxury South African safari lodge.

Heading out on game drives from RockFig Safari Lodge gives guests the chance to get in tune with the Timbavati wilds, and see how the professional guides and trackers read the signs of the bush to anticipate the movements and behaviour of birds and animals for the best possible viewing and photographic opportunities.

The experience of being out on safari at RockFig Safari Lodge sees every detail taken care of so that guests can focus on soaking up the incredible atmosphere of the bush (or on getting that perfect safari shot!)

RockFig’s custom-built game viewers are fully equipped, carrying – among other things – blankets, binoculars, reference books and preferred refreshments for guests.

Every guest has a ‘window’ seat looking out onto Big Five territory; with just four guests per shared vehicle, there’s almost as much space on board as there is to explore beyond the lodge! This allows for easy access to camera equipment, plus the layers of clothing that can make winter mornings and evenings more comfortable.

Family groups get their own private vehicle, which means that there’s no age restrictions, plus later starts and earlier finishes can easily be arranged so that the safari day is not too long for younger wildlife enthusiasts.

Every game drive is conducted by an experienced guide behind the wheel and a local tracker perched up front, where he can best spot tracks and signs.

As well as the almost telepathic communication between these two professionals, vehicles throughout Timbavati are linked by radios so that the various guides can share special sightings with each other … and coordinate viewings so there’s never a crowd.

Guided walking safaris from RockFig Safari Lodge are a wonderful way to experience Timbavati on foot. Bring your walking shoes; the guides and trackers have everything else that’s required, not least their knowledge of spoor and plants (and a rifle to ensure your safety).

Spending time on the details of the ecosystem can be immensely rewarding, and surprising. Learn how every living creature, no matter how small, has its part to play in this intricate, interlinked web of life – complex enough to make a Swiss watch mechanism look like a child’s toy, and absorbing enough to make you forget to check the time.