Itaga Luxury Private Game Lodge

Game Lodge in Bela Bela/Warmbaths

Description

Itaga Lodge is less than 2 hours drive from Johannesburg, near Bela-Bela (formerly Warmbaths) in Limpopo Province, situated in a 12,000 hectare, Malaria free game reserve - home to the ?big 5?.

Itaga has earned a proud reputation as an exclusive, graded five star lodging establishment of understated elegance, offering 8 luxuriously appointed climate controlled en suite, African styled chalets. Each room has a private pergola covered patio and guests have a choice of either shower and bath, or shower only. Most rooms also feature a screened outdoor bush shower for that exhilarating Out of Africa experience!

Nestling in the shadows of the Waterberg Mountains, near Bela-Bela (formerly Warmbaths), Itaga is located in the greater Mabalingwe Nature Reserve - a Malaria free area of Limpopo Province and home to the 'Big 5'. It takes only 2 hours to reach Itaga from Johannesburg and just over an hour from Pretoria, travelling via the national Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) road - one of the country’s finest scenic highways.

Itaga has earned a proud reputation as an exclusive but affordable 5 Star lodging establishment offering 8 tastefully appointed, air-conditioned / heated en-suite, African themed chalets. The rooms have private pergola covered patios and guests have a choice of either shower & bath, or shower only. Most rooms also feature a screened outdoor 'bush shower' for that exhilarating 'Out of Africa' experience!

The thatched central complex has a romantically appointed dining area; an intimate lounge with feature fireplace; a cocktail bar with viewing deck overlooking the floodlit waterhole; a cozy open-air bush boma; an all day tea & coffee refreshment station for the convenience of our guests; a DStv loft lounge and library; a gift, curio and fashion goods boutique; a swimming pool with large sundeck, and indoor / outdoor conference facilities catering for up to 16 corporate delegates. The 'upper deck' offers stunning views across the plains and the quiet solitude of this private location makes it the perfect place to witness sensational sunsets, whilst savouring the moment with a sundowner cocktail.

For the safety of our guests (and the protection of our Marula trees from mischievous elephant), the area surrounding the camp is encircled by an electrified game fence.

Accommodation
The Main Lodge
The thatched central complex of the lodge has a romantically appointed dining area; an intimate lounge with feature fireplace; a cocktail bar with viewing deck overlooking the floodlit waterhole; a cozy open-air bush boma; an all day complimentary tea and coffee refreshment station for the convenience of our guests; a DSTV loft lounge and library; a gift, art, curio and fashion goods boutique, and a swimming pool with Martini seats / large sun deck, overlooking the waterhole. The elevated ?top deck? offers stunning views across the plains and the quiet solitude of this private location makes it the perfect place to witness sensational sunsets, as you savour the moment with a sundowner cocktail. For the safety of our guests (and the protection of our Marula trees from mischievous elephant), the area surrounding the camp is securely encircled by an electrified game fence. The lodge also has comfortable indoor / outdoor conference facilities, catering for up to 16 corporate delegates. Itaga is the perfect place to celebrate special birthdays, anniversaries, engagements and other private social or corporate events ? truly the ultimate intimate bushveld breakaway!

Itaga offers 8 unique, individually styled African themed thatch chalets. Each unit is tastefully furnished with climate control air-conditioning for maximum comfort in warm summers or cool winters. The rooms have private pergola covered patios with comfortable outdoor furniture, perfect for lazy afternoons.

Guests have a choice of either shower and bath or shower only. Most of the rooms also have a screened outdoor bush shower, for that exhilarating 'Out of Africa' experience! All rooms are equipped with electric hairdryers and power sockets for shaving equipment. All rooms are non-smoking.

Superior rooms also include tea and coffee making facilities, guaranteed inside and outside shower, digital safe, special bathroom amenities, bath robes, slippers and late check out (1pm instead of 11am).

Service and Cuisine
Itaga has earned a proud reputation for its excellent service and fine cuisine, complimented by a selection of quality wines, popular liqueurs and imported cigars ? for connoisseurs of good living!

Resident guests at Itaga Lodge have access to the superb Mabalingwe Country Club and Spa, located about 30 minutes drive from the lodge. This pristine 1,200-hectare bushveld estate has been awarded 5 star accreditation by the South African Tourism Grading Council and boasts a sensational 18-hole world class Peter Matkovich designed golf course. It is also home to a variety of indigenous non-predator free-roaming game species, as well as caged cheetah, lion cubs and other species of animals. Other facilities at the Country Club include the Zebu Health and Beauty Spa, a T.V. lounge, a restaurant, cocktail bar, a swimming pool, a fully equipped gymnasium, a Jacuzzi, tennis courts and a squash court. Transfers from / to the lodge; green fees; hire of golf clubs & golf carts are available to guests of Itaga, at preferential rates.

Itaga Lodge is renowned for its excellent service and fine cuisine, complemented by a selection of South Africa’s best wines. We also offer a choice of popular liqueurs, cognacs and imported cigars for after dinner enjoyment. Please be warned that your dinner may be interrupted by a minor distraction when a thirsty Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, or one of the many other game species that frequent our floodlit waterhole, stops by for a visit!.

Breakfast is a scrumptious ‘brunch’ served either at the pool deck or in the main dining area shortly after the early morning game drive returns. It usually comprises of juices, cereals, breads, a selection of fresh fruit, yoghurt, cheeses and cold meats, as well as a hearty ‘cooked to order’ South African breakfast.

High Tea is usually presented at the cocktail bar shortly before the afternoon game drive departs. It generally includes fruit, pastries, cakes, savories and sandwiches, served with tea or coffee.

Dinner is a three course white tablecloth candlelight affair in our romantic restaurant which is situated directly opposite the floodlit waterhole. We offer a choice of 3 starters (usually the soup of the day, a salad dish and the chef’s selection); a choice of 3 main courses (usually a vegetarian meal, chicken or fish and the chef’s main course recommendation). This is followed by your choice from our selection of 3 popular deserts, or a cheese platter.

Snack Menu – Our snack menu is available from 10 am to 5 pm each day. It offers a selection of light meals (hamburgers, salads, sandwiches, quiches, etc), for those who may feel the need for a light snack in-between meals.

IMPORTANT RESTAURANT SEATING
We do not seat all of our guests together at one long table with our game rangers for meals like most other game lodges do. At Itaga our guests always have the intimacy of their own private table for each breakfast / dinner sitting, either alone as a couple or together with the family / friends who booked with them as a single party.

Limited Availability

The optional excursions / activities which are outsourced to private contractors have limited availability, particularly over weekends, on public holidays and during the S.A. school holidays. Please therefore advise our management staff as far in advance as possible if you would like us to make a reservation for one of those services, on your behalf.

Itaga is located in a malaria free area so no need to worry about malaria precautions. Bring comfortable, light clothing and swimsuits in the summer and warm clothes for the winter. The wind-chill factor on the early morning and late afternoon game drives can make it chilly in winter and even though we provide blankets and hot water bottles we recommend a thick fleece jacket or similar. Comfortable walking shoes, Binoculars, cameras, animal/Bird books, sun hats and plenty of sunscreen are also advised.

Important information for all Guests

Check in / Check out times: The earliest check in time for all rooms is 2 PM. Check out time is 11AM. A day rate of R300 per person will apply for use of the lodge facilities where guests arrive before 2 PM or where guests vacate their rooms after 11am.
Dinner Service: Kindly note that the last order for dinner service in the restaurant will be taken at 9 PM, each evening. We regret that no exceptions can be made for late arrivals.
Children: The lodge does not have facilities for children under the age of 12 years.

Contact Details:
Reservations
Tel: 086 127 6237

Attractions

Game Viewing
Itaga Lodge has traversing rights over more than 12,000 hectares of good game country, home to elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hyena, warthog, a wide variety of antelope and bountiful bird life. Guests can enjoy early morning and afternoon game drives from the comfort of our open 4 x 4 game viewers with individually contoured seats, or a guided bush walk with an experienced tracker / ranger.

Optional Activities
In addition to golf, various other optional activities can be arranged and paid for at the lodge. This includes: Guided bush walks; 4 x 4 adventure trails; Night game drives with sundowners in the bush; Horseback trails; Visits to the nearby Cheetah and Wild Dog Breeding Centre; the Lion enclosure, or the Zebu Health and Beauty Spa at the nearby Mabalingwe County Club.

Game activities: 12,000 Hectare malaria free reserve - home to the 'Big 5' Itaga Lodge has traversing rights over more than 12, 000 hectares of good game country - home to Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Hippo, Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, Hyena, Warthog, a wide variety of antelope and bountiful bird life. Guests can enjoy an early morning and afternoon game drives with an experienced tracker / ranger from the comfort of our open 4 x 4 game vehicles, with individually contoured bucket seats for the comfort of each passenger. Like many other private game reserves, the lions in our reserve are contained in a separate high security, fenced area of the reserve. It is necessary to book for a visit to the Mabalingwe Lion enclosure – (Wednesdays and Sundays at 9am) - Cost R180 per person, including transport to the Lion camp from Itaga Lodge. Visits to the lion enclosure at Mabalingwe should be pre-booked after arrival and will be subject to space availability, based on the limited number of permitted visitors for each scheduled game drive / viewing experience. Visitors are not always guaranteed to see the lions as they can be elusive!

Optional activities Resident guests at Itaga Lodge have access to the superb 5 star Zebula Golf Estate & Spa. It is located just 20 minutes drive from the Lodge, via our private access road through the reserve with an opportunity for an additional game drive along the way. This pristine 2, 600 hectare bushveld resort and nature reserve was voted ‘Best New Golf Estate’ in South Africa when it opened in 2004. It boasts a sensational 18 hole world class Peter Matkovich designed golf course. Green fees, hire of golf clubs & golf carts are available to guests of Itaga Lodge at special member rates and transfers to / from Zebula can be provided by the Lodge in our 4 x 4 vehicles. Other facilities at the Zebula Country Club include:- a Restaurant; a Cocktail Bar; the Half Way House for fast food and snacks; a Bush Boma; Shopping (convenience store, curios, gifts, clothing and golf accessory items from the Pro shop and Beauty products from the Spa); Swimming Pool and Jacuzzi; Squash and Tennis Courts; fully equipped Gymnazium; a large Bird Aviary; Meerkat Manor; a Snake and Reptile Centre and the world class, award winning Zebu Health and Beauty Spa. It features the most modern equipment and offers stress relieveing therapy in a tranquil environment where one can revitalize the body and soul. A wide variety of popular pedicure, manicure, massage, hydro, tanning, health & spa treatments are available in addition to a range of exclusive beauty products. This private estate is also home to an extensive variety of free roaming indigenous ‘non predator’ plains game with unique and abundant bird life. The Animal Care Centre provides an opportunity for visitors to be photographed with Lion Cubs or baby Bengal Tigers and the famous Zebula ‘Cheetah Run’ is a chance to learn more about these fast and fascinating felines as you experience the exhilaration of seeing them reach exceed speeds of almost 100 kilometres an hour. In addition to the popular Golf and Spa attractions at Zebula, various other nearby optional activities and local excursions can be arranged and paid for at Itaga Lodge. This includes:- Elephant tracking; Night game drives; Guided Horseback trails; Quad Bike Safaris; Clay Pigeon Target Shooting; Fishing; Birding; the Lion enclosure at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve (selected days / times), or a visit to the nearby Cheetah and Wild Dog Breeding Centre which is highly recommended. The Itaga Lodge management team will provide you with full details and prices for the optional excursions program we offer. Limited Availability The optional excursions / activities which are mainly outsourced to private contractors have limited availability, particularly over weekends, on public holidays and during the S.A. school holidays. Please therefore advise our management staff as far in advance as possible if you would like us to make a reservation for one of those services, on your behalf. Important Kindly note that a 100% cancellation fee will apply in respect of all optional activities / excursions which are booked and subsequently cancelled. This is to accommodate the terms of the various contractors who provide those outsourced services.

Facilities

Conference

Due to its close proximity to Pretoria and Johannesburg, Itaga Lodge is the ultimate, intimate 'bush break' venue for small corporate conferences or special events, from 6 to 16 people. Our indoor / outdoor conference facilities can be configured to meet your precise requirements and we can provide flip charts, overhead projector, T.V., video equipment etc., for your convenience. Tea and coffee refreshments can be served on the upper deck, which offers spectacular elevated views across the plains.

For total exclusivity and privacy, conference groups are encouraged to take over the entire lodge for the duration of their stay. The dining area and waterhole viewing deck are ideal for smaller breakaway group working sessions or for 'open air' conference meetings, where the only distraction may be the occasional visit from Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo or other game, to our waterhole!

Rates for conferences and groups are available on request, depending on meal requirements, game drives and the optional activities program selected.

Directions

From Johannesburg or Pretoria, take the N1 North towards Polokwane (Pietersburg). Take the R516 Warmbaths / Settlers turnoff to the left (exit 238). On reaching the T junction at the Waterfront Arts and Craft Centre in Bela Bela, turn right and immediately after crossing the bridge vear left into Potgieter Street and follow the road which curves around to the right and then turn left at the intersection, passing the entrance to the Aventura Spa Resort (on your left hand side). Proceed to the next roundabout and then turn left, following the signs to Mabalingwe, Thabazimbi, Nylstroom and Rooiberg, at that circle. Follow the road for approximately 28 kilometres. The Mabalingwe Nature Reserve signboard / entrance will be on your right hand side. After going through the Mabalingwe main gate, take an immediate sharp left turn on to the dirt road and follow the signs to Itaga Lodge which is approximately 8 kilometres from the Mabalingwe main gate.