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Mana Bush Lodge

3.33·3 reviewsHazyview, Mpumalanga3 rooms · sleeps up to 8 Verified host
Wollie Steenkamp

Lodge hosted by Wollie Steenkamp

3 bedrooms·4 bathrooms·sleeps up to 8
Identity verified

About this place

Mana Bush Lodge sits on 240 hectares of private big-game country on the western edge of the Kruger, twenty minutes from Phabeni Gate and an hour from Kruger Mpumalanga International. There is no fence between the lodge and the reserve, so elephant drift through the marula trees below the deck most afternoons and hyena call across the riverbed at night. The lodge was built in 1998 around a stand of leadwoods and rebuilt in 2023 with the same thatch, the same stone and considerably better plumbing. There are only three suites, which is deliberate: at full capacity there are eight guests and two guides, so the game drives never convoy and dinner never needs a second sitting. Days start at 05:30 with coffee and rusks at the fire, then a four-hour drive in an open Land Cruiser with a tracker on the bonnet. The Big Five are all resident — the leopard density along the Sand River drainage is among the highest in South Africa. Brunch is at eleven, the middle of the day is yours for the plunge pools and the hide, and the afternoon drive runs from four until well after dark.
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Confirm your stay immediately — no waiting on the host.
Smooth check-in
The host shares full directions ahead of arrival.
Moderate Cancellation
Full refund up to 14 days before check-in. See policy.
Verified host
Identity and payment details verified by Wielo.

What this place offers

General facilities

  • No smoking on site
  • Fireplace

Internet

  • Free WiFi in public areas

Parking & transport

  • Free parking
  • Secure parking
  • Airport shuttle (paid)

In the rooms

  • Sitting area
  • Terrace
  • Garden furniture
  • Tea/coffee facilities
  • Balcony
  • Wardrobe
  • In-room safe
  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Workspace

In the bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hairdryer
  • Bath
  • Shower
  • Towels

In the kitchen

  • Fridge

Dining

  • Restaurant
  • Bar / lounge
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Packed lunches
  • Special diet menus
  • Breakfast included

Recreation & wellness

  • Pool
  • Sun terrace
  • Massage

Activities

  • Hiking

The rooms

Book one room, a few, or the whole place — you'll choose when you reserve.

Tap Reserve to pick your dates and rooms.

Pricing

Rates & seasonal pricing

Prices below are per room, per night, in ZAR. The host sets seasonal tiers across the year.

Rate card · per room / night
RoomStandard
Leadwood Suite
sleeps 2
R 4 850
Marula Family Suite
sleeps 4
R 6 200
Tamboti Star-Bed Suite
sleeps 2
R 5 400
Extras children R 1 200/night, charged per night on top of the rate.

Deals

Pre-packaged stays from this host at a price they set — book directly.

Reviews

What guests are saying

3.33/ 5
From 3 reviews
Rating breakdown
5
1
4
0
3
1
2
1
1
0
Cleanliness4.0
Check-in3.3
Communication3.3
Location4.7
Value2.3
Featured review

We have done a lot of safaris and Mana is the one we keep talking about. Three nights in the Leadwood Suite and we saw four of the Big Five from the vehicle plus a leopard with two cubs on the last morning. Our guide Petrus could read the bush like a book, the suite was beautiful, and waking up to sunrise over the riverbed without leaving the bed is something else. The food was ridiculous. We'll be back.

G
Guest
Verified stay
Aug 2026
G
Guest
Aug 2026
Solo

I wanted to love the star bed and the setting is undeniably special, but for the price I expected more. Check-in was disorganised and nobody was expecting me, the star bed wasn't made up on the first night, and it was freezing with no extra blankets until I asked twice. The staff were apologetic and the second night was much better, but at this rate I can't call it good value.

Response from the host

Mark, I'm sorry — this isn't our standard and the check-in mix-up was on us. We've changed how we hand over arrivals and winter suites now get the hot water bottles and extra blankets by default. A partial credit is on its way to you.

Verified stay
G
Guest
Aug 2026
Family

The bush and the game drives were fantastic and the kids loved the waterhole. Three stars because the value felt stretched: the road in from the gate is genuinely rough and nobody warned us to book the transfer, the wifi barely worked, and one of the game drives was cut short by a vehicle problem. Beautiful place, but a few small things kept it from being the trip we paid for.

Response from the host

Thanks for the honest feedback — you're right about the transfer, we now flag it at booking, and the Land Cruiser gearbox has since been rebuilt. We'd love a second chance to get it right.

Verified stay
G
Guest
Aug 2026
Couples

We have done a lot of safaris and Mana is the one we keep talking about. Three nights in the Leadwood Suite and we saw four of the Big Five from the vehicle plus a leopard with two cubs on the last morning. Our guide Petrus could read the bush like a book, the suite was beautiful, and waking up to sunrise over the riverbed without leaving the bed is something else. The food was ridiculous. We'll be back.

Response from the host

Thank you Sarah — Petrus is blushing. Those leopard cubs have become regulars. See you next season!

Verified stay
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Where you’ll be

Hazyview, Mpumalanga
Approximate location · exact address shared after booking

Meet your host

Superhost
Wollie Steenkamp
Wollie Steenkamp
wielo.co.za/mana-bush-lodge
3
Reviews
3.33
Rating
0
Yrs hosting

Owner-run, three-suite safari lodge on 240ha of unfenced big-game country on the western edge of the Kruger.

Response rate: 100%· usually replies in an hour
Speaks English, Afrikaans
Identity verified by Wielo
3.33 from 3 verified stays
View host profile

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Things to know

Who it suits
Children welcome — R 1 200/nightInfants freeNo pets

Infants 0–2 · Children 3–12 · adults 13+.

House rules

  • Check-in after —
  • Check-out by —
  • 8 guests maximum
  • 2 nights minimum

Cancellation

Moderate Cancellation
  • 14+ days before check-in100%
  • 7+ days before check-in50%
  • Less than 24 hours before0%

Safety & property

  • Pay securely at checkout — directly to your host
  • Host identity verified

Terms & conditions

50% deposit confirms; balance due 30 days before arrival; rates include all meals and two daily game drives.

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