“Thandile” is a Zulu word which means “I loved it”, a past tense verb deliberately chosen to serve as an affirmation, carefully selected to capture the emotion expressed by everyone who has had the privilege to share in the magic of this “little piece of heaven” in the Waterberg. Thandile Country Lodge started off as a family-breakaway for a Johannesburg based family when the owners tried to balance their respective Corporate- and entrepreneurial careers with fortnightly visits “to the farm” to regenerate their souls and to find inner peace, to connect with each other and to build the resilience to create meaning in their lives. They succeeded so well in doing this that the farm became the regular “meeting place” for friends and family and as everyone loved it so much there, the idea of “Thandile Country Lodge” was born. Thandile Country Lodge formally opened its doors to the public on 1 December 2012 and since then, it has often been said that “whereas you may arrive as a stranger, you’re always leave as a friend”. Thandile Country Lodge is owner-managed and based in the original farm house built in 1856, beautifully restored to its former glory with 7 beautifully “Colonial-style” furnished units, all leading onto the wrap-around veranda, the majority of which overlook the beautiful surrounding of a typical game farm in the Waterberg. Thandile Country Lodge offers luxury accommodation on a B & B basis with kitchen- and braai facilities for self-catering lunches- & dinners. We cater for special events in our beautiful restaurant, The Elephant Tree restaurant, that can be booked for a small conference; birthday ( upto 70 people) or a small wedding. It is locally believed to be one of the oldest farm houses in Bela-Bela and where possible the originally feature of the historic building were maintained e.g. The original fireplace in the Kitchen, the yellow-wood ceilings including the “Old Waenhuis” where the Ox wagon was stored. The large Monkey Thorn Tree in front of the Lodge facing the dams were planted by the previous owner of the farm, Mr Grobler whose daughter turned 82 recently and this tree is captured in the logo of Thandile Country Lodge to commensurate this significant event. Evidence of historic events are everywhere to be found at Thandile Country Lodge with the horse trail following the route of the Boer Oxwagen’s trek across the Waterberg, including evidence of the South African War that can be found in the mountains on various places on the farm.

Excellent breakfast and dinner meals included in the Lodge accommodation offering. Self-catering cottages can book meals at the restaurant. Two communal lounge areas with a small library and a beautiful terrace overlooking 2 dams and the Waterberg. Experience nature at its best, on horseback. * ±250 hectares of game trails The variety at Thandile includes giraffe, kudu, ribbok, warthog, baboon, vervet monkeys, blue wildebeest and other small game indigenous to the area. We also offer a variety of bird species. * We offer exquisite picnics where we supply you with a beautiful picnic blanket and cushions as well as a basked filled with a variety of exquisite food for 2-4 people per basket including a bottle of Sparkling/Still water at the reasonable price. Advanced booking is essential.