Perfect in Every Way

I really dont know where to start, there were so many positives to this fantastic experience, it is hard to name them all. Most importantly, there were no negatives at all. Yes, it is remote, but so worth the effort. If you have an opportunity to visit Lubbesrust, you really should grab it: we all agreed it was the best experience any of us has ever had, and we are fortunate to have had many wonderful experiences in Alaska, Patagonia, the Amazon, and Australia, to name a few. Hosts Sylvia and Paul were so kind, so responsive, and so caring, you just knew they truly loved the lodge they have created in the "Botswanan Outback". All of the many questions we had prior to leaving home were quickly and accurately answered, right down to the best way to get to the Lodge. On that subject, we chose to spend three days in Cape Town to acclimate, then fly to Gaborone, and take a shuttle to the Lodge, which Sylvia helped arrange. We think that was a great choice, because immigration into Botswana was then at the modern and efficient airport, not at a road border crossing. The Lodge itself was amazing, built and furnished to the very highest standards, and immaculately clean. My wife is an interior designer in Park City UT, and together we run a high end residential construction business in the town, and I doubt we could have done as good a job, let alone done it in that remote location. The lodge has extensive solar generating capability, but also multiple redundant backup power sources to ensure reliable electricity. It also has Starlink Internet for fast reliable wifi, which was important for me, as I had to check in with staff every day The Lodge staff were all very friendly, very proficient and very accommodating, nothing was too much trouble. Our group of five included a vegan, two gluten-free, and two people with normal diets, and all the food was delicious. The vegan amongst us said it is the best food he has ever had. Our guide "Lucky" certainly was lucky, although I suspect that his 18 years experience played a significant part in him finding abundant wildlife for us to see. Make no mistake, he had to work hard at it, these are wild animals, and nothing is guaranteed, but by weeks end we had seen Elephants, Giraffes, Zebra, Wildebeest, Leopards, Lions, Rhinos, Hippos, as well as countless other species of animals and birds. Many of the interactions were so close you felt a personal connection with the animals. We even got to go on a rhino tracking experience with the Botswanan Army anti-poaching crew, which was a true highlight. If I compared this safari with others we have done, I would say that the diversity of fauna and flora was significantly better than say Kenya or Tanzania, and we really enjoyed that aspect. And then there were several bush dining experiences arranged by the Lodge staff, that were so very special. One one "dinner under the stars" we got to see the Milky Way in all it's glory in a way you can only achieve somewhere that is truly "darker than dark" . All in all, perfect, we are so grateful to have had the opportunity!”

Trip of a lifetime

This was a vacation we will never forget. Each day fulfilled everything you might expect from a vacation - exciting and adventurous game drives, and peaceful and serene accommodations to enjoy a nice swim, nap or incredibly prepared meal. Maifala helped us spot every single animal you might hope to see on a safari and more. He taught us so much about the wildlife and their home. BG, Light, Cordelia, Shorty and Sota took care of us like family - brunch, high tea, dinner…every meal was delicious. We even had a special surprise bush dinner under the stars. The entire trip was absolutely magical - a must do for the adventurous traveller!! ”

Absolutely Phenomenal!!

Imagine, we get picked up at the gate our first day. On the way to the lodge, a family of giraffes block our path, 300 yds further, an elephant comes right up to our jeep and, when we reach the lodge, the incredible staff have refreshments and perform an African greeting including singing & dancing. And, if that wasn't enough, there were 10 elephants in the back yard water hole. WOW! 13 game drives later we had seen every animal that called the Limpopo Lipadi reserve home. The main lodge is gorgeous but each couple have their own private lodge as well; kitchenette, sitting room, bedroom, bathroom, shower, tub, outside shower...The staff are amazing; Maifala, the game ranger can track anything and has incredible "bush eyes". With some help from him, we all developed some bush eyes too, Kelly, a wonderful cook, had the additional complication in our group of a gluten allergy and a dairy free requirement. No problem, every meal had specially designated bowls for the 2 allergies and they were made to look just as inviting as the normal diets. At the end of the day (after the late afternoon drive), we retired around a beautiful camp fire with a glass of wine each night while we waited to be served another wonderful meal. Throw in a surprise lunch in the bush then an amazing final dinner set up also at night in the bush. Light, Onia & Shorty; Maifala and Kelly's kitchen, housekeeping & all around tradesman made the week's experience smooth and memorable. As one of my party said at the conclusion of the week; can I just stay here? Thanks to Sylvia & Paul, the owners as well. In the lead up to the vacay, Sylvia assisted not only in the logistics in getting to Lubbesrust but also was an invaluable resource in planning the next stage of our trip in Capetown. Everyone in our party agreed, this was one of the very best adventures our group experienced ever and we've travelled extensively around the world. You want a 6 star experience - this is it!”

Amazing Safari vacation

We didn’t quite know what to expect from our safari at Lubbesrust, but it turned out to be beyond amazing. From start to finish, the experience was personal, private, and truly luxurious. The accommodation was absolutely five-star, and the service was wonderful — the staff made us feel like family. Every detail was perfect, from the delicious food to the fascinating and informative safari drives. We were lucky enough to see lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, jackals, zebras, wildebeest, African wild dogs, and so much more. The bush lunches and dinners were unforgettable, and we enjoyed every moment of this unique adventure. It was the most wonderful family vacation, and we cannot thank the team at Lubbesrust enough for making our trip so memorable”

5 Star experience

Lubbesrust safari lodge exceeded our expectations in every way. Everything from the stylish accommodations to the attentive staff was top notch. Highly recommended.”

Fantastic experience in Botswana at Lubbesrust

Our family and some friends spent an amazing week in Botswana at Lubbesrust. This was our first time to Africa and Botswana was not only beautiful but also - friendly, safe, orderly, with low crime and corruption. The Limpopo-Lipaldi Wildlife Reserve is large, diverse, and well managed. Our Lubbesrust experience was both luxurious and exciting. The lodge compound itself was perfect for a group with each having their own roomy lodge. The staff was incredible - from our guide Maifala, to Kelly our cook, to Light, Cynthia, and Shorty. Everything was taken care of for us - all meals (delicious), room cleaning, laundry etc. I was a little worried that going out on drives twice a day to see wildlife would get boring, but it was the opposite. And oddly, at the same time, the whole trip was super relaxing. This is what we saw: elephants, lions, leopards, zebras, jackals, wildebeests, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, impalas, Kudus, steenboks, hyenas, crocodiles, baboons, vervet monkeys, warthogs, and lots of birds (the guinea fowl were hilarious always running down the road in front of our vehicle). One of my favorites was a rock dwelling animal called a Dassie. So cute! As it was the winter season, animal viewing was really good. I would definitely recommend going well prepared for the cold if you go during the winter months. Although the temperature got hot during the daytime, in the early morning, and evening while returning to the lodge, it got very cold! You will need to dress in layers and beanies, jackets with hoods, and gloves are a must. Hosts Sylvia and Paul were very responsive and helpful. We had so many questions before our trip and they didn't seem bothered by all our emails. One issue we had that was a bit inconvenient was that 3 pieces of luggage did not arrive in Gabarone with us. It was due to a very short connection from Johannesburg to Gabarone. The transfer company took care of this for us and brought our luggage a couple of days later which was really accommodating given that the lodge is at least a 5 hour drive from the airport in Gabarone. If you want to see a ton of African animals, and stay in the wild in a private and luxurious place with just your family and friends, then go for it! It was worth it!”

A Magical Stay

Our family of five just returned from last week at Lubbesrust. It’s difficult to articulate how special this little corner of Botswana is, and how these owners have created something truly unique within it. The lodge's design has impeccable attention to detail, and it comes with a dream team staff. We were treated to complete luxury at every game drive, every meal and every boma fire, with some very special surprises thrown in! We saw lots of animals ranging from elephants, lions, rhinos, zebras, giraffes and baboons to gin fowl, wildebeast, impala and SO much more. Mafaila, the safari guide, is a 30 year veteran guide who can see, hear and smell the animals long before the average person. He makes you feel completely comfortable and safe. We were with our three daughters, and our middle daughter (age 20), shared her reflections of Lubbesrust with me. She said that, as warm and wonderful as the experience was, she was most taken by the ripple of impact the lodge has created in rural Botswana. She talked about how they’ve invested in the land, created excellent jobs, and helped save majestic animals. She was struck by the collective good the lodge has done, and then shared it with others to understand it themselves. I was so pleased that she got it – she felt the same way I did about a passion project that is clearly built on respect for the land and people of Botswana.”

Fantastic!

The hosts were incredibly gracious. The guide was so knowledgeable and protective of our safety. The cook and her assistant were so awesome. Every night was something special and delicious. I loved the way they made a fire for us every night and we got to listen to frogs!! The accommodations were amazing! The animals were amazing too!!! We got to see giraffes, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, zebras, ginnie fowls, impalas, elephants, rhinos, etc! Simply amazing.”

Lubbesrust stay was fantastic

The trip from Gaborone was long but the worth it. The Lodge is spectacular with a main house to gather in, eat, swim in the pool, and sit by the fire in the evenings. Lots of good nature books. There are not as many animals as in Kenya or Tanzania, but we saw lions in action, a leopard, many elephants and zebras. Maifala is an amazing guide. He knows about the animals, the birds, the trees, and he tracks animal footprints to ensure that we will see them. He is so patient and funny. After we asked many questions he told us now it is his turn to ask us. We laughed and had a great time attempting to answer. Kelly and her kitchen staff were excellent: food was great and they were enthusiastic. All in all great. We went at the beginning of their winter. Would love to see it in another season.”

Utterly magical

Although you can be a party of up to 8 people, my husband and I seized this last minute week just for the two of us, and it was utter bliss. Their super-experienced guide drove us to close (& leisurely) sightings of lion, leopard, rhino (including one morning a rhino walk), giraffe, zebra and elephant - and we had more fleeting glimpses of jackals, ardwolf, hyena, mongoose, wildebeest and all manner of bucks. We drove to the river bank one morning and watched hippo and crocodiles. I have not been birding for long, but we spotted over 80 species of birds during our week, most of which were new to me. The accommodation is faultless - thoughtful architecture, sensitive design, delightful elements such as an additional wilderness shower, and game viewing platforms off your bedroom, as well as no expense spared on the luxurious and understated furnishings. Everything is provided for you - being 75km down a sand road makes popping out to the shops impractical - and the fabulous home staff looked after us like kings, to the extent that on our return we put ourselves on a strict diet, but it was absolutely worth it. Email communications with the owners were great and they could not have been more helpful. Glorious memories, including sundowners in the bush watching the setting sun, each evening sitting around the firepit and gazing up at the stars, and a few surprises that were arranged for us - it was truly magical. PS My husband needed to attend a zoom meeting all day one day - this was no problem, & the wifi in the lodge is really good.”

Amazing

It does require a bit of logistics to get there. However the team at Lubbesrust will surpass any expectations when you’re there. Kelly’s food addressed all the allergy requirements while being phenomenal. The pool was comfortable and spotless. The interactions with the animals on game drives felt intimate and unique. The driver is incredibly knowledgeable even about the birds and plants! ”

Spectacular

We were a group of 3 couples and the trip far exceeded our expectations. From the moment we arrived and were picked up by Maifala and team to the moment we left it was an adventure of lifetime. The individual lodges were beautiful and extremely private for each couple. Each lodge was decorated uniquely and were large and very comfortable. The central lodge where we ate and enjoyed the incredible pool was large and a great place for all of us to hang out in. We were so fortunate to see Kudus come to the watering hole while we were in the pool and watched the birds build their unique nests. The food was fantastic and every meal impressed us so much we kept asking for the recipes. The safaris couldn’t have been better lead by our incredible tracker Maifala. We saw so many animals, giraffes, lions, leopards, elephants, zebras, wildebeest, rhinos and even a black mamba. The only word we kept saying all trip was spectacular. If you want a private and personalized experience Lubbesrust is the place. Best trip ever. ”

Great Experience

Highlight of the trip was seeing lion brothers eating a baby elephant! The lodge is beautiful and you will be very comfortable during your stay. ”

Dream Getaway

Wow, this place is beautiful, no amount of photos will capture the wildlife and pleasure you will enjoy. The property itself is marvelous. pitched in the middle of the reserve it has super spacious rooms and a great main house that is perfect for relaxing and playing games while waiting to go safari driving, again! The staff were excellent, Kelly helped me put on an extra 4kg in 6 days, it was so delicious we all keep talking about it all day. Loved it and would do it again!”

Amazing Stay!!!

We had such an incredible week at Lubbesrust Safari Lodge! It exceeded all of our expectations. All of the lodges were so clean, comfortable and nicely appointed. The daily safaris with Muifala were so amazing. We saw so much wildlife. Miafala could spot animals even in the dark. It was nothing short of miraculous. The food was also excellent. The variety and quality was wonderful! Kellie is an amazing chef. Each day we would go on a safari at 8:00 am, touring the beautiful reserve, return to Lubbesrust for brunch, Safari again at 4:00 pm. Each day upon return in the afternoon, the staff had a roaring campfire for us to enjoy, and then an delicious dinner. We felt so pampered! It was truly a trip of a lifetime! If we could give more than 5 stars we would! Thank you for an amazing stay!”

Spectacular taste of Botswana

We began our family dream trip to Africa at Lubberust and were blown away by the incredible hospitality, beauty, knowledge and vibe of this property. Maifala, the private guide, and Kelly , the private chef, are top notch in all that they provide. ”

Absolutely fantastic stay!

We've been at Lubbesrust this January for a week, with a group of 6 friends. We already had some previous experience with high-end Game Lodges, but Lubbesrust sits in its own category! The unique location within a private area of 210km2, the wonderful and extremely competent staff, the architecture and interior design of the lodge and its various buildings are all just outstanding. We very much enjoyed the morning and afternoon drives into nature and were able to seeing a wide range of wild animals. Maifala was the perfect guide, he literally knows everything about the wilderness in Botswana. Coming back from the drives, Kelly had already prepared very tasteful menus with fish, meat and vegetables. We spent our leisure time mostly on the various terraces and pools, only being interrupted by stunning herds of wild animals visiting the close by waterholes. Overall, the stay was absolutely top, we will always remember and we highly recommend Lubbesrust to anyone who is seeking a combination of wild life and luxury accommodation.”

Top of the line

Amazing camp and staff. As it was off peak season so we had essentially a private reserve. Maifala was excellent and Kelli in the kitchen was wonderful. In this time of year your long range visibility is limited but when you find the animals they are very close. Had baby elephant walk right up to us. Wild dogs on a fresh kill. Surrounded by 10 giraffes another day. The lodges are incredible. Highly recommend if near Botswanna. Sylvia was also very helpful in the planning process.”

What a great destination!

We just returned from visiting Lubberust Lodge. The staff took wonderful care of us. The safari guide was knowledgeable and gracious. The food was terrific. And the facilities were all the pictures promised. Highly recommended!”

Amazing experience !

Our family stayed here for Christmas - making it probably the most amazing Christmas day ever - when rhinos elephants zebras & giraffes join in the celebration. The villas in Lubbesrust are absolutely beautiful truly amazing to have this height of luxury on safari total 5* ! The housekeeping team & safari driver are all diligent and very sweet, they also created some super special experiences that we won’t ever forget. If you intend to drive to Lubbesrust from Johannesburg (we also had a lot of Christmas traffic) I would recommend carefully planning the trip. The paved road to the park is tarmaced but takes longer. We came back via the dirt track which is shorter and was in good condition. It takes 7-8 hours when you add border crossings & it’s another 45 mins from the ‘gate’ to the lodge. If you plan the drive as part of the overall experience it will be a fab drive. ”

Trip of a lifetime

We just returned from a week at Lubbesrust and it was an experience we will never forget. We booked it through THIRDHOME less than one month before we departed for Botswana, and things went perfectly. Great communication from the hosts, with all the information we needed for the trip. The description and photos of the accommodations were exactly as advertised, and we could not have been more pleased. A personal luxury resort in the middle of Africa with everything taken care of by the staff. Kelly and her team treated us to excellent food every day, kept our rooms clean and stocked with beverages, washed our clothes when needed, and provided anything else we needed. Maifala took us out twice a day on safari and every day was the adventure of a lifetime. He taught us so much about the animals and the area while making every trip enjoyable and fun. We saw every animal that we expected to see and were amazed at how close we could get to their natural habitats. If an African safari is on your bucket list, this could be the place for you. ”

Perfect in every way!

Our two week stay at Lubbesrust was truly the experience of a lifetime, absolutely everything exceeded our expectations! Our accommodations were over the top, comfortable beds, beautifully and thoughtfully furnished, each one of the four private lodges has its own water hole and viewing platform and the outdoor showers are an absolute delight! Maifala our nature guide was very knowledgeable, charming and accommodating in every possible way, Kelly the cook prepared wonderful meals, and the main lodge was a great place to relax and go for a swim. The best option for getting to Lubbesrust Lodge is to fly to Johannesburg and take a morning connecting flight to Gaborone and contract Phalalo to drive you to the lodge, a bit long but pleasant 5 1/2 hour drive on a good quality paved road, but I assure you it is well worth it! (Phalalo’s contact information is in the online Lubbesrust brochure.) Last, but not least, Lubbesrust is an excellent value as compared to other lodges, and we saw all of Botswana’s wildlife except for cape buffalo and hipos which had been sighted by the previous group. ”

Lubbesrust Lodge, Botswana

The Lodge facility is lovely. It is very open and welcoming overlooking a watering hole thatattracts many animals. The staff provides very good service while the guide is forthcoming, knowledgeable and always available for rides or walks. The experience in the safari is unique because there are very few, if any,other vehicles on the reserve. One draw back is that the vehicle must stay on the roads and cannot go after animal sightings not visible from the road. That said we experienced a good variety of sighting including leopards! The food is adequate, just don’t expect anything but ordinary fare.”

The pool is a beautiful infinity design that overlooked the water hole where lots of wildlife could be viewed.

This property was very comfortable and well appointed. It was not close to an international airport, so after landing we spent an additional 9 hours in a transport van to finally arrive at Lubbesrust (literally in the middle of the bush). Upon arrival we were greeted by the entire staff who introduced themselves and welcomed us to the compound. There is a main lodge where all of the meals are served, the pool and a fire pit are also found here. The pool is a beautiful infinity design that overlooked the water hole where lots of wildlife could be viewed. Kelly was the cook, and I just want to say that the butternut squash soup was fantastic! We had one person in our group with a gluten allergy, which she was able to accommodate (note it in the paperwork they send you before you arrive). Breakfast was optional and was serve yourself (cereal and/or yogurt). The other meals and snacks were cooked and provided by Kelly, meaning no work for you! Maifala (pronounced My-fa-la) was our guide for the game hunts and he really knew what he was doing! An excellent tracker and he was very knowledgeable about the plants and animals. He answered all our questions plus some we didn’t ask, but we were always interested in hearing what he had to say. He had a sharp eye, he was able to spot a chameleon in a bush, at night, without the benefit of a flashlight, while driving by it (he backed up to show us) - wow. The days found an easy rhythm with an early morning (6 AM) game hunt followed by lunch, with free time (for a nap!) before the late afternoon game hunt that ended at a beautiful spot for sunset pictures. When we arrived back at the lodge a fire had already been started and drinks were served fireside while the dinner table was set. There were lots of animals to be seen on the game hunts including giraffes, zebra, impala, elephants, wildebeest and Rhinos; did you know a bunch of zebra is called a dazzle? Maifala did. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any of the lions and although we saw the tracks of a hippo we didn’t see that animal in the wild either. It was enjoyable riding around in the safari vehicle, which has no roof and allows you to see everything without restriction. The housing was very modern and well appointed. Each of the minor lodges were meant for 2 people, we stayed in the Matshwane Lodge. It had a small ‘coffee bar’ type kitchen including a refrigerator, hot water kettle and a few dishes for personal use (all the cooking happens at the main lodge). It also had a small sitting area including a comfortable couch overlooking the deck. The bathroom had double sinks and a large soaking tub, a walk-in shower, and an outdoor shower (loved it!). The king bed was very comfortable – we slept great every night. Make sure to bring a type M converter to charge your computer (3 prongs in a triangle shape)! USB ports were next to the beds for smaller electronics. The wifi worked well. You can pack light because the service here is so amazing they actually washed several loads of clothes for us! Each of the smaller lodges have their own deck and a viewing platform; ours overlooked a watering hole; you can see lots of birds and sometimes some of the larger game like zebra and giraffe. We loved our time here and would definitely recommend it to other travelers who are looking for outdoor adventures and viewing wild animals in their natural environment. Be prepared for the long trip to get there, but once you are there it is comfortable and the staff provides outstanding service! If you want an outdoor experience while being pampered by a staff who have thought about your every comfort – this is the place for you! ”