Buyskop Lodge

No matter how diverse the group of travellers, the area around Bela-Bela should provide plenty to entertain everyone. Those lured to the site by the promise of animal spotting may not be as lucky as hoped, but fortunately it’s just 10 minutes’ drive to Thaba Kwena crocodile farm, 25 minutes to Bambelela Wildlife Care and Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation, and 40 minutes to ethical experiences with elephants at Adventures with Elephants, where guests can meet, feed and ride the gentle beasts. Active types may be drawn to hikes and bikes in the Waterberg, and might choose to seek thrills by whizzing through the air at Waterberg Zipline Adventures (10 minutes) or going to war at Skulls Paintball (less than five minutes away). Prefer a more sedate experience? It’s 20 minutes from base to the par-72, 18-hole Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate championship course. City days are within relatively easy reach too: it’s an hour and 10 minutes to Pretoria and its zoo, botanical gardens, historical mansions and markets, and an hour and 45 minutes to the apartheid museum, casino, beer museum and theme park (and lots more) of Johannesburg.