Set on the green slope of a hill in Zululand, this chic tented camp invites you to experience a luxurious safari complemented by refined style, immaculate service, and Zulu culture. Overlooking Thanda Private Game Reserve, which is inhabited by the Big 5 and a breeding pack of wild dogs, lavish Thanda Tented Camp offers guided 4x4 game drives conducted exclusively for its guests - it has sole traversing rights in the area so you will not see any other vehicles.

Accommodation comprises vast en suite Meru-style tents that feature wooden floors and are decorated with classic Victorian furniture and finishings. Each opulent abode is adjoined by an expansive viewing deck looking out over the captivating KwaZulu-Natal wilderness. With no electricity at the camp, the feeling of adventure is amplified as the calls of animals at night echo as you drift off to sleep in your king-sized bed dressed in percale linen.

Enjoy a sumptuous bush banquet sitting around a roaring fire while the African star-studded skies twinkle brightly above. Traditionally dressed Zulu tribesmen perform customary dances, adding to the evening’s festivities. For a more intimate look into the Zulu culture, Vula Zulu is a traditional homestead adjacent to Thanda where warriors enact age-old rituals for battle.

The owners of Thanda Safari Tented Camp are philanthropists and founding members of Project Rhino, to help protect the most endangered of the Big 5 against poaching. Almost all the staff are recruited from the local Zulu community, and all the fees from village visits go to the villagers. Thanda's resident photographer conducts a complimentary two-hour photographic workshop aimed at your level of skill and technical knowledge of your camera equipment.

Highlights

• Lavish tented camp on private KwaZulu-Natal reserve
• Guided 4x4 game drives with Big 5 and wild dog encounters
• Hearty bush banquets and traditional Zulu dancing
• Vast en suite tents with verandas overlooking the wilderness
• Spa offers full range of beauty treatments and massages
• Special ‘Jabula’ tent for honeymooners, families or special occasions

Activities

• GAME DRIVES

Thanda Tented Camp is a beautiful couple’s safari option in Kwazulu Natal. This camp takes the romance of the African bush to new heights; their honeymoon package and personalized service are remarkable

Rooms

Tent

One of just 14 luxury tents at Thanda Safari Tented Camp, your canvas home is decorated in classic safari style and is adjoined by a sunny veranda – with an outdoor shower - overlooking the magnificent game-rich surroundings. Your marvelous suite features a king-sized 4-poster bed and a palatial bathroom equipped with both a bathtub, a shower, and a double vanity. All rooms have personal bars, safes, and ceiling fans.

The Jabula Tent, which means ‘happiness’ in Zulu, is very spacious and is ideal for newlyweds, small families, or those who want to splash out for special occasions. It has a private pool, its boma, and a large sun deck.

Facilities

Thanda Safari Tented Camp’s communal facilities include a formal dining tent where silver-service dinners are served as well as a boma for alfresco dining. The sala consists of an open-air lounge and splash pool where elephants often come to take a drink.

There is no electricity at the camp and, without compromising luxury or service, you have the opportunity to get closer to nature in complete comfort. There is solar power and batteries for charging essentials such as your mobile phone or camera. The wellness center offers a variety of therapies and beauty treatments which include full-body aromatherapy, hot stone massage, and healing reflexology. The Thanda Signature Treatments draw inspiration directly from the Zulu culture in terms of their applications and the products used.

Dining

Guests are treated to a varied menu that incorporates a combination of Western and African-inspired dishes with meals enjoyed in the dining tent or the boma around a roaring campfire.