Amakhala Game Reserve
The 5* Bukela Lodge, situated in the 8,500 hectare, malaria-free Big 5 Amakhala Game Reserve less than an hours drive from Port Elizabeth, offers a gentle, tranquil escape from the world.
The abundant wildlife that can be seen on guided game drives includes lion, cheetah, black and white rhino, elephant, giraffe, zebra and buffalo.
The main lodge comprises a reception, dining and sitting area with a central fireplace which is always the centre of attraction in winter.
Also available are a media and library area with Internet, television, DVD player, games and books and a large wooden pool deck overlooking a small dam frequented by buffalo.
A separate area known as a boma adjoins the main lodge where bush braais can be enjoyed under the open starry African night.
The lodge offers 4 suites (3 standard suites and one Honeymoon Suite) and 10 luxury safari tents, each individually styled in African simplicity while never compromising on luxury. They are all separated from the main lodge by wooden walkways and indigenous bush.
The suites and safari tents are well appointed for guests' optimal comfort with every amenity, including a large, en-suite bathroom with a spa bath overlooking the African bush, an indoor and outdoor shower for the more adventurous, a central fireplace for romantic evenings, air-conditioning, underfloor heating, a private wooden deck, bar fridge and hot drink amenities. The Honeymoon Suite has a huge 4-poster mahogany bed.
Featured Special Offer saf-01416
Stay for 3 nights for the price of 2 at Bukela Lodge in the Amakhala Game Reserve. All meals, teas, snacks and 2 daily safaris and guided walks are included. Children Under 12 years are welcome.
Valid: 1 March 2009 - 30 September 2009.
Prices On Request
Our standard rates for a Suite | ||||
Dates | Price | Basis | Type | Nights |
20 December 2024 to 10 January 2025 | GBP 444 USD 564 ZAR 10,107 EUR 533 | per person sharing | Contracted FIT Rate | 2+ nights |
11 January 2025 to 30 April 2025 | GBP 388 USD 493 ZAR 8,829 EUR 466 | per person sharing | Contracted FIT Rate | 1+ nights |
1 May 2025 to 31 August 2025 | GBP 326 USD 414 ZAR 7,408 EUR 391 | per person sharing | Contracted FIT Rate | 1+ nights |
1 May 2025 to 31 August 2025 | GBP 326 USD 414 ZAR 7,408 EUR 391 | per person sharing | Contracted FIT Rate - Pay 2 Stay 3 | 3+ nights |
1 September 2025 to 19 December 2025 | GBP 424 USD 539 ZAR 9,648 EUR 509 | per person sharing | Combine and Save 5% Discount - Min 5 Nights | 5+ nights |
1 September 2025 to 19 December 2025 | GBP 424 USD 539 ZAR 9,648 EUR 509 | per person sharing | COMBO - Combine and Save 2 properties for a total of 5 nights or more | 5+ nights |
1 September 2025 to 19 December 2025 | GBP 424 USD 539 ZAR 9,648 EUR 509 | per person sharing | COMBO - Combine and Save 3 properties | 1+ nights |
1 September 2025 to 19 December 2025 | GBP 402 USD 511 ZAR 9,156 EUR 483 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate - 10% Early Bird Discount | 1+ nights |
1 September 2025 to 19 December 2025 | GBP 424 USD 539 ZAR 9,648 EUR 509 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate - 5% Early Bird Discount | 1+ nights |
20 December 2025 to 10 January 2026 | GBP 485 USD 616 ZAR 11,040 EUR 582 | per person sharing | Combine and Save 5% Discount - Min 5 Nights | 5+ nights |
20 December 2025 to 10 January 2026 | GBP 485 USD 616 ZAR 11,040 EUR 582 | per person sharing | COMBO - Combine and Save 2 properties for a total of 5 nights or more | 5+ nights |
20 December 2025 to 10 January 2026 | GBP 485 USD 616 ZAR 11,040 EUR 582 | per person sharing | COMBO - Combine and Save 3 properties | 2+ nights |
20 December 2025 to 10 January 2026 | GBP 510 USD 648 ZAR 11,605 EUR 612 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate | 2+ nights |
20 December 2025 to 10 January 2026 | GBP 485 USD 616 ZAR 11,040 EUR 582 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate - 5% Early Bird Discount | 2+ nights |
11 January 2026 to 30 April 2026 | GBP 424 USD 539 ZAR 9,648 EUR 509 | per person sharing | Combine and Save 5% Discount - Min 5 Nights | 5+ nights |
11 January 2026 to 30 April 2026 | GBP 424 USD 539 ZAR 9,648 EUR 509 | per person sharing | COMBO - Combine and Save 2 properties for a total of 5 nights or more | 5+ nights |
11 January 2026 to 30 April 2026 | GBP 424 USD 539 ZAR 9,648 EUR 509 | per person sharing | COMBO - Combine and Save 3 properties | 1+ nights |
11 January 2026 to 30 April 2026 | GBP 446 USD 566 ZAR 10,142 EUR 535 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate | 1+ nights |
11 January 2026 to 30 April 2026 | GBP 424 USD 539 ZAR 9,648 EUR 509 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate - 5% Early Bird Discount | 1+ nights |
1 May 2026 to 31 July 2026 | GBP 356 USD 452 ZAR 8,098 EUR 427 | per person sharing | Combine and Save 5% Discount - Min 5 Nights | 5+ nights |
1 May 2026 to 31 July 2026 | GBP 356 USD 452 ZAR 8,098 EUR 427 | per person sharing | COMBO - Combine and Save 2 properties for a total of 5 nights or more | 5+ nights |
1 May 2026 to 31 July 2026 | GBP 356 USD 452 ZAR 8,098 EUR 427 | per person sharing | COMBO - Combine and Save 3 properties | 1+ nights |
1 May 2026 to 31 July 2026 | GBP 338 USD 429 ZAR 7,688 EUR 406 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate - 10% Early Bird Discount | 1+ nights |
1 May 2026 to 31 July 2026 | GBP 356 USD 452 ZAR 8,098 EUR 427 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate - 5% Early Bird Discount | 1+ nights |
1 May 2026 to 31 July 2026 | GBP 374 USD 475 ZAR 8,509 EUR 449 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate - Pay 2 Stay 3 | 3+ nights |
1 August 2026 to 31 August 2026 | GBP 486 USD 617 ZAR 11,057 EUR 583 | per person sharing | Combine and Save 5% Discount - Min 5 Nights | 5+ nights |
1 August 2026 to 31 August 2026 | GBP 486 USD 617 ZAR 11,057 EUR 583 | per person sharing | COMBO - Combine and Save 2 properties for a total of 5 nights or more | 5+ nights |
1 August 2026 to 31 August 2026 | GBP 486 USD 617 ZAR 11,057 EUR 583 | per person sharing | COMBO - Combine and Save 3 properties | 1+ nights |
1 August 2026 to 31 August 2026 | GBP 461 USD 586 ZAR 10,489 EUR 553 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate - 10% Early Bird Discount | 1+ nights |
1 August 2026 to 31 August 2026 | GBP 486 USD 617 ZAR 11,057 EUR 583 | per person sharing | Contracted Rate - 5% Early Bird Discount | 1+ nights |
Prices are on a per person sharing basis (pps).
Special offers for longer stays or when booked as part of a longer itinerary may apply - details on request.Rates Include
All meals; all locals beverages (excluding premium drinks); the Amakhala Conservation/Community Levy; and 2 shared game drives per day are included.
Children Policy
Children aged 12 years and older are welcome. Normal adult rates apply.
Guest Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 based on 6 ratings
Thank you so much for all your advice and help in organising a dream holiday to South Africa. Our visit to Bukela Lodge was outstanding, it was pure luxury with excellent service. After a couple of nights there we felt truly relaxed and pampered. The meals were excellent and the staff could not do enough for us. I cannot recommend Bukela highly enough! Harley our ranger was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He helped us to see all of the Big Five (except Cheetah) and so much more besides. Harley often got his camera out too. We went on a boat trip on the Bushmans River and saw many interesting birds. We are truly grateful to Travel Butlers for planning a trip of a lifetime. Your peronal service and advice for the independent traveller is outstanding. You were always quick to answer my many queries about a suitable itinerary for combining a Safari, the Garden Route, the Winelands and Cape Town in a limited time frame. Booking through you made planning such a big trip very stress free. We fell in love with South Africa and would love to use Travel Butlers again. We will be highly recommending you to everyone we know. Thanks once again!
E DAVIES
We had a fantastic holiday and found the accommodation that you booked for us to be superb. Service and cleanliness in all of the accommodation booked was excellent. Particular favourites were Coral Tree Cottages where we found the hosts to be really warm and friendly and Katie really enjoyed playing with their kids and the sandpit, whilst the service at Thylitshia in Oudtshoorn and Bukela Lodge was outstanding. Our stay at Bukela Lodge could not have been better the food, service, friendliness was outstanding nothing was too much trouble. They made the whole family feel really welcome and were great with Katie and Billy. We did 6 game drives and saw masses of animals including close encounters with a family of lions and the rhinos. We were lucky enough to have our own ranger Sandra who took us out on our own vehicle which worked fantastically with the kids. We usually took them with us for the morning drive and arranged babysitting for the evening drive. We would strongly recommend Bukela both for people with and without children. Thanks for organising a great holiday we enjoyed it so much that we are hoping to return.
R HAMPSON
We had a fantastic time, and Bukela Lodge was very good. The staff were particularly helpful/attentive, and made us all feel very welcome. The accommodation was excellent and the food was very good. So, many thanks for all your help. We had a great time, and would certainly recommend Travel Butlers to anyone planning to visit SA.
B PIPER
We had a fantastic time - Bukela Lodge was wonderful and they looked after us so well. I would definitely recommend them. Elsa was fabulous and such a character! The 5 star rating is well deserved and the place is stunning.
N EDDY
I have just returned from a fab holiday in South Africa which you helped me arranged. The accomodation was all fabulous and we had a great time. The Bukela Lodge in Amakhala Game Reserve was amazing and we saw such fantastic wildlife. Our host Elza and her staff where wonderful attentive people, could not fault the place at all, and I will recommend it to friends. Bradach Manor in Knysna was a charming place with wonderful staff and the most amazing views over the Lagoon. The Oceana apartments where ideally placed and we had a great view of the Apostles and Table Mountain, when there was no cloud! All in all a wonderful dream holiday and thank you for all your help. Do Travel Butlers only specialise in Africa or do they arrange holidays worldwide? I sincerely hope to be using you again and recommending you.
J JACOBS
Bukela Lodge Location.
Directions For Drivers
Note that Port Elizabeth has been renamed Gqeberha, and Grahamstown has been renamed Makhanda - both names for each place can appear on roadsigns and maps and can be used interchangeably.
From Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha): Follow the N2 from Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) towards Grahamstown (Makhanda) for approx 70 km. Turn RIGHT onto the R342 to Alexandria - DO NOT take the first turning onto the R342 (left) to Paterson - the right hand turn onto the R342 is exactly 3 km further down the N2 from the left turn to Paterson. Go through the security gate into the Amakhala Game Reserve and follow the signs to Bukela Game Lodge (you will be driving about 7.5 km through the reserve).
From Grahamstown (Makhanda): Follow the N2 from Grahamstown (Makhanda) towards Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) for approx 55km. Turn LEFT onto the R342 to Alexandria. Go through the security gate into the Amakhala Game Reserve and follow the signs to Bukela Game Lodge (you will be driving about 7.5 km through the reserve).
Do not get out of your car until you reach the lodge. You may see some wildlife on your way - if you do, slow down and maintain a good distance. Do not drive off-road in any circumstances.
General Information For Guests
Each suite has a well appointed en-suite bathroom with a spa bath overlooking the African bush, indoor and outdoor showers, air conditioning, underfloor heating, a central fireplace, private wooden decks, mini bar, telephone, tea/coffee making facilities, hair dryers and in-room safes.
The safari tents have one bedroom and a full en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, electric blankets and a minibar, an open-plan lounge and viewing deck over-looking the African bush.
The main lodge comprises of a reception area, dining and sitting areas with a central fireplace, media and library area with internet, television, DVD player, games and books. There is also a large wooden pool deck with 2 swimming pools.
There is free Wi-Fi in all rooms and public areas.
A massage therapist is also available (additional cost).
Laundry - Guests personal items can be washed and ironed at a nominal fee. Laundry bags are provided in suite cupboards. Dry cleaning is unfortunately not offered.
Water - the water is derived from a bore hole and is not for human consumption. Bottled water is provided.
Your rate includes a Conservation/Community Levy which will primarily fund the anti-poaching units and a dedicated rhino monitoring programme to preserve and protect the rhinos of Amakhala Game Reserve. In addition, a percentage of the Levy will also go to support their award-winning Conservation Education Programme, which enables local school children to visit the Amakhala Conservation Centre to learn about wildlife conservation and sustainability for future generations.
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