Three hundred kilometres north of Johannesburg in the malaria-free Waterberg region, Jembisa is for those looking for a varied, personal African safari. The lodge takes only one booking at a time, which provides you with an exclusive holiday and ensures that your stay is tailor-made to your requirements.
Game drives are in open 4x4 Land Rovers with highly trained and experienced rangers, and night drives provide the opportunity of seeing the nocturnal animals such as leopard, brown hyena, aardvark and civet cats.
Bush walks are always fascinating offer the opportunity to experience the thrill of tracking rhino on foot.
There are also lots of interesting things to do in the surrounding area; horse riding for the novice to the experienced rider, a visit to the Rhino and Waterberg cultural museum where guests can hand-feed an orphan rhino, trips to local African art and curio shops, and scenic helicopter flights. All this can be arranged for you during your stay.
Jembisa has a wonderful atmosphere of relaxation and comfort. The lodge is built from local stone and thatch with large, spacious rooms decorated with natural materials in an Afro-colonial style. There are 5 luxury en-suite bedrooms, 3 with private balconies and a single/children's bunk room.
Having been a family home, Jembisa benefits from some extras not usually found at safari lodges, for example a library, reading room, games room and tennis court. There is also a natural saltwater pool, ideal for swimming or just relaxing by.
Rates Include
All meals and snacks; all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; private chef; private ranger; personal nanny; a laundry service; shared game drives and bush walks; sundowners; camp outs; and all activities on the game reserve are included.
Children Policy
Children of any age are welcome. Rates available on request.
Directions For Drivers
From Johannesburg International Airport: Take R21 to Pretoria for about 20 minutes. Take the N1 highway North towards Pietersburg/Polokwane. Turn off at the Kranskop toll gate (3rd toll gate) to Nylstroom/Modimolle. Go through Nylstroom/Modimolle to Vaalwater (+/- 60 km). In Vaalwater turn right at the stop street towards Melkriver (there is only one stop street in Vaalwater). Go +/- 42 km and turn left onto a gravel road marked Melkriver School/Lapalala. After 6 km turn right (there is an old Cape Dutch farm house on the right-hand side) and pass the Rhino Museum. From the Rhino Museum drive 3.3 km, the main entrance to Jembisa will be on your right.
(if you are driving to Kingfisher Cottage or the Podica Chalets, continue driving past the main entrance for 1 km, the road bends to the left, go over Palala River Bridge and through the electric gate, drive another 1 km, and turn right, then follow the signs).
If you are driving to River Cottage, do not take the Lapalala turn, but stay on the Melkrivier Road from Vaalwater until you reach a T-junction. Turn left at the T-junction, and approximately 2 km on the left-hand side you will see a farm gate. This is just before you cross the Palala River. Someone will greet you at the gate.
General Information For Guests
Children of all ages are very welcome at Jembisa and activities will be tailor-made to suit them. Children's books, games and wildlife videos are available and they provide free baby-sitting. Fun activities for the children include spoor identification and tracking, 'frogging' and bush survival skills. Other local activities include scenic helicopter flights, horse riding and elephant back safaris which can be arranged at an additional cost.
