Lush is a Lupini family-owned and managed boutique private game lodge, set within the Black Rhino Reserve of the greater Pilanesberg National Park and run on Italian hospitality, offering luxury accommodation, dining, and safari experiences.
The Lupini family, rooted in tradition and closeness, are living out their dreams by creating a nurturing place for all to enjoy in the African bush. After searching for the right place, the location for the lodge would reveal itself with the appearance of a rarely-seen herd of buffalo. This was the sign. The Lupinis had found where new foundations could be laid down.
Lush, tucked into a wooded hillside, holds you in the bush and in the moment. Five individual, luxury suites afford the privacy of home, while the main lodge, run on Italian hospitality, ensures you are very well taken care of. Life in an unspoilt wilderness, free of everyday concerns, creates a sense of wholeness. All at once you are in tune with the beat of the wild, belonging back in nature.
The Sanctuaries
WE HAVE SURELY FOUND PARADISE
Lush is located on the Black Rhino Reserve – a private concession within the malaria-free greater Pilanesberg National Park (55 000ha/135 900ac). The park, encircled by the hills of a volcanic ring-dyke complex and containing both Kalahari and Lowveld biomes, is a wilderness Eden. Nearly all animal species endemic to Southern Africa are to be found here.
The development of the park is considered one of the most ambitious projects of its kind anywhere in the world. It began with Operation Genesis in 1979, which game-fenced the area and reintroduced long-vanished wildlife. Today, Pilanesberg is home to over 7 000 animals – including all of the Big Five, 25 other mammal species, 350-plus bird species, and innumerable reptile and insect species.
As a guest of Lush, you are assured a private – and unique – safari experience, with the rare opportunity to see the black rhino. The lodge has traversing access to the whole of Pilanesberg, including the Black Rhino Game Reserve and the park’s limited-access Wilderness Area – established for the protection and breeding of this critically endangered animal, threatened by poaching.
Other successful park conservation initiatives are the Brown Hyena Project and Cheetah Project. The brown hyena is classified near threatened and is at risk due to the mistaken belief that they are harmful to livestock. The cheetah is currently classified vulnerable – though there is call for its reclassification as endangered – and is under threat from poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict.
Amenities:
Emperor-sized bed, convertible to ¾-bed set, with down duvet and pillows
Pause area with well-stocked Smeg minibar, and Nespresso machine and coffee pods
In-room, free-standing bath with a view
Walk-in rain shower with botanical-infused body products
Open-air shower made private by curved walls and bushveld foliage
Bathrobes of terry cotton and full-length
Hairdryer with two speed and three temperature settings
Air-conditioning, personally adjustable
Private splash pool and deck, with cushioned loungers and two-seater table
Please note: children 10 years and older are welcome; age restriction is revisable when the lodge is booked exclusively.
Deluxe Suites
In January 2022, an additional Deluxe Suite was launched. Larger in size, more private, and exclusive, guests now have their own personal experience of Africa – best enjoyed from a viewing lounge upstairs, the deck, the heated plunge pool, or the bedroom.
Accommodation
LUXURY IN THE BUSH
Choose from three Bush-Facing and two Mountain-Facing Suites – distinguished only by their views. Covered walkways lead to each, interspersed between the trees and with their own private entrances. Wilderness-inspired interiors, innovative use of space, and extended fold-back glass doors mean you feel immersed in nature even when in your suite. Their décor gives a nod to the Lupini’s Italian heritage, though much of the furnishing is local, supporting South African artisans. Designed with every comfort in mind, your Suite is not simply a base from which to explore the surrounds, but a living space.
Seclusion, serenity and exclusivity. An intimate wilderness retreat awaits. Your own private hideaway in the African bush.
Set on a tranquil riverbank where dawn is greeted by the call of the African fish eagle, Pel’s Post is a celebration of its serene wilderness location. With just four luxurious open-air suites and its own dedicated hospitality team, it is a truly intimate way to experience this remarkable part of the world.
Luxury guest spaces
Our eight-sleeper eco-luxe property, Pel’s Post sits closer to the river, just downstream from The Outpost. Each of the four suites – which can be reserved individually or all together for a completely private safari experience – features a king-sized bed, an open-plan bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers, an oversized bathtub, a well-stocked mini bar and a generous wooden deck with views of the Luvuvhu River. As at The Outpost, each unit is open to the elements on three sides, with state-of the-art retractable, remote-controlled screens in place of walls.
What makes this property special?
Pel’s Post is a discreet eco-luxe escape designed for those who seek exclusivity and connection, with their loved ones as well as the rugged beauty of the wilderness. The four guest spaces can can be reserved individually or in their entirety, allowing guests to choose their level of privacy and design their own personal safari escape.
Can be booked for exclusive use (sleeps 8)
Dedicated hospitality team and private game vehicle available
The raw beauty of a remote and untouched wilderness
Set in a private concession with extremely low guest and vehicle density
Excludes:
Premium beverage brands and cellar reserve wines
Curio shop purchases
Telephone calls
Lodge transfers
Park entrance fee
Conservation fee
Landing fees
Spa treatments
Compulsory international fully comprehensive travel insurance
Any other items of a personal nature or not stipulated above
The Details
Includes:
Fully serviced luxury accommodation
Two game drives per day in open safari vehicles with sundowners and snacks
All meals
All beverages excl. premium brands
WiFi in central area
Mini-Bar consumption
Laundry
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