The Outpost

Rooms

Daffonchio’s 12 Luxury Spaces set on stilts mark a radical departure from the thatch-and-plank of traditional safari-lodge design. The wraparound panels and retractable blinds of each suite can be slid back, leaving you cantilevered high above the hillside on an open-sided platform. With breathtaking 180-degree views stretching to Mozambique, there can be few more inspirational ways of experiencing the bush.

You have a full 55 sqm of space, with twin beds that are joined to create massive mosquito-netted kings, daybeds, open bathrooms with free-standing concrete half-egg bathtubs, and steel wardrobes which can slide to create a visual screen between sleeping areas and bathrooms. There’s a distinct feel of New York loft-goes-Bush.

Be aware when booking that ‘living spaces’ begin at number 1 (Bush Views, good for birding) and run away from the lodge. Those numbered 7-11 (River Views) have the best views but if you book Honeymoon Space 12 (even better views) you’ll have a 400m-hike along the raised teak walkway. And be sure to keep your ‘space’ open to the night, to wake at dawn to see the sun rising over the valley. It will be the experience of a lifetime. Note there are fans and an eco-friendly cooling system in the rooms but no air-con so it can feel hot in mid-summer.

There's also a separate lodge called Pel's Post that's perfect for families or groups. It's designed in the same post-modern style and comes with those killer 180-degree views. There are 4 luxury suites (which can also be booked individually), a living area with a bar and fireplace, an enormous terrace with a firepit, and a private swimming pool. If you book the whole place, you get a private chef and a private vehicle for game drives, too. Pure luxury.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

We were amazed at the quality of the food at The Outpost, the more so given that we were unexpected visitors. Despite its remoteness, the lodge aims to provide top-notch cuisine with regular deliveries of fresh ingredients sourced from local providers surrounding Kruger, as well as some gourmet products from Johannesburg.

Breakfasts, following the traditional safari formula, are served at the main lodge after your early morning game drive. These take the form of a big cold buffet which always includes a fresh fruit salad and homemade bread and muffins, followed by any variation that you choose of the ‘full English’. Coffee is prepared at the open bar with an Italian espresso machine and was the best we had in the bush. Lunches are light, usually consisting of salad, fish and plenty of fresh vegetables, accompanied by homemade quiche or maybe savoury crêpes.

But dinner is the most memorable meal of the day, served at about 8pm by the decked poolside or in the enclosed courtyard beneath the stars. By then you’ll have witnessed a stunning sunset and should be in receptive culinary mode after a drink at the bar. You choose between 2 starters - maybe vegetable soup, salad, zucchini fritters, gazpacho or a light risotto - and 3 mains like lamb shank, ostrich, impala or springbok steak, or chicken and a vegetarian dish, followed by 1 desert option. The Makuleke kitchen staff present their food beautifully and there's a good choice of South African wines racked up in a chic, glass-walled wine-cellar.

Features include:

• All meals included
• Bar
• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• Take game drives through the acacia and fever-tree forests. Three rivers spill onto these floodplains, making them rich in nutrients and abundant with life. You might spot some of the Big 5 as well as nyala, impala, warthog, wildebeest. But the insects, landscapes and birds are what you're really here for. Drives are held at dawn and dusk with exceptional guides
  
  
• Explore the bush on foot with a guide (arrange in advance). From the lodge, a path threads down the side of the valley towards the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers
  
  
• Birdwatch from your ‘space’ or from the main lodge. There are over 350 species in this region. You’ll see sunbirds, rollers, weavers, flycatchers and, if you’re lucky, fish eagles and the rare Pel’s fishing owl
  
  
• Go on a village tour to meet the Makuleke community (needs pre-booking)
  
  
• Take a jeep safari over to Crook’s Corner, once the hang out of desperate criminals trafficking illicit goods across the 3 borders
  
  
• Enjoy a relaxing massage in your room with a view
  
  
• Stay in bed and watch amazing sunrises from your lofty ‘space’

  Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Birdwatching
  • Hiking
  • Plantlife / flora
  • Private guided tours
  • Safaris
  • Wildlife

Kids

The Outpost welcomes children aged 10 and over, though it's not really set up for kids as the atmosphere is peaceful and romantic. Extra beds can be arranged on request. Children 12+ are charged at adult rates; children aged 10 and 11 are charged at 50% of this rate.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

If booking Pel's Post as a whole lodge option, then children of all ages are welcome, though it's not suited to small children. There are four open-plan suites and a private pool, large decks and your own dedicated vehicle for game drives.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Outpost is located in the 26,500-hectare Makuleke Contractual Park, also known as the Pafuri region in the far north of the Kruger National Park, by the borders of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. As its name suggests, The Outpost is isolated, a long way from anywhere. The nearest major towns are Messina or Louis Trichardt, both approx. 200km away. The small resort at Tshipise, 130km from The Outpost, has a fuel station and a small shop.

By Air
Johannesburg O R Tambo is the nearest international airport, a 6-7 hr (610km) drive. If you have the budget and time is short, you can hop on a charter flight direct from Johannesburg to the Outpost's airstrip at Pafuri. The light aircraft flight takes 1hr 40mins followed by a 20-min drive to the lodge. Charter flights to Parfuri can also be arranged from Hoedspruit airport (1 hr).

By Car
The scenic drive from Johannesburg is on good roads but takes 6-7 hrs so best to set off early morning to arrive in time for lunch and the afternoon drive. If you are combining The Outpost with a safari lodge in the southern Kruger (eg. Sabi Sand/Skukuza), the drive up through the park takes about 8 hrs because of the maximum 50kmph speed limit. If you don’t have that time to spare, you can almost halve the journey time by driving up the western border of the park, sticking to the highways. Either way, you’ll have around 400km to cover. The nearest park gate to The Outpost is Pafuri gate. For car hire see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.

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