Tremisana Game Lodge is the Kruger National Park's Affordable Big Five Private Game Lodge. This upmarket Lodge was a founder member of the Balule Game Reserve. Tremisana is the largest and leading lodge in the Balule Section of South Africa's popular Kruger Park.

The exquisite gardens and water features make this camp a veritable oasis. Guests at Tremisana enjoy the best of both types of safaris: the traditional lodge operation includes a four hour bush walk and four hour late afternoon Landcruiser game drive while our guests will also enjoy a full day open vehicle safari in Kruger.

The Lodge has a total of 15 chalets plus a two-bedroomed guesthouse with self-catering facilities. We can sleep a maximum of 40 guests. Every unit is en suite (shower, toilet, basin) and all units are air-conditioned.

The lodge is serviced by two excellent boreholes. Its proximity to the tar road means Tremisana is easily accessible all year round, including the rainy season. The presence of lions, elephant and buffalo necessitates the maintaining of an electric fence around the camp.

Perhaps the most striking feature of Tremisana Game Lodge is the beautiful gardens. The presence of numerous bougainvilleas and various palms and cycads gives the camp a subtropical feel. Water features add a soothing effect and the overall feel of Tremisana is very relaxing. At night, the subdued light from the illuminated paved walkways lend a romantic and magical flavour to this outstanding camp.

There is also a splash pool, open air boma for dinners around a crackling fire and a covered lapa overlooking a waterhole.

Delina is the talented chef at Tremisana Game Lodge and her home-made bread and mouth-watering soups have made her internationally remembered. Breakfast and dinner are included during your stay at the Lodge.

Most of the other lodge owners on Balule are always amazed at the excellent sightings of animals at Tremisana. Despite its relatively small size, the area around Tremisana always seems to produce something really good. We have seen all of the Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard) on the property as well as cheetah and wild dog.

There are two reasons for this situation :

1. As one moves westwards towards the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountain Range, the grass becomes sweeter.

2. Tremisana Dam attracts an inordinately large number of animals all year round. We keep the dam filled via our boreholes and, in winter, this water is the only permanent water for a radius of over five km.

Elephant, lion and buffalo are seen regularly. In fact, we have had elephants and lions INSIDE the camp on the odd occasion when our staff have left the back gate open! Lions use the wedge formed by our neighbour's fence and the main tar road fence to corner and kill their prey. Recent lion kills at Tremisana include impala, giraffe, wildebeest and waterbuck. In 2001 a lioness gave birth to 3 cubs just below the Tremisana Dam wall. A troop of Vervet Monkeys has made Tremisana their permanent home and their antics amuse and enthrall our guests. We do not feed these monkeys and insist that our guests follow suit.

At night, the roars of lions and the wails of jackals are often heard and serve as a reminder that we are in wild Africa.

GAME DRIVES are conducted on our open vehicles: Landcruiser or Hilux Gameviewer. Viva Safaris is the only tour operator on Balule with access to all the servitude roads. Our Sunset Drive leaves Tremisana at 17h00 and returns around 19h00. In mid-summer, we return a little later so as to facilitate spotlit game viewing after dark.

BUSH WALKS are also available for guests who want to experience the bush on foot, away from the game drive vehicles and crowds.

THE BLYDE RIVER CANYON: Longer visits include a sight seeing trip to this picturesque location.

Tariffs include all transfers, all entry fees, all game drives and game walks and accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Excluded are lunches, drinks, gratuities and personal items.