Entire home

Safari in the garden, your private viewing decks. Enjoy the bush and relax!

Safari in the garden, your private viewing decks. Enjoy the bush and relax!

Photo gallery for Safari in the garden, your private viewing decks. Enjoy the bush and relax!

Rock swimming pool
Back garden, very quiet and private
Side of the garden
Upstairs lounge
Downstairs sitting room

Overview of Safari in the garden, your private viewing decks. Enjoy the bush and relax!

Reviews
9.0 out of 10 Wonderful
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10300 sq m

Popular amenities

  • PoolPoolPool
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Marloth Park, Mpumalanga
  • Popular LocationLionspruit Game Reserve4 min walk
  • Popular LocationMarloth Park Adventures Go-Karts19 min drive
  • Popular LocationCrocodile Bridge Gate27 min drive
  • AirportNelspruit (MQP-Kruger Mpumalanga Intl.)86 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

3 Single Beds

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Safari in the garden, your private viewing decks. Enjoy the bush and relax!

We have solar energy with back up and borehole water if needed, so no worries about electricity cuts and water shortage!
Stop the rat race, the daily worries, and come and enjoy wildlife at our place. Very close to Kruger Park entrance, you can hop over to Kruger for a few hours to see predators and the big five as our place only has the visit of non predator wild animals.
We have been searching long to find this house where you can enjoy the bush in a natural setting and in a house style in agreement with its environment.
Hear the elephants trump and stroll to the river to watch their interactions. Put some bird seed and observe all the various tropical birds coming close to you to eat or take a fresh bath in the sun. Have a refreshing swim in your private pool after a safari day. Talk about your fantastic experiences around the BBQ-fire in the evening and have some more thrills by listening to the night sounds : do we hear hippo fighting ... was this a leopard calling ...or is it a lion roaring .... could that be a hyena laughing?
You can prepare your own dinner but you can also ask our housekeeper to prepare it for you. She will cater to your needs. Her traditional African potjie, prepared on a slow wooden fire, is one of our guests' favourites. Of course, you can also go out to eat in one of the close by restaurants. 
At Rafiki's you find the much desired factors all together in one place : bush charm, good location (near river and also near Kruger Crocodile Bridge entry Gate) ; privacy (no neighbours prying on you) ; large private garden; private swimming pool ; splash pool; full daily cleaning to keep out unwanted insects and other crawlers; burglar safe anti-mosquito windows in every room for fresh air; possibility to cook for you. Last but not least the frequent visits of many different animals who love the shaded garden and private space.
Also free limitless Wifi in the bush!
Rafiki's Resthouse is a spacious bush house with 4 bedrooms (all with air conditioning, all also have ceiling fans) and 3 bathrooms, a living room on the ground floor (with AC), a video room on the first floor, a dining area and a fully equipped kitchen.
All rooms have at least one window that is mosquito and baboon proof when left open. This is exceptional in Marloth Park but the owners consider fresh air essential in this climate.
We now also have outdoor sleeping possibility in our safari tent on the upper deck. Enjoy the bush at night from a safe place.
The beauty of the place are the viewing decks (downstairs and upstairs) from where the animals can be observed. In South Africa, one lives outside: the house has two large covered terraces, a cocktail pool, a swimming pool, a barbecue area and last but not least a large garden with impressive trees.
Rafiki's Resthouse is situated in a nature reserve, bordering the famous Kruger National Park. Antelopes, including kudus, impalas and bushbucks, monkeys, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and so much more can be daily observed in the garden, at close quarters. Birds are abundant. At night, bushbabies, genet and other night animals can be seen while you are sipping at a glass of wine or are having dinner on your private terrace.
'Rafiki' means friend and you are welcomed in this home as friends.
Surrounded by trees, the house and garden are a haven of peace, only to be disturbed by animals and birds. If you like privacy and animals close by, this home is ideal. Luxury in the bush. A longer stay is recommended to enhance game sightings and complete relaxation.
Greater game such as the big five can be spotted at the river. From your terrace, you can hear the elephants trumpeting, the hippos laughing and the lion roaring. The fence of the National Park is only 100m away, a 2 min walk through the garden, and from there you have a beautiful view of the Crocodile River and the animals of Kruger that visit the river. Elephant, rhino, buffalo, hyena and various antelopes are often seen, and, with luck, even lions and leopard. Walk along the river and you will always be rewarded.
Many birds can be observed in the garden.
This garden is not fenced as the beauty of the place is the closeness to these animals who are wild but not aggressive.
Restaurants, shops and leisure activities (elephant interaction) are close by. The nearest entrance to Kruger National Park can be reached in 12 minutes.

Rafiki's is ideal for a longer stay as you and the animals will get used to each other and you will look forward to the greeting of the no longer frightened bushbuck in the morning, or the visiting bushbabies in the evening.  Many guests drop their planned frequent visits to Kruger to just stay home and enjoy instead their own game viewing in the privacy of the garden.

Betty does proper daily cleaning and can also cook for you. A fee of 15-20 euro per day is to be paid directly to the owner immediately after booking.


Property manager

Gerda Sonck

Languages

Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children should be supervised at all times

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Loud music or continued screaming is not allowed
Feeding baboons is not allowed
Filling the splash pool or swimming pool can only be done by Betty

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Marloth Park

Located in Nkomazi, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Marloth Park Adventures Go-Karts and Leopard Creek Country Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Kruger National Park and Mjejane Nature Reserve. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Marloth Park, Mpumalanga

What's nearby

  • Lionspruit Game Reserve - 4 min walk
  • Marloth Park Adventures Go-Karts - 19 min drive
  • Crocodile Bridge Gate - 27 min drive
  • Kruger National Park - 28 min drive
  • Lebombo Border Control - 29 min drive

Getting around

  • Skukuza (SZK) - 156 min drive

Restaurants

  • Aamazing River View - 15 min drive
  • Ngwenya Restaurant - 16 min drive
  • Parkview Restaurant - 40 min drive
  • Le Fera - 15 min drive
  • Tambarina - 15 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Safari in the garden, your private viewing decks. Enjoy the bush and relax! have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Safari in the garden, your private viewing decks. Enjoy the bush and relax! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Safari in the garden, your private viewing decks. Enjoy the bush and relax!?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Safari in the garden, your private viewing decks. Enjoy the bush and relax!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Safari in the garden, your private viewing decks. Enjoy the bush and relax! located?

This family-friendly Nkomazi holiday home is located on the riverfront, 2.6 mi (4.2 km) from Bushveld Atlantis Water Park, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Mjejane Nature Reserve and Marloth Park Adventures Go-Karts. Lukimbi Private Concession and Kruger National Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 1 out of 2 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 2 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 2 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 2 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 2 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.0/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

eli i.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Paradise
If only we could give it more stars, we would. The house has a thatched roof, high beamed ceilings, super comfy beds, plenty of indoor & outdoor seating, all of the imenities needed while maintaining the decor of a bush home. There is a fire pit and 2 pools. Betty cleans the house daily. It is surrounded by the bush therefore you get to interact with kudo, warthogs, bush back that eat from your hands, also impala, zebra, giraffe, vervet monkeys, baboons, elephants Guinea fowl in your own back yard. A 5 minute walk to the fenced river has crocodiles, hippos and a plethora of birds. We did visit Krueger for the big 5 but were happiest in Raffiki’s back yard with the animals. Gerda is most helpful with daily animal sightings and info. It was beyond words. our best vacation ever, despite the 16 hour flight. The internet is phenomenal for the updates from Gerda but we never used it except to load pictures and did not turn the tv on once. HIGHLY recommend Rafiki’s Resthouse.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Marele S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
African experience
We enjoyed our stay at Rafikis. We loved seeing the wild life so close at hand and the area was really peaceful. It’s great to have the Kruger national park gate so close and we really saw a lot of animals just sitting on the ‘stoep’. Betty was very friendly and helpful and we enjoyed meeting her.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2019

About the host

Hosted by Gerda Sonck

Host profile image
I am a university Professor who loves the bush. When being there, my key words are : inspiration, creation, dedication, fulfilment as the quiet and relaxing environment of our house and garden relieve me of my joint pains and make us forget the little worries of daily life.
We have travelled all over the world and lived in many countries. What is so special here is that every day is different as it is unpredictable what animals will pass by and what we will see, either in the garden or by the river. The quiet of the bush and the privacy of our house (unlike most other houses in Marloth Park) is exactly what we need.
We will be happy to give you advice for the rest of your trip through South Africa, or for day trips from our property.

Why they chose this property

We have searched long for a property near Kruger and finally took this one because :
- due to its privacy we have many animals visiting daily and at night as our large property has no fence
- it is close to the river, yet not right at the game viewing road which is dusty
- it is close to the Kruger entrance, therefore no long dirt roads before you reach the main road
- we have no neighbours close by and hence privacy
- we have large trees
- the house offers all the comfort needed yet is built in bush style
- it is located near Kruger south where most game is
- we have uncapped fast Wifi a
- we installed a borehole to ensure our comfort in the bush (when Marloth Park has no water in summer peak season, we have our own borehole water)

What makes this property unique

We have a long experience travelling all over South Africa and are happy to give you advice
The huge trees in the garden and the many animals
Free fast Wifi
Close to the river AND to Kruger entrance

Languages:

English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch
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