If you want a private, quiet, luxury lodge to stay at in the bush, without it feeling overly busy…then Chacma Bush Camp is definitely for you! Now don’t be fooled by the word camp, It is SO much more than a camp Chacma has everything you could need and want on Safari with it’s beautiful luxury rooms, meals, and service. Chacma Bush Lodge is a serene property in the Balule Private Game, situated on 40,000-hectare & is part of the Greater Kruger.
I know what you’re thinking, and YES! Chacma has the Big Five! I’ve been on countless safaris, from five-star luxury lodges to national park camping and full-on roughing it, and one of my absolute favorite things about Chacma is how private and quiet it is. Trust me, when you’re in the bush, privacy makes all the difference! The rooms overlook a waterhole, and because there’s no noisy crowd, wildlife comes right up—elephants stopping for a drink, warthogs splashing around—it’s pure magic. At larger, more touristy lodges, sound carries, and those incredible up-close moments become much less likely. If you want a safari where nature truly comes to you, Chacma delivers!
The camp sleeps a total of 10 people in three chalets. Perfect if you want a private family safari experience, where everyone can have their own space. I booked through Sun Destinations, and they did an incredible job setting everything up for my trip and communicating with Chacma flawlessly.
Safari Schedule
One of the best parts of safari is how deeply your body syncs with nature. And yes, that means early mornings! Now, I am not someone who typically promotes waking up at the crack of dawn, but trust me—on safari, it’s absolutely worth it. There’s something incredible about how quickly your body adjusts to the rhythm of the sunrise and sunset when you’re disconnected from the rest of the world. No emails, no city noise—just the stillness of the bush, the sounds of wildlife, and the kind of presence that’s hard to find anywhere else.
5am – wake up call
5:30am-6, quick coffee & head on game drive!
6am-8:30am: Morning game drive!
8:30am: Return to camp for breakie!
9-1430: NOTHING! This is your time to nap, relax by the pool, go through your amazing photos and content you took on the morning game drive, or literally do whatever you want.
1430: Lunch
1600: Leave for afternoon game drive
1600-1900: Game drive accompanied by a sun downer drinks spot! My fav
1900-2000: Return to camp
2000: Drinks around the fire followed by dinner
Chacma and Sun Destinations delivered an unforgettable safari experience—one that felt straight out of a dream. From watching elephants lazily wade through the waterhole right in front of my room (which happened 6 times in 3 days!!) to witnessing lions basking in the sun without a care in the world, every moment was pure magic. The landscape itself looked like a scene from The Lion King. There’s something truly special about being immersed in a place where nature dictates the pace, and wildlife moves freely around you. I really didn’t want to leave, I wanted to stay living on Safari forever!
If you’re looking for an intimate, authentic safari where every encounter feels personal and wild, Chacma is the place in the bush to be!
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