Entire home·Private host

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

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your current months are February, 2025 and March, 2025.
February 2025
March 2025

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

Exterior
Outdoor pool
Exterior
4 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, travel cot
Dining

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Entire home

4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10300 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pool
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Marloth Park, Mpumalanga
  • Marlothi Conservancy
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Bushveld Atlantis Water Park
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Lionspruit Game Reserve
    ‪24 min drive‬
  • Skukuza (SZK)
    ‪156 min drive‬

Room options

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

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.


During your stay at this vacation home, you're just a quick walk from Marlothi Conservancy. You'll find features like an outdoor pool, a water park, and concierge services. Free WiFi and a private pool are available in the vacation home.
  • Air-conditioned home with private pool, kitchen, and washing machine
  • Free WiFi
  • Splash around at the water park or swim in the outdoor pool
  • Services include a concierge
  • Onsite recreation includes a playground
  • Steps from Marlothi Conservancy and 8 minutes by car from Bushveld Atlantis Water Park
This vacation home offers its guests a water park and an outdoor pool. The family-friendly vacation home also features barbecue grills, a garden, and concierge services.

Property manager

Gerda Sonck

Languages

Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Private pool
  • Outdoor pool

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • On-site parking

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Toaster
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Kitchen island
  • Electric kettle

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bath or shower
  • Soap
  • Towels provided
  • Hairdryer

Living spaces

  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • TV
  • Video library
  • Games
  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue
  • Garden
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Washing machine
  • Near a laundromat

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On the river
  • In a rural location

Things to do

  • Water park
  • Golf on site
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 10% of profits reinvested in community and sustainability
  • Composting
  • Recycling
  • Humane treatment of captive wild animals
  • Locally owned and organised tours and activities
  • Unit size: 3229 sq ft (300 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 2:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Note from host: Children should be supervised at all times

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

Safari Your Private Viewing Deck. Enjoy Bush Perfect Privacy
Safari Your Private Viewing Deck. Enjoy Bush Perfect Privacy

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

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

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

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

eli i.

Liked: Cleanliness
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
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