Jock Safari Lodge
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Main Jock Lodge
Carefully screened by lush trees and reed walls, the 12 individual thatched rooms at Jock Safari Lodge, impart a sense of aloneness and oneness with the landscape.
Room Configuration
All 12 rooms can sleep a maximum of 2 adults per room
- 9 King bedded Luxury Rooms
- 3 Twin bedded Luxury Rooms
Room Features
- Air conditioning
- Private minibar
- Hairdryer
- Tea and coffee making facilities
- Private plunge pool
- International dial telephone
- Electronic safe
- Ceiling fan
- En-suite bathroom, with outdoor shower
- Sala (outdoor day bed) overlooking the river
Fitzpatrick’s Lodge at Jock
Fitzpatrick’s Lodge offers personal service in an intimate atmosphere. Perfect for small parties and families.
Room Configuration
2 of the 3 rooms can sleep a maximum of 2 adults sharing with 2 children per room
- 3 King/Twin bedded Luxury Rooms
Room Features
- Air conditioning
- Private minibar
- Hairdryer
- Tea and coffee making facilities
- International dial telephone
- Electronic safe
- Ceiling fan
- En-suite bathroom, with outdoor shower
Nestled at the confluence of the Mitomeni and Biyamiti rivers at the southern tip of the world famous Kruger National Park, the legend lives on of the story of an intrepid explorer, Sir Percy Fitzpatrick and his trusted dog, Jock. The lodge is situated on 6 000 ha of pristine bushveld and for the exclusive use to the discerning Jock guests.
The lodge has been built to the most stringent eco-management criteria in South Africa, audited by Kruger National Park and DEAT (Department of Environment and Tourism) on a bi-annual basis. Off road driving on the concession is not permitted at any time as the damage a vehicle does to the veld takes up to 2 years to repair. An arial survey has shown the true damage that off-road driving has done to the environment in the past. Jock Safari Lodge has a 100% commitment in maintaining a low impact upon the footprint that is Jock in order to remain true to the overall conservation ethic of the Shamwari Group and in order to preserve this unique heritage for future generations.
This luxurious reserve offers us glimpses of bygone days of the gold diggings of the Eastern Transvaal, where adventurers like Irish born Fitzpatrick traversed the rugged Lowveld and escarpment en-route to the beautiful African port of Delagoa Bay now known as Maputo in Mozambique. Sir Percy transported provisions by ox wagon from the coast to the gold digging villages, assisted by his constant companion, Jock. Fitzpatrick outwitted crocodile infested rivers, malaria carrying mosquitoes and man eating lion, while having to hunt for the pot, traversing and sleeping under immense African skies.
Regional Information – Kruger National Park
Where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuses with historical and archaeological sights – this is real Africa. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa.
Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, SANParks – Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.
Truly the flagship of the South African national parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man’s interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries – from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela – is very evident in the Kruger National Park. These treasures represent the cultures, persons and events that played a role in the history of the Kruger National Park and are conserved along with the park’s natural assets.
The first explorer to set foot in the region was the Dutchman François de Cuiper who led a Dutch East India Company expedition to explore. However, the expedition was attacked and driven by local tribes-people near Gomondwane. Only around 1838 Voortrekker expeditions led by Lous Trichardt and Hans van Rensburg were able to successfully establish forward outposts. Hundreds of Europeans and farmers came to the Lowveld lured by rumours of gold and the great quantity of valuable commodities such as ivory and skins.
This caused the number of game to dramatically decrease due to hunting and trading of animal skins and horns. President Paul Kruger was told about the rapid destruction of wildlife in the area by hunters, after which he succeeded to persuade the Transvaal parliament to establish a protected area for the wildlife in the Lowveld region. The “Sabie Game Reserve”, bordered by the Crocodile River in the south, the Sabie River in the north, the Lebombo Mountains in the east and the Drakensberg Mountains in the west, which is now the southern part of the Kruger National Park, was established in 1898.
These reserves would eventually expand into today’s Kruger National Park. The Anglo-Boer War stopped any further development of the reserve, but the British, after winning the war, proceeded with the plan to develop the Sabie Game Reserve and gave the task to major James Stevenson-Hamilton in 1902 to protect the animals against hunters, ivory poachers and cattle farmers. The Park was opened to the public in 1927 for visitors to view animals and plant life in a area where they are protected. After the Anglo-Boer War, James Stevenson-Hamilton was appointed as the first park warden. He spent the next 40 years protecting what the war had destroyed. His actions are no doubt an ever-living contribution to the Kruger National Park’s current existence. In addition to his animal conservation, James Stevenson Hamilton was also responsible for acquiring another 10 000 hex acres for the reserve.
After World War I, the Kruger National Park was protected by the government of South Africa and remains under the watchful eye of the government even today. The very first ranger in the reserve was Paul Bester who made his residence in a rustic rondavel (hut) which is now the site of the headquarters camp, Skukuza. Documents concerning the History of the Kruger National Park can be viewed at the Skukuza Library. Half a million years ago, the first San stone age hunters roamed the plains in search of game. The modern day bush men have left fascinating rock paintings all over the Republic of South Africa, and, Kruger National Park contains over one hundred sites of these paintings. The Kruger National Park is a living memorial to President Paul Kruger and those who have upheld his vision of a protected wilderness reserve which will forever remind us of that which we are so dangerously close to losing.
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- Facilities for Children
- In-room Facilities
- On-Site Facilities / Services
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Whether you’re looking for an exhilarating outdoor adventure, or relaxing quality time with loved ones, Jock Safari Lodge has something for you.
Game Drives & Walks
Morning and evening drives are performed in covered 4×4 Landrovers conducted by highly experienced rangers.
Traversing through the reserve, the wildlife is sometimes staggering in its diversity. Enthralling sightings of elephants, a sea of buffalo horns rising from the grass as they lie resting in the growing heat as well as prides of lions, awaits one.
At dusk, a vantage point is chosen overlooking one of the many breathtaking vistas of the Kruger National Park. Sundowners are enjoyed while tales of the bush are told and a glimpse of what this unique wilderness has to offer is seen while being entranced by the ever changing colours of the sky as the sun slips into the timeslot of tomorrow. En route back to the lodge, nocturnal animals such as leopard, hyena and lion are often seen.
Walking Safari’s are encouraged, after a hearty breakfast, moving through the veld enjoying vistas of unsurpassed beauty and discovering one’s place in the cycle of nature. The diversity of fauna and flora in this unique concession truly comes alive when viewed on foot.
Pilgrims Rest Spa
Pilgrim’s Rest, named after the quaint historical mining town featured so prominently in “Jock of the Bushveld” and still in existence today, was a place to rest, rejuvenate and restock. So too is the Relaxation Retreat at Jock Safari Lodge.
The Pilgrims Rest Retreat offers an escape to enjoy some pampering. Awaken your senses and allow us to rejuvenate body, mind and soul. Inspired by surrounding elements that guide us, our selection of body and beauty treatments cater for men and women.
Flora & Fauna
Personally assigned rangers will delight in sharing their knowledge of this astounding natural treasure trove of the bushveld and slowly the mysteries of the wild unfold.
Jackalberry trees older than written history are pointed out and the myriad of insects, birds, mammals and reptiles that exist in this leafy ecosystem are explained. The sheer wonder of Mother Nature at work in this microcosm makes one eager to experience and understand more and to experience untouched Paradise in its pure form.
The Amarula tree, so very African, can be seen overflowing with baboons plundering the juicy fruit while keeping a wary eye out for the leopard that abound in the Jock concession. Taste the Sour Plum and sense a taste explosion or spot the various plants with medicinal values ranging from stomach cures, cures for hangovers or even a bush Viagra!!
The vast expanse of this wild land slows one down and with this inner peace comes an ability to really incite the senses.
Every game drive is a discovery of Nature and the magic of Jock.
Birdwatching
For the avid birdwatcher, abundant species of bird are regularly seen on the concession including raptors such as the Martial, Tawny and Fish Eagles as well as Steppe Buzzards.
A wide variety of Bushveld Birds are spotted from the comfort of ones room or whilst lying next to the Rock Pool. Most commonly seen are Hornbills, Starlings, Boubou’s, Shrikes and Woodpeckers to name but a few.
The tranquil atmosphere at the Lodge allows for unique birding opportunities as man slows down, finding the rhythm of nature and begins to truly observe.
Rock Art
Throughout the concession, rock art sites dating back more than 3 000 years are found depicting the spiritual beliefs and lives of the San. During their travels, members of the tribe would congregate around a communal fire, weaving stories and celebrating the gift of life while the Shaman would meditate through rhythmic dancing, singing and clapping and while in a trance, receive visions and guidance. This medicine man would ensure the well being of the tribe, protecting them from evil and sickness, predicting the future and ensuring good hunting and rains.
These experiences of the Shaman were depicted to the tribe in the form of the rock art seen today. The various sites that were chosen were also very symbolic, the rock depicting the medium between the different realms the Shaman had travelled in his trancelike state. Rock was the medium where 3 worlds met: the world as we know it, the world above and the world below.
Ingredients used for the paint consisted of red ochre, animal bones, coal and aloe sap. The sap and protein in egg and blood have the ability to preserve the art that exists today. The highlight of a day in paradise is a guided walk to view some of the rock art that abounds in and around Jock Safari Lodge. One gets a heightened awareness moving through the bush on foot and a newfound respect for the San who found a way to co-exist with Nature, leaving only a few mystical daubings on the rocks as proof of their fleeting visit and the simplicity of their ways, giving one a new understanding and meaning to our fast paced existence.
Stargazing
With the absence of artificial light, the stargazing at Jock Safari Lodge is phenomenal and amongst the best in Southern Africa.
Romantic stories of gods and goddesses banished to the heavens are woven into astronomical facts and unfolds before one’s eyes.
How better to end a blissful day at Jock but to sit reflecting under the star studded-canopy of African skies, the vastness of infinite galaxies stretching before one.
