An unforgettable African safari experience awaits at this luxury exclusive-use villa in the heart of Zululand, South Africa. Discover iconic wildlife and excellent tiger fishing at this family-friendly safari villa, only 3 hours from King Shaka Airport, and 6 hours from OR Tambo airport. It boasts 5 luxurious bedrooms, all with panoramic views over Jozini Dam.
The villa offers unique African bushveld accommodation that captivates local and international guests. Set within the renowned Pongola Game Reserve, the exclusive-use villa blends style and comfort, with spectacular wildlife and bird sightings, and top-class tiger fishing.
Beyond the villa, experienced guides provide immersive bush experiences, including game drives, night drives, bush walks, and sundowners at a scenic lookout point. A boat cruise on the dam offers a unique opportunity to spot wildlife and birds, with a chance to see elephants swimming in the dam. The highlight of Tandweni Villa is its abundant tiger fishing, with half and full-day fishing excursions led by expert guide Jabulani. Guests can also enjoy a signature bush breakfast on the water’s edge, surrounded by hippos and the calls of fish eagles.
Young guests can partake in special safari activities, including scavenger hunt bush walks, fishing in the watering hole with Jabs, mini game drives, finding hidden gems in the sandpit and sleeping under the stars, ensuring a memorable experience in the bush.
Awaken to panoramic views of Jozini Dam and the Lebombo Mountains from one of the five beautifully furnished air-conditioned bedrooms, each with a unique style and character. Our presidential suite has a kid’s room attached making it the perfect space to enjoy as a family with its own private lounge & TV, coffee station, private patio with outdoor seating, outside shower & gorgeous stone bathtub. The 4 other luxury suites each have their own bathrooms & patio with outdoor seating with amazing views.
The villa’s seamless open-plan living spaces combine a contemporary design with an authentic African ambience, offering various relaxation spots such as an outdoor pergola, a sun lounger in the pool & a private bird hide.
ROOM 1 (Presidential Suite)
– King-size bed with a kid’s room attached – twin beds
– Large dressing room with coffee station
– Lounge with a TV (DStv)
– Large bathroom with shower & freestanding bathtub, double vanity basin & outside shower
ROOM 2
– Twin or king-size bed
– Private bathroom with shower across the passage.
ROOM 3
– Twin or king-size bed
– Private bathroom with shower across the passage
ROOM 4
– Queen-size bed (twin beds can be arranged)
– Private bathroom with shower across the passage
ROOM 5
– King-size bed
– En-suite bathroom with shower & single vanity
A well-equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a polished island is perfect for preparing leisurely alfresco meals. Guests can also enjoy the fully-equipped gym, play cricket on the manicured lawn, or relax around a bonfire in the outdoor boma overlooking a lit watering hole for nocturnal wildlife viewing.
Tiger Fishing & Boat Cruise
We have a spacious boat that accommodates a maximum of 10 guests, featuring a shade-cloth roof ideal for summer outings. We provide all the necessary equipment for Tiger fishing, including rods, tackle, and bait, and our guide Jabulani boasts over 20 years of experience fishing on Jozini Dam. The wildlife viewing and birdwatching opportunities from the water are spectacular, so don’t forget to bring your binoculars and bird book. Enjoy either a half-day (4 hours) or a full-day (8 hours) boat cruise with us.
Safari Game Drives
In our Big 4 Reserve, we offer game drives with a maximum capacity of 10 guests on our gameviewer. Our vehicle is equipped with a roof to shield against sun or rain (we also provide waterproof ponchos)and we do offer blankets during winter. During the drive, we take a break for drinks in the bush and warmly welcome children of all ages. Our guides engage actively with the kids to ensure an enjoyable experience. For Big 5 Game drives in Manyoni Reserve, advanced booking is required, and guests must drive themselves to the Reserve gate located 17km away.
Guided Bush Walks
We provide guided bush walks along a 3km trail, offering a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and observe the smaller creatures, birdlife, and flora. Children are encouraged to join the walk with their scavenger hunt checklist. Remember to wear a hat and bring a water bottle. For specialised birding or fauna guides, advanced booking is required. We suggest combining this activity with a bush breakfast to conclude the bush walk experience.
Sundowners & Short Night Drive
Guests can take a brief stroll from the villa to reach our breathtaking lookout point, where our team will arrange a table with refreshments for Sundowners. After the sunset, guests will be picked up by the game viewer for a short night drive. With abundant Aardvark activity in the region, spotting nocturnal animals is a delightful and enjoyable experience for children.
Sundowners & Fishing
This activity is perfect for families and birding enthusiasts alike, offering a beautiful setting on the water’s edge as birds come in to roost. The team arranges tables and chairs for a relaxing sundowner with drinks and snacks. Fishing rods are provided, and Jabulani takes great delight in baiting up the rods for the children to have an enjoyable fishing experience. While we have caught some impressive Tigerfish from the bank, our usual catches include Barbel and Tilapia.
Outdoor Dining
Our outdoor dining area is breathtaking, featuring a braai and pizza oven where our chef crafts delectable dishes for guests under the starry sky. Dining beneath the African stars next to the cosy firepit with nightjars chirping in the background is truly enchanting. A charming outdoor bathroom is also available in this scenic spot. Located just a brief walk below the villa on our birding trail, this picturesque setting provides a lovely activity to enhance our bush walk experience, with an option for a
bush breakfast.
Sleeping Under The Stars
We can transform our tree house/bird hide into a private outdoor bedroom with a view over the watering hole. It offers a unique and enjoyable experience for those interested. There is a nearby bathroom, and our team sets up a mosquito net and prepares a cosy bed with extra blankets for colder nights. The watering hole is illuminated at night by a spotlight, creating an enjoyable experience for observing nocturnal wildlife.
Where are we located
We are located on the banks of Jozini Dam & within the Big 4 Pongola Game Reserve, located in the heart of zululand. We are 3 hours from King Shaka Airport & 6 hours from OR Tambo, we are also on the main tourist route from Kruger Park to St Lucia.
How to get there by air?
There is a small grass landing strip at the villa for smaller planes & helicopters, with a hanger for parking. Alternatively you could charter a larger plane to land at Mkuze Airfield. The closest international airport would be King Shaka Durban which is 3 hours away by car.
Road access?
Yes there is a gravel 4km stretch of road just off the N2 near the Jozini Turn-off. It is fairly flat and will not require a 4×4 vehicle.
Malaria?
We are located in a very LOW risk area with minimal malaria so we don’t recommend taking medication. We do however recommend taking precautions of spraying with Peaceful sleep in the evenings.
Weather?
Summer (Nov – Feb) hot & humid
Lush & green bush with the odd thunderstorm
28-35 degreesAutumn (march – May) mild temps
The bush starts changing colour & birds gather to migrate
24-28 degreeWinter (June – August) Cool & dry
The bush thins out which makes for better game viewing
18- 24 degreesSpring (September – Oct) Starting to warm up
beginning of the rainy season with lots of newborn wildlife with the first rains
20-28 degreesDisable access?
Yes we have disabled access, the villa is all one level with no stairs.
Credit card?
Yes we have a zapper code at the villa and we are able to send through a credit card payment link via paybridge
What if I get sick?
The closest private hospital is 1,5 hours away in Richards bay, we do have local doctors within 20km who you are able to see.
Wildlife to expect?
We are located within a big 4 reserve which means no lions or cheetah but we do have the odd leopard and a lot of aardvark activity at night. We also have over 400 bird species in our area.
Internet?
Yes we have got wifi in the villa as well as cellphone signal.
How long to stay?
I always recommend a min of 3 nights to give guests the opportunity to experience all the activities we have on offer.
