Rare Earth Retreats

Rare Earth Retreats Escape to the coast or relax on safari at one of these iconic South African destinations:
⠀
• Kruger

WORLD RHINO DAY “Keep the five alive.”Today we pay homage to the horned herbivores, gentle giants and unicorns of the wi...
22/09/2026

WORLD RHINO DAY “Keep the five alive.”

Today we pay homage to the horned herbivores, gentle giants and unicorns of the wild. We honour the world’s five remaining rhinoceros species and recognise the vital work driving their survival. How many of the 5 rhino species have you seen in the wild?

Welgevonden Game Reserve, home to Tshwene Lodge and Ekuthuleni Lodge, protects two of the five rhino species and supports one of the largest white rhino populations of any private reserve in Africa. The critically endangered black rhino also finds sanctuary here.

Thanks to the relentless dedication of the reserve’s anti-poaching and management teams, these prehistoric creatures continue to thrive, offering our guests an unforgettable glimpse into the wild.

Encountering a rhino in its natural habitat is deeply humbling. It instils a profound respect for nature and reminds us why wild spaces must stay wild.


Happy World Elephant Day! If we’re being completely honest, we are *slightly* obsessed with elephants that trying to pic...
12/08/2026

Happy World Elephant Day! 

If we’re being completely honest, we are *slightly* obsessed with elephants that trying to pick just one or two photos to celebrate them today was never going to be enough. Swipe through to explore a celebration of these magnificent gentle giants, from special moments to breathtaking close-ups captured across our lodges.

Why is it that most people feel such deep empathy for elephants, even without having close contact with them?

It’s because elephants are remarkably kind, patient, gentle, and deeply sentient beings. Research shows they experience many of the same emotions we do, like happiness, sadness, fear and despair. They actively try to help wounded family members or friends, and empirical evidence proves they are profoundly empathic, using their trunks to comfort each other in times of distress.

Whether you’re watching them wander through the ancient Fever Tree Forest at A soul-stirring wilderness adventure • Northern Kruger in Northern Kruger or encountering them amidst the wilderness at Ekuthuleni Lodge • Welgevonden Game Reserve & Tshwene Lodge • Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Welgevonden Game Reserve Game Reserve, seeing them in the wild is a privilege like no other.

Today, we celebrate everything that makes them so extraordinarily special. 





24/07/2026

People must feel that the natural world is important and valuable and beautiful and wonderful and an amazement and a pleasure” – David Attenborough

Have you ever been to a place that welcomes you back like a long-lost friend, even if it’s your first visit?
Have you ever been to a place that pauses time and recharges your soul?

Once you’ve been on a safari and truly feel it, you never forget it. The bush is alive with sound. And every noise carries meaning; every call conveys a message of connection, territory, courtship or warning.

From the rocky ridges of Tshwene Lodge • Welgevonden Game Reserve and the open plains of Ekuthuleni Lodge • Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Welgevonden Game Reserve Game Reserve, to the remote wilderness surrounding A soul-stirring wilderness adventure • Northern Kruger in the Northern Kruger, it’s a magical time of year to witness the wild up close.

Safeguarding these fragile ecosystems across is a privilege we don’t take for granted.

       

“Go where you feel most alive. Often, that’s Africa.” There’s something magical about this season on safari. Winter in A...
17/07/2026

“Go where you feel most alive. Often, that’s Africa.” 

There’s something magical about this season on safari. Winter in Africa is just right. The mild temperatures provide the perfect climate for exploration and unforgettable adventures. 

By day, track wildlife under crisp, clear skies; by night, recharge by roaring fireplaces and sleep deeply in cosy, off-grid lodges. 

Across Welgevonden Game Reserve Game Reserve and the far northern reaches of the Kruger, Tshwene Lodge • Welgevonden Game Reserve , Ekuthuleni Lodge • Welgevonden Game Reserve and A soul-stirring wilderness adventure • Northern Kruger, winter is the perfect time to snuggle up, slow down and savour every wild moment. 

P.S. We’re wild about wildlife 💛

“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy” – Ernest HemingwayWhile Wild About Wildlife Mo...
10/07/2026

“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy” – Ernest Hemingway

While Wild About Wildlife Month shines a global spotlight on conservation throughout July, the true heartbeat of the bush is found in the quiet, daily routines that bring us closer to it.

Go on safari and feel your soul exhale. Suddenly, you’re a morning person and 4am wake up calls are a privilege. The first time you hear the bush wake up around you. The moment you realise the landscape is alive in every direction.

It starts in the pre-dawn dark across our lodges. The heavy blankets, the steam rising from a morning mug and the crisp silence of the early hours at Tshwene Lodge • Welgevonden Game Reserve , Ekuthuleni Lodge • Welgevonden Game Reserve and A soul-stirring wilderness adventure • Northern Kruger.

What is your favourite part of a winter morning in the bush?

📍Welgevonden Game Reserve and Northern Kruger

       

From the beaches of Plettenberg Bay to the wild heart of the Northern Kruger, we are incredibly proud to share that Rare...
07/07/2026

From the beaches of Plettenberg Bay to the wild heart of the Northern Kruger, we are incredibly proud to share that Rare Earth properties have again been recognised in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travellers’ Choice Awards!

Because these awards are based entirely on guest reviews, this recognition means the world to us. Every review tells a story of sunrise game drives, warm welcomes, and unforgettable family holidays.

Boutique Coastal Hotel • Plettenberg Bay in Plettenberg Bay has reached an incredible milestone, being awarded one of the Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best (Small & Boutique – Africa), placing it among the top 1% of hotels worldwide.

A soul-stirring wilderness adventure • Northern Kruger & Pel’s Post in the northern Kruger have once again earned their place among the top 10% of hospitality businesses globally. While The Outpost is temporarily closed due to recent flooding, this recognition is the perfect motivation for our team as they work hard behind the scenes to welcome you back soon.

These awards belong to our extraordinary teams behind the scenes - thank you for the passion and care you bring to work every single day 💛

Head to the link in our bio to read the full blog post and celebrate with us!

July marks Wild About Wildlife Month, a global spotlight on endangered species and habitat protection. But across Welgev...
02/07/2026

July marks Wild About Wildlife Month, a global spotlight on endangered species and habitat protection. But across Welgevonden Game Reserve Game Reserve and Northern Kruger, safeguarding these fragile ecosystems isn’t a thirty-one-day campaign. It is a commitment we live every single day.

Right now, we are in the peak of our dry winter season. From the rocky ridges of Tshwene Lodge • Welgevonden Game Reserve and the open plains of Ekuthuleni Lodge • Welgevonden Game Reserve , to the remote wilderness surrounding A soul-stirring wilderness adventure • Northern Kruger in the Northern Kruger, the bush has dried back, drawing wildlife out from the thickets and toward the remaining waterholes.

It is a profound time of year to witness the wild up close, to see these species coexist, and to remember exactly what we are working to protect year-round.

When we think of Father’s Day in the Welgevonden Game Reserve bush, lions often steal the spotlight. But one of Africa’s...
21/06/2026

When we think of Father’s Day in the Welgevonden Game Reserve bush, lions often steal the spotlight. But one of Africa’s most devoted dads is the Black-backed Jackal. He mates for life, is 100% invested from day one, actively guarding the den, playing babysitter, and even swallowing and regurgitating food to feed his pups and partner.

Nature has some outstanding animal dads who go to great lengths for their offspring, from protecting them from threats to keeping them warm and fed to socialising them through play.

Here’s a look at four remarkable animal dads. Happy Father’s Day!

📍Welgevonden Game Reserve

05/06/2026

World Environment Day | Climate action starts here.

In the dirt, with a dung beetle on your finger, animal tracks pressed into red Welgevonden sand, and a magnificent lion lazing at the waterhole.

has spent a lifetime saying it: the children who grow up knowing nature are the ones who will fight to protect it. And once it’s really felt, it becomes the reason you care, and act. The reason you want to protect what’s still here.

We bring families into the Game Reserve which include and , and let the wild do the rest. Because the next generation of conservationists isn’t born in a classroom. They’re made in (moving) moments like these.

📍Welgevonden Game Reserve
📹

The 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards are here and we’re calling on you to vote. and are both in the running and every vote ...
12/05/2026

The 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards are here and we’re calling on you to vote.

and are both in the running and every vote counts.

To vote for The Outpost in the Northern Kruger, search under the ‘Resorts’ category.

To vote for The Old Rectory, search under the ‘Hotels’ category.

As a small family-owned business, awards like these mean so much to our teams. They inspire us to keep creating meaningful experiences, welcoming guests to places they may never have explored beforeand sharing a little of what makes these corners of South Africa so special.

Voting closes 30 June. Link in bio to vote.

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Suite 25, Tudor Park, 61 Hillcrest Avenue, Blairgowrie
Johannesburg
2194

Telephone

+27115680384

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