WOODPECKER LODGE – ABOUT US
The Team
Woodpecker Lodge is owned and managed by Vivien Johnson assisted by her
husband Colin. We have a deep appreciation for the fauna and flora of Africa –
we would love to share some of our world with you!
We are strictly a Bed & Breakfast concern.
NO
self-catering facilities to prepare meals and/or braai are available for
guests.
We are not a
self-catering unit.
Consumption of “Take-Aways” is permitted on our verandah.
The Lodge
Woodpecker Lodge is situated within the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate. This
estate is a 680ha Wildlife estate situated in the small town of Hoedspruit,
Limpopo. Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate was recently listed to be within the Top 10
Wildlife Eco-Estates in South Africa.
We provide four (4) double rooms so maximum capacity is up to 8 guests
providing for a quiet, restful getaway. Visit our Accommodation Page for specific room detail.
Woodpecker Lodge is also conveniently situated near the Main Access Gate
of the Estate (700m) so getting to and from town is very easy.
Please note we are strictly a "Bed & Breakfast" concern -
no self-catering/cooking/braais/fires/use of kitchen permitted.
Woodpecker Lodge is set amongst large bushveld trees with views of the
bush, the Drakensberg Mountains and is near to one of the dams on the estate.
Woodpecker Lodge boasts a shady courtyard area, a main verandah where one can
sit and view the bush, an elevated viewing deck and a pool area where one can
relax and cool off on those hot days. The thatched roof gives it that real
“bushveld’ feel.
The estate has a wilderness area as well as a Game drive route, where much
of the plains game can be seen. Although there are game routes and areas for
the plains game on the estate, the game does not distinguish between the
various areas and roams freely throughout the estate and residences.
Security
The estate is secure with electric fencing, 24 hour access control and
security guards.
All homeowners have access permits on their vehicles which allow them
access to the estate, while visitors and guests need permission to enter the
estate. Temporary access will be arranged by us for visitors that are staying
overnight.
The shared public areas at Woodpecker Lodge have CCTV surveillance.
House Rules
We are strictly a Bed & Breakfast facility. No self-catering/use of
kitchen/braai permitted on premises at all. Take-aways
permitted.
No pets allowed.
No smoking/vaping permitted in rooms.
NO HUBBLIES are allowed on the property
No parties or events.
No loud music. This is a nature reserve therefore no noise is allowed.
No feeding of the wild animals is allowed.
No DRONES are allowed under any circumstances.
Maximum of two people per room. (Double Booking – 2 Guests Sharing)
No additional guests permitted if a single person booking is made for the
room. (Single Booking)
Lodge Guests Only permitted to be on our premises. No
outsiders!
Should the tour group arrive with more guests than the reservation made,
the entire booking will lapse with immediate effect and the deposit forfeited.
Quiet times from 22h00 to 06h30
Breakfast is served daily from 07:00 until 08:30 after which the kitchen
is closed.
Check-in: 2pm - 6pm
Check-out: by 10am
Please observe the speed limits on the Estate:
40km/h on tar roads
20km/h on sand/gravel roads
This for everyone's safety including animals.
The speed limits are for everyone's safety
- including our animals.
Infrastructure
The roads are tarred and named after the Lowvelds’
iconic trees. The estate is laid out with two developmental areas separated by
a large wilderness area. However game moves across the whole estate and does
not distinguish between development areas and game areas.
Water is supplied from the Hoedspruit Municipality and electricity from
Eskom which has been laid below the ground for improved aesthetics.
The estate is well supplied with plains game such as giraffe, zebra,
wildebeest, kudu, nyala, impala, duiker, waterbuck
and warthog. Smaller animals and birds are also abundant. The estate is
dissected by the seasonal Ulanetsi River (a tributary
of the Olifants River) and has 2 dams.
Although the estate is situated just outside the small town of
Hoedspruit, the town offers all the amenities that afford a comfortable life in
the bush, including Pick ‘n Pay, Spar, banks and restaurants.
Malaria Zone
Please be advised that Hoedspruit and its surrounding areas fall within
the Malaria Zone. We advise all visitors adhere to a medical doctor’s
instructions, especially in the summer months.
Our rooms do have an electric mosquito repellent device and the two
bedside windows in each room are insect screened.
Map of Estate
About Hoedspruit
Hoedspruit is a
small town situated in the Lowveld in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Hoedspruit was given its name by Dawid
Johannes Joubert who in 1844 after a cloud burst on
Mariepskop causing the Zandspruit River to flash flood, lost his hat in the
river. Hats were a valuable resource and this was a memorable event, as in the
River that stole his hat - Hoedspruit.
Registering his farm in 1848 was the official
beginning of Hoedspruit. In 1850 the farms of Jonkmanspruit,
Welverdiend (meaning “well deserved") and Driehoek (meaning Three Corners), came into being and the
names are still in existence today. ln 1910 the Selati
Railway Line was built between Komatipoort and
Tzaneen, and although originally built for transporting goods, passengers
started traveling and 5 stations were built along the line, Hoedspruit being
one. The town started developing around the station.
The town is situated in the Kruger to Canyon UNESO registered Biosphere.
The town boasts magnificent views of the Drakensberg Mountains and is located
amongst game farms, wildlife estates and reserves. Hoedspruit is popular as a
tourist destination and has become the place of choice with regards to people
wanting to simplify their lives and live closer to nature.
The town has seen tremendous growth in the last ten years with many new
shops, restaurants and wildlife estates. Shops in the town include Spar, Pick
’n Pay, The Crazy Store, Mr. Price, Oasis, two pharmacies and others. There are
a number of restaurants in and around town, some rustic with others more
up-market.
A unique feature of the town is the option to live in a wildlife estate.
There are a number of these estates which offer varying degrees of bush living.
A wildlife Estate offers a unique way of living. Houses are set amongst the
bush and trees on stands that are between 5000 and 10000 square metres in size.
Plains game such as Impala, Warthog, Zebra, Giraffe and Kudu, wander freely on
the estates which allows for fantastic interactions. Most of the estates don’t
have any Big 5 game which makes it safe to walk or cycle.
Hoedspruit is situated close to a number of interesting wildlife
projects like the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre
and the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. Moholoholo
is a wildlife sanctuary that tends to injured animals from Rhinos to Duikers,
badgers and everything in between. They also have a vulture restaurant where
many vultures are fed. Daily informative tours are provided to educate the
public about conservation with an opportunity to get up close to a number of
animals. They also have a student program in place to educate learners about
conservation and to provide hands on experience and training.
The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre also aims to educate and
provides tours to the public. They focus on the conservation of rare,
vulnerable or endangered species. One of their main focuses is the Cheetah.
They focus on research and breeding and offer opportunities for students to
work hands on in the centre.
Hoedspruit offers a number of activities such as a boat trip on the
Blyde Dam where you can enjoy the birds and game in the area such as
crocodiles, Hippos and Fish Eagles, as well as the fantastic scenery such as
the tufa waterfall and the three rondawels. Other
adventure activities include hot air ballooning, micro light flights, white
water rafting and tubing. There are also a number of scenic walking trails in
the area which include a walk to a waterfall.
The town also supplies a large number of agricultural crops to retailers
in South Africa including mangoes, citrus and sweetcorn.
Hoedspruit is also situated just 40 minutes away from the world renowned
Kruger National Park, which makes it an easy option for a day outing.