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The Oyster Box

The Oyster Box

Umhlanga

Situated overlooking the historical and famous landmark, the Umhlanga lighthouse, The Oyster Box has long been one of South Africa’s best-loved and most distinguished hotels, which occupies a special place in the hearts of the countless guests who have enjoyed its warmth, caring service and relaxed elegance since it first opening in 1947.

Standing proud on Umhlanga’s beachfront, directly on the beach and overlooking the Indian Ocean, the 86-room Oyster Box is one of South Africa’s best-loved hotels. Renowned for generous hospitality, attentive service and exceptional cuisine, The Oyster Box offers all the colonial charm and nostalgia of a bygone era, but with all the modern comfort and amenities.

Perfectly situated on the ocean’s edge, a brief 5 minutes walk from Umhlanga Village Centre, the Oyster Box Hotel is conveniently located for quick and easy access to Afro-chic Durban city centre, International Airports and numerous stylish shopping centres…yet has a feeling of classical charm and elegance like nowhere else on earth.

Nearby tourist attractions of immense interest to travellers include Gateway Theatre of Shopping, Ushaka Marine World and Sun Coast Casino. Further afield, the historical Natal Midlands and majestic Drakensberg Mountains, as well as excellent Big Five game parks, lodges and historical battlefields can be explored.

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Amenities

Gym, Restaurant, Spa, Swimming Pool, Parking, Bar, Disabled Rooms, Kiddies Club, Beach, Luxury

Inclusions

Our Offers

Other Options

An ancient Camelthorn tree, the property’s namesake, is the centrepiece, with the main lodge and eight villas sitting around it. Set in a forest adjacent to Hwange National Park’s famous Ngamo Plains, the lodge is unique in style and design and was built for and by the community whose land it calls home. 

The villas are all attractively furnished, spacious and have a balcony. Four villas have a plunge pool. This lodge is ideal for families as up to two children over 7 can be accommodated in the room with their parents.  Rooms have ceiling fans, fireplaces, and tea and coffee-making facilities and are safe.

Meals are served either family style with other guests or privately at your villa. The evening always ends around the fire.

Activities include game drives and walking safaris, along with community activities. 

Enjoy al fresco dining, sip your morning coffee in front of a roaring fire, track herds of elephants by foot, enjoy rewarding game drives, where wonderful birdlife, woodland animals and possibly even rhinos may be seen. ... all at the pace you desire to experience this remarkable place. 

The Elephant Express is a unique railcar that offers you the chance to travel between lodges (Bomani & Camelthorne) in comfort while enjoying the sights en route.

Please note this camp may be closed between December and April, depending on the weather. Please check with us for availability during these months. Additionally, please be aware that the Elephant Express service does not run between January and April.

Camelthorne Lodge

Hwange

The camp is in a private concession on the Ngamo Plains, with unique scenery and impressive year-round game viewing, with a great diversity of wildlife. 

Enjoy your stay in the open-air thatched main lodge, tented accommodation, viewing decks, a waterhole, splash pool, and evenings around the fire. Your days unfold as you wish, each experience is tailored to your interests and the friendly guides ensure you get the most out of your stay.

The main lodge is traditional safari style with an open-fronted thatch building and adjoining viewing deck that overlooks the lodge waterhole. There is a bar, lounge, and dining area, and spa treatments are available on request.

With a variety of room types, this camp suits everyone from honeymooners to families looking for a wild and wonderful experience. There are four room types which include one thatched bungalow, four tents at ground level with veranda, five tents on raised deck and one suite.

Activities include game drives and walks, night drives, a viewing hide, family activities, as well as a host of community initiatives. The Elephant Express is a unique railcar that offers you the chance to travel between lodges (Bomani & Camelthorne) in comfort while enjoying the sights en route.

Please note this camp may be closed between December and April, depending on the weather. Please check with us for availability during these months. Additionally, please be aware that the Elephant Express service does not run between January and April.

Bomani Tented Camp

Hwange

This lodge is located just 7 km from Victoria Falls, and the perfect bush breakaway close enough to town to be able to pop in and out, exploring and taking part in the many activities on offer. 

Surrounded by natural bushland and wildlife, the lodge offers safari accommodation and experiences just a few minutes’ drive from all the adventures of Victoria Falls.

Sitting on 1000 hectares (almost 2500 acres) of natural bushland which is home to wildlife including bush buck, kudu, sable, leopard, warthogs, impala and much more. The area is frequented by almost 500 bird species plus on morning and evening game drives you may spot elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, a variety of antelope species, hyena, lion, leopard and much more.

The comfortable rooms are all en suite and have veranda, safe, ceiling fan and views of the bush. Activities include game drives, guided walks and trips to see the majestic Victoria Falls. This is a lovely spot for enjoying both the falls and also some time spotting game in the national park.

Masuwe Lodge

Victoria Falls

How our Tent Ratings work

These are based on our personal experience of the hotel, camp or lodge and should not be compared against ratings you find elsewhere. We intend to guide you and don’t be put off by a low tent rating as some of our favourites fall into the 2 and 3-tent categories.​

It is also important to bear in mind that standards vary from country to country and a 4-tent hotel in South Africa cannot be compared with a 4-tent hotel in another part of the world. 

To summarise our grading system, we have considered the following.

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High in both quality and luxury of experience, and property must have ‘wowed’ us on many levels.

This is our benchmark for excellent service and experience, location and /or activities. 

Good relative value, excellent location and/or experience, and offering an ideal base for exploring the area.

Budget-focused stopover property, sometimes it’s the ideal location on a driving itinerary.

Don’t be put off, these stays are comfortable and a perfect pit stop on a journey where the choices may be limited. 

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Your Adventure, Your Way

All good things start with a conversation and planning your holiday shouldn't be like flicking through a catalogue. Email us, book a free consultation, or give us a call, to get your next bespoke adventure underway.

Phone:

+44 (0)7516 766404

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