Description
Built originally as a family home, and still owned by the family, Jembisa has a wonderful atmosphere of relaxation and comfort. The emphasis is to make you feel ‘at home in the bush’. The lodge is built from local stone and thatch in harmony with its surroundings. It is a beautifully designed lodge with large, spacious rooms decorated with natural materials in an African colonial style.
Having been a family home Jembisa also benefits from some extras not usually found at safari lodges. For example a library, reading room, games room and tennis court. The chef can prepare delicious meals for you using local produce when available. Meals are varied affairs and may include picnics in the bush, dinner under the stars, lunch on the terrace, and al fresco breakfasts and brunches.
Aside from relaxing back at the lodge and venturing out into the bush on game drives you can also go horse riding and take to the skies in a helicopter for a totally different perspective on this enchanting reserve.
Jembisa is a great option for families with a range of tailor-made childrens' activities on offer and plenty to keep them occupied back at the lodge including a complimentary babysitting service.
Accommodation
Jembisa offers 5 en-suite bedrooms and 1 children’s bunk room. Rooms are decorated in an Afro-colonial style and feature either king or queen size beds, mosquito nets and ceiling fans. The children's bunk room is themed with animal rugs and linen embroidered with wildlife with two bunk beds, sleeping four children.
Childcare
Children of all ages are welcome at Jembisa but there are no specific facilities. Tailor-made activities are offered including guided bush walks, instruction on tracking and bush lore, bug walks, slide shows and bush games. There are also children's books, games and wildlife videos available and a complimentary babysitting service. Children's separate mealtimes can be arranged should they be required. There are also bunk beds and cots available.
Facilities
Facilities at Jembisa include a library, reading room, games room, tennis court and swimming pool. Enjoy picnics in the bush, dinner under the stars, lunch on the terrace, and al fresco breakfasts and brunches. The chef at Jembisa will be happy to prepare whatever you like and many ingredients come from the lodge's own organic garden.
Activities
Complimentary activities at Jembisa include tennis, swimming, game drives, walking, camping and exploring bushmen paintings and archaeological sites. Massages, horse riding, elephant rides and scenic helicopter flights are all charged additionally.
When to travel
The best game viewing is from May to the end of September. Summer (November to March) days can get quite warm (up to 28-32 degrees on average) but it is a dry heat. Summer rainfall, normally in the form of thunder storms are usually in the evening, however, the African climate is still always unpredictable. Autumn (April to May) days can still be warm but the evenings cool down. Average day time temperature 22-28 degrees. Evenings 10-15 degrees. Winter (June to August) days are warm (temperatures in the mid-twenties) evenings and early mornings very cold with average early morning temperatures 5-12 degrees. It very rarely rains at this time when the bush is golden and dry. Spring (September, October) days start getting hotter, evenings and mornings could still be crisp but not as cold. A very slim chance of rain.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best time to visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
Madikwe and the Northwest
Jembisa is a bush home situated in it's own private game reserve, the Palala River Reserve, named after the river that runs through it. It is located in an area in the Limpopo province in South Africa known as the Waterberg.
How to get there
11.5 hour international flight to Johannesburg followed by a 1 hour charter flight Jembisa strip. Alternatively, the Waterberg Mountain area is part of the Bushveld district of the Limpopo Province, a two and a half hour drive north from Johannesburg on the N1.
