Zuleika Country House | Guest Houses Hoedspruit

Zuleika Country House is located on the edge of Limpopo’s awesome Blyde River Canyon. Abounding in wildlife, it’s the world’s largest green canyon with a 33 km gorge and precipitous cliffs rising from the riverbed. The dizzying viewpoints (Bourke’s Luck Potholes, The Pinnacle, God’s Window, Three Rondavels) are within easy reach. On the main R531 route from Lydenburg to Hoedspruit (only 16 km away) and a half hour’s drive from Kruger, Zuleika can be found easily without any detours.

Its thatched buildings are tucked away between farming estates enhancing privacy and peacefulness. When in season you can smell and taste the local lemons (exported as far as Japan and China), oranges, sensationally fibre-less mangoes, papayas, guavas, litchis and indigenous marulas as featured in your breakfast fruit salad.

Zuleika’s sweeping terrace offers a uniquely romantic lookout onto the dramatic canyon cliffs of the Drakensberg. During happy hour over sundowners from the bar, guests can witness the spectacle of the sinking changing their hue time and again !
The elevated pool by the baobab trees with yet more views toward the canyon offers a refreshing dip, and you can tan on the reclining chairs. BBQ meals can be prepared in the secluded lapa.

There’s a whole range of outdoor activities. A 7 minute footpath takes you to the Blyde for hippo and croc spotting. The fish eagle, louries and hornbills find their habitat in the shrubs and trees on the riverbanks. There are over 200 bird species !
You can go white water rafting on the tumultuous river, or cruise the Blyde dam, or go canyon hiking, or venture out in a hot air balloon to watch the big five from above ! Of course there are game drives by day and night into the Kruger Park, horse and elephant rides in the bush…or how about a game of golf at the Drakensig golf course ?
Local attractions include the Swadini Reptile Park, Brian Jones’s Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre (frequently shown on Nat. Geographic), the Kapama Cheetah farm.
The country’s early mining days can be traced at Pilgrim’s Rest, picturesque Graskop is one of the best pancake stop-overs in the country.Few of those who stayed at Zuleika will forget the views of this particular section of the northern Drakensberg which are nothing short of stunning here.

Other lasting memories might be linked to the eclectic modern design of the room interiors, far removed from ubiquitous colonial. Choose between the 4 luxury suites with stunning mountain views, the 5 semi-luxury rooms with garden views or the 5 family cottages with fully serviced self-catering options. For those who have visited this haven before, one experience never to be forgotten is the lovely supper served on the outdoor terrace, which with exhilarating attention to detail makes for a fabulous dining experience. Two professional chefs cook up an exquisite three-course meal and because of the limited number of guests that can be accommodated, you feel totally spoilt and waited on. Last but not least, the idyllic sounds of nature often prove the best of tranquilisers for those who came primarily to unwind…
Located in a rural area with an intricate irrigation system and sometimes unpredictably windy weather due to the proximity of the canyon mountains, power failures and water pressure problems that can result in spells of somewhat muddy (though not unhealthy) tap water do occur. It’s all part of the African experience in this part of Limpopo!

Zuleika is a child-friendly guesthouse and children are welcome from any age at special rates, and cots are available. Moreover, there are two separate units ideally suited for families with children.

Zuleika is a pleasant place to visit any time of year. However, it can get quite hot with temperatures approaching 40 degrees celcius in mid-summer (late January-February) when our pool will be busiest... Winters will nonetheless feature values of over 20 degrees celcius in the midday sun. It’s worth bringing suncream therefore. Bird & game spotters shouldn’t forget their binoculars. While there is a malaria risk in the area, it is relatively small compared to that in the northern regions of the Kruger Park and in Mozambique and complimentary sprays are available to keep nosy insects at bay.

Zuleika is happy to find that its popularity runs right across a varied clientele of families, honeymooners, business professionals, seniors and young travellers, the majority of whom tend to be overseas visitors.

Address
R531
Farm Moriah
HOEDSPRUIT
1380

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Directions

Directions from Johannesburg/Pretoria

Take N4 motorway eastward (direction White River), get off at Belfast. From there head for Lydenburg on the R36 via Dullstroom. After Lydenburg continue on the R36 in the direction of Tzaneen. Negotiate the Abel Erasmus Pass (drive carefully!). After the Strydom Tunnel DO NOT take a left as the R36 continues on to Tzaneen. Instead, carry straight on, on the R531 towards Hoedspruit and Eastgate Airport. At the Swadini Reptile Park T-Junction take a right as you stay on the R531 towards Orpen FOR 600m and our driveway is on the right hand side of that road. It's very well sign posted.

Directions from Nelspruit

Once you are on the R531 toward Hoedspruit, you keep going straight. You will drive through Klaserie, a small rural settlement and get to a T-junction showing Hoedspruit to the right, KEEP GOING STRAIGHT. After about 20 km's you will see a sign for Swadini on your left, keep going straight, shortly after the Swadini sign you will get the first Zuleika 10km's sign on the left side of the road. After about 7kms you will find another T-junction toward Hoedspruit, ignore that too. Keep going until you see "Die Plaaskafee" on the right. Zuleika is less than 1km from there on your left, the same entrance as Otters Den. Big white wall with our logo on it. Don't worry, it is very well sign posted!

Directions from Polokwane/Tzaneen to Hoedspruit
Take the R71 from Polokwane towards Tzaneen, drive into Tzaneen. From Tzaneen take the R36 towards Hoedspruit. Turn left on the R527, 17 km onwards at the Swadini Reptile Park, turn left onto the R531 (Swadini / Orpen Road sign). 600 m after the turn off, ZULEIKA on your right-hand side. Turn right onto the gravel road, 100 m on is Zuleika Country House on your left hand side.