Tilodi Wilderness

About Tilodi Wilderness

Set in the foothills of the Waterberg, Tilodi Wilderness is a private game reserve that promises an unspoilt bushveld experience against the backdrop of undulating hills, wetlands and seasonal rivers, just two hours from Johannesburg and the OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton.

Did you know? With surrounds that include rolling grasslands, semi-deciduous forest, cliffside caves, a collection of rivers that cut through the mountains, national parks, wilderness areas and private game reserves, the Waterberg is an obvious downtime destination.

The 4 000 hectare Tilodi Wilderness reserve offers an incredible bird list of over 296 species that includes the beautiful long tailed or magpie shrike (from which the reserve takes its name), and animals that include giraffe, zebra, buffalo, hippo, leopard, waterbuck, wildebeest and sable antelope.

Tilodi's reputation as a great birding destination rests on its access to a diversity of habitats. In the hills, where you will find woodlands and Burkea africana savanna, you can easily sight a large collection of migrants during summer months, like the striped and Jacobin cuckoo and the greyhooded kingfisher, redheaded weavers and Bennett's woodpecker.

But you need look no further than Redwing Lodge's viewing deck to catch views of the African fish eagle, red-billed buffalo weavers, burnt necked eremomela and lesser striped swallows.

And there is a range of accommodation making it accessible to a variety of guests' needs – from the rustic Tamboti bush camp set in a grove of tamboti trees within a narrow valley through which a river flows, to Redwing Lodge, set up on a hillside overlooking a waterhole, where luxury chalets and east African safari style tents are the order of the day.

Activities include bird watching, game drives and walks, guided walks, night drives, and hiking.

Tilodi Wilderness advises bring along neutral colours to wear, binoculars, insect repellent (although this is a malaria-free area), sunscreen and warm clothing for chilly evenings.