In order to preserve the natural beauty of our Parsons Nature Reserve, the Parsons section of Balule Nature Reserve is a dirt-road area, and there is a 14km, bumpy stretch from Parsons Gate to the Lodge. Although smaller vehicles can traverse along the road, it is recommended to come in a higher-clearance vehicle, but 4×4 is not necessary. It will take you approximately 1-hour from Parsons Gate to Maninghi Lodge – so enjoy the game viewing along the way!
Please refer to the Directions in the link below. These directions are also sent via email upon booking for travel advice.
Payments for extras can be made via Cash, Visa/MasterCard (5% processing fee), or EFT. Please review our Terms & Conditions (T’s & C’s) on your pro-forma invoice. These take precedence over booking platforms or tour agents’ policies. Once a deposit is received, you automatically agree to our T’s & C’s. An information document is emailed upon booking. For any additional details, feel free to contact us. Travel Insurance Required – Ensure you have comprehensive coverage when traveling abroad.
Maninghi Lodge is unfenced, and wildlife often roams the lawn. While this offers great photo opportunities, never approach animals, and ensure children are supervised outdoors. Your hosts are always available to assist with wildlife encounters. Please inform your hosts of any medical conditions or specific needs. Our staff is First Aid trained, with three basic first-aid kits on-site. For serious emergencies, the nearest hospital is in Tzaneen (2-hour drive). For dietary requirements or allergies, please notify us when booking. We accommodate requests with advance notice, but as we follow set menus, last-minute changes may not be possible.
Parsons Nature Reserve is a low-risk Malaria area, however, please consult with your doctor regarding prophylaxis while travelling to Malaria areas, especially if your travels are within the Kruher National Park itself. The lodge has mosquito screen sliding doors on all room entries, and the tents have mosquito preventative mesh on the windows. All rooms are equipped with mosquito room repellent and mosquito body repellent.
We’ve installed solar backup power to cover most loadshedding outages, but please be mindful of usage. Our power-points use Type C & Type D plugs—bring a travel adapter if needed. Our borehole water is hard but tested and safe for drinking. Mobile network coverage is limited, with some MTN access in certain areas. WiFi is available but may be disrupted; please use it for essential communication only—no streaming or large downloads. For a peaceful stay, keep devices on silent and respect fellow guests.
Situated in the Lowveld escarpment, our weather is a lot warmer than other regions in the country. Our winter months (May-September) can be very cool in the mornings and late evenings, so please pack longs and jackets. The days do warm up nicely, so layering your clothing is recommended. Our summer months (October-April) are HOT! This is also our rainfall season, so it is advised to bring along a rain jacket. Please ensure to pack a few neutral coloured clothing items and comfortable walking shoes for your activities.
Summers are extremely hot. Temperatures range from 20°C to 40°C during the day.
Winters are mild. Temperatures range from 8°C to 35°C, with isolated cold spells.
Maninghi Lodge offers a self-catering option for sole-use bookings (max 10 guests). Daily room service and twice-daily kitchen/common area tidy-ups are included. We are 45km (1.5 hours) from Hoedspruit or Phalaborwa, with supermarkets available. These towns are not en route, so consider stocking up in Lydenburg or Tzaneen, depending on your travel route.
