Welcome to 120 Mjejane, Place of Rest!

We hope that your stay is one of relaxation, peace, amazing animal sightings, good food, and great times together.

Once you are in and settled, the lodge is yours to enjoy.

Contacts During Your Stay

Should you have any queries, and can’t find the answers below, please call:

Amourette: 063 438 5497

House and Reserve Rules

• No noise - please refrain from playing any music outside. Mjejane is an exclusive estate on the edge of the Crocodile River across from the world famous Kruger National Park. Please respect the environment.

• No parties - breaking this rule can result in a visit from Security and a fine when exiting the reserve.

• No speeding in the reserve - the speed limit is 40km per hour and there are cameras. If you are caught speeding you will have to pay the fine before you are let out of the reserve. The speed limit within the estate is 15km per hour.

• No feeding the animals - you will most likely be visited by warthogs, small antelope, monkeys, baboons and possibly even a genet. Please keep all food away from them.

• Keep food inside and locked away - monkeys will come in and take whatever is around. They’ll make a bolt for food even if you are there, so keep food away in closed cupboards. If you go for a nap in the afternoon, please close all the doors or else you may return to a crime scene.

• Keep doors closed if you are not there - if you leave the house for a game drive or when you are all inside at night, please close all the doors (if hot, use the fans or air conditioners). Not only are there monkeys, but lots of bugs, bats, skinks, and possibly snakes.

• No diving/bombing into the pool - water is a scarce resource and having it splashed out the pool is irresponsible. Please ensure children know this rule.

• No Boma fires when there is wind - please judge whether the wind is picking up and whether it could become a fire hazard. If you have started a fire and wind picks up, please use the stainless steel drum to close the fire. You may receive a message from Amourette if the reserve management puts out a “No Fire” notice due to it being fire danger. Please adhere to this request. The fire hazard issue is worse in winter when foliage is dry, but could also be a problem in summer. Please use your own intuition to determine whether the wind speed is becoming dangerous or not. You are welcome to continue to use the braai/barbecue when there is wind due to being sheltered.

• Max 10 guests - although there are 12 beds, taking the bunk beds into account, Place of Rest is only permitted to take 10 guests as a strict rule of the estate. Should you be found to have more than that you risk Security asking you to leave. In that case Place of Rest reserves its rights to cancel your booking and retain the full payment of the stay. You will also be liable to pay the fine imposed by the reserve.

• No smoking - no smoking is permitted inside whatsoever. You may smoke around the boma. An ashtray is provided in one of the drawers in the kitchen. Please use it.

• Only torches with red lights to be used to look for animals at night. This is also an estate rule. You may not use a normal torch to shine across the river. If you do not have a torch with a red cover or red light then unfortunately there is not one at the lodge.

• Private driving on the reserve is not permitted - private vehicles can only use the main access road in and out of the reserve.

• Main gate times - the access gate is only available between 5am and 10pm. You will not be able to enter or exit outside of these times.

What to Bring

As the lodge is self catering you will need to bring along pretty much all of your supplies.

The lodge offers basic shower amenities, hand wash, bed linen, kitchen essentials, pool and bathroom towels, and firewood.

In addition to all your food, you need to bring everything else such as: salt, pepper, spices, olive oil, firelighters, charcoal, toilet paper, kitchen paper roll, Peaceful Sleep (or other bug spray), torches, binoculars, etc. There is a Nespresso machine which uses the smaller (original size) pods. Please bring your own pods.

Getting In

Coming from Nelspruit you’ll pass through the town of Malelane and then head towards Hectorspruit. As you pass Hectorspruit you’ll pass a water tower on your left and around 2km further the entrance to Mjejane will be on your left. It comes up on you quite quickly so slow down after Hectorspruit. Just about as the double carriageway turns into a single lane will be where you turn left off the shoulder and into the entrance.

At the gate you will need to provide your details, pay the road and conservation charge of around R350 (credit cards are welcome). Another reminder - speed limit is 40km/h and there are hidden cameras. Also, please do not enter any roads which have a

Stay on the sand road (which is pretty smooth, no off road vehicle required) and you’ll pass through a bridge under a train track. Keep following towards Erf 1/Tambotie. You will eventually reach a gate where you need to push the button to enter. Once inside follow the signs to the Bush Camp. Drive past the Bush Camp reception (this is the Timeshare reception where you can find a supply shop) and when the road splits, follow it to the right. Place of Rest (Stand 120) is the first entrance on the right after the split. Note that it is a 15km/h speed limit inside the estate.

Wild Animals

You are in a Big 5 game reserve; there are animals around. Please be respectful of that, but don’t be fearful.

There is a leopard at times within the electric fence. This means that if you go for a walk within the fenced-area you should always be careful. A leopard won’t attack a group and especially if you stick to the sand roads. But children should definitely not be walking around the estate without adults with them. Small children should not be outside by themselves at night - even on the deck or at the boma. But you will be fine. Have a torch on you at night. Please remember, only torches with red lights or red covers are permitted to be shone around across the river area to look for animals.

Elephants on occasion come right up to the electric fence to enjoy some foliage. Please keep noise down, talking to a whisper and definitely do not shine any torches at them. See how silently they move through the bush. Beautiful.

You will hear hippos, lions, hyenas and other noises at all hours of the day. There is no need to be afraid, they will stay on their side of the fence.

You will also at times hear things running on the roof. During the day this would usually be monkeys. At night it could be a genet or two. They cannot get in if the doors are closed. Enjoy being in the wild!

Mosquitos and Bugs

We recommend you make use of “Peaceful Sleep” spray or stick (or similar bug repellant product), especially between sundown and sunrise. A spray around your ankles and legs will do the trick to ward off mosquitos. Should you have not brought any along, the shop at the Timeshare reception should have some.

In the summer months all manner of bugs are enticed by lights. We recommend that at night you switch off most lights, especially the brighter ones (leaving the lamps or mood lighting intact), and definitely keep the pool light off if you’re not swimming. The bugs won’t harm you, there will just be less of them if you keep the lights low or off.

Games Drives

Games Drives can be booked at your leisure and are an additional expense, payable directly to the ranger.

To book a game drive please contact Sibusiso of Lihlosi Safaris on 082 785 0596. We recommend you agree on a price and duration of the game drive before you go. Lihlosi Safaris also offer trips into the Kruger Park as well as a day trip to Maputo in Mozambique. More info here.

Should Sibusiso not be available, please try the Timeshare reception where other game drive options are on offer.

Cleaning

Angel will be cleaning the house during your stay. She arrives at around 8am, and has a set routine. On Saturdays Angel leaves earlier than usual at 11am. Should you prefer her routine to be changed for any reason, please would you contact Amourette. Angel does not work on Sundays or Public Holidays without previous arrangement. Angel can do minor laundry - but it is an additional charge for a full load or any ironing.

Water and Drinking Water

As noted above, water is a scarce resource. Stand 120 Mjejane has its own borehole which brings water up from below the ground. This water is cleaned via reverse osmosis and pumped into the house. The tap at the sink next to the stove contains an additional filter system and we recommend that all drinking water is taken solely from that tap. Should you wish to fill up water bottles or jugs of water to be placed in the fridge, please do so.

Supplies

You would have driven past the Timeshare reception area (also known as Bush Camp). There is a small shop inside and you are welcome to go purchase any supplies you may need. The selection is small but amongst other things there are treats for kids - including ice creams - and some simple alcohol options. Should you need more supplies, you may need to drive to Malelane where there is a well stocked Spar, bottle store and pharmacy. Spar will also deliver. Click here for more: https://www.welovekruger.com/where-to-shop-in-mjejane

Recycling

The estate requires all lodges to split waste. How it is set up in Place of Rest is as follows:

All recyclable materials to be placed in the two under-counter bins with green bags situated next to the back fridge/freezer. Recycling includes paper, plastic, glass and tin.

All non-recycling such as food waste to be placed in the red bin found near the oven/stove.

Where Things Are

Once you have made yourself at home, hopefully with a nice cold drink, it would be good to explore all the cupboards, especially in the kitchen. The game drive essentials are found in the corner kitchen cupboard under the Nespresso machine. Sharp knives are next to the stove. Glasses under the ice machine, etc, etc.

Swimming towels are found in the cupboard in the bedroom facing the river. Games and puzzles are in the cupboard in the TV room/study area.

Swimming Pool and Heat Pump

The pool has a heater. It just depends how you or your children like your pool temperature. The heat pump is switched off in general. However, should you wish to have it warm, the controller is located on the external stairs next to the pool. Just lift up the cover and gently tap the POWER icon. It sometimes takes a few taps or gentle presses to get it to switch on and it only works when the pool filter pump is active. The temperature of the heater is set at 30 degrees celsius and can take a day or so to heat up the pool depending on the season.

Should you want the pool already heated by the time you arrive, please arrange with Amourette a couple of days before to request the heater be activated.

Please note that the heat pump, which is located under the deck, makes a blowing sound like a loudish air-conditioner condenser. So if the sound bothers you please just switch it off at the controller on the stairs.

There is a leaf skimmer and brush located on the external wall outside the river-facing bedroom.

Garden Cleaner and Rubbish Removal

Mjejane is an active estate and if your booking falls over a week, you may find at times there are people around the lodge. These will either be Percy, the gardener, or men taking rubbish away. None will come into your space. Just for you to know.

Doctor or Hospital

There is no doctor onsite. Should you not feel well, there is a pharmacy and doctors in Malelane, and a Mediclinic private hospital in Nelspruit - 013 759 0645.

Should you have an emergency:

Securicon Ambulance Service: 079 883 3350 or 086 111 1728 or 082 567 2350.

Security

Mjejane is a secure reserve and estate. There’s lions patrolling, right? However, like anywhere in the world, it is good to lock the doors when you retire for the night or when you leave for a game drive. Please take the key with you.

Should there be any security emergency, you can call the reserve security: 066 319 4969 or 066 512 8747.

TV

The TV is set with DSTV for your enjoyment. It is a smart TV for you to connect to your own Netflix, Prime or Apple TV accounts. Remember to log out when you leave.

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi SSID is “Wifi” and the password is “froggypond”. Wi-Fi unfortunately can be erratic in the reserve as there are no fibre cables. The signal is received via radio receivers and should there be a storm, heavy wind, or any animals playing with any of the receivers, the signal can go down. There is generally average 4G and 5G data signal as well, depending on your carrier.

This is the bush. The Wi-Fi may not be great. It is a good time to disconnect and enjoy some peace.

Should the Wi-Fi not be working at all, please contact Amourette.

The Architecture

Place of Rest is a special lodge. The intention was to create a spacious and interesting house which would allow vast access to natural light but at the same time protect its inhabitants from the harsh sun and heat. The main view of the Crocodile River is seen through extensive glass windows which allow you to feel a part of the outdoors, even when sitting or dining within.

A primary feature, should you be interested, is the great cantilevered roof which extends from the front door right across the outside boma. If you wish to open the corner sliding doors you will notice the there is no column holding up the roof.

The Area Outside the Reserve

It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to get back to the main Mjejane entrance (and remember to stick to the 40km/h speed limit).

The closest gate to the Kruger Park is “Malelane Gate” which is a 15 to 20 minute drive once you are back on the main road. If you go in the other direction you will be heading towards “Crocodile Bridge Gate” which is around 30 minutes from the main Mjejane entrance.

Once inside the Kruger Park, Skukuza Rest Camp is 1.5 hours from Malelane Gate or 2 hours from Crocodile Bridge Gate. Skukuza is the closest Kruger camp and has some great dining options. Try the Kruger Station for light meals, gifts and a craft beer bar (https://www.krugerstation.com).

Komatiepoort has an interesting restaurant called Tambarina which we recommend for some simple Portuguese food and beer in a garden setting. Not far beyond Komatiepoort is the border gate to Mozambique. The port city of Maputo is only a 2.5 hour drive away, but please note that the border control can take much longer than that. However it is possible to do a day-trip for lunch out to Maputo.

Our Recommendation

For shorter stays we recommend enjoying the deck and swimming pool, reading a book, keeping an eye out for any animal that crosses your view. A game drive or two within Mjejane is highly recommended. For photographers, you can go out for game drives daily.

Walks within the estate are a great way to stay active. Take a drive back outside the reserve entrance (just past the railway bridge) to a part called Kingsland Recreation Area where you can ride your mountain bike or go for a run or hike.

For longer stays we definitely recommend going into the Kruger Park. Self driving is perfect and it can be a daily expedition. The Kruger is a magical place and has to be experienced by all. A resupply mission to Malelane can be plugged into a day trip to the Kruger and there are some interesting restaurants in the vicinity.

We can’t vouch for the below link being regularly updated, but it provides a few more options for things to do around the area, including golfing and fun for kids (we can however vouch for the Green Mamba waterslide at Pestana River Lodge - lots of fun for both children and adults!): https://golowveld.co.za/things-to-do-and-see-in-and-around-malelane/

Enjoy…