Once again my family and I had the privilege of staying at Raptor Retreat for a FULL weekend!
And what a treat that was. Over the years Keith and Sharmaine, the owners of Raptor Retreat, have become firm friends, and for me, that is such an honour. Nestled in the wild untouched bush, on the Parsons BIG 5 Reserve (Balule) is this little gem called Raptor Retreat. They have two private lodges (Seriously, to die for!!) Extract below from their website…. (I could not have said it better 
)
“Accommodation one of best the industry has to offer. Two private lodges: the Elephant Lodge and Buffalo Lodge. Each air-conditioned room has high thatched ceilings and a huge, built-in king-size bed as well as a large sliding door that opens onto a private deck with double recliners. The deck is nestled in amongst the trees giving you the feeling of being right in the thick of the bush. One could expect an elephant or lion to stroll past any minute. Slip into your own splash pool and cool off under the hot African sun whilst 
watching game graze nearby. Complimentary teas and coffees are provided as well as a fully stocked bar fridge. On request, lunch can be served on your private deck at an additional cost. The open plan wet bathroom features sliding doors, duel basins, a large shower and bath. Screens are strategically placed to ensure privacy and complimentary toiletries of superior quality are provided” P.s. I would visit this lodge JUST to use these stunning bathrooms!!
.
Raptor Retreat now have two stunning self-catering units which each sleep 4 people. I hate the cliche “Home away from home”, but this truly is a home away from home x 100!! Absolutely stunning units that are all the size of an 
average house, fully equipped, modern kitchens, all on-suite bathrooms and decks (with own splash pools nogal!) overlooking the watering hole. It is not uncommon to see ellies strolling around here and drinking from this hole. Finishes we could only dream of and views of the
bush that are so enthralling that one could be forgiven for NOT wanting go out on game drives or leave the area full stop! Talking about game drives…. We affectionately refer to Keith as “Ranger Bob” 
. Ranger Bob is probably one of the most entertaining game rangers I have encountered. Not a twig misses his keen eye and one can expect a 2 hour game drive to easily slide into a four hour game drive because it is so damn interesting!! 
For more information, rates and booking, contact Sharmaine on their website http://raptorretreatlodge.co.za/ or check out their fabulous Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RaptorRetreatGameLodge. And tell them WE sent you!