Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions Our Answers
Everything you need to know about Oase, our safari experiences and planning your stay.
Popular Questions
Yes. Children are genuinely welcome at Oase and we do not apply a blanket minimum age to the stay or to most lodge experiences.
Participation in a particular wildlife activity is always based on the child's age and maturity, current wildlife and conditions, and the guide's safety judgement. That lets us make sensible decisions around the child in front of us rather than relying only on a rigid age rule.
No. Oase operates off-grid and does not depend on South Africa's national electricity grid. The lodge uses solar generation, battery storage and supporting backup infrastructure, so national load-shedding schedules do not interrupt normal lodge operations.
Yes. Spa Oase offers a range of massage, body, facial, manicure and pedicure treatments. Treatments can be an experience in their own right or simply a quiet hour between safari activities. In-suite treatments are also available for selected services.
The easiest option for most guests is to fly to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS), which has scheduled services from Johannesburg and Cape Town. Oase is then a short road transfer from the airport.
You can also drive. From Johannesburg or Pretoria we recommend travelling via the N1 through Polokwane and towards the Lowveld, and avoiding driving after dark where possible. Private helicopter arrivals can also be arranged directly to Oase with advance notice.
Yes. Oase is particularly well suited to honeymoons because privacy and flexibility are already built into the way the lodge works.
Couples can combine safari with private dining, spa treatments, the Treetop Sleepout, picnics, wine and gin experiences and, if desired, more elaborate experiences such as a helicopter outing. We can build the stay around the balance of adventure and downtime you want.
Yes. Oase has high-speed internet throughout the lodge, including guest suites and common areas. The property has three independent internet connections for redundancy, with Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 coverage and Wi-Fi 7 in selected areas. Selected suites also have dedicated 100 Mbps connectivity.
It is suitable for video calls, streaming and remote work, although many guests decide to use it considerably less once they settle into the bush.
A stay can include guided bush walks, leopard tracking, night drives, cycling, fishing, bush cooking, birding, bush picnics, wine and gin tastings, Cinema Oase, gym time and other experiences around the reserve.
There are also off-property experiences such as Blyde Dam boat trips, helicopter experiences and regional tours. Many activities can be arranged during the stay, subject to weather, safety and availability.
The Big 5 are lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and African buffalo.
The term originally came from the hunting era and referred to five animals considered particularly difficult and dangerous to hunt on foot. Today it is used very differently: as familiar shorthand for five of Africa's most iconic safari animals.
They are extraordinary animals, but they are not a measure of whether a safari was good. Africa becomes much more interesting once you start noticing everything beyond five species.
Dining at Oase is part of the safari rather than something that always happens in the same room at the same time.
Meals may be served at KOLE, on a private deck, beside the river, in the bush, as a picnic or somewhere else that makes sense for the day. If wildlife changes the plan, the meal can move rather than asking the safari to stop because the restaurant clock says so.
It depends on the rate you book, so compare the inclusions rather than only the nightly price.
Our direct All-Inclusive rate includes accommodation, meals, selected beverages, many on-property activities and shared full-day Kruger National Park safaris. Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport transfers are also included on the standard direct All-Inclusive rate. Some premium beverages, spa treatments, the Treetop Sleepout and off-property tours may carry an additional charge.
The inclusions shown with your chosen rate at the time of booking are the ones that apply to your stay.
Oase was built around what we learned over more than twenty years travelling through Africa as safari guests. We loved safari, but not the idea that every day had to follow the same early-drive, breakfast, afternoon-drive, dinner rhythm.
At Oase the day is deliberately more flexible. You can spend a full day exploring Kruger, track wildlife on foot, take a night drive, fish, cycle, cook, have a spa treatment, sit beside the river or change the plan because something more interesting happened. The wildlife matters enormously, but it is only one part of the experience.
The result is a safari with more privacy, more freedom and more time to experience the bush rather than simply move from one scheduled activity to the next.
Pack comfortable, practical clothing that you can layer. Neutral colours such as khaki, olive, beige and muted greys work well in the bush. Bring comfortable closed walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses and high-protection sunscreen.
Morning and evening temperatures can be much cooler than the middle of the day, especially in winter, so a warm layer and windproof jacket are useful. Binoculars are worth bringing if you have them. Comfort matters more than looking like a safari catalogue.
Oase has individually designed luxury suites for couples, families and longer stays, including multi-bedroom options. Depending on the suite, features can include private or shared plunge pools, indoor and outdoor showers, baths, generous living areas and private decks.
We also offer the Treetop Sleepout for guests who want to spend a night above the bush. Tell us who is travelling and we can help you choose the right space.
When you book Oase directly on an All-Inclusive rate, shared full-day Kruger National Park safaris are included in your stay.
Private Kruger safaris can also be arranged for guests who prefer a private vehicle and are charged separately. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but the full-day format gives us time to explore rather than rush from one sighting to the next.
Yes, you have the opportunity to look for the Big 5 during our full-day safaris in Kruger National Park.
No reserve can guarantee a wildlife sighting and we do not promise that you will see all five. What Kruger gives you is an enormous protected landscape that is home to lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo, along with far more besides.
Oase and the Greater Kruger are in a malaria-risk region. Whether you should take antimalarial medication depends on factors such as the season, your health, age, other medication and wider travel itinerary.
Please discuss your trip with your doctor or a qualified travel-medicine professional before travelling rather than relying on the lodge for medical advice. We also recommend normal mosquito precautions such as repellent and appropriate clothing when mosquitoes are active.
Oase itself is not a traditional Big 5 reserve. Leopard and lion occur on the reserve, but elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros are not resident here.
That gives us more freedom, subject to conditions and your guide's judgement, to walk, track, cycle and experience the bush outside a vehicle. For the classic Big 5 experience, we take guests into Kruger National Park. You do not have to choose between the Big 5 and a more intimate private-reserve experience; a stay at Oase gives you both.
No. We have guided activities and suggested times, but we do not believe every guest should be moved through the same morning-drive, breakfast, afternoon-drive routine.
One day might be a full day in Kruger. Another might begin with tracks on foot and end with a night drive. You may decide to spend an afternoon at Spa Oase, have a long lunch or do nothing at all. The idea is enough structure to work well without letting the structure become the experience.
Oase is on a 530-hectare private reserve near Hoedspruit in Limpopo, South Africa, in the Greater Kruger and Lowveld region. We are approximately 10 km from Hoedspruit town and a short road transfer from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS).
Our position puts Kruger National Park, the Blyde River Canyon, the Drakensberg escarpment and the Panorama Route within reach while the lodge itself remains on a private wildlife reserve.
Two or three nights gives you a wonderful safari, particularly when Oase is part of a wider itinerary. For most guests we recommend four or five nights.
That creates time for the private reserve, a full day in Kruger National Park and experiences beyond the game drive without feeling rushed. Six nights or more gives you even more freedom to slow down, repeat something you loved and let the days unfold naturally.
Two or three nights gives you a wonderful safari. Five or more gives you Oase.
All Questions
Yes, and many guests ask us to. Tell us who is travelling, what interests you and how much time you have, and our Guest Experience Team can suggest a shape for the stay before you arrive.
We deliberately do not treat that plan as a timetable that cannot change. Wildlife, weather and how you feel on the day matter. Your guide and lodge team can adapt the detail as the stay unfolds.
Spa treatments are not included as standard in the All-Inclusive rate and are charged separately unless your particular package specifically says otherwise. We recommend booking important treatment times in advance, particularly for couples or if your stay is short.
Yes. Whole-lodge and private group arrangements are available for families, friends and VVIP or presidential-style stays. An exclusive-use stay gives the group greater control over spaces, dining and the rhythm of the lodge. Contact us for current capacity, inclusions and pricing.
Yes. The lodge's fibre connectivity and redundant internet links make normal remote work, cloud applications and video calls practical. If reliable work connectivity is important, tell us before booking so we can recommend the most appropriate suite and setup.
Many Oase suites have a private plunge pool, while some accommodation shares a pool within a paired or family configuration. Because the suites are individually designed, check the suite details when booking or ask us if a private pool is important to you.
Yes. Please tell us about allergies, intolerances, dietary requirements and strong preferences before you arrive so the kitchen has time to plan properly. If you have a medically significant allergy, give us as much detail as possible when completing your guest preferences.
Oase is approximately 10 km from Hoedspruit town. Hoedspruit is the main local service town for the Greater Kruger area and Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS) is the most convenient commercial airport for the lodge.
Oase is powered primarily by an off-grid solar and battery system, supported by backup infrastructure where required. Operating independently of the national grid was designed into the property rather than added later.
Yes. The private reserve is particularly well suited to families because the stay does not depend on children sitting quietly through two long game drives every day. Families can mix wildlife with fishing, cycling, nature, cooking, Cinema Oase, pool time and other experiences. We also have multi-bedroom accommodation for families and multi-generational groups.
We generally use activity for experiences that take place at Oase or form part of the lodge's own safari programme, and tour for an off-property experience in the surrounding region.
Many Oase activities are included with qualifying All-Inclusive rates, while off-property tours are normally charged separately unless specifically included in a package.
Most on-property activities are included with the direct All-Inclusive rate, including experiences such as guided bush walks, leopard tracking, cycling, fishing, bush cooking and Cinema Oase, subject to weather, safety and availability.
Spa treatments and the Treetop Sleepout are charged separately. Off-property tours are generally additional unless they form part of a package. Inclusions can differ between direct and third-party bookings, so check the inclusions attached to your particular rate.
Selected alcoholic beverages, wines, beers, soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are included with the applicable All-Inclusive rate. Premium spirits, imported or cellared wines and some other premium beverages may be charged separately. Your booking inclusions remain the definitive guide.
Leopard tracking on foot is one of the experiences that makes Oase different. It is not a guaranteed leopard sighting and it is not a walk towards an animal regardless of conditions.
The experience is about reading tracks, signs, calls and the landscape with your guide. Whether and where a tracking walk proceeds always depends on current wildlife, conditions and the guide's safety judgement.
Yes. Tell us what you are celebrating and, just as importantly, what the person you are celebrating actually likes. We can help with private dining, special settings, spa time and other experiences around the lodge and region. We prefer making the occasion feel personal rather than forcing every celebration into the same package.
Yes. Oase has multi-bedroom accommodation designed for families and groups, including the Milestone Family Suite and Rosewood Suite. Configurations, capacities and pool arrangements vary by suite, so tell us who is travelling and the ages of any children and we can recommend the most suitable option.
Yes. Oase has an air-conditioned gym with cardio and strength equipment, including a Peloton Bike, rowing machine, resistance equipment, free weights, medicine balls and fit balls. There is also an outdoor area suitable for yoga and stretching.
No. Oase is not a traditional Big 5 reserve. Leopard and lion occur here, but there are no resident elephant, buffalo or rhinoceros.
That difference gives us more freedom, subject to conditions and your guide's judgement, to walk, track, cycle and experience the bush outside a vehicle. Kruger gives you the classic Big 5 dimension; Oase gives you a more intimate and flexible private-reserve dimension.
Millions of visitors travel safely in South Africa, but it is sensible to use the same informed precautions you would use when travelling anywhere unfamiliar.
For Oase, many guests fly directly to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport and transfer to the lodge. If you are self-driving, we recommend planning the route in advance and avoiding driving after dark where possible. Our team is happy to advise on transfers and local travel arrangements.
Yes. Oase works particularly well for a first safari because you can experience the classic side of safari in Kruger National Park without having every day built around game drives.
You can see how different the bush feels on foot, spend time on the private reserve, try a night drive, slow down between activities and still have the opportunity to look for the Big 5 in Kruger. Our team can help you decide what to do without expecting you to arrive already knowing how safari works.
The Treetop Sleepout is an elevated overnight experience approximately six metres above the ground, with wide views across the Lowveld.
It is designed as a night under the African sky rather than simply another suite. Dining can be arranged as part of the experience and breakfast follows the next morning. The Treetop Sleepout is an additional-cost experience and should be booked in advance.
Our full-day Kruger safaris are designed as journeys rather than simple out-and-back drives through the same gate. Depending on conditions and the plan for the day, routes can use the Orpen and Phalaborwa sides of the park.
The route is part of the safari and can change with wildlife, road conditions, season and what your guide wants to explore.
Transfers to and from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS) are included with our standard direct All-Inclusive rate. If you booked a different rate, through an online travel agent, or need a transfer from somewhere other than HDS, check your confirmation or ask our Guest Experience Team before arrival.
Yes. Helicopter arrivals can be arranged directly to Oase. Please coordinate the flight with our reservations or Guest Experience Team in advance so landing arrangements can be confirmed. Landing charges may apply.
Yes. Night drives are an important part of the Oase wildlife experience because the reserve changes completely after dark. They give us the opportunity to look for nocturnal species such as porcupine, aardvark, African wild cat, genet, civet and honey badger. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Yes. Private and destination dining can be arranged in a number of settings depending on weather, your suite and what else is happening on the reserve. Tell your butler or Guest Experience Team and we will suggest what works best for that day or evening.
We do not build a stay around a fixed quota of two game drives every day. The point of Oase is to give you a broader safari.
On qualifying rates, shared full-day Kruger safaris are included alongside on-reserve wildlife experiences such as drives, walking and tracking. Night drives and other activities can be worked into the stay according to conditions, availability and what you want to do.
Standard check-in is from 2:00 pm and check-out is by 10:00 am. The Treetop Sleepout has a later check-in because of the nature of the experience: approximately 4:00 pm in winter and 4:30 pm in summer.
The Greater Kruger has warm to hot summers and generally dry, mild winters. Winter days are often beautifully comfortable, but early mornings and evenings can feel cold on an open safari vehicle, so layers matter. Summer brings higher temperatures and seasonal rain, with a greener landscape and a very different feel to the reserve.
Oase is a wildlife reserve. Species seen on and around the reserve include leopard, lion, hyena, giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala, waterbuck, eland, wildebeest, warthog and a wide range of smaller animals and birdlife.
After dark the possibilities change again, with porcupine, aardvark, African wild cat, genet, civet and honey badger among the species we may look for. These are wild animals in a natural environment, so no particular sighting is guaranteed.
When availability allows, we can usually extend check-out to 12:00 noon. If the suite is required for arriving guests, you are still welcome to check out of the room and continue using lodge facilities while you wait for departure.
Yes. Oase has a strong South African wine focus and a Gin Bar with more than 120 gins. Tastings can be worked into your stay and are intended to be relaxed rather than formal. Gin tastings are for guests aged 18 and over, and inclusions can vary by rate.
As much or as little as you want. You can have a spa treatment, fish, cycle, use the gym, watch a film in Cinema Oase, taste wine or gin, join a cooking experience, have a long lunch, sit beside the pool or simply spend time on your deck.
We do not regard the hours between wildlife activities as dead time. Some of the best parts of a longer safari happen when nobody is trying to fill the day.
A longer stay creates room for walking and tracking, night drives, fishing, cycling, cooking, Blyde Dam boat trips, bush picnics, wine and gin tastings, Spa Oase, the gym, Cinema Oase and full-day Kruger safaris.
Nothing is compulsory. The advantage of staying longer is that you do not need to turn the list into a schedule.
Because they are different experiences and you do not have to choose between them.
Kruger gives you scale, enormous biodiversity and the opportunity to look for the classic Big 5. Oase gives you intimacy: flexible hours, walking, tracking, night drives, time outside the vehicle and a private reserve that can be experienced more slowly. Together they make a much broader safari.
Yes. Three nights can give you a very good introduction to Oase and the Greater Kruger.
The reason we often recommend longer is not because three nights is a mistake. It is because Oase offers considerably more than a repeated morning and afternoon game drive. Extra nights give you room for Kruger, walking, tracking, night drives, dining, wellness and time when nothing needs to be scheduled.
Kruger is one of Africa's great conservation landscapes. It protects nearly two million hectares of the South African Lowveld and supports an extraordinary range of mammals, birds, plants and other species.
It is also more than wildlife, with important archaeological and cultural heritage. For an Oase guest, a full day in Kruger is not simply a trip to tick off five animals. It is a journey through a vast, changing landscape that complements the intimate scale of our own reserve.
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