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More About Thandile Country Lodge

“Thandile Country Lodge is situated on a portion of the original farm Arnot, originally owned by the Grobler/Botha family who built the original farm stead in 1852 which is now believed to be one of the oldest houses in Bela-Bela. Fred Daniel purchased the farm in 1983 and when his son, Cobus Daniel & his wife, Magdel, bought the farm in 2005, the idea to establish a lodge/ game farm retreat was born during the period 2005-2010 when Magdel worked and travelled extensively on the African continent and the farm became the place where she would return to after a hectic work week to recuperate and reconnect with her family.
The name "Thandile” was proposed by the Maria Mokoena, the family's life long much loved domestic assistant who suggested the past tense verb deliberately to serve as an affirmation for its special meaning in Zulu word which means “I loved it”, a carefully selected name to capture the emotion expressed by everyone who has had the privilege to share in the magic of this “little piece of heaven” in the Waterberg.

Thandile Country Lodge started off as a family-breakaway for a Johannesburg based family when the owners tried to balance their respective Corporate- and entrepreneurial careers with fortnightly visits “to the farm” to regenerate their souls and to find inner peace, to connect with each other and to build the resilience to create meaning in their lives.

They succeeded so well in doing this that the farm became the regular “meeting place” for friends and family and as everyone loved it so much there, the idea of “Thandile Country Lodge” was born.

Thandile Country Lodge formally opened its doors to the public on 1 December 2012 and since then, it has often been said that “whereas you may arrive as a stranger, you’re always leave as a friend”.

Thandile Country Lodge is owner-managed and based in the original farm house built in 1852, beautifully restored to its former glory with 7 beautifully “Colonial-style” furnished units, all leading onto the wrap-around veranda, the majority of which overlook the beautiful surrounding of a typical game farm in the Waterberg.

It is locally believed to be one of the oldest farm houses in Bela-Bela and where possible the originally feature of the historic building were maintained e.g. The original fireplace in the Kitchen, the yellow-wood ceilings including the “Old Waenhuis” where the Ox wagon was stored.

The large Monkey Thorn Tree in front of the Lodge facing the dams is included in the logo of Thandile to honour the last member of the Grobler/Botha familiy, Nicolaas Johannes Grobler Botha, who is buried on the farm and who  is believed to have planted the tree during his tenure of the farm.

Evidence of historic events are everywhere to be found at Thandile Country Lodge with the horse trail following the route of the Boer Oxwagen’s trek across the Waterberg, including evidence of the South African War that can be found in the mountains on various places on the farm