Welcome to Toro Yaka Bush Lodge

Explore – Discover – Experience
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Toro Yaka is an exclusive, quiet lodge nestled on the outskirts of the Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa. Our name translates to “My Dream” in Northern Sotho, and it is our goal to provide guests with a relaxed stay in the wild. This haven of peace and tranquillity was the dream of Nicole Bailie, the current owner, whose passion for nature inspired the creation of this one-of-a-kind lodge. Together with her welcoming team, the Toro Yaka family carefully caters to the needs of guests, helping every guest create a home away from home in Africa.

The main reason why guests return time and time again to Toro Yaka is that we offer restful accommodation, natural, unrushed game drives and walks, and delicious wholesome food. Guests have a real safari experience and as the lodge is purposely never overbooked, guests have privacy, peace, and quiet.

Take some time. Treat yourself. You deserve it.

Indulge in a luxury holiday and find out why our guests keep coming back

Activities & Facilities

Toro Yaka offers guests a few activities, all focused on getting back in touch with nature and refocusing the mind and body. Have a look at our popular activities currently available.

Accommodation
Private game lodge

Toro Yaka has been designed with nature in mind. The lodge has no fencing, and has a minimal impact on the surrounding nature. The lodge blends into the African bush and animals of all kinds often enter the grounds. Some of our regular visitors include an adorable family of warthogs, often spotted either on our lawns or at our watering hole. Nights are filled with the sounds of nocturnal animals. As the early dawn light heralds the new day, guests awaken to the distant sounds of waking wildlife.

Our safari lodge has 4 spacious en-suite thatch-roofed rooms, decorated in a modern style and capable of comfortably sleeping 2. Our rooms are spacious and in staying true to the aesthetic of the lodge, the space is designed to bring you closer to nature. Rooms have enough sleeping space for two. Each room has two beds which can be transformed into a comfortable double bed. The rooms are air-conditioned and the beds have mosquito nets. As for the bathrooms, guests will have their own indoor and outdoor shower. The rooms are serviced during the day while you are on a drive. In staying true to the aesthetic of the lodge, the space is designed to bring you closer to nature.

Game Drives
Private game lodge

A real African safari is the quintessential experience when you are at Toro Yaka. We have morning and afternoon game drives, with a highly experienced, passionate guide at the wheel. Unlike other safaris, ours is not a checklist experience. Nothing is rushed and we take nature as it comes. The locations in which we take our guests on safari are filled with interesting animals to see including elephant, rhino, lion and a great population of antelope.

The animals we see often move between our reserve and the Kruger, through open borders. Our guide is an expert tracker and is filled with knowledge about both the wildlife and the plants you will encounter.

To bring you even closer to nature, we also offer bush walks.

Dining
Private game lodge

Meals are an extra special occasion at Toro Yaka. Food is an important aspect of African culture and our guests can look forward to exquisitely prepared meals. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is catered for in true African style.

We take care to create meals that cater specifically to the dietary requirements of our guests. It is essential to note these requirements whilst booking, as we serve a set menu. All meals are freshly prepared at the lodge, by an experienced, creative chef. Our lodge has communal indoor and outdoor dining areas, as well as a Boma beneath the open, clear African skies.

Toro Yaka is dedicated to the preservation of the pristine African nature in which the lodge has been built. To this end, we do all that we can to leave no trace.

Massage
Private game lodge

Relaxing in our tranquil setting is taken to new heights when you treat yourself to a massage. Nicole is a qualified massage therapist and her treatments at the lodge include Swedish massage, Indian head massage, Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Shiatsu. She is also qualified in Kinesiology and The Reconnection. There is hardly a better way to start or end the day than with one of her treatments.

Our massage treatments are inspired by the surrounding nature and cater to both men and women. This is one way to completely reinvigorate both the body and the mind while on a quiet holiday at our exclusive lodge. Treatments need to be booked in advance and are not included as part of your stay at Toro Yaka.

Please ask for more information about our unique treatments when booking your accommodation.

  • star rating  We stayed at Toro Yaka for four nights and we had the best time ever. Nicole and the team are doing an amazing job. The food is sensational and the... read more

    avatar thumb Philipp K
    December 17, 2018
  • star rating  Amazing place - We had a great stay. Nicole, Steve and their team are great and the lodge is sumptuous. The meals are delicious. We loved our discovery of the bush with them,... read more

    charleshenrifouquet
    July 28, 2022
  • star rating  Toro Yaka exceeded expectations - and after an amazing first trip 6 years ago, expectations were high! Nicole is an amazing host. Lodge staff are efficient and friendly. ... read more

    fan_of_travel_101
    November 4, 2021
  • star rating  We only had one regret coming to Toro Yaka.. we didn't stay long enough!!!!! What an amazing place! The lodge is close to Hoedspruit airport where we flew... read more

    avatar thumb blueflag08
    May 22, 2019
  • star rating  Toro Yaka never lets you down - This was our fourth stay at Toro Yaka. It is a favourite place for me and for our whole family. Even now in Covid-times Nicole and Steve and there staff... read more

    477anettea
    January 19, 2022
  • star rating  It’s hard to put into words what our stay at Toro Yaka was like as I worry it won’t do it justice and I suppose that’s why it’s taken me... read more

    avatar thumb annagoesbang
    January 11, 2019
  • star rating  We travelled as a party of four in November 2019. From the moment we arrived to the time we left there was nothing we could give a negative... read more

    1967Tam
    January 26, 2020
  • star rating  This was my second visit to Toro Yaka, which means "my dream" and once again spectacularly exceeded my dreams for an African safari. From the moment one is greeted... read more

    avatar thumb QuizzyTripper
    April 7, 2019
  • star rating  The Best Lodge in Balule - We had 7 wonderful days at Toro Yaka and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. The Hosts Steve and Nicole and the guides Tim, Serena and Chat and the rest of the... read more

    Des V
    August 24, 2022
  • star rating  The rave reviews of Toro Yaka are very well deserved! My husband and I spent 4 nights of our honeymoon here, and wish we had extended our stay! Communication from... read more

    avatar thumb BonL_19
    June 29, 2018

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