Location: South Africa » Limpopo » Northern Kruger » Valley of the Olifants » PhalaborwaHans Merensky Hotel & EstateLuxury Resort / Hotel in PhalaborwaDescriptionSet in the splendour of the Bushveld, alongside the Kruger National Park, this unique four-star property is ideal for the discerning traveller and sport enthusiast, assuring a unique African experience.
The main Hotel itself with its large trees, water features and beautifully landscaped gardens, as well as the cool ambience of the traditional thatch, provides an oasis of leisure and elegance, the ultimate African dream.
The Golf Clubhouse raised to overlook the 9th and 18th Holes offers a view unsurpassed. Sitting on the patio having a chilled refreshment is the perfect way to relax after an exciting day on the golf course.
A host of other sporting facilities is on offer. Choose from an exhilarating game of tennis on one of our floodlit courts or speed up on the pace on one of our air-conditioned squash courts.
Cool off in one of our sparkling swimming pools, after training in the gymnasium complete with sauna.
Air-conditioned and secluded en suite accommodation is offered in the form of thatched chalets situated along the golf course.
Awake to the sounds of birds and watch as a herd of impala graze lazily at your doorstep. Each chalet is a short walk from the clubhouse. In addition, 14 air-conditioned en suite Hotel rooms overlooking the Hotel swimming pool and Pool Bar offer accommodation closer to the main Hotel Block.
Dine in the elegant Leadwood A La Carte Restaurant or have a BBQ feast in the adjacent Leadwood Lapa.
Alternate menus are also on offer in the Pool Bar and Golf Clubhouse. The Leadwood restaurant and Lapa offers a Full English breakfast buffet daily, with an offering that comprises the perfect start to a busy day. The Golfers' Halfway House takes care of the hungry sportsman's appetite with a variety of freshly prepared delights. Light lunches are served at the 'Golf Bar' overlooking the ninth and eighteenth greens. An A la carte menu is available in the Leadwood restaurant at dinner time, or why not try one of our delicious fresh pizzas from our wood burning oven at the pool bar. An exciting new Mediterranean Restaurant and bar, built above our new halfway house, will open in 2009 with panoramic views over the golf course towards the Kruger Park. Situated on the banks of the mighty Olifants River and set in a Private Big 5 Game Reserve, this 10 bedded lodge offers a true bush lodge experience, blending comfortable facilities with the genuine experience of the African wild. Each thatched bungalow has an ensuite bathroom and views of the River from the rooms and main deck are superb. Game drives and bush dinners prepared on an open fire make this an opportunity not to be missed! Our bedrooms epitomise luxury and home away from home comfort, incorporating locally manufactured sleeperwood furniture and a feeling of space. Families have also been considered and many of the rooms have comfortable sofa beds for children. The bathrooms are spacious, with large baths and a separate walk in shower, again furnished with quality products. All of our bedrooms boast air conditioning, selected DSTV channels and telephones. Visitors to Hans Merensky Hotel and Spa can choose to stay in a chalet overlooking the golf course or in superior rooms closer to the hotel itself. The Estate comprises 61 fairway-view chalet rooms ,70 luxury garden-view rooms and 5 self-catering family chalet units and can accommodate 250 guests in comfort. There's nothing quite like waking up to the twittering of birds, and looking out at the African sunrise to discover a herd of impala grazing lazily at one's doorstep. The Leadwood restaurant and Lapa offers a Full English breakfast buffet daily, with an offering that comprises the perfect start to a busy day. The Golfers' Halfway House takes care of the hungry sportsman's appetite with a variety of freshly prepared delights. Light lunches are served at the 'Golf Bar' overlooking the ninth and eighteenth greens. An A la carte menu is available in the Leadwood restaurant at dinner time, or why not try one of our delicious fresh pizzas from our wood burning oven at the pool bar. An exciting new Mediterranean Restaurant and bar, built above our new halfway house, will open in 2009 with panoramic views over the golf course towards the Kruger Park.   
Attractions Kruger Park day trips, Sundown evening game drives, River safari cruises, visits to wild animal rehabilitation centres, local cultural experiences and many more options are on offer. Kruger morning game viewing
depart 05:30, return 12:30 Kruger full day game viewing
(depart 05:30, return 15:00) Includes: open safari vehicle or air-conditioned minibus, registered guides, conservation levies, chilled mineral water, guide meals and expenses.
Excludes: Passenger meals (packed breakfast included from hotel), restcamp lunch if required. Operated on Hans Merensky’s Big 5 reserve Cleveland
Depart hotel reception 17:00.
Open vehicle game viewing with sundown drink on the
Olifants River.
Return to hotel via spotlight game viewing approx 19:30.
For groups 6+ only: optional BBQ or Potjie dinner in the Boma on the River:
Depart hotel 08:30 OR 14:30 for transfer to river.
3 hour cruise (leisure, bird & game viewing)
Refreshments will be sent along
Transfer back to hotel approx 11:30 OR 18:00. Depart hotel 07:30
Return approx 17:00.
Visit all sites along this route including Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window,
Pilgrim’s Rest.
Air-con minibus including AM or PM – Transfers to Hoedspruit return and entrance fees for cheetah tour.
Approximately 4 hours. AM or PM approx 5 hours.
Visit the Silk Factory for a tour of the interesting craft,
Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre, craft shopping at Hoedspruit Approx 2 hours.
Visit the home of Amarula Cream Liqueur for an interesting brief of how they make Amarula from the fruit of the Marula tree & tasting.
Lovely souvenir shop on site. Journey through the local mine property to view the massive open pit of Palabora Mining Company. See the town of Phalaborwa. AM or PM - Go with & meet the locals where they live & where they socialize.
Ba-Palabora tribal history, traditional dancing & witchdoctor, visit to traditional Shebeen for a local drink & meal.
Approx 4-5 hours Hoedspruit to Phalaborwa:
Phalaborwa to KMIA (White River) Spa & Gym A visit to the Hans Merensky Hotel and Spa can only be enhanced by a game of Golf on our world famous course set in a unique bushveld atmosphere. Share your experience with our resident Giraffe, Hippo, Crocodiles and many other permanent residents! The 18 hole Bob Grimsdell designed Par 72 Championship Golf course has been voted as the best walking course in the country. Tee off between 07:00 and 09:00 or 11:30 and 13:30. Visitors are welcome any day of the week.   
Accolades | :Tourism Council of SA Star Grading |
TGCSA Star GradingFacilities When you decide to bring your conference or meeting to the Hans Merensky Hotel and Spa you are not just choosing a venue that has all the usual conference facilities, equipment and audio-visual aids, you are choosing a venue that has a unique and exciting world of options that can be utilised to make your conference an unforgettable success. You will find a world filled with possibilities, where creativity is the norm and the ordinary does not exist. Capacity of up to 180 guests. Our Olifants River Bush Lodge is the perfect bush wedding venue with a capacity of 60 guests.
DirectionsBy Air: Arrive Hoedspruit Airport, transfer can be arranged at an additional cost. By Road: From Pretoria - Getting there on N4 East via Witbank has 2 tollgates and it might be advisable to take the R540 at Belfast through picturesque Dullstroom, (mind the potholes) historic Lydenburg (Wimpy breakfast). Continue along the R36 over Ohrigstad through the Strydom Tunnel, and then left soon after on the R36 (Tzaneen), turning sharp right about 10 kms further onto the R526 and R40 to Phalaborwa. From Johannesburg - Travelling the N1 North route has about 5 tollgates to just before the Plaza near Polokwane (Pietersburg). Stop at the Wimpy for a rest and breakfast. From there carefully follow the R71 through beautiful Magoebaskloof or R528 over George s valley, Tzaneen and Gravelotte to Phalaborwa. You may encounter potholes in the Gravelotte area   
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