Frequently Asked
Questions

Simply send Mariska a WhatsApp or email with your preferred dates and number of guests. She will confirm availability and send you payment details. Once payment is received, your booking is confirmed and you will receive the full house guide with all arrival details.

Weekday rates (Sunday to Thursday) are from R2,650 per night. Friday and Saturday nights are from R3,150 per night. A minimum 2-night stay applies over weekends.

All rates are for the full property — not per person. Everything listed under amenities is included at no extra charge.

Direct EFT (bank transfer) is the preferred payment method for direct bookings. Mariska will provide banking details once your dates are confirmed. Platform bookings (LekkeSlaap, Airbnb, Booking.com) follow their respective payment processes.

A minimum 2-night stay applies over weekends (Friday and Saturday). For weekday-only stays, there is no minimum, though a 2-night stay is encouraged to make the drive worthwhile.

No breakage deposit is required. We trust our guests to treat the property with care, and to date this approach has worked well. Any accidental damage should be reported to Mariska on departure.

Cancellation terms depend on how far in advance you cancel. Mariska will outline these clearly when your booking is confirmed. For platform bookings, the platform's own cancellation policy applies.

Check-in is from 2:00 PM. Check-out is by 10:00 AM. If you would like to arrange a later check-out, please ask Mariska in advance — it may be possible subject to availability and will be confirmed before your stay.

All arrival instructions, gate codes, and directions are sent to you after your booking has been confirmed and payment received. Please do not share these details publicly.

Shona is a self-check-in property. The house will be prepared and ready for your arrival. Mariska is always reachable by WhatsApp and phone throughout your stay. You are welcome to reach out at any time with questions.

Shona sleeps up to 4 guests comfortably in two bedrooms. There is an option to accommodate up to 2 additional children on stretchers, making it suitable for a small family of up to 6 in total. Please mention this when booking.

The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you need to cook and eat comfortably — pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, a dishwasher, and all appliances. You bring your own groceries and anything personal (toiletries, etc.). Firewood for the braai and boma is included. For a fuller list of what to bring (and what to leave at home), see our packing guide.

Yes, free WiFi is available at Shona. In a nature estate setting, speeds may not match what you're used to in the city, but it is sufficient for browsing, streaming, and remote work if needed. WiFi details are in the house guide.

Yes — every room at Shona has air conditioning. Limpopo summers can be very hot, so this is an important comfort feature. The units are all modern and effective.

Not fully. Shona has battery-powered lighting and is partially off-grid, but has reliable power for all appliances. The property is not entirely dependent on Eskom but please treat electricity with consideration.

Yes — a final clean is included in your stay at no extra charge. You are expected to leave the property in a reasonable condition — dishes done, general tidiness observed. The professional clean is done after your departure.

Yes, children are very welcome at Shona. The property is family-friendly and the estate is a wonderful environment for children to experience nature. Children must be supervised at all times, particularly around the hot tub, braai, boma, and anywhere outdoors near wildlife.

No — children on stretchers are accommodated at no extra charge. Up to 2 children can be accommodated this way. Please mention when booking so we can ensure stretchers are set up for your arrival.

Unfortunately, pets are not permitted at Shona. This is a requirement of the nature estate due to the roaming wildlife. We understand this may be disappointing — please plan accordingly.

The hot tub is fired by wood which is provided for you. You load the fire, and it heats the water over 1.5 to 2 hours depending on conditions. Full instructions are in the house guide. It is a very straightforward process and part of the experience. There is nothing quite like soaking under the stars while the fire crackles beside you.

Yes — a game viewing vehicle is included with your stay at no extra charge. You are welcome to use it to explore the Shona Langa Nature Estate at your own pace. No guide or booking is needed. Instructions for the vehicle will be provided in the house guide.

The Shona Langa Nature Estate is home to giraffe, kudu, zebra, wildebeest, impala, and a wide variety of bird species. Game sightings are common — often directly from the lodge. Dawn and dusk are the best times for game viewing in the vehicle.

Yes, DSTV is available. Channel access depends on the subscription package in place. Full details are in the house guide.

Shona is located inside the Shona Langa Nature Estate in Limpopo. The property is approximately 2.5 hours by road from Johannesburg. Precise directions and GPS coordinates are sent to guests after booking confirmation.

No — a standard car is perfectly fine. The majority of the route is on good tar road. There is approximately 9 km of government-maintained gravel road towards the end. This road is manageable in any normal vehicle.

Thabazimbi is the closest town, approximately 30 minutes from the property. It has supermarkets, fuel stations, hardware stores, and restaurants. We recommend stocking up before heading to the estate so you can fully settle in on arrival.

Cell signal can be limited in parts of the estate as with most rural nature reserves. WiFi is available at the lodge. We recommend downloading offline maps and any media you need before arriving.

Yes. Shona Langa Nature Estate is in the Thabazimbi district of Limpopo, which is a malaria-free area. No malaria prophylaxis is required. It is safe to visit year-round without medication.

Rupping Bush Retreats is approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours from Pretoria, making it an easy weekend escape from Gauteng without an early start.

The estate is home to giraffe, kudu, zebra, wildebeest, impala, warthog, and over 200 recorded bird species. Game is commonly seen directly from the lodge. There are no big five or dangerous animals on the estate.

No. Shona Langa Nature Estate has no big five or other dangerous game. This means you can walk, cycle, and let children explore freely without a guide. It is one of the reasons families particularly enjoy the property.

Game viewing is good year-round. The dry winter months (May to August) tend to offer better sightings as vegetation is low and animals gather near water. Summer (November to February) is lush, green, and excellent for birdwatching — over 200 species have been recorded on the estate.

Yes. The game viewing vehicle is included with your stay and there is no guide required. You explore the estate at your own pace, on your own schedule. Dawn and dusk are the most rewarding times for game viewing.

No parties, events, or large gatherings are permitted. Shona is a private retreat in a nature estate, and the peaceful environment is something we actively protect — for your benefit and for neighbouring properties. The maximum guest count is the booked number of guests.

Quiet hours are from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM. No loud music is permitted at any time of day. The sounds of the bush are the soundtrack here — please respect that.

No smoking is permitted inside any indoor areas. Smoking is allowed in the outdoor areas away from the thatch structure. Please be considerate of fire risk in a dry bush environment.

Day visitors can be arranged in advance with Mariska, subject to estate access rules. Only the confirmed booked guests may stay overnight unless pre-arranged. Please do not bring unannounced visitors to the estate.

Yes — Shona is listed on LekkeSlaap, Airbnb, and Booking.com. These are valid ways to book. However, booking directly with Mariska means no platform fees, personal communication from the start, and a more tailored experience.

The nightly rate is the same. The benefit of booking direct is that there are no additional platform service fees added on top, and you deal personally with Mariska from the very first message.