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+27 (0) 13 010 0019

[email protected]

The Story of Jock

Located within 6, 000 ha of pristine bushveld, relive one of South Africa’s cultural heritages through our story.

Steeped in history, Jock Safari Lodge was the first private concession granted within the Kruger National Park and is named after local legend, Jock of the Bushveld, the canine hero of Sir Percy FitzPatrick.

Our Story

A story of courage and loyalty

The lure of gold brought men from all corners of the world to Southern Africa. Sir Percy FitzPatrick, renowned South African author, was one of these.The gold-rich capital of Thula Mela, situated on a hill at the fork of the Limpopo and Lebuvu Rivers 200 km north of Jock Safari Lodge, served as the trading centre of Southern Africa.The prospectors passed through some of Africa’s most scenic, untamed wilderness. It is in this area that Jock Safari Lodge is based, with our Southern Boundary being the old Voortrekker road from Delagoa Bay (now Maputo) to the goldfields of the interior at Pilgrims Rest.

Main Jock Lodge
Private Game Drive Safaris
Guided Family Safaris
Thatched Suite at Jock Safari Lodge
family sitting by a bone
Kids on Safari
Our Story

Africa’s most scenic, untamed wilderness.

Today, the wilderness experience we offer is unchanged from those early times and is an area noted for its diversity in game, particularly the BIG FIVE. In 1982, the Niven Family built a fence around the camp, which helped in preserving all the trees from destruction by visiting elephants.

The conservation-conscious Niven family also planted indigenous trees within the fenced area, which has grown to create a canopied ambience of shade different to the exposed wilderness just outside of the lodge. Nestled at the confluence of the Mitomeni and Biyamiti rivers at the southern tip of the KNP, the legend of an intrepid explorer, Sir Percy FitzPatrick and his trusted dog, Jock, lives on.

EXPLORE COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION
Our Story

The Legend of Jock

The concept was born by the descendants of Sir Percy FitzPatrick – the Niven family.They used the trust funds of Sir FitzPatrick to build a lodge in the area close to where the story of Sir Percy FitzPatrick and his dog Jock took place. Sir FitzPatrick was educated at Downside Abbey, near Bath (England), and later at St. Aidan’s College, Grahamstown. On his father’s death in 1880, he left college in order to support his mother and her family.

In 1884, he went to the Eastern Transvaal goldfields, where he worked as a storeman, prospector’s hand, journalist and transport-rider, travelling from Lourenco Marques to Lydenburg and Barberton by ox-wagon. At the latter place, he became editor of the Gold Fields News.

Our Story

Jock of the Bushveld, a South African classic.

Sir FitzPatrick’s adventures during the pioneering days in the Bushveld are vividly described in Jock of the Bushveld, now a South African classic. At bedtime, he used to recount his experiences with his dog, Jock, to his four children. Rudyard Kipling, an intimate friend, took part in these story-telling evenings and persuaded FitzPatrick to collect the stories in book form.

When he had done this, the author searched for a suitable artist to illustrate the book and came across Edmund Caldwell. He brought him to South Africa to see the Bushveld and make the drawings on the spot. The book appeared in 1907 and had an enthusiastic reception, being reprinted four times in that year. It has remained a special favourite in South Africa and has been widely read abroad, appearing in several forms and languages. Sanbona Nature and Wilderness Reserve are proud to own this property and is guided by the philosophy of Quality, Excellence and Distinction. The pleasure is ours… make the experience yours!

Discover Our Other Property

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve invites you for a high-end, conservation-based nature safari in the vast and varied landscapes of the unique Little Karoo. It’s the closest true wildlife experience you can find near Cape Town, a short three-hour drive away, offering exclusive and unique malaria-free safaris.

Visit Sanbona

Discover More About Jock Safari Lodge

Discover all that Jock Safari Lodge has to offer.

Our best experience of Kruger was at Jock’s. You can feel the love for nature in the heart and soul of the wonderful owners. The rooms are practically in the wild. We saw elephants just passing in front of the room. Sleeping in matras under the stars (if you want), amazing food in the river bed. Will never forget this experience!

-Jacob Yavin Vermeulen

We recently stayed here for 3 nights. We had read about Jocks and the strong recommendations. This place is better than ever expected, truly a magical place. The staff were exceptional, food 5 star and location amazing. The safari drives were also amazing and our guide IKE looked after us and was an amazing tracker. There are only 12 rooms so max 24 guest so you get to know the other guest without being overcrowded – the rooms are private and sit on-top of the river bank – you can watch the animals walking past from your day bed. Honestly this place is first class. We were self drive so easy access for Skuska airport or main Kruger gates. As it it a private lodge you get the added bonus of private areas as well as direct access to Kruger – truly amazing place and highly recommended. We were sad to leave and will return.

-John Smith

Jock Safari Lodge is located in the heart of the Kruger national park. It’s amazing location gives you a unique and real safari vibe. The lodge itself looks so amazing, stunning rooms, restaurant and relax areas. When you arrive at the lodge you will be welcomed by the amazing staff, that will tell you what the planning looks like. The planning is really amazing, you will get so much food and drinks, on top of that 2 amazing safaris with the best rangers! The safaris are really something else, private routes and amazing storys. The staff and everyone is really amazing at the lodge, this is a must do experience!

-Teuni D

The lodge is advertised as 5 star but I’d happily give it 6. Everything was perfect for the 3 night stay myself and my wife had, The room was spacious, clean and had everything you could want. The double shower cubicle was huge.There was an outside shower and bath, sunbeds, plunge pool, patio table with chairs and even a meshed tented area on the end of the platform overlooking the river bed with a made up double bed in case you wanted to sleep under the stars. The lodge staff were amazing, friendly and nothing was too much for them, Evening meals were fantastic, two of which were Brais (BBQ’s) on the river bed. The game drives were brilliant and our guide (not Driver!!) David, was really friendly and knowledgeable. We got the big 5 twice over. Will definitely be returning for a stay in the winter. Have done previous lodges in Kruger, Zimbabwe and Kenya but this tops them all.

-R. Davie

We spent several days here in early March — simply, the best! Very comfortable room and excellent food, with a warm staff. Highlights are the twice a day game drives. This definitely is not “pre-packaged” stuff — your guide (ours was Jacob) has a keen sense of where to find the animals, and drives over river beds and down back trails to find them -in a respectful way. We eagerly anticipated this part of our trip, and it exceeded expectations. You must go to have this experience.

-Robert D

I visited Kruger and Jock Lodge in 2017 and all I wanted to do is come back. That happened in Jan 2022 and once again it was wonderful in every way. The location is on a normally dry river bed so you can see wildlife from your window or terrace. The staff is so gracious and helpful. The wildlife guides are the most knowledgable and enthusiastic I have ever met. I come for the beauty and the animals and Jock Lodge delivers every time.

-Eva Fellner

Our best experience of Kruger was at Jock’s. You can feel the love for nature in the heart and soul of the wonderful owners. The rooms are practically in the wild. We saw elephants just passing in front of the room. Sleeping in matras under the stars (if you want), amazing food in the river bed. Will never forget this experience!

-Jacob Yavin Vermeulen

We recently stayed here for 3 nights. We had read about Jocks and the strong recommendations. This place is better than ever expected, truly a magical place. The staff were exceptional, food 5 star and location amazing. The safari drives were also amazing and our guide IKE looked after us and was an amazing tracker. There are only 12 rooms so max 24 guest so you get to know the other guest without being overcrowded – the rooms are private and sit on-top of the river bank – you can watch the animals walking past from your day bed. Honestly this place is first class. We were self drive so easy access for Skuska airport or main Kruger gates. As it it a private lodge you get the added bonus of private areas as well as direct access to Kruger – truly amazing place and highly recommended. We were sad to leave and will return.

-John Smith
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