Nestled at the confluence of the Mitomeni* and Biyamiti* rivers at the southern tip of the world famous Kruger National Park, the legend lives on of the story of an intrepid explorer, Sir Percy Fitzpatrick and his trusted dog, Jock. The lodge is situated on 6 000 ha of pristine bushveld and for the exclusive use to the discerning Jock guests.
The lodge has been built to the most stringent eco-management criteria in South Africa, audited by Kruger National Park and DEAT (Department of Environment and Tourism) on a bi-annual basis. Off road driving on the concession is strictly controlled in order to preserve this unique heritage for future generations. Jock Safari Lodge has a 100% commitment in maintaining a low impact upon the footprint that is Jock in order to remain true to the overall conservation ethic of the Mantis Collection.

This luxurious reserve offers us glimpses of bygone days of the gold diggings of the Eastern Transvaal, where adventurers like Irish born Fitzpatrick traversed the rugged Lowveld and escarpment en-route to the beautiful African port of Delagoa Bay now known as Maputo in Mozambique. Sir Percy transported provisions by ox wagon from the coast to the gold digging villages, assisted by his constant companion, Jock. Fitzpatrick outwitted crocodile infested rivers, malaria carrying mosquitoes and man eating lion, while having to hunt for the pot, traversing and sleeping under immense African skies.
*Shangaan for Jackalberry tree and Place of Many Trees, respectively.

“JOCK OF THE BUSHVELD”

From the wilds of Africa comes Sir Percy Fitzpatrick’s immortal story of Jock: a dog with more courage and heart than the greatest of heroes. The runt of the litter and sentenced to a watery grave, Jock was rescued by Fitzpatrick and became his steadfast companion. Accompanying Sir Percy on his travels, this dog, small in stature but great in strength and soul, fought many battles against voracious creatures such as baboon, sable antelope and kudu. Tenacious throughout, Jock braved a lonely evening in the wilderness guarding his hunt from nocturnal predators, running back to camp at dawn, triumphantly showing his concerned master he had survived his ordeal. Tragically, while chasing a kudu, Jock was gravely injured, resulting in permanent deafness. Not able to live a normal life and prone to further injury, Jock was looked after by a friend of Fitzpatrick, Tom Barnett. This valiant little canine fought boldly, protecting Barnett’s stock from a marauding wild dog, killing it but then in turn, was tragically mistaken for it and shot. Jock’s memory still stoically lives on in the first privately operated concession within the Kruger National Park – Jock Safari Lodge.
2007 is the centenary year for the Jock of the Bushveld book which was first published in 1907.

AT A GLANCE

• Game Drives
• Bush Walks
• Night Drives
• Rock Art
• Guided Walks
• Accommodation
  • Main Lodge
  • 12 luxury stand-alone suites
  • Each suite has its own plunge pool
  • African cuisine
  • Little Jock
  • 3 luxurious suites are equipped with their own viewing deck
  • indoor or outdoor showers
  • personal chef & game ranger
• Informative game walks
• Children under 6 years are unfortunately not allowed on game drives and children under the age of 12 are not permitted on game walks

THE ROUTE TO JOCK SAFARI LODGE
BY ROAD

Jock Safari Lodge is accessible by road using any of the entrances to the Kruger. The closest Kruger National Park entrance (southern Malelane gate) to Jock Safari lodge is reached by using the N4 from Nelspruit (approx. 61 km from Nelspruit). From the Malelane gate to Jock, it is a further 40km. The designated speed limit within the park is 50km/hr.
The drive from Johannesburg to Jock Safari lodge via Nelspruit takes approximately 5 hours using the scenic N12.
Park gates open at 06h00 and close at 17h30 in winter (May to September) and open at 05h30 and close at 18h00 in summer (October to April).

BY AIR.

3 Daily scheduled flights from Johannesburg International Airport to Skukuza – which is booked through Jock Safari Lodge.
Direct flights from all major international airports land at Kruger/Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA). There are scheduled flights daily with S.A. Airlink and Nationwide while registered air charters can also be arranged. Road transfers from KMIA to Jock Safari lodge can also be booked when making a reservation.

GUEST FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES
ACCOMMODATION

MAIN LODGE
The Main Lodge at Jock Safari Lodge has twelve individual thatched suites, screened by lush trees and reed walls, offer guests utmost luxurious privacy, creating a unique experience of gracious old world elegance surrounded by unspoilt wilderness. All the suites are named after places of interest in the tale of “Jock of the Bushveld” - the treacherous Pettigrew’s Road, the trading posts of Delagoa Bay and Komatipoort. Each suite, with queen or twin beds enveloped in a canopy of voluptuous white netting, has its own personal “sala” (thatched viewing deck), plunge pool, romantic Victorian ball and claw bath, his and her vanities and outdoor shower. The suites have been built overlooking the rivers and offer breathtaking river bed frontage, bushveld vistas and game viewing. Each suite is also fully equipped with 5 star amenities such as air-conditioning, fans, tea and coffee making facilities, private bar and safe.
The romance and elegance of the past are reflected in this unique luxury lodge. Interesting aspects include historical wagons of this bygone period strategically parked in and around the lodge – one is found parked under the thatched porte cochere of the main reception.
A small business centre is available for internet access while a cosy lounge and library invites one to curl up with a book, reflecting on the tranquil, lethargic beauty Jock has to offer.

LITTLE JOCK
Little Jock has 3 suites; which will ensure that personal service is always a priority for the lodge’s friendly staff. Each of the 3 luxurious suites are equipped with their own viewing deck, indoor or outdoor showers and guest amenities. While the dining and entertainment area offers both alfresco and indoor dining facilities allowing guests the unique opportunity to experience the gracious style of old world elegance surrounded by unspoilt wilderness.

Little Jock’s suites boast beautiful views into the unspoilt Kruger bushveld and guests can also relax in the comforts of the central lounge overlooking the banks of the Biyamiti River. This new lodge can either be booked as a whole lodge with its own personal chef & game ranger or as individual suites. As with Jock Safari Lodge, Little Jock will have exclusive traversing rights in an area that is regarded as one of the best in the Kruger for its "big five" sightings. Friendly and professional staff will cater for all guests’ requirements from specialised game drives or game walks - with every sound, scent, footprint or broken blade of grass – as sign waiting to be interpreted and understood. The main lodge spa will also be available for Little Jock guests should they request spa facilities.

Guests at Little Jock will be able to enjoy snacks and meals in the privacy of their suites or join other guests to sumptuous meals under the African sky while the chef and his dedicated team conjure up traditional dishes inspired by this unique location.

CUISINE
At Jock African cuisine is offered which incorporates an abundance of flavours accumulated on the routes followed by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick. The head chef at Jock and his passionate team conjure up dishes of legendary proportions, allowing the taste buds to follow their own African journey. The cuisine is served in a variety of locations - from fine dining in or outdoors to a gourmet adventure in the Lapa under the canopy of African night skies. Climbing wooden stairs that wind through a 400 year old Jackalberry tree, leads on to the upstairs bar area with a viewing deck overlooking the rock pool and Biyamiti River. Comfortable leather couches inviting one to enjoy an aperitif before dinner or relax reflecting on the day that was. The soul of Jock and its people, delight in making one at home, informally yet attentively ensuring luxurious comfort and relaxation, leaving one with lingering aftertastes of the essences of Jock and the Bushveld.

GAME DRIVES AND WALKS
Morning and evening drives are performed in covered 4x4 Landrovers conducted by highly experienced rangers. Traversing through the reserve, the wildlife is sometimes staggering in its diversity. Enthralling sightings of elephants, a sea of buffalo horns rising from the grass as they lie resting in the growing heat as well as prides of lions, awaits one. At dusk, a vantage point is chosen overlooking one of the many breathtaking vistas of the Kruger National Park. Sundowners are enjoyed while tales of the bush are told and a glimpse of what this unique wilderness has to offer is seen while being entranced by the ever changing colours of the sky as the sun slips into the timeslot of tomorrow. En route back to the lodge, nocturnal animals such as leopard, hyena and lion are often seen.

Walking Safari’s are encouraged, after a hearty breakfast, moving through the veld enjoying vistas of unsurpassed beauty and discovering one’s place in the cycle of nature. The diversity of fauna and flora in this unique concession truly comes alive when viewed on foot.

FAUNA AND FLORA
Personally assigned rangers will delight in sharing their knowledge of this astounding natural treasure trove of the bushveld and slowly the mysteries of the wild unfold. Jackalberry trees older than written history are pointed out and the myriad of insects, birds, mammals and reptiles that exist in this leafy ecosystem are explained. The sheer wonder of Mother Nature at work in this microcosm makes one eager to experience and understand more and to experience untouched Paradise in its pure form. The Amarula tree, so very African can be seen overflowing with baboons plundering the juicy fruit while keeping a wary eye out for the leopard that abound in the Jock concession. Taste the Sour Plum and sense a taste explosion or spot the various plants with medicinal values ranging from stomach cures, cures for hangovers or even a bush Viagra!! The vast expanse of this wild land slows one down and with this inner peace comes an ability to really incite the senses. Every game drive is a discovery of Nature and the magic of Jock.

BIRDWATCHING
For the avid birdwatcher, abundant species of bird are regularly seen on the concession including raptors such as the Martial, Tawny and Fish Eagles as well as Steppe Buzzards. A wide variety of Bushveld Birds are spotted from the comfort of ones room or whilst lying next to the Rock Pool. Most commonly seen are Hornbills, Starlings, Boubou’s, Shrikes and Woodpeckers to name but a few. The tranquil atmosphere at the Lodge allows for unique birding opportunities as man slows down, finding the rhythm of nature and begins to truly observe.

ROCK ART
Throughout the concession, rock art sites dating back more than 3 000 years are found depicting the spiritual beliefs and lives of the San. During their travels, members of the tribe would congregate around a communal fire, weaving stories and celebrating the gift of life while the Shaman would meditate through rhythmic dancing, singing and clapping and while in a trance, receive visions and guidance. This medicine man would ensure the well being of the tribe, protecting them from evil and sickness, predicting the future and ensuring good hunting and rains.

These experiences of the Shaman were depicted to the tribe in the form of the rock art seen today. The various sites that were chosen were also very symbolic, the rock depicting the medium between the different realms the Shaman had travelled in his trancelike state. Rock was the medium where 3 worlds met: the world as we know it, the world above and the world below.

Ingredients used for the paint consisted of red ochre, animal bones, coal and aloe sap. The sap and protein in egg and blood have the ability to preserve the art that exists today. The highlight of a day in paradise is a guided walk to view some of the rock art that abounds in and around Jock Safari Lodge. One gets a heightened awareness moving through the bush on foot and a newfound respect for the San who found a way to co-exist with Nature, leaving only a few mystical daubings on the rocks as proof of their fleeting visit and the simplicity of their ways, giving one a new understanding and meaning to our fast paced existence.

STARGAZING
With the absence of artificial light, the stargazing at Jock Safari Lodge is phenomenal and amongst the best in Southern Africa. Romantic stories of gods and goddesses banished to the heavens are woven into astronomical facts and unfolds before one’s eyes. How better to end a blissful day at Jock but to sit reflecting under the star studded-canopy of African skies, the vastness of infinite galaxies stretching before one.

Child policy: - The child policy at Jock Safari Lodge is as follows;

• Adults/Children under the age of 16 years are not permitted on any walking safaris.
• Children under the age of 12 years are accommodated by prior arrangement only.
• 0 – 2 Year old children to share with parents at no extra charge, but are not permitted to join the game drives.
• 3 – 6 Year old children may share a room with the parents and will be charged 25% of the normal rate, which includes meals, accommodation, but are not permitted to join the game drives.
• 7 – 11 Year old children either sharing a room with their parents or in a separate room will be charged 50% of the normal rate, which includes meals, accommodation and game drives.
• Children from 12 years old will require a separate room at the normal rate.
• A maximum of one (1) child under 12 years sharing a room with 2 adults at Jock Safari Lodge, subject to availability of mattresses