Journeys · South Africa
Nedbank & the Bush
'Africa's Major' venue at full championship stretch, then malaria-free Big Five at Madikwe — the easiest serious-golf safari there is, one short transfer end to end.
Highlights
- Gary Player Country Club — host of the Nedbank Golf Challenge
- The Lost City Golf Course and its crocodile-guarded 13th
- Madikwe Game Reserve — malaria-free Big Five
- One simple routing, zero wasted days
Best months
May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep (dry season)
Walking off the 18th where the Nedbank is decided each December — then lion before dinner, no malaria tablets required.
What's on the card — and where you'll sleep
The golf on this journey
- Gary Player Country Club
- The Lost City Golf Course
- Gary Player Country Club (second round, optional)
Where you'll stay
- The Palace of the Lost City, Sun City — Sun City, 4 nights
- Madikwe Safari Lodge — Madikwe Game Reserve, 3 nights
Every property is hand-picked from our register of fifty-two — none paid for, none reciprocated. See the options for this region →
Where you go, and why
Sun City
Base up at the famous resort in the bushveld and take on the Gary Player Country Club — nearly 8,000 yards of the championship test that hosts the Nedbank Golf Challenge, 'Africa's Major'. Its sister Lost City Golf Course adds desert-style theatre and the most photographed hazard in golf: live crocodiles guarding the 13th green. The Valley of Waves, spas and restaurants entertain everyone whose handicap is staying home.
STAY The Palace of the Lost City, Sun City
Madikwe Game Reserve
Barely two hours' drive — no flights, no fuss — delivers you to one of South Africa's finest reserves, and one of its best-kept secrets: 75,000 malaria-free hectares with all the Big Five plus the rare African wild dog. Family-friendly, gloriously uncrowded, and the perfect ending for a trip that wastes not a single day in transit.
STAY Madikwe Safari Lodge
Every journey is a starting shape, not a fixed product — add nights, swap lodges, bring the Gallery. Guide price per person sharing, excluding international flights; confirmed precisely in writing before you commit.
Asked before you booked
How much does Nedbank & the Bush cost?
Guide price is from US$7,400 per person sharing, excluding international flights. For an exact figure, use the Price a Private Version tool — adjust the nights, rounds and experiences and our quoting engine returns your private price, checked by a specialist, usually within one working day.
How many rounds of golf are on this journey?
3 rounds are built in — Gary Player Country Club, The Lost City Golf Course, Gary Player Country Club (second round, optional). Every round can be kept, swapped or dropped when you price your private version.
Can my non-golfing partner come?
Absolutely — this is the heart of how we design. While the golfers play, the Gallery programme runs parallel experiences (game drives, spas, wine, walks, markets), and everyone reunites for lunch or sundowners. Non-golfers never sit out a day.
When is the best time to take this journey?
Best months are May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep (dry season). We will be honest about the trade-offs of any month you are considering — every season has its version of this trip.
Where will we stay?
Exact, named properties at every stop — on this journey: The Palace of the Lost City, Sun City, Madikwe Safari Lodge. Every property is hand-picked from our register; none paid for, none reciprocated.
Do I need a visa for South Africa?
Most UK, US, EU, Canadian and Australian passport holders get a free visitor visa on arrival for stays up to 90 days. We confirm the current rules for your nationality when you book.
Is there malaria on this trip?
Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route are completely malaria-free. The Kruger lowveld carries a low seasonal risk — we will advise on simple precautions — and if you prefer zero risk, we can route your safari to malaria-free reserves like Madikwe, Shamwari or Gondwana instead.
What is the weather like for golf?
The Cape plays best from October to April — long, dry summer days. The Kruger and the highveld are at their best for safari in the dry winter months, May to September. Most of our South African journeys work year-round; we will time yours to what matters most to you.
Tell us how you want to feel when you come home.
We'll build the wild, and the golf, around that — and nothing else.
Design your safari Speak to us