A family travel blog:
Road trip to Thali Thali Game Lodge written by Tazz Discovers:
Tami, Anton and the Z’s
Thali Thali Game Lodge is situated about 140 kilometers from Cape Town just before the turn off to Langebaan on the R27. It’s just far enough from home to make you feel like you have left Cape Town, without the need for you to drive for hours. While you may feel just isolated enough to make you feel like you can disconnect for some down time, you’re still just 20kms away from a beach, in case you need a change of scenery. All this makes it a perfect Road trip to Thali Thali Game Lodge with West Coast Way!
Accommodation is available on a self-catering or bed and breakfast option but there are a few units that don’t have kitchen facilities so, choose carefully when you make a booking. Based on what we experienced at lunch, the catering staff really know their way around the kitchen, so you will definitely want to plan for a least one meal while you stay.
Road trip to Thali Thali Game Lodge
Our game drive was facilitated by the owner of Thali Thali Game Lodge and we learned so much about the animals, as well as details about the day to day running of a game Lodge. It was clear that he genuinely cares about the well-being of his animals and, when necessary, their care is micro managed to ensure that they stay happy and healthy.
In terms of knowledge, we learned that the reason why animals always graze down wind has very little to do with predators. When a plant is being grazed on, the surrounding plants release tannins as a method of self-preservation. These tannins make the plant taste bitter which puts the grazer off and they move on. When animals graze down wind, the plants don’t figure out they are about to be eaten, until it’s too late.
Apart from the game drives, there is an archery area, together with hikes you can do around the game reserve. As there are no predatory animals on the reserve, it is relatively safe to navigate it on foot making the road trip to Thali Thali Game Lodge perfect for families and friends – old and young.
Our favourite part of the game drive was the large amount of time we got to spend with the family of giraffes. I was surprised at how close they allowed us to get and they were so curious about who was in the Land Rover, I got the feeling that we were the specimens being watched, instead of the other way around.
The 90-minute game drive is really extensive and we had the privilege of seeing most of the reserve. Between the zebra, springbok, and wildebeest, we got to see these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Game drives should never be rushed and should always be approached with an air of expectation even though there are no guarantees that you will spot the animal you’d most like to see.
Any animal encounter should be on the animals terms. If they turn away from you, leave them alone. They have a right to privacy. Your desire to have an animal encounter should be very low on your list of priorities. Our wildlife should be allowed to stay wild.
Thali Thali is a family friendly holiday destination. It’s the kind of place where you can linger over a glass of wine, while the kids play on the play frame outside. The relaxed and peaceful atmosphere lends itself to the mental and emotional rejuvenation we could all do with a bit more of. It’s proximity to Cape Town makes it the perfect Road trip to Thali Thali Game Lodge with West Coast Way.
We only spent a few hours at Thali Thali, but I am already trying to find some time in our calendar to get back there. My soul needs a few nights there so that I can bask in the glorious sunsets and wake up to the sounds of wildlife.
Please ensure that you book your Game Drive and Archery Experience on +27 (0)82 372 8637 during high season periods.
Thali Thali Game Lodge has launched three new self-guided nature trails, which consist of: Giraffe Trail 11km, Eland Trail 6.5km en Springbok Trail 3.5km. Read more about these fabulous trails here.
RESTAURANT
Facilities available at Thali Thali Game Lodge
• Accommodation • Child-Friendly • Bar • Restaurant (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) • Pool • Wheelchair Accessibility (Rooms, Bedrooms & Bathrooms) • 3 Star Tourism Grading • AA Grading • Trip Advisor • Conference Facilities • Wedding and Function Venue • Shop • Game Drives • Online Booking Facilities.
Distance from Cape Town: 117km
Where: R27
Open 7 days a week | Free entry
R300/person for 90 min Game Drive (Booking essential in high season) R150 pp for children (5-12 years); Free Under 5 years
R150/person for Archery Lesson (Booking essential in high season)
Contact: (c) +27 (0)82 372 8637 [email protected] www.thalithali.co.za
West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature
West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.
Discover over 101 incredible things to see and do with West Coast Way:
Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve.
For more information on the best places to visit on the West Coast, road tripping routes, hikes, tours, and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Follow us on on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn @WestCoastWaySA.West Coast Way is a unique collection of themed routes that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors when they do an adventure-filled Cape West Coast self-drive trip for a day trip or a West Coast Holiday. The new West Coast Way “basket” of free routes on offer include the West Coast Way Tractor Route, the West Coast Way Berg Route, the West Coast Way Foodie Route, the West Coast Way Cultural Route – as well as the newly launched West Coast Way Wild Route, all of which are designed to showcase the many attractions and activities that are already on offer on the Cape West Coast and inland areas – but may be unknown to many.
For more information on West Coast Way, the other routes on offer, and the list of 101 Things to Do on the West Coast visit www.westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Connect with West Coast Way on Facebook and Twitter at WestCoastWaySA.