Hut on poles in the bush #1 @ Mudhouse Zululand

Treehouse in Hluhluwe, South Africa

  1. 2 guests
  2. 1 bedroom
  3. 1 bed
  4. 1.5 baths
Hosted by Bernadette Ymkje
  1. Superhost
  2. 4 years hosting

Listing highlights

Great check-in experience

Recent guests loved the smooth start to this stay.

Beautiful area

Guests love this home’s scenic location.

Mountain and valley views

Guests say the views are gorgeous.
Some info has been automatically translated.
Solar-powered, tree-top cabin in the bush.


Listen to the sounds of the hippos and hyenas at night and enjoy the company of giraffes and zebras during the day.

HUT ON POLES TWO (separate listing)
DISCOUNT ON LONGER STAYS

- FULLY self-catering and self-serviced getaway
- Comfortable and fun
- It does not pretend to be a five-star hotel

Set in between protected conservation areas. With endless views!

4x4 car after rain; p10, p11, p12, p1, p2, p3, p4

The space
The cottage has a bedroom upstairs and a sitting and work area, all open plan. Next to the deck there is a toilet with an insanely good view. Downstairs you will find an equipped (camping style) kitchen and outdoor space with a covered shower garden next to it. There is a fire pit and bbq/braai facilities (please bring your own wood and charcoal). The cottage has a ceiling fan for cooling.

We are completely off grid on a modest solar system, therefore you will not find a microwave, toaster and hairdryer. There is a fridge with a small freezer compartment. We ask our guests not to connect electrical devices that use a lot of power. Back to basics!

You will stay in a private conservation area where many of the African savannah animals can be seen. We do not have lions, elephants and buffalo. On the other side of the river you look out over the mountains where there are lions and elephants, we can hear them regularly.

Guest access
You will stay in the middle of nature, a 10-minute drive from the main entrance gate. The roads within the reserve are unpaved and adventurous; a high clearance or 4x4 car is a big advantage. Low cars might struggle with the higher middle part of the road. If you have a high clearance or 4x4 car, we definitely recommend bringing it. If it rains a lot, then the roads become a bit of a challenge (Nov/Dec/Jan / Feb/March and sometimes April); you might struggle without a 4x4.

Travel times (approximately):
Durban airport 3 hours
Johannesburg airport 6.5 hours
Zulu croc (food and drink) 10 minutes
Delish (food and drink) 15 minutes
Hluhluwe (shops) 30 minutes
Hluhluwe park (big 5) 40 minutes
Mkuze park (big 5) 60 minutes
Sondwana bay (beach) 75 minutes

Check in time 14.00>19.00.

Other things to note
Things to take into account:
- Please also note that the roads in the reserve are not well maintained and it is recommended to drive a car with a high clearance or 4x4. With a small car it is not a easy drive!!!!
- We don't have air conditioning and TV, but fans for cooling down and instead of TV, the stars to watch. --Because we are in the middle of nature, you'd have to adjust to that and adapt to it. Especially in the summer you can find some discomfort from that, such as insects, warm weather and yes, sometimes also snakes.
- Take your groceries with you when you come so that you do not have to go to town for the necessary things. We provide filtered drinking water.
- Check in is allowed until 7.00 PM.

Where you’ll sleep

What this place offers

Mountain view
Park view
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm

3 nights in Hluhluwe

Oct 10, 2025 - Oct 13, 2025

Rated 4.98 out of 5 from 229 reviews.

Guest favorite
This home is a guest favorite based on ratings, reviews, and reliability
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Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 98% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 2% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 0% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for value

Where you’ll be

Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The hut is situated between &Beyond's Phinda Private Game Reserve and the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve, about 30 minutes North of Hluhluwe town. The Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park (Memorial Gate) and Mkuze Park are both within driving distance from the hut (approximately 45 minutes). Due to the hut's central location, both St Lucia and Sodwana Bay are within driving distance, making them ideal destinations for day trips.

Meet your host

Superhost
372 reviews
4.99 out of 5 average rating
4 years of hosting
Speaks Dutch and English
We are Martijn and Bernadette, both Dutch, loving life, nature and Zululand. After travelling around and living on two continents we ended up at this perfect spot. We are passionate about living and building off-grid, sustainable and responsible. And although we are not finished with building our earth-bag house, we do live in it and love the feel of it. We enjoy living in nature and having the wild animals around us every day. It is great to be able to share a piece of heaven with like-minded people that love being in the outdoors and enjoy an adventure and simple accommodation.
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Bernadette Ymkje is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.
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Things to know

House rules

Check-in: 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Checkout before 10:00 AM
2 guests maximum

Safety & property

No carbon monoxide alarm
Heights without rails or protection
May encounter potentially dangerous animal

Cancellation policy