Sashwa River of Stars
Greater Kruger, South Africa
Overview
True to its setting, the lodge embraces a back-to-nature philosophy, encouraging mindfulness, reflection and connection to the environment. Retreat programmes combine daily movement with relaxation, and everything's designed to help you reconnect with yourself and the natural world. When you're not out in the wild, there's a dedicated Wholeness Spa with an infrared Himalayan crystal sauna (you’re encouraged to enjoy a treatment early on to adjust to ‘Sashwa time’), and space for yoga, meditation and art workshops. As for dining? Expect a plant-based menu that’s as sustainable as it is creative.
When to go
What we love
- Wake to the distant sound of elephants at dawn, move through the day accompanied by birdsong, and fall asleep to the steady calls of hippos and lions after-dark
- The Star Bath experience lets you soak in essential oils beneath a starry African sky, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wilderness
- The lodge follows a unique Circular Gastronomy approach, which means any waste – including food waste – is used to regenerate soil
Who should go
- Nature and wildlife lovers
- Anyone looking to combine unforgettable safari adventures with wellness and relaxation
- Families with grown-up children, couples or solo travellers looking for a wilderness escape
Offers
- No single supplement on the Standard suites
- Complimentary Revitalise or Serenity treatment (60 minutes; choose from the treatment list)
Wellness
Wellness at Sashwa River of Stars is guided by a simple philosophy – slow down, breathe, and let nature do its work. You can choose from a range of programmes with varying lengths, but all of which feature therapies, daily movement, and time exploring the great outdoors on expert-led game drives and bush walks. These morning and afternoon safari experiences go way beyond wildlife spotting, and incorporate wellbeing activities like journalling and meditation.
The focus here is on slow safari, spotlighting the whole natural world instead of just big game. While the lodge has open gates to the Kruger National Park, Big Five sightings aren’t promised and animals aren’t chased to tick off a list. That said, when sightings do happen, they're usually intimate because Sashwa sits on private land.
This is a hotspot for elephants, but your guides will spend just as much time explaining the role of smaller animals and insects. And on bush walks, you'll focus on everything from trees to tiny creatures. Sometimes, you'll be encouraged to go barefoot, walking in silence so you can really tune in to your surroundings.
Don't miss the Star Bath experience, a soak under the night sky with the wilderness providing a soundtrack. You can also opt in for the Sound Safari, an immersive experience where an amplifier mounted on your 4x4 brings subtle sounds into focus, like elephants snapping branches or chewing leaves.
Back at base, the Wholeness Center has a state-of-the-art infrared Himalayan crystal sauna complete with an outdoor waterfall shower, a well-equipped gym facing the river, and intimate solo and couples cabins for soothing treatments that use organic local ingredients. Elsewhere, you’ll find yoga and meditation studios, a Zen-like Tranquility Garden, an art studio for creative reflection, and a saltwater swimming pool.
- Massages
- Bodywork
- Reflexology
- Star Bath experience
Activities
- Guided wilderness walks
- Dawn and dusk guided game drives
- Sound Safari (an in-depth introduction to animal sounds)
- Saltwater swimming pool
- Sunset deck with fire pit
- Permaculture garden
- Creative art studio
- Library
- Stargazing
- Birdwatching
- Boutique
Typical Group Classes
- Yoga (Yin and Vinyasa)
- Meditation
Sample Weekly Class Schedule
Please note - Classes are subject to change and seasonal adjustmentsRooms
Laundry service is available on request, and each suite is equipped with an umbrella for rainy days.
Tucked beneath the trees, Standard Suite have a king-size or twin beds, an en-suite bathroom with a shower, a screened garden and a private deck with views of the bush.
Facilities include air-conditioning and an overhead fan, a charging station, Himalayan salt lamp, organic hospitality station, and a hairdryer. Additional amenities include yoga mats and meditation cushions.
All of these suites have unique rounded bedrooms and private decks.
Carmine (30 square metres) is wheelchair-accessible and tucked away in a private garden, with an extra-length king-size or twin beds, an en-suite bathroom with shower and a deck with a hammock.
Dung Beetle and Aardvark (21 square metres) share a secluded courtyard garden with a water fountain. Dung Beetle has an extra-length king-size or twin beds, Aardvark has an extra-length king size. Both have an open-plan bathroom with shower.
Bee Eater (35 square metres) has a botanical theme, and an extra-length queen-size bed and an open-plan bathroom with shower. Lastly, Rockfig (25 square metres) has an extra-length king-size bed and an open-plan bathroom with shower.
Facilities include air-conditioning and an overhead fan, a charging station, Himalayan salt lamp, organic hospitality station, and a hairdryer. Additional amenities include yoga mats and meditation cushions.
These spacious suites are nestled in a garden rich with birdlife.
Each comes with an en-suite bathroom with a freestanding bath and separate rain shower, and a deck overlooking the surrounding greenery.
Facilities include air-conditioning and an overhead fan, a charging station, Himalayan salt lamp, organic hospitality station, and a hairdryer. Additional amenities include soft cotton bath robes and luxurious toiletries, yoga mats and meditation cushions.
These suites are nestled on the riverbank with views of a majestic Fever Tree and the flowing water beyond.They either have a queen-size bed, or extra-length king or twin beds. Rooms are en-suite bathroom with a shower and private decks.
Facilities include air-conditioning and an overhead fan, a charging station, Himalayan salt lamp, organic hospitality station, and a hairdryer. Additional amenities yoga mats and meditation cushions.
The riverfront suite is ideal for couples and comes with an extra-length king or twin beds, two bathrooms – one with a freestanding bath, one en-suite with a rain shower – and a deck that’s just footsteps from the water, with cosy hanging chairs and views of the floodplain.
Facilities include air-conditioning and an overhead fan, a charging station, Himalayan salt lamp, organic hospitality station, and a hairdryer. Additional amenities include soft cotton bath robes and luxurious toiletries, yoga mats and meditation cushions.
What’s on the menu
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served along with nourishing snacks that are available throughout the day. Dishes are designed to support energy and balance, complemented by herbal teas, wellness tonics, kombucha, organic wines and a small selection of spirits.
Location
Nearest airport
The lodge is around a 90-minute drive from Hoedspruit, with scheduled flights available from Johannesburg and Cape Town.Families, Children & Infants
Children over 16 years are welcome at Sashwa River of Stars.Why Wellbeing Escapes?
