Tomjachu Bush Retreat

Welcome to your home in the bush. Nestled amongst the rolling mountains of the Lowveld in the heart of Mpumalanga, lies Tomjachu Bush Retreat

Once a family home, it is now an award-winning, owner-run retreat, situated within its own private nature reserve, 15km outside Nelspruit. It is the perfect destination for anyone looking for Nelspruit accommodation to unwind and relax in nature, with plenty of activities on offer to those looking for a touch of adventure. Our retreat’s location within a private reserve allows you to explore the abundant natural wonders that flourish in the surrounding 550 hectare property, whilst immersing yourself in elegant comfort.

Our hidden Lowveld gem is often praised for its breath-taking views of the towering Bekker Mountains, and endless bushveld vistas running unbroken all the way to the southern boundary of the Kruger National Park.

Immerse yourself in the marvels of nature with an array of activities to keep you entertained throughout your stay.

Enjoy an adventurous game drive with our knowledgeable guide, hike up to the majestic Zebra Heights and meander amongst the bounteous plains game which roams around the property. Or simply sit back with a glass of award-winning wine on our extensive verandas and indulge yourself in the natural orchestra of over 275 bird species.

Stay in the classically styled Homestead in one of our 3 individual bedrooms or in one of three private cottages accommodating 2-4 guests. Alternatively choose our 5-star self-catering Valbonne Villa which sleeps groups of up to 12. All accommodation options are surrounded by beautiful gardens sharing spectacular mountain bushveld views. Some have private pools, some have self-catering facilities and everyone is welcome to enjoy our dining room menus which embody home-style cooking with elegant flair using home-grown, locally sourced ingredients. All our accommodation includes access to the 20 Kilometres of hiking and biking trails on the nature reserve.

The Homestead

SLEEPS 2-6 – Bed & Breakfast included. Dinner on request. Three individual ensuite rooms in the historic Homestead offer an intimate and relaxed atmosphere.

Once the family home of Grandpa Gordon and Grandma Vikki Fillery, The Homestead retains an intimate and relaxed atmosphere with an abundance of Lowveld charm. Surrounded by lawns and gardens alive with the chorus of birds and with stunning mountain views, it leaps straight from the pages of Out of Africa.

With three individual bedrooms each with its own private veranda, one in the main house and two suites in the garden wing, it is perfect for individuals, couples, or small families and groups. Enjoy a delicious à la carte breakfast on the cool, sweeping veranda with the backdrop of the Bekker Mountains. In the evening you can choose to delight in a sumptuous three-course dinner in the Homestead dining room, after relishing in canapés and cocktails.

Replete with family history and antiques, The Homestead also contains a large communal sitting room with a log fireplace, a library/study room, a dining room, a number of seating areas on its open veranda, and a large communal swimming pool with an impeccable view of the wild, mountainous bushveld stretching endlessly into the distance.

Keeper’s Cottage

SLEEPS 2 – Huddled beneath a giant fig tree, our charming Keeper’s Cottage offers guests complete privacy and serenity.

Huddled beneath a giant fig tree, our charming Keeper’s Cottage offers guests complete privacy and serenity, with stunning mountain views. Its large veranda, hammock, garden and private boma give you the space to put your feet up and enjoy looking out onto the retreat, with plains game wandering past in your view.

Only a short walk away at the Homestead you can take a dip in the pool, or indulge in our culinary delicacies served in the Homestead dining room.

Keeper’s Cottage is a one-bedroom cottage, with an ample open-plan sitting area, dining area and fully equipped kitchen. It also includes an outdoor fire pit and boma, braai area, veranda dining area, and indoor fireplace to snuggle up to on chilly winter evenings.

Rock House

SLEEPS 2 – Simply blissful solitude. A truly romantic getaway, with wild mountain views at the foot of your bed.

Rock House is a truly romantic hideaway. Built using stone hewn from the reserve itself it offers an undisturbed panoramic view of the Bekker Mountain range, brought to the foot of your bed through huge sliding glass doors. You and your loved one can enjoy each other’s company in utter privacy whilst indulging in the scenic landscape with only the passing zebra to disturb your solitude.

Rock House is an open-plan cottage beautifully appointed with all you will need for your getaway, including a large covered veranda, sensuous private plunge pool, a fully equipped kitchen, fire-pit barbeque area, inside and outside dining areas, fire pit, a stunning double stone shower and bathroom, you’ll be left with nothing more to do than ignite the romance on your getaway!

Bush Cottage

SLEEPS 4 – A stone-clad hideaway blending naturally into the bush with far reaching views across the valley and mountains – a private paradise.

Perfect for small groups and families, our Bush Cottage is nestled amongst the trees, embraced by the tranquillity of the surrounding bushveld with wonderful views across the veld.

An ideal setting for that much-needed family getaway or break with friends, where everyone can enjoy the unspoiled natural landscape surrounding the cottage, enjoy a dip in the private pool, or warm up by the indoor fireplace on those cool winter evenings.

Bush Cottage includes a large open-plan sitting and dining room with a fully equipped kitchen, two bedrooms and bathrooms, large veranda with outside dining area, barbeque area, and a private pool, ensuring that everyone has enough room to unwind and experience the wonders of the African bushveld.

Valbonne Villa

SLEEPS up to 12 – Once the Fillery family home, this extensive villa is steeped in elegance and charm with unrivalled views over the reserve.

In a spectacular location perched high above the valley lies, Valbonne Villa; the crowning jewel of Tomjachu and the perfect group accommodation. With an unrivalled vista looking down over the reserve towards the Crocodile Valley gorge, this unique Lowveld home, formerly the Fillery family home, is brimming with family antiques, paintings, local art, and a lifetime of memorabilia.

The exclusive villa’s cool rambling veranda, stunning sitting rooms, extensive gardens and boma make it the perfect place for families and large groups to come together for a truly unique bushveld experience.

Valbonne has claimed multiple awards, including four consecutive Lilizela Tourism awards naming it the top 5-star exclusive self-catering group accommodation villa in the region. The villa includes 6 double en-suite bedrooms, a vast elegant sitting room, TV room and study, and a large, fully-equipped open-plan kitchen and dining area. Its extensive veranda leads through the gardens to the boma and barbecue area, with a large infinity pool below bringing you eye-level with the soaring eagles, all overlooking the spectacular and dramatic views below.

Guests are welcome to join us in the Homestead dining rooms for meals, or can choose to enjoy the luxury of having a private chef to prepare meals at the Villa. Our private chef option is only available with advanced booking, and is subject to availability.

* A Butler service is available on request for an additional fee

Pet Friendly – Crooked Cottage

SLEEPS up to 4 – Our dog-friendly cottage is situated in its own private valley with an extensive fenced garden and stunning bushveld views.

DOG FRIENDLY – Crooked Cottage is the only pet friendly accommodation at Tomjachu, and one of the few pet friendly accommodation in Nelspruit. Situated in its own valley far from the main Lodge, with wonderful bushveld mountain views, it offers complete privacy and seclusion for you and your furry friends.

The cottage has two bedrooms, with a comfortable open plan lounge and fully equipped kitchen with dining bar counter. The covered veranda, with its soft seating, dining table and braai, looks out over the garden and bushveld views, and there is a cosy firepit under the shade of the coral trees. The extensive grass garden is fully fenced for your four-pawed pals to play around in safely, and the cottage comes with doggy water bowls, a dog mattress, and dog leads in case you forget yours at home.

The cottage has access to 4.5 km of pet-friendly hiking trails where you can walk with your dogs amongst wonderful mountain views and plains game, before meandering home for a glass of wine around the fire. Guests also have access to a further 15km of hiking trails on the property.

Whether with pets or without, Crooked cottage is a comfortable remote breakaway accommodation for you and your family, or with a small group of friends. As it is a remote cottage the road can be a bit rough, so we recommend bringing a high clearance vehicle.

*Pets by prior arrangement only.

Pet Friendly Rules

Tomjachu is a nature conservancy, home to many species of wild animals. We request that you adhere strictly to the following rules when staying with us to ensure your safety and comfort, as well as that of our other guests and our wildlife.

On the reserve

Pets must be kept on a lead at all times on lodge property, unless at the cottage
Pets can only be walked on the pet friendly trail (marked with a paw print). Pets are not permitted on non-pet friendly trails.
Please respect the space of the animals on the reserve. We have large animals such as giraffe, wildebeest and ostrich. If you come across any animals on the trail please allow them to move away before proceeding or turn back on the trail. Do not shout or try to chase them off, as this may make them feel threatened. Remember, a dog is a predator in their eyes, and this is their territory!
There is no swimming allowed in any of the dams (pets or humans!). This is for your own safety as some dams are deep and have underwater snags which are not visible from the surface and pose a significant drowning risk.
Please clean up after your pet on the trails – there is a poop scoop available for your use and a bin outside the cottage

At the Cottage

Maximum 2 pets in the cottage
Pets are not allowed on the furniture or beds
Please do not leave your pets unattended in the cottage
Pets are not allowed in the restaurant or pool areas of the Homestead or other accommodations
Please clean up after your pet in the garden – there is a poop scoop available for your use and a bin outside
Any disturbances such as barking must please be curtailed to ensure other guests are not disturbed
Please contact reception to arrange for a convenient time to service the cottage. If your pets are not friendly to strangers, they must be kept outside or taken for a walk whilst housekeeping is at work
We reserve the right to charge your account commensurate to the cost of any damages. Guests agree to indemnify and hold harmless Tomjachu, its owners and its operator from all liability and damage suffered as a result of the guest’s pet

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