Frequently Answered Questions

Oase was created around a very different safari philosophy to many traditional lodges in Africa. Rather than building the entire guest experience around rigid schedules and twice-daily game drives, we focus on creating a more flexible, immersive, and personal safari experience — one that allows guests to experience the bush at their own pace. Many safari lodges follow a highly structured rhythm: early morning drive, breakfast, afternoon drive, dinner, repeat. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that style of safari, we found after decades travelling throughout Africa that many of our strongest memories came from the moments between the schedule — slower mornings, conversations around the fire, full-day explorations of Kruger, tracking wildlife on foot, discovering quieter parts of the bush, or simply having the freedom to change plans depending on how the day felt. That thinking became the foundation of Oase. Guests at Oase are not limited to a traditional safari format. Alongside wildlife experiences, guests can enjoy: full-day Kruger National Park safaris, evening and nocturnal wildlife drives, leopard tracking, bush cooking experiences, spa and wellness treatments, fishing, hiking and biking trails, gin and wine tastings, and a range of other experiences throughout the Greater Kruger region. Another important difference is the atmosphere of the reserve itself. Oase is not a traditional Big 5 reserve, which allows for a much safer and more interactive bush experience. Guests can move more freely around the property, families with younger children feel more comfortable, and activities such as walking, tracking, biking, and exploring the environment become a far more natural part of the safari experience. At the same time, guests still experience exceptional wildlife through our private reserve activities and regular full-day Kruger safaris. Ultimately, Oase is best suited to guests looking for: more flexibility, more privacy, more personal experiences, and a safari that feels less like a schedule and more like a journey. For many of our guests, that balance creates a safari experience that feels deeper, more relaxed, and far more memorable long after they return home.

One of the most common things we hear from guests is: “We wish we had booked longer.” Interestingly, this usually happens because Oase offers a very different rhythm to many traditional safari lodges. At many safari properties, the experience revolves almost entirely around two game drives per day. While that can be exciting initially, many guests eventually begin feeling as though each day follows a very similar structure. Oase was intentionally designed to feel broader, slower, and more flexible. Guests often arrive expecting safari to be primarily about wildlife sightings, but quickly discover that some of their favourite memories come from everything around the safari itself: full-day Kruger explorations, evening drives searching for nocturnal wildlife, leopard tracking, long lunches, bush cooking experiences, spa treatments, wine and gin tastings, quiet evenings around the fire, or simply slowing down enough to enjoy the atmosphere of the bush. Because the experience is less rigidly structured, guests naturally settle into the environment differently over time. Safari begins feeling less like a schedule to follow and more like a place to experience. Longer stays also allow guests to experience a greater variety of wildlife, weather, landscapes, and activities without feeling rushed. Some days become adventurous and full. Others become slow and restorative. That balance is an important part of the Oase philosophy. Many guests who initially planned a short safari eventually realise they don’t actually want to move on as quickly as they expected. Africa has a way of slowing people down once they allow it to.

While even a short safari can be memorable, we generally recommend a minimum stay of four to five nights at Oase. One of the biggest misconceptions about safari is that it’s simply about seeing wildlife as quickly as possible. In reality, the best safari experiences tend to unfold more slowly over time. Longer stays allow guests to: explore different areas of Kruger National Park, experience a wider variety of activities, settle into the rhythm of the bush, enjoy slower days between excursions, and avoid the feeling of rushing from one activity to the next. Unlike many traditional safari lodges that revolve almost entirely around two game drives per day, Oase offers a much broader and more flexible safari experience. Guests often combine full-day Kruger safaris with spa treatments, bush cooking experiences, evening wildlife drives, hiking, fishing, wine tastings, or simply relaxing at the lodge. Many guests arriving for only two or three nights quickly realise they wish they had allowed themselves more time. Safari changes once you stop trying to fit everything into a schedule and begin simply experiencing it at its natural pace.

Absolutely. At Oase, we intentionally reject the rigid, clockwork schedules of traditional safari lodges. You are never forced to choose between missing out or exhausting yourself. Your time here is an unfolding personal journey, entirely dictated by your own rhythm. If your soul calls for a slow morning, you can skip the sunrise vehicle departure to sleep in, wake up to a freshly brewed espresso on your deck, and spend the mid-morning immersed in a sensory botanical treatment at Spa Oase. If you crave active exploration, our team can arrange a dedicated tracking walk to read the morning's wildlife footprints, followed by a late-afternoon trek to a remote treetop platform for sunset drinks. You have total freedom to blend high-fidelity wildlife tracking, wilderness wellness, and quiet, unscheduled moments of being fully present in the bush.

Guests will experience the Big 5 through our regular full-day Kruger National Park safaris (included in our rates). However, Oase itself is not a traditional Big 5 reserve as elephant, buffalo, and rhino are not resident on the property. Interestingly, this creates a very different kind of safari experience — one that is safer and far more flexible for all guests walking, leopard tracking, biking, and immersive bush activities.

Absolutely — in fact, Oase is often particularly well suited to guests visiting Africa for the first time. One of the things many first-time safari travellers don’t realise is that safari lodges can offer very different experiences depending on their location, structure, and philosophy. Some lodges can feel highly scheduled and intensely focused on game drives, which can occasionally feel overwhelming for guests still adjusting to long-haul travel, early mornings, and an entirely new environment. Oase takes a more flexible and balanced approach. Because the reserve itself is not a traditional Big 5 environment, guests are able to experience the bush in a more relaxed and immersive way. Guests can move more freely around the property, enjoy a wider range of activities beyond game drives, and settle into the rhythm of safari at their own pace. At the same time, guests still experience exceptional wildlife through our private reserve experiences and regular full-day safaris into Kruger National Park. For many first-time visitors, this creates a safari experience that feels both exciting and approachable without losing the sense of wilderness and adventure that makes Africa so special.

Packing for Oase should mirror our philosophy: sophisticated, functional, and deeply connected to the environment. Because our experiences emphasize active discovery and sensory connection rather than just passive sight-seeing, we recommend focusing on layers and natural utility: The Palette: Opt for neutral, earthy tones—khaki, olive green, beige, and warm greys. These colors allow you to blend seamlessly into the landscape during interpretive bush walks and tracking expeditions. Please avoid bright whites (which stand out to wildlife) and dark blues or blacks (which attract certain insects). The Footwear: A pair of worn-in, closed-toe walking shoes or lightweight trail boots with good grip is essential. You will want to feel confident stepping off the vehicle to follow tracks through dry riverbeds or walking up to our elevated sleep-out decks. The Layers: The Greater Kruger climate is beautiful but dynamic. Morning tracking walks and starlight dinners require lightweight, breathable layers that you can easily shed as the sun warms the savanna, alongside a high-quality windproof jacket, fleece, scarf, and beanie for crisp morning and evening drives. The Essentials: A wide-brimmed safari hat, premium polarized sunglasses, high-protection sunscreen, and a good pair of compact binoculars to bring the canopy and distant horizons into crisp focus.

* All meals * Transfers from/to HDS * Activities * Kruger game drives * Drinks including acholic and more... You can find a full list of inclusions for the different rates on our web site here https://www.7starlodges.com/compare-oase-rate-inclusions

Oase offers unparalleled flexibility when it comes to game drives and encourages guests to step out of their comfort zones. Guests can choose from a number of different wild life adventures. With full day (6am to 5pm) game drives into the world famous Kruger National Park offered every second day. Other days guests are welcome to join us for leopard tracking walks or after dinner night drives that offer guests the chance to spot rarer wildlife such as aardvarks, porcupines, and African wild cats. Additionally, we offer moonlight game drives close to full moons, where lights-out conditions enhance the sensory experience, bringing the bush to life in a way that's rarely experienced. This immersive approach transforms guests from passive passengers into active participants in their safari adventure.

Yes — children are welcome at Oase and there are no strict age limits on most of our activities or game drives. This is one of the advantages of our reserve environment and overall safari philosophy. Because Oase is not a traditional Big 5 reserve, families are able to enjoy a far more flexible and relaxed bush experience compared to many safari lodges that impose strict age restrictions for safety reasons. Families with younger children often appreciate being able to move around the lodge more comfortably and participate in experiences together rather than constantly separating into different activities based on age. Children particularly enjoy experiences such as: fishing, bush cooking, biking and hiking trails, wildlife spotting around the lodge, movie nights in the cinema, and simply experiencing nature in a more interactive way. At the same time, our full-day Kruger safaris still allow families to experience the excitement of seeing Africa’s iconic wildlife in one of the world’s most famous national parks. We’ve found that children often experience safari very differently to adults — slower, more curious, and far more connected to the smaller details of the bush. Oase naturally lends itself to that kind of experience.

Yes — wildlife is a very important part of the Oase experience, although our approach to safari is slightly different to many traditional lodges. Oase is not a classic Big 5 reserve, meaning elephant, buffalo, and rhino are not resident on the property itself. Interestingly, this creates a very different kind of safari experience — one that is quieter, safer, and far more immersive for activities such as leopard tracking, walking, biking, and exploring the bush more freely. The reserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife including: leopard, hyena, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, warthog, numerous smaller predators, exceptional birdlife, and a number of rarer nocturnal species. Oase has become particularly well known for evening and night drives focused on species many guests rarely encounter elsewhere, including aardvark, porcupine, African wild cat, civet, and other nocturnal wildlife. At the same time, guests regularly enjoy full-day safaris into Kruger National Park where they experience Africa’s iconic Big 5 wildlife in one of the world’s premier safari destinations. Rather than focusing only on checklist sightings, we try to create a safari experience that feels more connected to the bush as a whole — wildlife, atmosphere, landscape, and discovery together.

In many cases, yes — although this ultimately depends on occupancy levels and the type of experience guests prefer. One of the advantages of Oase being a smaller boutique lodge is that game drive experiences naturally feel more personal and less crowded than at larger safari operations. Many couples, families, and groups enjoy private or semi-private safari experiences simply because of the way activities are structured and scheduled. We also place a strong emphasis on flexibility, which naturally reduces the feeling of guests being moved around in large groups on fixed timetables. Private vehicles and customised safari experiences can also be arranged for guests wanting an even more tailored experience. Importantly, we try to ensure that safari never feels rushed or overly operational. The atmosphere of the vehicle, the pace of the drive, and the interaction with your guide all play a major role in shaping the overall experience.

One of the things that makes Oase different from many traditional safari lodges is that the experience is intentionally less structured. While we still offer guided activities and safari experiences throughout the day, guests are not locked into a rigid schedule of “morning drive, afternoon drive, repeat.” Some guests want full days exploring Kruger National Park. Others prefer slower mornings followed by spa treatments, evening drives, bush cooking classes, fishing, wine tastings, hiking trails, or simply relaxing beside the pool overlooking the bush. There is no expectation that guests must constantly be doing something in order to “experience safari properly.” In fact, many guests discover that some of their strongest memories come from the quieter moments: long lunches, sitting around the fire, watching wildlife from the deck, conversations with guides, or simply slowing down enough to absorb the atmosphere of the bush itself. Safari at Oase is designed to feel more flexible, personal, and immersive rather than highly scheduled. For many guests, that freedom becomes one of the most memorable parts of their stay.

Why Wellness Naturally Became Part of the Safari Experience One of the more common questions guests ask when planning a safari is surprisingly simple: “Does Oase have a spa?” The short answer is yes. But over time, we’ve realised the more interesting question is probably: “Why does wellness belong on safari in the first place?” Because for many people, safari is imagined as something energetic and constantly active — early mornings, long game drives, tracking wildlife, moving from one sighting to the next. And while safari certainly can be adventurous, the reality is that Africa also has a very different rhythm to it. The bush slows people down. Sometimes gradually. Sometimes almost immediately. And once that happens, guests often begin craving balance just as much as adventure.

Yes. Transfers from and to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport are included in the standard all inclusive rate.

Yes. Shared Game Drives to Kruger and on Oase are included in the Standard All Inclusive rate.

No — Oase is completely off-grid and does not rely on South Africa’s national electricity grid. The lodge was designed from the beginning to operate independently using a large-scale solar and battery system supported by backup infrastructure where required. During the day, Oase runs primarily on solar power, while battery systems provide power throughout the evening and overnight. For guests, this means the safari experience is not interrupted by scheduled load shedding or power outages commonly experienced in other parts of South Africa. Air conditioning, lighting, Wi-Fi, hot water, refrigeration, and lodge facilities continue operating normally regardless of national grid conditions. Interestingly, being fully off-grid was never only about avoiding load shedding. From the beginning, we wanted Oase to operate as lightly and sustainably within the environment as possible while still delivering a high level of comfort and luxury for guests. Today, many guests are surprised to discover that the lodge is not connected to the grid at all — because the experience feels completely seamless.

Yes — Oase offers high-speed internet access throughout the lodge, including all guest suites and common areas. Unlike many remote safari lodges where connectivity can be limited or unreliable, Oase was designed with a strong focus on stable, modern infrastructure from the beginning. The lodge operates with three fully redundant internet connections to ensure guests remain connected even in a remote bush environment. Guests have access to high-speed WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 networks throughout the property, with select areas also offering next-generation WiFi 7 connectivity. For most guests, this means seamless access for: video calls, streaming, messaging, social media, cloud services, remote work, and general browsing. Interestingly, many guests arrive expecting to completely disconnect — only to discover they appreciate having reliable internet available when they need it, particularly during longer stays or while travelling internationally. At the same time, one of the advantages of safari is that guests can choose how connected or disconnected they want to be. Some guests spend evenings streaming movies in their suite or sharing photographs with family back home. Others put their phones away entirely for days at a time. Oase was designed to comfortably support both experiences.

With the exception of Spa Treatments and Treetop Sleepout, all other activities are included as part of the all inclusive rate.

No - tours are not included in your rate unless you have booked on a package with our reservations team.

Activities are things that you can experience at Oase without leaving the property and are generally included in your rate (see above) and tours are experiences that are outside of Oase such as Hot Air Ballooning.

Oase is located 10km north of Hoedspruit. There are daily flights direct from both Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT) to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS). Alternatively you can drive from JNB to Oase is about 5 and a half hours by following the N1 north to Polokwane and then the R71 east through Tzaneen and on to Gravelotte, then following the R526 to Mica and joining the R40 south towards Hoedpruit.

While Oase sits in its own private, tranquil sanctuary within the Greater Kruger ecosystem, our geographic position allows us to curate an extraordinary, seamless day-journey through the national park itself. Instead of a simple out-and-back drive through a single gate, we typically guide our guests on an expansive Full-Day Crossing Expedition. We enter through Orpen Gate to the south and slowly trace the heartbeat of the wilderness northward, eventually exiting through Phalaborwa Gate. This deliberate route is the ultimate antidote to the modern, commercialized safari. By embarking on a fluid, full-day crossing across changing topographies—moving from the open savanna plains of the center to the rugged, baobab-studded landscapes further north—we entirely bypass the localized "vehicle crowding" and radio-coordinated queues common around static sightings near the busy southern gates. You aren't waiting in line to glimpse a dropped pin on a map; you are engaging in a genuine, continuous African journey of personal discovery. It is a day of true exploration, watching the landscape, the birdlife, and the wildlife dynamics shift naturally around every single bend, returning to the lodge just in time for a candlelit dinner under the stars.

Check in and check out times are 2pm and 10am respectively except for Treetop Sleepout where check in time is 4pm in winter months and 4:30pm in summer months.

We can offer guests a checkout time of 12pm based on availability. If there is no availability, guests are welcome to check out and still use the lodge facilities.

Please consult your doctor for the best advice. While Oase is in a known Malaria area, its extremely rare and there is never been a Malaria case at Oase with guests or staff. Please read our blog post for more information. https://www.7starlodges.com/post/navigating-malaria-risks-in-africa-a-personal-perspective-from-oase

In general terms, South Africa is a safe country. As with almost every country on earth, there are places you just don't go to. Traveling to and from lodges via schedule flights is very safe and there domestic flights are available between most cities and regional areas. The lowveld (where Oase is located) is recognized as one of the safest places in the country.