Pumula Game Farm is a four-star Tourism Council-graded venue and is located between the towns of Bela-Bela and Modimolle in Limpopo, only 140km from Pretoria and 190km from Johannesburg.

Bart and Marcelle Ridder purchased the property in December 2023 while the latter was visiting South Africa. She moved to the farm in March 2024 once registration was done and spent one week with the previous owners for a complete handover and a busy Easter weekend shortly thereafter.

At that time, Bart was still working in Uganda and only saw the farm when he arrived in South Africa three weeks later. He spent another six months finishing his contract in Uganda.

The family spent over 16 years outside South Africa with stays in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda, where Bart worked as an agriculturist. He still consults for Royal Van Zanten after he left as managing director for the company and frequently visits the farms in Uganda.

Marcelle grew up in Johannesburg and has been in graphic and website design for over 20 years.

The game farm’s closest town is Modimolle, only 15 minutes away. At Pumula, guests can also purchase basic items like ice, firewood, firelighters and charcoal, as well as gifts or souvenirs.

Self-catering and more

All units are fully self-catering. Guests will find all the utensils, cookware and crockery needed to prepare scrumptious meals in the units, as well as linen and bath towels. Guests need to bring swimming towels, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, food and drinks with them.

All units have braai facilities and TVs with select DStv channels. Housekeeping staff clean the outside areas daily and this includes the braai areas and pools.

The Ridders take recycling seriously on the farm, and they request guests to do the same. Visitors will find bins for biodegradables, used for compost, in the kitchens.

Marcelle booked Farmer’s Weekly into the Thulile unit, which sleeps four people. It has a kitchen fridge/freezer, gas hob and microwave oven. Fans in the living area and bedroom help guests cool down on warm days. A queen-size bed is in the bedroom, with a single bed and sleeper couch in the lounge area.

The stoep has a dining table, ideal for morning coffee, and watching the sunrise in the east. A large tub is in the en-suite bathroom and an outside shower completes this unit.The Thanda unit is a mirror of Thulile, but it has a bunk bed and sleeper couch, instead of a single bed and sleeper couch as found in Thulile.

The Thanda and Thulile units share a swimming pool.

Themba sleeps eight people. The kitchen has a fridge, microwave oven, dishwasher, gas hob and electric oven. The lounge area has an air conditioner. Two bedrooms have queen-size beds and en-suite bathrooms.

A third bedroom also has a queen-size bed, and the loft has two single beds. The latter two rooms share a bathroom. All rooms have fans for those hot days. Guests at Themba have access to a private swimming pool and garden.

Jabulani unit sleeps six people. In the kitchen, guests will find a fridge/freezer, dishwasher, microwave oven, gas stove and oven. Two bedrooms have queen-size beds, and the loft has two single beds. Guests will find aircon in the bedrooms and a fan in the loft. Jabulani boasts a private swimming pool and gardens, as well as a private outside shower.

Hiking, swimming and fishing

A hiking trail is on offer for guests wanting to stretch their legs. The shortest route is 1,8km, but guests are welcome to combine different farm roads and end up with different distances.

Excellent maps of the farm are available to guests. You may also cycle on the existing farm roads. There are no dangerous game animals, so guests may hike, jog, or cycle without fear.

One may also spend a relaxing time at the farm dam. It is easily accessible following the route indicated on the maps made available to guests in their units. If you plan to take a picnic basket or fishing gear, you may want to do the trip to the dam in your vehicle.

Guests will find braai facilities, covered tables with benches and even a flushing toilet there.

A canoe is available for rowing. Guests may catch tilapia and barbel in the dam on a catch-and-release principle.

Kids have access to a playground, and all units have books and board games available for days with inclement weather.

Guests may view the game through self-drive. Six tracks and loops make it possible to explore large areas of the farm and see game, trees and birds.

Other activities in the area include the Cheetah Experience, Waterberg

Zipline Adventures, visits to a crocodile farm, golfing and spa experiences. Both Bela-Bela and Modimolle offer excellent eateries for guests in need of a treat.

Animal and tree spotting

Nyala, kudu, wildebeest, impala, ostrich, blesbok, zebra and duiker are present on the farm. So are warthog, jackal, porcupines, hares, tortoises, and bush babies.

The Ridders have found the spoor of a roaming leopard, and troops of baboons and monkeys also visit the farm on occasion.

The couple have identified several invasive plant species on the farm and remove them as they find them. They have labelled some trees and thus far have identified over 60 distinct species.

Visit pumulagamefarm.co.za, or phone 079 801 8577 to arrange your stay.