About
Naka Lodge

Luxury Game Reserve

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Where Luxury Meets Wilderness

in the Heart of Limpopo

Nestled at the serene confluence of two majestic rivers in the heart of Limpopo, Naka Lodge is a sanctuary of unparalleled beauty and refined luxury. Our lodge offers an exclusive escape from the distractions of modern life, inviting you to root yourself in the pristine natural splendour and rich biodiversity that define this extraordinary region—a reminder from nature that you don’t need to be inside to feel at home.

Inspired by Canopus, one of the brightest

stars in the African Sky

Widely known across southern Africa as Naka, ‘The Horn Star’ has meaning in Sotho, Venda, Tswana, Zulu, and /Xam Bushmen traditions —all a form of measurement for what is to come.

The Naka Experience is

Born Out of its Context

As the forces of nature shape the land in an endless cycle of creation and destruction, it transforms everything it touches, including you.

Where mighty rivers rumble, it exposes ancient rock strata. Where leadwood trees once stood tall, termites find nourishment. Where riverbeds crack under the blistering sun, new life sprouts. It’s within these flaws that we discover nature’s flawlessness because where others see imperfections, we see beauty.

We are Shaped by Nature

It defines our path and brings balance to our lives. Seeking to go back to the proverbial source, Naka offers reconnection, rejuvenation, and recalibration. It brings us back to earth, making us aware of the in-between and interconnected places that create a relationship between the land, the people, and the sky. This harmony is written in the stars, teaching us to be human again.

Who We Are:

Naka Lodge is a haven in the Limpopo bushveld where guests can come immerse in nature to recalibrate, re-centre, and rejuvenate away from the bustle of everyday life. Originally called Wild Limpopo Lodge, the reserve started as a family farm. Andrew Karamichael traded his seaside property for the lodge and turned it into a special place where his family and friends could learn more about nature and experience life away from the city. The farm achieved its goal and inspired Andrew’s son, Harry, to transform it into a lodge where people from all over can join in the same experiences he grew up with. With a history of community, growth, and restoration as its foundation, Naka Lodge offers a special retreat beneath one of the brightest night skies in South Africa due to its low amounts of light pollution

Why We Are Here

For The Nature

A dedication to preserve the delicate harmony of our natural world.

For The People

A pursuit of meaning and discovery, inviting recalibration with nature.

For The Wildlife

A commitment to protect, nurture, and sustain the wild.

For The Community

A celebration of sensory experiences, crafted by time.

  • Wildlife conservation programs aimed at protecting endangered species and their habitats.

  • Opportunities for education around the farm that are focused on inspiring an improved understanding of and approach to sustainable living.

  • Community outreach projects that support local merchants and healthcare facilities and benefit the local people with new job opportunities.

  • Sustainable tourism practices that minimise our environmental impact and promote eco-friendly living.

  • Promoting a fenceless environment within our borders, unless necessary for safety reasons.

  • Solar power combined with backup generators to ensure a continuous and reliable energy supply.

  • Advanced waste management systems to minimise our ecological footprint.

  • A focus on recycling materials, especially non-biodegradable materials, to ensure nothing is lost or can potentially harm the environment.

  • Sustainable, locally produced foods, sourced from neighbouring farms and our own property, where we produce honey and grow fruit and vegetables.

  • Locally sourced water from the rivers purified on-site using hydroponics to minimise the impact that complex plumbing and construction would have on the landscape.

  • The space between earth and sky.

  • The space between nature and humanity.

  • The space between passion and pursuit.

  • The space between city and bushveld.

  • The space between private and communal.

  • The space between today and tomorrow.

  • The space between life and death.

  • The space between dark and light.

  • The space between us and them.

Everything you are about to experience has

endured the process of time, unique to this land,

for your immediate enjoyment.

Naka Luxury Lodge River

Meet the People of Naka

Harry Karamichael

Founder Director

"Nature teaches us to see the perfection in imperfections"

Judy Karamichael

Hospitality and People Development

"Being touched by nature brings balance and inner peace"

Godfrey Seaga

Bee Concierge and Reserver Worker

"It's all about nature"

Bradley Roelofse

Tracking Specialist

"All living things deserve protection"

Johannes Matlou

Gardener and Head of Maintenance

"Value the different birds each season by preparing and caring for them"

Brett Lee

Deputy Conservation Manager and Fishing Guide

"Immerse yourself in nature, and learn as much as you can"

Abdul Bolatlheng

Trainee Guide and Reserver Worker

"Naka is a place of stories waiting to be told"

Rachel

Naka Staff

"I find peace being in nature"

Yianni Karamichael

Conservationist

"Land really is the best art"

Jay-Dean Sloane

Lodge Manager

"Highways are for fast learning; dirt roads are needed to learn patience"

An Interview with the Director: Harry Karamichael

On the border of the Limpopo River across from Botswana, a family farm was inspired by the stars to seek broader horizons. In this interview, Harry Karamichael shares how their legacy is shaped by nature and what their dreams for the future are.

Read Blog

Room to breathe, explore, and rediscover what matters

—as an individual, as a newly married couple,

as a family, as friends, as a team, and as a human being.

Naka Luxury Lodge Lodge
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