I recently attended a wedding at iNsingizi, and the bride arrived by boat to the chapel that overlooks the big farm dam. iNsingizi has accommodation for about 48 guests, and we were fortunate to have booked a charming, little, thatched chalet. There’s also a delightful honeymoon suite. Wedding menus can be customised to ensure the bride is thrilled with her selection of dishes. The brownies here are legendary, as is the chicken and prawn curry. The lamb, slow-roasted with rosemary, is a popular choice for mains. The on-site spa is a wonderful spoil for bridal couples. Before leaving for home, I made a detour and indulged in a luxurious treatment – the perfect end to a wonderful weekend.
Invite the Outdoors to Your I Do's at our Uniquely African Bush Wedding Venue.
Our affordable conveniently located wedding & elopement venue is the perfect bushveld canvas for your forever after.
An entire venue and lodge that’s all yours
A secret slice of the African bush is all yours. Being tucked away from the hustle and bustle means a relaxed atmosphere and more time with your nearest and dearest.
We build your dream wedding around you
We specialise in intimate, personal weddings where your family and friends are more than just a number.
Your unique elopement escape
Celebrate your love in close company when you elope to iNsingizi. Depending on availability, we can organise weddings on a whim in case you’re getting hitched in a hurry.
Spend more time with your wedding guests in a beautiful setting
We can tailor a weekend package especially for you and yours, with your choice of meals, spa treatments, sunrise yoga, active adventures, local tours and more.
Close enough for convenience, yet far enough to escape
Situated between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, iNsingizi is breathtakingly “away from it all”, yet perfectly located so that no-one has to drive too far.
Your photographer will be spoilt for choice
From beautiful bushveld on top of a hill to verdant green sugarcane, farm dams and enchanting forests, there’s no shortage of backdrops for your most special memories.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Included in Country Life’s 10 spots to tie the knot:
“You cannot leave Africa, Africa said. It is always with you, there inside your head. Our rivers run in currents in the swirl of your thumbprints; our drumbeats counting out your pulse; our coastline the silhouette of your soul.” – Bridget Dore, South African poet.
If the bushveld runs in your blood, iNsingizi is the perfect backdrop for the most special day of your life. The untamed beauty of every acacia tree, every aloe and rocky outcrop breathes romance and adventure.
Our bushveld wedding venue is nestled in a secluded valley surrounded by a small game reserve and farmlands in Mid-Illovo, KZN (between Durban and Pietermaritzburg). We accommodate bush weddings and outdoor weddings with up to 120 guests, but we can also set up an elopement wedding just for you and your closest loved ones, or even for just the two of you!
With resident antelope, picturesque vistas across the valley, majestic indigenous trees and continual bird song, the entire venue has a quintessential African feel about it.
Is iNsingizi the right venue for you?
- Love the bush?
- But don’t want your guests to have to drive too far?
- Looking for an affordable outdoor wedding venue?
- With an outdoor chapel and an outdoor altar?
- Prefer the intimacy of having a piece of paradise all to yourself?
- And the flexibility to make your wedding your own?
An African bush wedding at iNsingizi will provide all this and more, at a price you can afford. We guarantee an authentic African bush experience that you and your guests will feel and remember long after the time has passed. Or, if you prefer an elopement wedding with just the two of you, you’ll never forget the love you share on the day and throughout your stay.
Does this sound like your dream destination wedding or elopement in the African bush? Book your viewing today, or get in touch to find out more.
Dreaming of a destination wedding
iNsingizi can turn your destination wedding or elopement dreams into reality. Our rates are affordable, we’re just over an hour away from major cities, and we take care of all the major details for you, leaving you with less stress.
If the bushveld runs in your blood, you won’t need to do too much ‘dressing up’ of the venue – the natural surrounds are the main feature and will be one of the most unforgettable elements of your day.
Your dream destination wedding – with quality catering, rustic décor, comfortable accommodation, a relaxed atmosphere and the breathtaking beauty of the African bush – is within easy reach at iNsingizi Game Lodge & Spa.
Elope and escape into the African bush
Many couples these days are choosing to escape the stress and pressure of planning a big wedding by eloping.
We welcome these unique “wedding celebrations” and we’ll go to every effort to make sure that the day is celebrated just as you two – and nobody else – wants it.
Surrounded by the bush and your love for one another, you’re free to seal your commitment in your own way.
Your wedding, your way
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. At iNsingizi, our aim is to help you create the most memorable moments, down to every detail.
We want our couples to be able to reflect their personal style and taste. That’s why we’re flexible in our approach, with a choice of unique ceremony venues, customisable menus, tailored accommodation and activity packages, and a friendly openness to ideas. Our team will work closely with you so that the end result not only has your guests ‘oohing and ahhing’ … but also thinking the whole experience was just so “you“.
BOOK YOUR WEDDING DATE AT INSINGIZI LODGE & SPA NOW … BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE TAKES IT!
A piece of paradise that’s all yours
At an iNsingizi wedding, the only creatures sharing our 350-hectare private estate with you will be our bird and animal life.
Our lodge sleeps 32 guests, perfect for your bridal party, close family and friends. You can also book Stirling House, a separate self-catering lodge that sleeps up to 20 guests. Other guests can be accommodated at local B&Bs within a few minutes’ drive.
Almost all brides and grooms say that their wedding is over in a flash. That’s why many of our couples choose to stay two nights or more at the Lodge with their closest family and friends so that they can spend more of this special time with them.
Our accommodating staff can organise meals and activities during the week and over the weekends – brunches, braais, spa treatments, trips to a local market, mountain biking, trail running, sunrise yoga and more … all set against the beautiful backdrop of our secret valley.
A Choice of 2 Venues
The chapel by the dam
Close your eyes, and picture holding your loved one’s hands as you seal your love for one another … there’s a gentle breeze tickling through the air, a warm African sun slowly sinking behind the hills, and you’re surrounded by the people you love.
Share your vows with each other, your family, friends, and invite the sounds and sights of the African bush right into your wedding ceremony.
Our chapel is situated overlooking a small dam, surrounded by indigenous trees and a large deck. With open sides and a tree growing through the thatch, you’ll invite the outside in for an authentic African bush experience.
The chapel seats up to 120 guests.
The open air altar
Our new open-air altar is presided over by an ancient Umdoni Tree. Guests are seated in a tiered amphitheatre, looking over the bridal couple underneath the tree.
We created our uniquely African altar from two large rocks, a feature you won’t find anywhere else!
You’ll be serenaded by the sounds of the bushveld as you say your vows against the setting African sun.
The open-air altar and amphitheatre venue easily seats over 120 guests.
The Reception venue
Situated in a unique setting, nestling under kranzes amid rolling hills in the South Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, our thatched chalets, honeymoon suite on stilts and the tastefully ethnic boma and bar offer you total tranquillity under African skies.
Our open and airy reception venue is elegantly ethnic, with wooden beams, rocks, a thatched roof, touches of organic decor and raised wooden walkways above the valley.
The wooden pool deck is perfect for post-ceremony drinks overlooking the bushveld in the valley below.
There’s no mistaking our uniquely African ambience, especially when Ziggy, our friendly three-legged reedbuck, pops his head in for a visit! You can opt for a rustic look with minimal decor and our African touches, or use the venue as a canvas for your Pinterest plans.
When it’s time to dine, our menus are simple and reflect the seasons, using local ingredients where possible. From mini bunny chows to beef fillet and our famous chocolate brownies, we aim to provide the tastiest dishes that suit your style.
We’ve put together some menu choices to help you plan the perfect meal, but we’ll happily customise the menu to accommodate your tastes and special requests.