Tickel Tub Tales – A Lekker Bushveld Soak
That’s the beauty of these tubs: they’re proudly Thorn Tree DIY. We hand you an instruction card, a bag of wood, and a grin wider than the Limpopo. After that, it’s your turn—build the fire, stoke the flames, and wait 40–60 minutes. By the time the nightjars are calling and the stars are popping out like Karoo dorp lights, your “bush jacuzzi” is ready to go.
But here’s the kicker: Tickel Tubs aren’t just for chilly winter nights. On a hot summer evening, skip the fire altogether—just fill it, slip in, and you’ve got your very own plunge pool. Come winter, make a lekker blaze, stir the water like a potjie, and you’ve got the warmest spa north of the Jukskei. Hot in winter, cool in summer—it’s a bushveld jol either way.
Paddle Power
No Tickel Tub session is complete without the most important tool: the legendary paddle. Every 20 minutes, give the water a swirl—like you’re stirring up a giant potjie of bushveld bliss. It keeps the heat even and, truth be told, makes you look like quite the pro under the Milky Way.
Of course, if you need help, our team is nearby—though Timothy might sigh dramatically, and KK will flex like he’s auditioning for Shaka Zulu.
Bushveld Bubbles, Green Thinking
Every soak comes with a pinch of Thorn Tree green magic. Your tub is filled fresh for you, and when you leave, that same water doesn’t go to waste—it gets released to nourish the thirsty thorn trees, shrubs, and grasses.
So yes, while you’re melting city stress away, you’re also giving the bush a proper drink. Even our bubbles leave a green footprint.
The Magic of a Bushveld Soak
As the sun dips low and the fire crackles, the conversations always change:
“Is the tub hot yet?”
“Do we braai first or tub first?”
“Who’s on paddle duty this time?”
Slip in as the stars appear and the bushveld choir warms up—jackals yapping, owls hooting, nightjars keeping beat, and every now and then a lion adding a rumble deep enough to shake your Castle Lite.
On warm summer nights, the Tickel Tub becomes the perfect place to cool off while the bush hums around you. In winter, it’s the opposite—fire-heated bliss steaming beneath the Milky Way.
Some call it romantic, others swear it’s the best spa in Gauteng. The kids? They just call it “the bush jacuzzi.”
We call it one of those Thorn Tree moments you’ll still be bragging about long after the fire has gone cold.
Where to Find Them
The Tickel Tubs have already found their spot under the thorn trees:
Elephant Root Luxury Tent – bushveld spa vibes with starlit soaks.
Monkey Thorn Cottage – cosy comfort, tub included.
Fever Tree Cabin – rustic charm now bubbling with fire-heated indulgence.
And like bush babies in the roof, these tubs have a sneaky habit of multiplying. Watch this space—more Tickel Tubs are on the way.
A Final Word of Caution
After one night in a Tickel Tub, you may never look at a braai fire the same way again. Because here, fire doesn’t just cook your chops—it warms your bathwater too.
So bring your cozzie, grab the paddle, and stir up a little magic.
Thorn Tree Bush Camp – Where the wild calls, and now, where the water bubbles too.
Cheeky Tickel Tub Guest Instructions
Fill tub with water (not wine).
Light fire. Add logs. Channel your inner pyromaniac.
Wait 40–60 min (1 bag of wood). Good things come to those who wait.
Stir with paddle every 20 min. This is not a potjie.
Slip in, lean back, look up—that’s the Milky Way, not bubbles.
Warning: may cause uncontrollable grinning (and possible snoring).