The Ranch Resort can host a conference of up to 1,300 delegates in its largest hall, and spreads 13 multi-purpose venues across the property for plenaries, breakouts, banquets and weddings. The four-star resort has 150 bedrooms and lies on a 1,000-hectare conservancy 25 kilometers south of Polokwane, in Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Seminars and company events
The Ranch is built for large residential events: national sales conferences, industry congresses, product launches, training programs and award dinners. Delegates sleep, eat and meet on one site, which keeps a two- or three-day program simple to run. The Makhulu venue takes up to 1,300 delegates for a plenary, and the Safari venue up to 800, so a large session and a second track can run in parallel. The Excalibur board room seats 20 for a management meeting. Business-class Wi-Fi is included, and the resort runs on its own generator around the clock, which protects sessions from power cuts.
The remaining venues take breakouts and smaller groups. Floor plans and a fact sheet are available from the resort for detailed planning.
Weddings and receptions
The resort runs a dedicated wedding service. The Bushwillow venue, used for entertainment and banqueting, takes up to 600 guests, and its wooden deck seats up to 300 for a wedding ceremony or reception outdoors. Guests can stay on site, which helps when families travel from Johannesburg or further afield.
Rooms and capacities
Makhulu is the largest venue, with up to 1,300 delegates. Safari takes up to 800 and Bushwillow up to 600, with its deck for 300. The Excalibur board room seats 20. In all, 13 venues are available, and capacities by layout are given on the resort's floor plans.
Accommodation
The hotel has 150 bedrooms, enough to house most of a large conference on site. Couples and organizers should check the events calendar when booking rooms, since several groups may share the resort on the same dates.
Catering
Basil's, the resort's fine dining restaurant, leads its food offer, and the banqueting venues serve dinners for large groups. Ask the events team for conference menus and banquet options.
History and setting
The resort stands on a private conservancy of about 1,000 hectares of bushveld. The setting gives conference groups open space between sessions and a quieter alternative to holding events in the city.
Getting there
The Ranch is 25 kilometers south of Polokwane, reached on the N1 or the R101, and about 280 kilometers north of Johannesburg. Groups coming from Gauteng usually drive or travel by coach, and Polokwane has its own airport for domestic flights.
