Search hotels in Makalali Game Reserve

Our three day trip turned out to be absolutely marvellous and we loved every bit of it. First of all, I would like to acknowledge both our guide and tracker, Sharon and Rodney. They were entertaining and very knowledgeable. They not only gave great description of every animal we came across but educated us quite a bit about the local life and even the plant species we came across. There were many Aha (!) moments for us. Thanks to Rodney and Sharon we had one of the most interesting encounters when a pride of lions were strategising to take down a buffalo. They had created a circle around them- however the extremely powerful buffalos were quite nonchalant, walked towards the male alpha and scared him off! No hunting scenes for us but on another day we saw the same pride eating what appeared to be an Impala (they had hidden the food behind a thick bush. The African elephant is a formidable beast. On the first day, seeing it cross our safari vehicle gave us some jitters. These looked more like Woolly Mammoths ( without fur) because the tusks almost touched the ground. Watching a herd of giraffe pass by gave us Jurassic park vibes. Another special moment was when a herd of female elephants walked by our camp to the river below and I could see a tiny elephant baby with a wiggly gait following its mother in the most adorable fashion. Watching every animal is exciting, be it a zebra, wildebeest, impala, kudu, funny warthogs or tortoises! Impalas were omnipresent and were described as McDonalds for lions (fast food, in a way). Among the big 5 we missed the Leopard but watching an extremely lazy Cheetah turning and tossing like like a house cat was endearing. The river lodge were we stayed is extremely beautiful. It is right across the river where we often saw a herd of Kudus and once a giant Hippo. It has all amenities you can think of and is cleaned twice a day by the extremely kind staff which made it so welcoming when we came back from a Safari.

We had the best experience at Kuname! beautiful lodge, incredibly friendly and attentive staff, 5 star food, exceptional game drives with extremely knowledgeable guide and tracker. We saw all the big five between the evening and morning drive. Exceeded all our expectations and every detail was taken care of.

We loved everything! Amazing lodge and a great location to see wildlife. Worth every penny you pay. From the food to the safaris to the rooms, everything was perfect. Would definitely stay again.

We had a fantastic time at Kamoka camp. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and peaceful. In the area, there are lots of animals walking around. The tiny house exactly matched the pictures and Camilla was a great host. Additionally, Camilla showed us the work that she does for the NGO just around the corner of Kamoka camp, where wounded animals are being cared for and the local population is being taught about the animals, the environment and more. The pool there was a nice extra to cool off, as it got quite hot… We would definitely recommend the accommodation. Thanks again Camilla for the great time!

Breakfast was wonderful and very tasty. You have your pick of eggs and then a buffet. Enough options for vegetarians (like us), I never had the feeling I wasn't accommodated. The same goes for lunch and dinner; there was always a vegetarian option. The rooms are nice and comfortable, the common areas as well. Prices for drinks are very affordable. The guides/rangers were very friendly and knowledgeable, they definitely made our stay even better.

Truly amazing. We’ve never been so well looked after in our lives! From the moment we arrived nothing was too much trouble. The staff are friendly and the location gives the most amazing views whilst having meals. The rooms were so comfortable and were super clean. The entire property was well maintained throughout. Johan and Adelina ran everything impeccably and organised a couple of trips for us; the bush walk being a highlight. Our game drives were simply wonderful with Evans and Thomas who were happy to pass on their knowledge of the bush. We saw all that we wanted to, and more, often being so close to the animals whilst always feeling safe with our guides. Special thanks to Shirley, Rizen, Josina, Rueben and chefs Helen and Jeanette for their care and kindness. Thank you to all the team. Thank you for looking after us so well whilst we were with you, you made us feel like family. We will be hurrying back.

Friendly staff and very welcoming. I appreciate the blanket and hot water bottle for the game drive during the cold months, the warm towel and drink after the game drive

Fab hosts Leon,Sally and Frank. Beautiful accommodation Comfy bed Nothing too much trouble

Stayed here many times in the last few years. A perfect little retreat for a couple of days close to Kruger, the Greater Kruger reserves and Hoedspruit. The rooms are very spacious and well maintained. Most of them have wifi, only room 1 has slightly less connection. The restaurant is also great and the accommodation comes with breakfast included. Staff is super friendly and helpful and would not hesitate to recommend the place!

Just an amazing retreat. Wonderful location, easy to self cater in well equipped wonderful communal rooms. Lilly who welcomed us was great and super helpful. Watching a Croc and Hippo drinking sundowners on the deck, then seeing a Giraffe on the track made life long memories.