Makanyane Safari Lodge
Safari in serious style.
A private concession in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve.
Eight stone and thatch suites tucked away in the lush riverine forest. The suites are vast, luxurious, and blend seamlessly into the bush, with thick wooden doors, trees growing up through the deck and open-air showers. Without a doubt the highlight of the rooms are the full-length glass walls on three sides. You’re part of the bush here, so don’t be surprised if a curious monkey peeps in while you are gazing out.
You’d have to work pretty hard to find a bad meal in South Africa, and Makanyane is no exception. There’s a cellar full of South African wines, and a mouth-watering, belt-loosening array of food on offer. Aside from the wine cellar, the lodge has a beautiful infinity pool- gloriously refreshing during summer, and most politely described as “bracing” in the winter. For gym bunnies, there’s a small, but perfectly formed exercise room, and a bush spa, which offers blissful massages at the end of a long day on rough safari roads.
Game drives in open four wheel drives are the order of the day. Each day brings its own surprises- a crash of rhino, a dazzle of zebras, or a pride of snoozing lions. If you’re feeling energetic, there are thrilling walks through the open bush, or, for a gentler afternoon, there are hides overlooking the plains and waterhole. Romantics might like to sleep out under the stars on hot summer nights, and there are massages for total relaxation at the end of a long exciting day.
Makanyane means “wild dog” in the Tswana language, if you keep your eyes peeled you may be lucky enough to spot these incredible predators.