Makanyi Private Game Lodge | Luxury Safari South Africa — Hotel in Bushbuckridge

Where to begin. Our stay at Makanyi was life changing. We felt welcomed from the moment we stepped onto the property, like we were part of the family.

The accommodations were FANTASTIC. Our room was beautiful and we were able to look out onto the land and see animals wandering on the property from almost every angle. The rooms were very private which added an additional level of comfort. The room was full of natural light that added joy to every moment in the room. Housekeeping was amazing, and ensured a clean and well stocked room at all times. We loved returning from game drives to a fresh room, clean linens, and clean laundry thanks to the fantastic laundry service that was included in our stay.

The schedule for the day at Makanyi was one of our favorite parts, even the early morning wake up time for game drives! We felt like we always had stuff to do throughout the day, while also having time to relax, nap, read and spend quality time together. We really appreciated the opportunity to spend time with fellow guests and the staff of Makanyi, while also having time just the two of us. The set up of the lodge and schedule of events allowed for each individual to get the experience tailored to what they preferred. We enjoyed spending meal times and cocktail hour with the group, allowing for added connections and fun. We did see some other guests take meals back to their room, so it was nice to see how the lodge accommodated all requests.

Speaking of meal times, the food was unbelievable. Amos is a fantastic chef that seems passionate about his craft every time he told us our meal options. His passion and skill lead to the best food we have ever had.

The lodge felt very safe. We were escorted to and from our rooms when it was dark, and staff always pointed out steps to ensure safety. There was fencing around the property to ensure we were safe from certain wildlife. While on game drives we were all educated on proper etiquette, respect for animals and safety which ensured safe game drives for everyone. Sakkie and Robert made us feel safe every moment of each game drive, even when off the vehicle for drinks.

Sakkie, our guide, and Robert, our tracker made a fantastic team. They were so knowledgable, always happy to answer our questions but also giving us the space to quietly enjoy all that the Timbavati Reserve had to offer. They had such respect for the wildlife and the land, which is something we will carry with us forever. Helping us spot wildlife on our game drives was a priority for Sakkie and Robert. They see these animals regularly, but still seemed to get so excited when an animal was spotted. One night they extended the time of our drive just to have us see a leopard that was spotted by another team. We managed to see every animal we came for, a including the Big 5, a black Rhino and a wild dog! They ensured comfortable, fun, and educational game drives each and every ride. We will never forget Sakkie and Robert and how they had such a positive impact on our stay.

We felt so connected to all of the staff at Makanyi, and truly felt like part of the family when we left. Lillian was so fun and full of joy with each interaction we had, and ensured a seamless trip throughout our travels to and from the lodge in addition to throughout the duration of the stay. Lyborn, Amanda and Distance provided amazing service for all of our meals and time spent in the lodge. Every request we made was immediately accommodated, and with a smile.

We both cried leaving the lodge on our final day as staff waved goodbye to us. We know it wasn’t a goodbye but rather a see you soon. We cannot wait until our next...

Where to begin? Our experience at Makanyi was absolutely magical. From the minute we arrived to the minute we left, everything was perfection. We were greeted, offered champagne, and had a welcome chat with the sweetest girl in Africa. I apologize for not remembering her name, as our trip was almost a year ago. (Blonde, genuinely kind, and extremely thoughtful.) She took the time to get to know our likes/dislikes, and food preferences. Our meals were prepared based on that conversation, and everything was AMAZING. The chef was fantastic and the food blew us away. Fresh soups every night, delicious breakfasts, and more. Our guide, Warren, was just awesome. He was knowledgeable, funny, genuine, and sweet. We learned so much from him and were so thankful he was our guide on this adventure. When we return we will definitely plan a trip with him again. We saw 4 of the big 5 but still need to find that leopard!!! :) A return trip is essential. Our guide Lux was extremely sweet and knowledgeable. We had long chats with him and both enjoyed his company so much. It was so comfortable and we quickly felt like we were driving around with old friends. The sunrise drives were gorgeous. We saw lions, rhinos, hyenas, elephants, zebras, giraffes, water buffalo, monkeys, warthogs, hippos, kudu, waterbuck, tons of birds and more! Our room (honeymoon suite) was phenomenal. We watched elephants from our deck while sunbathing. Monkeys played on our porch while we laughed and took photos. The private outdoor shower was fantastic. Beautiful, beautiful birds were everywhere. If you are a birdwatcher this is the place for you! The lodge is extremely private. There are only 8 rooms, so it's a very peaceful stay. The week we visited there were only 4 couples, including us. Our safari trips were almost completely private. The first few days we were on safari with just one couple, the final few days it was just us with our guide. I noticed a few other resorts had cars that take out 12 or 16 people. Makanyi is not this way. It's exclusive and feels that way. We had daily meals with our guide and other Makanyi guests. Wonderful drinks, dinner, and conversation with people from all over the world. The night of our anniversary they covered our room in rose petals, prepared us a rose petal covered bath, and brought us a beautiful private dinner on our deck. It was more romantic and beautiful than we could have ever hoped for. Safe, wonderful, magical, beautiful, romantic, inspiring... Thank you for everything. Trip of a lifetime. If you are currently reading reviews to plan your trip, do yourself a favor and...

Don’t know where to begin this review of this extraordinary place. Makanyi exceeded all expectations in every respect. Not only are the lodge and the accommodations beautiful beyond words, the feeling of warmth and welcome is felt profoundly in everything everyday. It is hard not to fall in love with the people who make your stay memorable. You begin with a greeting from Lillian who made check in easy. You will meet the excellent chef who will feed you delicious meals throughout your stay. Can not say enough about our guide, Saki and tracker, Robert who gave us a safari experience beyond what we could have imagined. We saw sightings of the big five plus so much more including the rarely found wild dogs. Because Makanyi is a private reserve, our vehicle was able to go off road and get a very close view of whichever animal or animals Saki and Robert spotted. Saki shared his vast knowledge of not only the animals we saw but the ecosystem in which they live. One of the most fascinating things we saw was the termite mounds. Saki explained the importance of these in all aspects of bush life. As if all of this wasn’t enough, we stopped for breakfast in the bush on some morning drives. We highly recommend coffee with Amarula. On the evening drives, we were treated to a “sundowner” to watch the magnificent sunset. One evening we were joined by an elephant family having their drink at a nearby watering hole. | In between the game drives, we recommend getting a massage and/ or facial from Lucia, the spa director. She is lovely through and through and you will feel even more relaxed after she works her magic on you.| Our time at Makanyi was extraordinary in every way and a dream come true experience. Can’t recommend Makanyi more highly. |Nancy and Paul Buscemi|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||. ||||||||||||||||||||Amarula. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||. ||||||||||||||||||It’s piping hot and delicious. During the evening drives, we stopped for a “sundowner” while the sun was setting. Hard to put that sight into words especially if we were there when an elephant family arrived for a drink of water at the same time.| In between the drives and eating great meals, we highly recommend that you treat yourself to a massage and/or a facial from Lucia, the spa director. She is lovely through and through and you will feel even more |||||||relaxed after she works her...