Makhasa Private Game Lodge — Hotel in The Big Five False Bay Local Municipality

Food : Brilliant. Tasty and wholesome. Best lambshanks we have ever had. If we had a complaint it would be that there was too much food and we couldn't stop ourselves from eating it as it was so good!!||Service from staff all very friendly and helpful. All 5 stars!!||Accommodation: Clean, neat and more than adequate. For the price one cannot fault the accommodation. We felt it compared with a lot of the 5 star safari venues we had attended before despite being marketed as 3 star. Various products ie shampoo etc also top notch!||Safari: Before you arrive you know that Makahasa has limited access rights to parts of the reserve but I'd argue that they have more than enough rights and access. we arrived with a bang seeing lions, rhino and cheetah on our first drives. All being quality sightings. Other guests has seen leopard the day before so we were hopeful of seeing this elusive creature. Our family has been on many safaris so we understand that there can be lean days and safaris. Not a major issue as that for me is when the safari guide earns his tip, by talking about trees, vegetation, local custom, different kinds of track etc etc Our ranger was very knowledgeable and experienced, but perhaps urred in this area. Our spotter was poor and I wasn't too sure what value he added. My wife asked him if he enjoyed his job as he had only been doing it for 6 months and his response was it's ok for now. Clearly not as enthused as his guests then. At night you relied on the spotter to see things as he had the only flashlight which darted around, we saw almost zero and what we did see was spotted by us making him return to the reflective eyes. We were joined by another guest on days 2 & 3. It was evident that he was an experienced birder and with his huge telescope camera lense we found ourselves stopping for far too long for some obscure bird. Our guide seem more intent on catering for our new guest, perhaps as we had the most amazing sightings on our first drive. On one drive I got very irritated as we drove along the fence line for almost 50 minutes. We understood that the guide was hopeful of seeing some lion, but in my opinion that was a wasted drive. Whilst it may seem that I am very negative about our safari I am not. My criticism is because the safari guide and spotter should learn to cater for their audience. We were hopeful but not expecting to see animals all the time, quite the opposite. What a lovely, exquisite place Makhasa is with the sand forest, different terrain, dams and wet water area. There is more than enough to see. I would give the safari a 6/10 as a result, but it definitely wouldn't stop us from going back.||What a lovely place!! Very good, but could...

From the very start, our time at Makhasa was nothing short of wonderful! As we pulled up at the lodge, we were greeted with smiling faces bearing refreshing, ice cold face towels and cool drinks. Three days later as we departed, a chorus of Zulu ladies bid us farewell with a soaring chant. This is an example of the careful and solicitous rapport each staff member develops during a stay with them. ||Accommodations are luxurious, meals are beautifully prepared and served with generous attention devoted to special diets when necessary, shared areas are more than comfortable with stunning lake views, and the general atmosphere made one feel like a treasured and very important guest in a familiar home. Since there are only six suites and a maximum of twelve guests, the attention is, indeed, lavish and personal. ||I must also make mention of the caliber of all guides and game trackers who so ably and intelligently conduct visitors in the Phinda reserve. They are simply top notch! They work tirelessly to locate the animals on your must-see list, and they take delight in sharing their prolific knowledge of the bush and all its secrets and idiosyncrasies!||I would recommend a stay at Makhasa with absolutely no hesitation, having experienced many such facilities both in the Kruger National area as well as northern Zululand, where Makhasa is situated. This is a stand out experience for both international visitors as well as South...

Our weekend getaway to Makhasa Game Reserve was absolutely incredible! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warmth and hospitality by Ingrid and her outstanding team. Their friendliness and attentiveness made us feel truly special, and they went above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our stay was perfect.

The game drives led by the knowledgeable guides were the highlight of our trip. Not only were they experts in their field, but they also had a fantastic sense of humor that kept us entertained throughout. Their passion for wildlife and the environment was contagious, and we learned so much from them during our excursions.

Back at the lodge, the staff continued to impress with their politeness and willingness to cater to our every need. The accommodations were not only immaculately clean but also incredibly beautiful, providing a comfortable and luxurious retreat after a day of adventure in the bush.

And let's not forget about the food - simply amazing! Every meal was a culinary delight, with a perfect blend of flavors and presentation that exceeded our expectations.

Overall, our weekend at Makhasa Game Reserve was nothing short of perfect. It was a memorable experience that we will cherish for years to come. We cannot recommend this destination highly enough for anyone seeking a five-star safari getaway with exceptional service and unforgettable wildlife encounters. We can't...