Makutsi Safari Springs
Unnamed Road, Hoedspruit, Hoedspruit, Maruleng 1380 South Africa
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About
#15 of 75 lodges in Hoedspruit
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Family run for over 30 years, Makutsi Safari Springs offers affordable 1-week packages including return airport transfers, private accommodation, 2 meals per day, open Land Rover game drives and excursions into the surrounding areas. Makutsi Main Camp's two warm, thermal mineral water pools allow for adventure and healthy relaxation to be combined. With our new Makutsi Tented Camp, we are able to offer a unique mix of comfort and adventure on foot. Unpack, unwind and enjoy Makutsi's diverse African experiences.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Pool
Free breakfast
Tennis court
Board games / puzzles
Free airport transportation
Gift shop
Mosquito net
Indoor pool
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Special diet menus
Airport transportation
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Minibar
Refrigerator
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Great View
Languages Spoken
Afrikaans
Location
Unnamed Road, Hoedspruit, Hoedspruit, Maruleng 1380 South Africa
Getting there
Car HireSee all Hoedspruit car hire
319Reviews10Q+A78Room tips
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10/10! As a solo female traveller (yay! no single supplement at Makutsi!) travelling from Western Australia. I found the whole process of being met at Hoedspruit Airport by the professional and friendly staff member Ralf a very positive start. Then on arrival at Makutsi Springs a cooling refreshment drink from the lovely Anke! My room (rondavel) was fantastic, large with good furnishings in line with the surroundings, with a comfy double bed and mosquito net. The pool is gorgeous and very relaxing, along with a relaxing library and wifi. The linen was good quality along with the towels. From day one until my departure, when I was given a big hug from Anke, I felt very safe and no question was too much for the staff (in fact they went above and beyond at all times- especially when I squeezed in an on off-itinerary Kruger Park day trip!). The food was good and fresh. The safari drives were fantastic and I saw more than I expected I with the excellent, knowledgeable (and funny) Bjorn, and also Jesco & Bethanel (?) The tented camp is just what I had envisioned (and as represented in the website). Our trekking guide was Rob, who has an incredible knowledge of all that encopmasses safety (always paramount), animals, birds, land and nature. Thank you Mavis for the delish food and beautiful smile, always! I learned so much from Rob and the other guides which made this trip not only a massive bucket list 'tick', but also the knowledge I gained in my time there (it was only a week but seemed longer) I would 100% recommend Makutsi Safari Springs (and Bench Africa who organised the trip) to experience the true nature of safari along with exceptional guest service!!…
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Karl Weber, Owner at Makutsi Safari Springs
Responded 05 Nov 2023
Thank you Cath for your extremely informative feedback, it is so valuable for potential future visitors to read. Of course it is even better to read that you enjoyed your time at Makutsi so much, from Main Camp to Tented Camp and all the safaris and excursions included. It was a great pleasure to be able to host you at Makutsi, and your positive feedback makes it even more rewarding for the whole team at Makutsi. We will be sure to share your words with all the team at Makutsi, and thank you again for coming so far on your own to visit us at Makutsi. Kind regards from all the Makutsi Team!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
We just spent a week at Makutsi Safari Springs and had a tremendous week. This small (5000hectare) family owned safari park provides an authentic African experience with accommodation in a rondavel which was large, clean and comfortable and air conditioned. The camp is rustic but that’s the charm. Animals graze, the owners and staff are extremely helpful and friendly. Meals are served family style so everyone mixes. We had four game drives at Makutsi and saw so many animals up close. Our guide, Bethuel, was tops at tracking and finding every animal we could’ve hoped to see- lions, leopard, cheetah, elephants, rhinos, hippos, giraffe, zebra, antelope, buffalo and many more. The day trips to Blyde River Canyon and Kruger also added another dimension to our week. If you’re after a busy touristy lodge, this is not for you. But if you’re after a real African experience with great game viewing then Makutsi is the place. We thoroughly enjoyed it.…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Karl Weber, Owner at Makutsi Safari Springs
Responded 27 Sept 2023
Thank you so much for your detailed and informative review. We are very happy to hear how much you enjoyed your time with us, and we are so grateful that you travelled all this way to stay with us. We will always focus on offering real experiences and a family atmosphere, and appreciate the fact that you felt this too. Thank you again, and sending you warm regards from all the Makutsi Team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Makutsi provided a wonderful experience to really see animals in the wild while maintaining safety. The accommodation is sufficient. The food is excellent. The staff are wonderful. Value for money....
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Karl Weber, Owner at Makutsi Safari Springs
Responded 07 Sept 2023
Thank you for your kind words and valuable review. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed your time at Makutsi, and appreciate the feedback. Yes, value for money and safety certainly are 2 of the main points we focus on at Makutsi, and we will continue to focus on this going forward. We wish you a great trip back home, and thank you again for coming to visit us at Makutsi. Kind regards from all the Makutsi Team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Excellent service and hospitality. Probably the best value in our entire Southern Africa trip. Game drives were successful, well organised and scheduled.. This is an extremely well-run family business. The guides were all very knowledgeable and professional. Accommodation and food were excellent value. Would certainly recommend this to anyone.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: It can get a little chilly in the winter months....bring warm pajamas. It doesn't get very cold...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Karl Weber, Owner at Makutsi Safari Springs
Responded 02 Sept 2023
Thank you very much for your informative review and your kind words! We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed your time at Makutsi, and that you came all this way to visit us and South Africa! Value for money is one of the aspects we focus on most, and it’s great to see that you appreciated this so much! Thanks again, and warm regards from all the Makutsi Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
What an incredible experience we had here. The warm, friendly atmosphere means nobody can feel lonely here and the organization was first rate. They knew where everyone was and where the animals were at all times so safety was never an issue. We had a lioness wander through camp during our visit. It is a fantastic privilege to be able to get so close to them. Their commitment to the safety & long-term survival of the wildlife was commendable. We did the Cheetah experience with Ralph and I would highly recommend it. Our rondel was comfy, clean and always surrounded by kudu, birds, impala etc. Great showers too! Staff were unfailingly cheerful and helpful. Only one request please, get a self-serve espresso machine for the library/wifi lounge.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: It did get busier once German school holiday time started with more children.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Karl Weber, Owner at Makutsi Safari Springs
Responded 29 Aug 2023
Thank you so much for your kind words and positive review. We are so happy to receive such wonderful feedback, and also appreciate the fact that you point out the commitment to safety that everyone at Makutsi is so focused on. Thank you again for taking the time and traveling so far to come and see us, and we promise you that the espresso machine will be put forward to be discussed :) Kind regards from all the Makutsi Team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
We spent 6 days at this amazing place. The owners and staff were absolutely fantastic. We felt very welcome. We saw the Big 5 during our stay. The guides were passionate about the wildlife and taught us a great deal. It was very cold in the early mornings when leaving on safari and we were given blankets and hot water bottles to help with our discomfort. The accommodation was adequate for our needs and was clean and comfortable. The meals also adequate. You would most certainly be able to stay at a much more luxurious reserve if you wished, but Makutsi is a special place. The experience was about the wildlife for us. Animals roam freely through the camp which you wont find anywhere else. Overall our experience was top notch. Simply loved the place.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Take a good book.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Karl Weber, Owner at Makutsi Safari Springs
Responded 21 Jul 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this informative and positive review! We are very happy to hear how much you enjoyed your time at Makutsi, even with the very chilly morning drives :) As you say very accurately, there are many more luxurious lodges out there, who will also also offer some great experiences, however Makutsi is a special place wich offers something a bit different: longer stays, affordable & authentic wildlife experiences, a place where you have enough time to learn about the area, recharge those batteries, and feel like you have become part of the family. We are so happy that you enjoyed these aspects so much, and wish you all the best going forward. Thank you again for your visit, and lots of regards from all the Makutsi Team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
An amazing experience altogether. The guides were very knowledgable and skilled and all the staff very friendly and welcoming. We were accommodated in a large rondavel with two separate bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms that were very clean and serviced everyday. The 6-day programme is very well thought-through as it offers a variety of different activities, including a day trip to the nearby canyons. We absolutely loved our stay at Makutsi and highly recommend it.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Take some warm clothes with you for the early morning safaris.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Karl Weber, Owner at Makutsi Safari Springs
Responded 30 Apr 2023
Thank you so much for your informative and positive review. It was an absolute pleasure to have your family over at Makutsi, and we thank you again for coming to visit us. We are very glad to hear how much you enjoyed your week with us, and we certainly hope to be able to welcome you back again one day! Until then, all the best, and many more happy travels. Kind regards from all the Makutsi Family.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
We had used a Premium Rundalow at Makuts Springs. The Rooms are very clean and the personal is very kind and helpful. We had excellent Safaris and the 'big five' had been seen during the first week. We are very satisfied and can recomend this Camp to all friends of nature and silence.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Karl Weber, Owner at Makutsi Safari Springs
Responded 25 Mar 2023
Thank you very much for your kind words, and your positive review! We are grateful that you came to visit us at Makutsi, and very happy to hear that you enjoyed your time with us! We send you lots of regards from Makutsi and hope to see you again one day. Kind regards from the Makutsi Team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
I visited Makutsi with family and friends in 2022. It was my 4th time at Makutsi and I think about coming back. We stayed for 2 weeks and also visited the tented camp. The Guides are really knowledgable and do their best to show you the wildlife. We saw the big five and had some really cool Leopard sightings. I can really recommend the premium perimeter bungalow which has a very nice view and also gives you the chance to spot wildlife. I can recommend Makutsi to anyone especially for familys but what you have to keep in mind is that other lodges have to gamedrives a day while at Makutsi you don´t have that many.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip: There are premium bungalows which are at the perimeter of the camp available for a price and it...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Karl Weber, Owner at Makutsi Safari Springs
Responded 03 Feb 2023
Thank you for your kind words and your positive review. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay and had such good game drives during your stay. You are correct, at Makutsi we do not only do game drives every day, but also take clients to surrounding areas such as Kruger and Blyde River Canyon. We also have warm mineral pools, so every day we want to give our guests enough time to relax and swim as well. What we offer is a combination of safari, adventure and also health and relaxation. The trick is that we offer a minimum lengh of stay of 1 week, which means even if you don't do 2 game drives every day, after a week or two, you will still have done as many game drives as in the other lodges, where you only stay 1-3 nights on average. We like to offer longer stays, and allow you to also enjoy some relax times :) We appreciate your feedback, and of course that you took the time to leave an informative review, which is so valuable to future guests. Thank you again, and we send you warm regards from all the Makutsi Team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Great experience, nice accommodation and lots of animals. Did 9 safaris in ten days and every one was worth it. The staff is very friendly and the food is good, there is a swimming pool and a bar with beautiful views, impalas and nyalas roaming through the camp. It‘s in the bush where we are the visitors, so there are rules that you must not walk through the camp during night time to avoid unpleasant encounters. We felt totally save and will return for sure.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Karl Weber, Owner at Makutsi Safari Springs
Responded 10 Jan 2023
Thank you Klaus for your informative words, and your positive review. We are so happy that you enjoyed your stay at Makutsi, and we hope to welcome you back again one day. Wishing you a great 2023 with lots of great trips. Kind regards from the Makutsi Family.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ALSO KNOWN AS
makutsi safari springs hotel hoedspruit
LOCATION
South AfricaLimpopo ProvinceMarulengHoedspruit
NUMBER OF ROOMS
45
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Frequently Asked Questions about Makutsi Safari Springs
What are some of the property amenities at Makutsi Safari Springs?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an indoor pool, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Makutsi Safari Springs?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Makutsi Safari Springs?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Makutsi Safari Springs?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Makutsi Safari Springs?
Yes, guests have access to an indoor pool during their stay.
Does Makutsi Safari Springs have airport transportation?
Yes, Makutsi Safari Springs offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.