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Situated in the heart of Big 5 wilderness terrain, Makweti Safari Lodge offers five individual, intimate and luxurious suites, some with a private plunge pool. The lodge offers fine dining overlooking the panoramic bush surroundings and is a member of the by-invitation-only Chaine des Rotisseurs (a hallmark of fine cuisine). The camp is unfenced bringing elephant, lion, rhino and other wildlife to the surrounding waterholes on your doorstep. The game drive safaris are conducted in open safari vehicles with expert guides assuring an astounding experience of the diverse wildlife in the reserve, including the big 5. Other facilities available at the lodge for guests use include the outdoor swimming pool, lounge area, spa and art gallery.
We loved our 3 days at Makweti Safari Lodge. Helen, Joseph and Byron were excellent and the food was incredible. The setting was perfect and we felt so welcomed and looked after. A magical place which we would love to visit again
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2023
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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.
Makweti Lodge in Welgevonden Game Reserve is magical! The lodge is truly “out of Africa” setting, with only 5 very private guest accommodations, you feel like you are visiting friends. The natural beauty, the amazing game drives and the passion of Roelof (our guide, driver, f&b server and more!) was unsurpassed. Another plus, an easy drive of about 2 1/2 hrs from Johannesburg. We can’t wait to go again!
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip 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.
We had such a wonderful stay at Makweti. We loved every single thing about it. From the incredible game drives, to the quality of the accommodation, the kind and personable service, our wonderful Safari guide Joseph, the food, gosh so much to love and rave about. I couldn’t find a single thing to fault. Everything was truly brilliant, and I can’t recommend Makweti enough. Big thanks to the whole team for a wonderful stay and adventure.
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Date of stay: October 2023
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Trip 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.
Wow , what a great place to stay at Makweti . Very friendly staff , magnificent cook and fantastic game drives. Our Ranger Neill explained a lot , not only about the animals , but also the environment , it was very interesting ! We had a wonderful time and will certainly come back !!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2023
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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.
We visited for our honeymoon this month. We were greeted by the staff who were absolutely fantastic throughout with some if the best service we've ever received. Our game driver Joseph was very knowledgeable and did all he could to spit the big five, if which we had 4 in 4 days with some extremely close encounters with elephant, rhino and lions. The lodge itself is nicely equipped with generous rooms, excellent private deck although the plunge pool is on the cold side. The food is fantastic and all meals are well thought out, fresh, and give a local flavour with many varieties of meat and vegetables. Beautiful dark skies. Fabulous location. About 4.5hours door to door from airport. A note on temperature if going. It is chilly in the evening and morning. The lodge provided ponchos, Blankets and hot water bottles. Absolutely recommend 100%…
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Date of stay: August 2023
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Trip 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.
We just had an amazing time at this wonderful lodge. It is a fantastic relaxed but very comfortable setting and we managed to see all the animals (well done Joseph). All the staff were great and the food was particularly good. We particularly enjoyed relaxing on the deck overlooking the waterhole
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Date of stay: August 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.
The incredible interaction with the bull elephant after our drinks on the evening game drive was memorable! The food and Makweti's attention to detail in the luxury chalets was of an exceptionally high standard.
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Date of stay: August 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
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Response from Makweti Reservations, General Manager at Makweti Safari Lodge
Responded 24 Aug 2023
Many thanks for your review. We're take special care with the attention t detail at Makweti. We're glad you picked up on it. We hope to have you back to experience the elephants all over again. With kind wishes Makweti Team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Food, game drives and services were excellent. I have traveled the US, many Asian countries and South Africa, and I have no doubt that Makweti can be ranked as one of the best accommodations I have ever stayed. There was only one thing which bothered me was the smell in the cupboard. Everything else was exceptional.
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Date of stay: August 2023
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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.
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Response from Makweti Reservations, General Manager at Makweti Safari Lodge
Responded 22 Aug 2023
Thank you for your review. Very gratefully acknowledged. We have identified the 'smell' coming from the cupboard. The problem has been resolved. We hope to welcome you back Kind wishes Helen and the Makweti Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Makweti Safari Lodge is a true gem in the Welgevonden Game Reserve. It has one of the best locations with spectacular views. The decor throughout the lodge is exquisite and unique. Loved the indoor and outdoor relaxing lounge and dining areas. Great watering hole, pool and boma area. Our pool suite was fantastic with amazing views. The cuisine was superb and the service was excellent. We had a wonderful game drive experience. Special Thanks to Neil for taking great care of us and ensuring that we had an amazing stay at Makweti. I highly recommend a visit to Makweti Safari Lodge.
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Date of stay: July 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Our three-night stay at Makweti was an incredible experience, which goes far beyond a standard vacation. We loved every second of it! Without exception, the employees are excellent in their areas of responsibility. We had wonderful game drives, great food and a lovely room. The accommodation is in very good condition and in our opinion it fits perfectly into its surroundings. The cuisine was very good and varied. We especially liked the typical (South-) African dishes. All our special requests announced in advance were fully met and the gluten-free food was the best we had in South Africa. The game drives were absolutely breathtaking and an experience we will never forget. After our stay in Makweti, the bar is set very high for our next safari.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2023
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Sleep Quality
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.