We stayed for 3 marvellous nights at Motswari and from our arrival on a hot dusty afternoon to be greeted by cold towels and cold drinks to our friendly farewell from all the team we had met throughout our stay - this was a magical trip with some of the most genuine people we have ever met on safari.
We stayed in elephant room which was at the far end of the lodge which gave us fabulous privacy on our veranda but still only a couple of minutes walk from the main lodge and plunge pool area.
Rooms were lovely - and this feels more than a 4 star lodge - space, beautiful linen, excellent air conditioning and maid service at least 4 times a day. Food was really good - great choices and hearty portions - lots of buffet options at lunch which included salads, fish, meat, breads, pulses and always cake! From dinner on the veranda, to the wonderful boma, to the lawn in front of the dried up river bed all lit by lanterns and candles and sharing wonderful meals with your ranger and the rest of your vehicle's guests they are memories that will last a lifetime.
So all that is wonderful - but if the reason you come on safari is for the game drive experience and game viewing then this is the place to visit! Each morning game drive was at least 4 hours - sometimes more and evening drives the same. We were probably on game drives about 9 hours each day of our stay and the viewing was out of this world. The tracking which took place to allow us to see some amazing animal behaviour was fantastic and Chad and Patrick were relentless in ensuring we saw some out of this world sightings. We will never ever forget that first leopard sighting, the leopard flirting, the hyena den with the tiny cubs, Rhino Rally and firefly dam... We felt really honoured to spend time with Chad and Patrick and felt we learnt so much from the time we spent we you. I can't wait to see Chad's Chat Up's live - it will change the face of the world as we know it.
If you are looking for a genuine African big 5 (and beyond) experience with some magical people then you should chose Motswari.

Motswari is a truly amazing place. Compared to other lodges it has a real 'in the bush' feeling, without sacrificing luxury or service.
You are greeted with cold drinks and smiling faces and your luggage is whisked off to your room.
The rooms are all different, each with their own unique charm, but all well appointed and comfortable. with everything you could possibly need.
There are no manicured lawns, exotic plants or fountains, it is surrounded by natural foliage and on a (mainly) dry river bed. Animals can roam freely and we had visits from elephants, buffalo, warhogs, monkeys and a hippo. You are escorted to and from your room after dark for this reason.
But it is the atmosphere that makes Motswari so amazing. Everyone is so friendly and all the staff smile when they meet you.
Food is served in a variety of settings. Dinner on the grass in front of the bar surrounded by dozens of candles in paper bags with sand in, is an experience not to be forgotten, especially with 3 buffalo grazing just across the river bed. Each table has a member of staff to host and entertain.
But the 2 daily game drives are the highlight of the day. We had only 6 people to each vehicle, which is more comfortable than the 10 we had experienced at previous lodges.
The guides work really hard to try and ensure that you see as much wildlife as possble, but with great respect for the animals (only 2 vehicles to a sighting).
We saw some amazing things. Thank you Chad and Mbongeni.
We stayed for 6 nights which meant that there was a chance to relax and soak up the atmosphere, before moving on.
This is such a wonderful place.