Makalali Game Reserve Vacation Rentals

"The Pondoro experience is first class from beginning to end! The location is stunning and we watched hippo, crocs, giraffe, elephants and all sorts from our room. The games drives led by the wonderful Shadlack and Dion were breathtaking, with the big 5 and all manner of wildlife seen on multiple occasions. They also hosted a river walk which showed us how they look for tracks and gave a very different perspective to the hippos and crocs! All the staff at the lodge are fantastic, there is a warm welcome every day and a real personal touch with attention to details that makes each day special. The food is exceptional and would definitely recommend the lunchtime picnic if you get the opportunity."

"The premises is very nice, very clean and comfortable. The self catering unit was well equipped with everything you may need for self catering. The place is beautiful and peaceful. Loved the communication and flexibility I got when still planning the trip and the efforts made to make our birthday special. The only thing I didn’t not like was the rudeness from the lady that woke us up for breakfast on our last morning, she was very rude about how we must be at breakfast by 08:00 ( which o think of breakfast is between 08:00 and 10:00 then guests should have the flexibility between those times). The girl banged the door and rudely communicated how we need to be there at 08:00. She needs general customer service communication training as all my encounters with her were not pleasant. The rest of the staff was amazing. "

"Sue and Deon were wonderful hosts at a wonderful and first class unique property. Definitely stay here for African wildlife viewing also ! The game reserve was great hiking as a bonus. Super breakfast and hospitality. "

"Very nice stay"

"Everything at Nyati Safari Lodge was absolutely wonderful. The rooms were spotless and incredibly comfortable – ours was located right in front of the river, and on the very first day we had elephants, crocodiles, and other wildlife right in front of us. It was like living in a nature documentary! The meals and drinks were delicious! The entire staff was incredibly attentive, making us feel welcome and taken care of every step of the way. The highlight of our stay was definitely the game drives. Kenneth, Peter, Pride, and Freja went above and beyond, always asking which animals we wanted to see and doing everything they could to make it happen. Each game drive ended with either a morning coffee or a sunset drink, always paired with a breathtaking view of the reserve. I truly can’t wait to go back!"

"Very relaxing stay with helpful friendly staff. Relatively convenient for Kruger although we drove through Kruger ourselves so didn’t use the lodges excursions but those who did spoke highly of them. Great to walk round the immediate area with sightings of giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala and wart hogs. "

"Josef is a most gracious host, kind, attentive , accommodating, and and knowledgeable. The facilities are modern and clean, we lacked for nothing. Saw some lovely birds and even bushbabies right in the back yard at the pool. A safe bet for your first africa trip."

"Great place to stay if you're visiting Hoedspruit. Safe location, lovely outdoor shower and close to town."

"My daughter and I had the absolute privilege of staying at Ezulwini in August 2024. I first want to acknowledge the amazing and knowledgeable staff who absolutely made our stay. Ange and Craig make quite the team! Glory was accommodating, caring, and personable. While in the Bush, Craig and Shads combined their seemingly unlimited knowledge to answer all our non-stop questions. Even when the animals were feeling shy, Craig was able to teach us about something else within the ecosystem, and usually by the end of the lesson, Shads was able to use his eagle-eyes to track another animal. What really made this lodge stand out was the fact that their approach was respectful to the land on which they live, never exploitative. Each night before an absolutely delicious dinner, we were able to sit down with Ange and Craig who crafted a lesson about local history, the law of the reserves, or about the country of South Africa. The meaningful conversations absolutely made us feel like welcomed friends, rather than simple guests. Of course, it should go without saying, that the accommodations of the resort itself were stunning. The resort’s small number of guest rooms makes the experience feel personal and uniquely tailored to each guest, and the property, which often welcomes many four-legged guests, feels more like an extension of the bush rather than a separate space. I simply cannot recommend this lodge, this team, and this trip enough!"