Makalali Private Game Reserve

Makalali Private Game Reserve, a Michelin Key Selected property in Hoedspruit, South Africa, consistently receives high praise for its immersive safari experiences, exceptional service, and stunning natural setting.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Makalali Private Game Reserve is widely regarded as an exceptional destination, with many guests describing their stay as "absolutely the best experience" and "superb". It boasts a "wonderful" rating of 9.3 out of 10 on Booking.com, with high scores across all categories, including staff, cleanliness, and value for money. The general sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with visitors often noting that their expectations were exceeded. Its recognition as a Michelin Key Selected property further underscores its commitment to luxury and a high-quality guest experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud Makalali for several standout features:

• Exceptional Safari Experience: The reserve is home to the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino) and offers excellent game viewing opportunities, including tracking rhinos and seeing lions, giraffes, and elephants. Private game drives allow guides to go off-road for optimal viewing, leading to fantastic photographic opportunities.
• Outstanding Service: The staff's friendliness, attentiveness, and genuine desire to make the stay special are frequently highlighted.
• Beautiful Location & Design: The "breathtaking scenery" and the lodge's sophisticated bush feel, with thatched spires and earthy walls, contribute to a unique African retreat. Tatler magazine even voted Makalali as "the most innovatively designed hotel in the world".
• Delicious Dining: The food is consistently praised as "unsurpassed," "culinary delight," and "excellent".

3. Room Quality

The accommodation at Makalali Private Game Reserve offers a luxurious and authentic bush experience. Guests describe the rooms as spacious and comfortable. The River Lodge features five-star thatched and family suites with raised timber viewing decks, known as salas, offering spectacular views of the Makhutswi River. These suites include amenities like a plunge pool, boma, fireplace, and an en-suite bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers and a bath. The Main Lodge offers 30 comfortably designed superior rooms, featuring luxurious interiors, en-suite bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers, air conditioning, and ceiling fans. Some rooms even offer views of the savanna, where elephants can occasionally be seen at a waterhole. While generally excellent, one guest noted minor imperfections due to usage.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at Makalali is a significant highlight, consistently receiving high praise. The food is described as "unsurpassed," "culinary delight," and "excellent". Guests particularly enjoy the variety and quality of meals. Breakfast is often highlighted as delicious. Unique dining experiences include atmospheric boma dinners under the stars, private "sala" dinners, and family-style dining options. There are also options for bushveld dinners and chef-led, personalized menus featuring fresh, sustainably sourced ingredients. Some guests enjoyed trying exotic meats like ostrich and crocodile. However, one review mentioned that the lunch menu could be improved, and another noted over-attentive waiting staff who were too keen to clear plates.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Makalali Private Game Reserve are consistently rated as exceptional. Guests frequently commend the staff for being "friendly and helpful," "attentive and welcoming," and "super nice people". The safari guides, often referred to as rangers, are particularly highlighted for their knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to tracking animals, going "above and beyond" to ensure close-up sightings of the Big Five. Reviewers often mention staff by name, such as "Paul, our ninja guide" and "Pilot," who helped track rhinos. The entire team contributes to a "5-star experience," making guests feel like royalty.

6. Location & Accessibility

Makalali Private Game Reserve is situated on a sprawling 26,000-hectare conservancy in the Hoedspruit region, west of the Kruger National Park and close to the Drakensberg Mountains. This location provides an immersive bushveld experience with breathtaking natural beauty and a "remote and wild" feel. The reserve is home to over a thousand wild animals, including the Big Five. Flights can be arranged to Hoedspruit Airport, with transfers to the lodge available. However, some guests have noted that the road from the main gate to the reception can be very bad and bumpy, suggesting that visitors should be informed beforehand or consider suitable transport. The reserve feels vast with a low density of lodges, allowing for unfettered traversing rights for game drives. It's a malaria area, so precautions are essential.

7. Value & Pricing

Makalali Private Game Reserve is generally considered good value for the experience it offers, with an average rating of 9.1 for value for money on Booking.com. Prices for Makalali Main Lodge can start from approximately R3,372 per person per night, while Makalali River Lodge may start from around R5,503 per person per night, excluding peak periods. These rates typically include all buffet meals, snacks, and in-room minibar beverages. However, a destination fee of ZAR 315 per person per night applies, and guests arriving outside specified check-in times might incur an additional R50 fee. For those seeking an ultra-luxury Michelin Key safari, broader trips incorporating such lodges can range from $14,000 to $30,000 per person, highlighting that Makalali's rates offer a more accessible entry into this caliber of experience.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:

• Road Conditions: Several guests mentioned that the road from the gate to the reception area is in poor condition and can be very bumpy, suggesting the need for appropriate vehicles or prior warning.
• Limited In-Room Connectivity: Some rooms at the lodge did not have Wi-Fi connectivity, and network coverage was limited.
• Game Drive Structure (Expert Opinion): One expert reviewer felt that the game drives could feel a bit "canned" or predictable due to the reserve's relatively small and fenced nature, where guides often know where the animals are, leading to a sense of being driven from one prescribed sighting to the next rather than experiencing the unpredictability of the bush. This reviewer also mentioned an ignorant guide who spent more time on the radio than engaging with guests.
• Room Size: One guest mentioned that the rooms were a little smaller than expected.
• Slow Shower Drain: A minor complaint included a slow shower drain leading to standing water.

Sources

1. sabisandslodges.com
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5. michelin.com
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7. aha.co.za
8. safaribookings.com
9. makalali.co.za
10. expedia.com
11. makalaligamereserve.org
12. yellowzebrasafaris.com
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14. sa-venues.com