4 outdoor pools, open 7 AM to 5 PM, pool umbrellas, sun loungers
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Reviews of Aha Makalali Private Game Reserve

3.5 out of 5
Aha Makalali Private Game Reserve
Limpopo, Hoedspruit, Limpopo

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 40 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 40 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

9.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Zaheer

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent for big 5
Excellent for bush lovers
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tumelo

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

Carl

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great new hotel - super rooms
We spent a long weekend at this reserve - two adults and a teen. The hotel was lovely - new rooms and well-designed open, communal spaces. We booked two rooms and it was a bonus that they could be made to be interleading. The hotel rooms are exactly that - hotel rooms - and maybe lacking some of the charm of free-standing lodge units but very comfortable and well-appointed. The guide and tracker were friendly and knowledgeable and we enjoyed our game drives. It was great to be able to go off-road to get closer to rhino and cheetah. Whilst this is a big 5 reserve, you do travel the same roads quite a bit but the guide made an effort to vary things up on each drive and to go look for specific animals. The food was nice - and not as "conference-like" as the bigger Ivory Tree Aha resort - but not knock-your-socks-off amazing. The downside of a smaller lodge is slightly less variety and choice - but to me still better than endless buffets. Aha is running some specials where kids stay free. What this meant was that over the long weekend there were lots of noisy children in the pool and running around at the boma dinner. The hotel manager did make a plan for us to go to the quieter pool at the nearby smaller lodge which was very kind of her. Unfortunately though listening to a child play a loud game on a phone all the way through the boma dinner compromised the "peace of the bush" experience. Overall - we would go again. We had a great stay and thought it was good value.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Antony

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great hotel and game park, not so good food
Overall the stay was excellent based on the accommodation and the rangers taking us to see the most amazing array of wild animals. The only downside were the quality of the food and too many over attentive waiters and waitresses who must learn to be not so keen to remove your drink or plate, especially when you or your dining partner are still eating!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2020
Response from GMHL on Mar 15, 2020
Dear Antony Thank you for visiting Makalali Private Game Lodge. It was a pleasure hosting you. We are glad to see that you enjoyed your stay. We appreciate your review and take note of your suggestion and will act accordingly.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Brooke

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best customer service
The customer service was absolutely above and beyond. You are treated like family. Room and lodge area is absolutely beautiful and the food was amazing. I will definitely book at Makalali again for my next visit!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019
Response from Bridget on Feb 18, 2019
good day thank you for your valued respond looking forward to welcome you and your family again. kind regards

10/10 Excellent

Alan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Safarimazing
We had an amazing stay, all the staff were extremely friendly and it was amazing to be living in the bush with all of the luxury conveniences in a very clean and organised lodge. Shout out to Lovedeliah (camp host), Stanley (game drive tracker), and Louise (game drive guide). The wifi was very weak around the property but you're in the bush so it was ok to be off the grid for a few days!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Mariana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful place to stay
Beautiful facilities, super comfortable room, great staff, food was ok but not a highlight. We got to see most animals from very up close on the safari however most of the time we are just driving thru the bushes, I can’t compare to other areas but I guess it’s normal. Only weird thing is paying a lot for an all inclusive resort and having to pay separately for water :/
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2017

4/10 Poor

Ralph M, Pretoria

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
It has seen its days ... but they are over!
We are repeat guests that will not come back again. The offerings of activities beside game Drives i s zero, food is good prepared but basic (Pap and Chicken and Wors) Far to expensive for what is offered, there is not even a mini bar, the shampoo stinks and the whole lodge has been due for maintennance for more than five years.

10/10 Excellent

Joseph, Albuquerque

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best reserve
A+ Great property, great service

10/10 Excellent

Giuseppa, London

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A little slice of heaven
Though getting to Makalali is a little tricky, once you get there - it's wonderful. Gorgeous rooms, beautiful views and surroundings, great game drives every day and plenty of food and drink. The staff look after you very well, the rooms have everything you need to relax and enjoy yourself. I had a fantastic stay - saw some amazing animals really up close - and relaxed in a wonderful and peaceful place.

10/10 Excellent

Dave, Seattle, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Superb African experience staying at the lodge
I stayed this November for a few days at the Makalali Game Reserve/Lodge. Everything from start to finish I enjoyed fully. From check in by Caroline to Ranger Lawrence was flawless including viewing all of the animals. The separate rooms are in their own buildings along the side of a dry river bed and allow you to view out from you room, front deck or outdoor shower. You walk along a path to where breakfast/lunch are served in African style. I weather permits you are fed dinner outside in a group setting under the stars. If you have Ranger Lawrence for your guide (he has 20 years of experience) sometime along the safari ask him to give you a "Lawrence African Tale"

8/10 Good

Wai, Hong Kong

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Dedicated rangers
Really nice private safari experience. Rangers worked hard to track down the animals and get really right up close.

8/10 Good

Kfran, F

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great Experience!
Over all experience was excellent! Location of the lodge is in the middle of the jungle without fence, you can see animals like Elephant or Impalas walking pass your room. It was a great experience! The location, room, game drives and the staff are the main points of the lodge. Only few flaws. I wish there is more vareity on the food, dining areas should have separate tables in case guest would like to dine separated from other guests and when it says 'all inclusive' the staff should inform the guests what are chargeable and what are not so you dont get surprised when you check out. All in all, we had a fantastic time.

8/10 Good

Fred, Dubai, UAE

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room with and African view
The lodge accommodation and room layout is fantastic with a beautiful large and very comfortable bed with a fantastic view out of a floor to roof window and a wonderful fire in the room. The outdoor shower was a great way to wake up. The staff is very accommodating and friendly and unobtrusive. The food had many good ideas and the dinning areas are beautiful while the service was more than satisfactory, but I do think that they could have done better when it comes to the taste. It was almost as if the preparation was rushed. The game drives are really good and the guides are very knowledgeable, but i would have liked a bit more attention to the smaller things like birds, reptiles and insects and maybe a bit of time by a watering hole instead of the constant drive to see the big 5.

6/10 Okay

Mert

Liked: Cleanliness
Bad Food and incompetent rangers
Food is much below expectations. Most of the meat served was undercooked including chicken. Service Staff is incompetent as many places in South Africa. We have ordered wine one night and waitress just dropped the bottle in out table and left without opening and serving. Then we had to call another waitress to serve it. You need to tell everything and common sense was missing. English of the ranger for the game drives was not perfect and he was not really talkative or giving information unless asked, he was more like , yeah here is an impala but no information. Also to many questions that we have asked, the answer was “I don’t know”. I think it is worth to stretch the budget a bit more to stay in somewhere nicer.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
非常に洗練された綺麗なホテルで、シャワーやクーラーなどの設備もかなり良かったです。また、宿泊費に含まれている食事もおいしかったし、ゲームドライブも非常に楽しかったです。
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020

8/10 Good

Rennan

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Tivemos de trocar as datas da nossa viagem devido à pandemia do Covid-19 e fomos muito bem instruidos e atendidos pela gerente de reservas. Esperamos pela estadia em Novembro.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2020
Response from Hanlie on May 26, 2020
Thank you for your review. We are looking forward to welcome and host you at Makalali Private Game Lodge, once our SA Lockdown period for travellers have been lifted.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Lugar incrível ! Estrutura do hotel impecável, funcionários super atenciosos e simpáticos !! Vimos vários animais em casa Safari, inclusive um grupo de leões caçando GNUS! Carros do Safari com cobertor e capa de chuva ( precisamos !) e com guias muito bem informados !
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020
Response from Hanlie on Jan 10, 2020
Dear Anonymous We are glad to see you enjoyed your stay and Safari experience at Makalali Private Game Lodge. It was a pleasure hosting you. We are looking forward to welcome you back as returning guests.

8/10 Good

Raphaël

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Rangers very good. Place and location very good. Food: not good . Very average and always the same. A shame...
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019
Response from GM - Hanlie on Jan 10, 2020
Dear Raphael We are trilled to see that you enjoyed your Safari experience at Makalali Private Game Lodge. I appreciate and take note of your review on the food and will act accordingly. We hope to welcome you back as retuning guests in the future.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
un séjour inoubliable
magnifique hébergement ,personnel aux petits soins,repas variés et de bonne qualité,des safaris extras bref rien à dire! sans oublier l'apéro en fin de safari du soir en pleine brousse et le café lors de celui du matin! le plus dur est d'arriver (et d'en repartir!)car la piste est ravinée mais après c'est que du bonheur!
notre chambre avec douche intérieure et extérieure
1er safari
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019
Response from GM- Hanlie on Jan 10, 2020
Dear Anonymous Thank You for your review. We are glad to see that you enjoyed your stay. We are currently upgrading our roads inside the reserve. It was a great pleasure hosting you. We looking forward to receive you back as returning guests with your next visit to SA.

10/10 Excellent

THIAGO

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019
Response from GM - Hanlie on Jan 10, 2020
Dear Thiago Thank you for the great score. It was a pleasure to host you at Makalali Private Game Lodge. Hope to welcome you back in future.

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019
Response from GM - Hanlie on Jan 10, 2020
Dear Anonymous Thank you for your review, much appreciated. It was a pleasure hosting you at Makalali Private Game Lodge.

10/10 Excellent

Monica E

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excelente experiencia
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019
Response from Hanlie on May 26, 2020
Dear Monica Thank you for visiting Makalali Private Game Lodge. We are trilled to see that you enjoyed your Safari experience with us.

10/10 Excellent

Danilo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lugar maravilhoso
Lugar maravilhoso, logo ao chegar tivemos uma recepção com nosso ranger Paulie que nos levou a 2 safaris e conseguimos ver 4 dos big five. Experiência inesquecível. Comida ótima e todos os funcionários do hotel foram muito simpáticos. Recomendo muito
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019
Response from Hanlie on May 26, 2020
Dear Danilo Please except my apologies for only replying after a couple of months, somehow a oversee your review. It was a great pleasure hosting you at Makalali Private Game Lodge.

10/10 Excellent

Aline

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Sensacional!
Sensacional! Optamos pelo Makalali pela comodidade, não queríamos nos preocupar com nada (Game Drive e Refeições) e foi exatamente assim. Atendimento, organização, limpeza, quartos e refeições excepcionais. Game Drive incrível, vimos os Big Five, eles procuram os animais incansavelmente, entram na mata, inexplicável. Nossa melhor escolha!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Nathalie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent séjour, belle et grande réserve. Lodge raffiné, personnel attentionné et dépaysement garanti
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Nicole

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019

8/10 Good

Mikael

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nära naturen och djuren!
Du bör ha en 4x4 bil för att ta dig till detta fantastiska hotell. Närmare naturen och djuren kommer man inte, dessa stugor ligger långt ut från all annan bebyggelse. Stugorna helt otroliga men maten var inte till belåtenhet med tanke på priset på detta boende. Snopet att receptionen var stängd när vi till slut kom fram, och vi fick köra runt i skogen en stund till vi plötsligt hittade kocken som kunde hjälpa oss.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2018

8/10 Good

Bruno

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Muito legal!
A estadia foi realmente maravilhosa! Gostamos do hotel apesar do Safari parecer um grande zoológico! Ficávamos andando em círculos, até que alguém indicava onde está o animal! Vimos todos os Big five, o que foi bem legal! O serviço é bem exclusivo, a comida é excelente, o quarto então, maravilhoso! A única coisa que nos incomodou foi a hora do check out, aonde incluíram uma taxa de quase 500 rands por noite, taxa da qual não fomos informados hora nenhuma. A mesma taxa não foi cobrada de um casal de amigos que saiu horas depois! A diária já era bem cara, realmente a tal taxa foi uma surpresa desagradável! Acho que eles poderiam ser mais claros na chegada!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Bruno

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2017

8/10 Good

JONAS

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

christine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

Christian

Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Wird unter Hotels.com als All Inklusive beworben, ist es aber nicht Getränke müssen extra bezahlt werden. Zimmersauberkeit lässt zu wünschen übrig(dreckige Handtücher, überall Staub und tote Insekten). Ansonsten Super Lodge, die Ranger sind top. Die Lage ist toll mitten im Busch.

10/10 Excellent

Tom, Annecy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Superbe game reserve
Camp superbe tres exclusif géré par une équipe aux petits soins. Cuisine excellente. Mais surtout deux game drive exceptionnels avec les Big five au rendez vous !!!

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

patrice

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

8/10 Good

Emilie, Saint-Pierre (La Réunion)

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Super !
Très bon séjour. Le cadre est vraiment beau, au milieu de la savane avec la rivière juste en dessous (même si lors de notre séjour il n'y avait pas d'eau). La chambre est vraiment jolie, le soir en rentrant du diner vous avez l'agréable surprise d'avoir un beau feu dans la cheminé. La restauration est bonne, nous avons découvert de nouvel "viande" vraiment excellente. Les safaris sont bien, les équipes font leur max pour trouver les animaux. Nous avions fait 3 nuits, je pense que 2 auraient suffi.

10/10 Excellent

Jürgen, Frankfurt

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Sehr schöne Lodge und tolle Safari
Wir waren in einem Camp mit fünf Bungalows untergebracht, die nur teilweise belegt waren. Dadurch waren die Atmosphäre und der Service sehr persönlich und sehr individuell. Tracker und Fahrer waren sehr erfahren, so dass wir in drei Tagen die "Big Five" und viele weitere Tiere gesehen haben.