Lodges in Makalali Game Reserve

"We had the most incredible experience at Pondoro Game Lodge. From the moment we arrived, everything was absolutely phenomenal. The staff made us feel so welcome and cared for, going above and beyond to make every detail perfect. Our suite was stunning—luxurious, private, and designed with so much attention to comfort and beauty. The game drives were unforgettable. Our guide (Dewalt) and tracker (Andrès) were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and thanks to them we were able to witness breathtaking wildlife moments that we’ll never forget. The food was exceptional—every meal was a treat, beautifully prepared and served with warmth. What truly stood out was the atmosphere of the lodge: intimate, peaceful, and filled with genuine hospitality. Pondoro exceeded our expectations in every way, and we left with memories we’ll treasure for a lifetime. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience."

"Great place with game drives "

"I stayed in the hotel only so I am not sure about area around the property. All the staff are friendly and hotel facilities are great. Only one thing is my room was too far from the main lobby. As a solo traveler, I felt a little nervous of walking in the morning and at night before and after safari trips."

"The room here was beautifully appointed, and the bed was very comfy. The property was really quiet and it had a lovely pool. It was unfortunately too cold to take a dip in winter. There was wifi available everywhere, but its speed could vary depending on where you were. It would have been nice to have some bathrobes available in the room. The views from the property were lovely, especially when you are on the observation deck and can see the Drakensbergs in the distance. The breakfast and dinner was enjoyable and generally varied each day. The service was also lovely and friendly. I stayed in the Mbali villa so it was about a 5 minute walk down the road back to the main building for meals. In the evenings, they can organise a shuttle to collect you and bring you back as it gets very dark outside. "

"Essa foi a pior hospedagem olhando custo benefício das nossas vidas. O custo foi em torno de 1000 dólares a diária, esperávamos algo incrível! Uma pena…. O all inclusive é igual a uma pensão completa, o quarto super antigo, nosso game driver terminou 30 minutos antes. Nos deram um papel com horários e uma mensagem no WhatsApp, nenhum tinha a mesma informação, o que nos fez perder o café. Estamos 100% descontentes e insatisfeitos com oque recebemos pelo o que foi pago."

"Definitely recommend staying here! Breakfast is delicious!"

"We were rather disappointed with the directions to the lodge as they were rather misleading and Confusing. The service at the lodge by a young man called Knowledge was very good. "

"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. "

"We had a wonderful time at Karongwe River Logde. Staff, accommodations, food and service were impeccable! The games were great and we saw many animals , including the big five. "