Reviews

Where to start... Makumu will forever hold a very special spot in our hearts. Absolutely everything about Makumu from start to finish is perfect. The lodge itself, the lovely people behind it, the food, the rooms, the atmosphere, the game drives, everything is immaculate. The lodge radiates luxury, but also blends seamlessly with the bushveld. The sweeping views, the candlelight and the attentive care everyone lays to ensure that your stay is as memorable as possible, are only a few things I'd like to mention. The entire staff genuinely love what they do and make a great effort to get to know the guests and give them the feeling of belonging. Every dietary requirement was considered and every wish we had was taken into consideration. We had our engagement at Makumu and the entire staff helped me plan the entire day and made sure that it was as memorable as possible.
We want to thank Shelley, Ruan, Thomas, Julia, Maggy and everyone else for making this a once-in-a-lifetime stay. We can only recommend Makumu to the fullest.
Christian

Makumu is a small family run game reserve in Klaserie. The views, and tranquility make this a place of reflection and calm. It was without doubtbthe best Safari ever! I went with my family to celebrate a big birthday. What a gift it was. We saw all the big 5 and more. Wild dogs, jackals, hippos. Adrian was the most knowledgable of rangers and his wife Sherri a warm, friendly lovely host. We felt like part of a loving family and cried when the time spent there was over. I want to return NOW!

We spent 3 nights at Makumu during our honeymoon trip. The experience was fantastic!!! We felt as a family while our stay. The Lodge is small, with few rooms and that helps to build an intimate and close relation between hosts and rangers. The day to day Safaris with Ruan and the tracker team was marvelous. We learnt many things about animal behavior and living. We also appreciate that Makumu rangers take care of ethically search and respect animals ecosystem.

We are very happy to have chosen Makumu for our Safari experience at Kruger. Thank you to all Makumu team!!

Everything was absolutely FANTASTIC! You have truly created a magical oasis here. The staff is absolutely remarkable and thoughtful of everything we needed and so much more. Every day was a new experience and we loved every minute of our stay here. Thank you all for making this a trip of a lifetime. All our best. 

Simply Wonderful
All you could possibly want from a Safari.

Superbly guided Game Drives, beautiful accommodation, top notch levels of service and delicious food.

From the moment you arrive at "headquarters" within the Klaserie Game reserve and you're passed your Makumu Cap, you become one of the family, or at least that's the way you're made to feel!

Book away and prepare for a stunning visit.

Better than the places you see in magazines! An absolute must stay!

Wow, wow, wow! We stayed at Makumu as the last stop on our honeymoon. I can quite honestly say it is the best place I have ever stayed. From the moment we were collected from headquarters and given our makumu caps to the minute we left it was just magical. The staff are so kind, friendly, knowledgeable and go so above and beyond to make your stay special, we even got back to a candlelit bathroom with rose petals in the bath after dinner one night. The food was absolutely amazing and we even got to eat alongside the staff most days and nights. And the actual accommodation is better than those that you see in magazines, the views are sensational you can see for miles and sitting by the pool and watching wildlife come to the waterhole is just incredible. The rooms are decorated beautifully and also offer fantastic views from the balcony, the hammocks and seating make it even more comfortable and all of the amenities such as the bath overlooking the bush, the amazing shower and seating in the room are just brilliant. The game drives are amazing, you occasionally see the odd other vehicle but not too often, the guided and trackers know their stuff and do their best to show you all the klaserie has to offer, we were lucky enough to see the big 5 amongst lots of other big and small creatures and animals. We were also lucky enough to try out the lodges new jeeps and they were really smart and comfortable! The fact that makumu is lit up at nighttime by candlelight only adds to the magic. Makumu feels like a home from home and we really couldn’t recommend it enough, we will 100% be back! You really are missing out if you don’t stay here, a true African gem!

Unforgettable and once in a lifetime experience at Makumu.

Me and my partner had the pleasure of staying at Makumu! It was seriously outstanding from start to finish. Here's why we loved it: 1. Unforgettable Experience: Our safari at Makumu was mind-blowing. We got up close with wild animals and learned so much about them. Special mention to our tracker Safari and ranger AD, where you could clearly see his love to the bush and his exceptional talent on understanding the wild animals behaviour and helped us understand the animals better as well as make the experience much better thanks to him. 2. Great Staff: The people at Makumu were incredible. They were not only highly professional but also incredibly warm and friendly. They made us feel like part of their family in just 4 days. We'll never forget our time there, thanks Cherie, Shelley, AD, Ruan, and the rest of the great team. 3. Luxurious Rooms: The lodge itself was like a work of art. The rooms were super comfy and stylish. They created the perfect blend of comfort and immersion in nature. You could tell they put a lot of thought into the design. 4. Culinary Paradise: The food was out of this world! The chef's dishes were tasty and varied, everyday we tried something new. Dining by the fire on the boma under the African stars with animal sounds in the background? Just unforgettable. 5. Top Marks: Seriously, if we could rate everything, it would be a perfect 10. The safaris, the staff, the lodge's vibe, and the food - all exceeded our wildest expectations. Just thanks, we'll be back for sure.

Magnificent - stars in our eyes
My wife and I spent 5 nights in this magical place from October 14th to 19th, 2023.
Despite slightly cool weather and abundant cloud cover, the two daily safaris exceeded our expectations. The abundance and variety of animals observed were impressive (the "Big Five," and more). The rangers and trackers are incredibly efficient, and their commentary is always spot on. The rooms (suites) are spacious, well-equipped, and very pleasant. The common areas are also well-appointed with beautiful decor. The food is excellent. The elevated position of the lodge also allows for observing animals passing by below.

Our friendly regards to the entire team.

An experience of a lifetime!
Where to start? All of our many experiences at Makumu exceeded our expectations in every way. Upon arrival we were welcomed in to their "home" and they quickly made it our home and made our group of 8 friends feel like family.

Our guide, Adrian and his tracker Clyde were a marvel, getting us up close to both large and small game. Their knowledge of their surroundings and its creatures seemingly knows no bounds(note that many other lodges don't have their own tracker!).

The accommodations are exceptional. The lodge is the owners former home and and it was built thoughtfully and lovingly. We loved our spacious room, very comfortable bed and the bathtub overlooking the preserve was a special treat.

The food also exceeded our expectations, excellently prepared with plenty of variety. We also took full advantage of the swimming pool in the afternoons and especially enjoyed watching the elephants, giraffes and zebras gather at the pond in the distance.

Makumu will always hold a special place in all our hearts.

Best trip ever
Makumu was so much nicer than I could have imagined. We were warmly greeted and continued to be treated like family by the staff. Our suite was way nicer than any place I have ever stayed and the food and drinks were perfectly timed and delicious. There were only 11 guests so the service was incredible. While there we saw lions, leopards, rhinos, hippos, elephants and zebras to name just a few. It ws a trip of a lifetime.

Loved it!
Amazing experience. Staff is fantastic, lodging is lovely, food is delicious, safari was outstanding. Saw animals up close and guides were highly knowledgeable. Everything we hoped it would be. Highly recommend.

An amazing experience!!
For our first Safari experience Makumu didn't disappoint. From the moment your arrive the staff makes you feel at home and like family. It's a small lodge so you get to know everyone quickly.
Food is amazing and they learn your habits and cater to them.
We had beautiful game drives where We saw so much and learned a lot.
Dinner as a group with the staff each night is a definite highlight.
It was an amazing few days! Thank you.

Our Makumu Wedding
Choosing Makumu to host our wedding celebration in the bush was undoubtedly one of the best decisions we have ever made! That rare, special occurrence where the reality far exceeds any expectations. Besides being a stunning venue for our celebration, owners Stefan and Karin, and the Makumu management team of Ruan, Shelley, Adi and Cherie made wedding planning an absolute breeze! Also, during our stay, every single one of Makumus’ staff went above and beyond to accommodate us and any requests. On safari, Ruan was an informative guide sharing his deep knowledge of and love for the bush; and we found the guest accommodations both very stylish and very comfortable. The setting for our wedding ceremony in a sandy creek was beautiful and unique and we were even lucky enough to have an elephant cameo in our wedding photos! The many candles lighting the lodge for our reception gave a true ‘bush’ feeling, the décor was artfully done and the canapes simply outstanding, with many guests still asking for the recipe for the Makumu made wedding cake! An absolutely phenomenal experience, we wish we could do it all over again, but we will have to settle for anniversaries at Makumu! We cannot recommend choosing Makumu highly enough. Thank you Makumu for the best wedding ever.

Magic @ Makumu private game lodge
I don't usually share reviews but this time I make an exception as our trip to South Africa became magic thx to our stay in Makumu. From the moment we arrived, we became part of the Makumu family! We only needed to enjoy and relax all the beautiful adventures: fabulous safaris, great sights of lions eating their prey only 2 meters away, a fantastic day in the photographic bunker, with lots of birds, zebras & giraffes at the pool, all nicely guided by Julia. We loved the breakfast, high teas and especially the fantastic dinners, together with the Makumu team. As my son stated: a dream became true! Thx to all team for a once in a lifetime experience!

A fine experience
Excellent lodgings, superb staff. Breakfasts and dinners were enjoyable: fine food, fine company. The ranger and tracker were the best I have had in several safaris I have taken over the years. Among the highlights was encountering 2 different prides of lions on separate days. My only regret is not arranging to have stayed a couple days longer

Exceptional Game Lodge experience
This is the 2nd trip & didnt disappoint in any imaginable way. Cherie & AD and their teams made every wish possible. From the comfortable & stunning suites to the breakfasts & BOMA fires…..
Such am amazing team !
The safari walk was a highlight this time round (last time the helicopter flight).

The services are exceptionally professional with particular attention to detail. A real familiar & homely feeling. A visit to this lodge is a definite MUST

Dear Stefan, Shelly, Ruan and all staff members of Makumu,

We can not thank you enough for the great time we spend at Makumu. Your service and eye for detail were amazing. We will never forget our two nights in your lovely home. Makumu will always be in our hearts and for sure we will be back another time.
The last few days we kept talking about the family vibe at Makumu and we regret, we could not stay any longer.

So with all our heart, thank you…thank you…thank you.
Thank you for the support with the proposal. Thank you for the family vibes, the amazing Game drives, the great dinners, lunches and breakfasts, beautiful wines, decoration in our room, best service, eye for detail and so on…

We love you all.

Menno and Gabi

There are not many things in life that took my breath away. One for sure, is staying for three nights at this wonderful lodge in the heart of the Klaserie Nature Reserve. The place is just gorgeous. A wonderful array of villas (those are not just 6 rooms) bundled together in a unique atmosphere which gets even better when all of the 250 oil lamps are lit up at dusk. Everything that matters could be found at Makumu, from a luxurious in-suite bathroom to the astounding terrace which guarantees an endless view of the park and of the animals which happen to pass by. Game rides are just flawless under the wise directions of both the guide and the tracker. We were lucky enough to find most of the wildlife we were looking for and the amount of knowledge we learned is absolutely unparalleled. Every detail is taken care of in subtle, elegant fashion from the refreshening towel given to you while back from a ride to the heartwarming service during a sundown "Aperitivo" in the bush. Food is just what I would expect from a journey into the wild that resembles both the culture and the spirit of this land. Quality is great. The kitchen staff is there for you at all times. Everything you want or need is simply there when you want it and the warm welcome you get form the owners, which are pretty much always there for and with you, as well as the managing staff, is just effortless and unique. There was unfortunately only one sad occurrence of our stay at Makumu: we had to come home. But we will be back. For sure. Thank You all, the owners, the managers and all of Makumu Family. It has been great.

We had the chance to spend 10 days in Makumu! I do not know where to start ! The lodge is magnificent without any fuss, ultra cozy and comfortable! the view is magnificent and the water points just below have been the source of incredible observations. (elephant giraffes lycaons, lions ...) I still have the chills. the atmosphere is very relaxed and warm. No frills but excellent food with excuse a little French cheese at Brunch! the staff are attentive and really make you feel at home! safaris: we were very lucky but regardless of that the region is very beautiful with very variable topographic conditions and the presence of many rivers! just sumptuous! Anyway go ahead, we'll be back Deb and Christian from Switzerland

Royalty redefined

What a weekend! Cherie, Adrian and Alistair catered to needs that we never knew we had! From the collection point, through to the room, with every touch you could imagine (hot water bottles and a foam bath included) through game drives (encountering the full big 5 within 24 hours of arrival) they never spared one moment to not treat us like royalty. Food cannot be described here, not enough space..... We have a strict "never return to the same place twice" policy, and this time we will be ignoring our own policy soon..... thank you guys!

Done Many Safaris, Hands-down Makumu is the Best
Over many years we have done multiple safaris, from budget to luxury, from National Parks to Sabie Sands, and Makumu is the standout for us.

The staff were amazing, they really made us feel welcome, like family. They joined us for dinner every evening and brunch every morning. Dinner around the fire in the boma was a real highlight.

The main lodge really feels like a luxurious home, it's gorgeous, warm and accommodating. It really embraces the romance of the African bush experience. The rooms were beautiful, the candles and lanterns at night were gorgeous and it was beyond what we expected.

The food was phenomenal and they really listened to and made sure to accommodate our likes and dislikes.

Ruan the main ranger was possibly the best safari guide we have ever had. He was knowledgeable, passionate and really listened to what we wanted to get out of the experience. We saw everything from little spiders to bee eaters and lions at a kill. We did safari drives and a morning walk.

We would return to Makumu in a heartbeat and highly recommend it.

We spent 2 nights at Makumu Private Game Lodge at the end of July. Accommodation in the Zulu King Suite. The all-round experience was fantastic. The entire team is very enthusiastic, competent and friendly, while being open and unobtrusive at the same time. Starting with Cherie at the reception, our guide Adrian and Tracker Sibu to the other guide Alistair to the kitchen staff and gardeners.

Adrian has a wealth of knowledge even for those who are experienced in safari, which he passes on in a factual and interesting way without bragging (not only on the animal world, but also on the plant world). Sibu has young, sharp eyes and excellent hearing, which he uses profitably (see below: Localization of a pride of lions via the sound of breaking bones while eating).

We would warmly recommend the lodge to all people who are enthusiastic about peace, seclusion, concentration on the essentials and intense bush experiences that are not just about the Big 5. Why?

On the one hand, the luxurious rooms are excellent: generously proportioned, structurally and in a state of preservation of the best quality, extremely tasteful and decorated to a high standard. All suites have a view of the wide, hilly landscape, you can see animals coming to the waterhole again and again and at night you have an unrestricted view of the starry sky. The quality of the rooms stands out again compared to other high-quality lodges that we know.
Furthermore, the main building offers everything you need without ever giving the impression of being a hotel; as described by Makumu himself: a very familiar and personal approach in which individual care is very important. The main building also shines with very tasteful decoration, spaciousness and airiness, great seating around an internal fire bowl and boma. It is spread over two floors with wonderful views over the almost untouched bush (no signs of "civilization" disturb the view) up to the Drakensberg.

Last but not least - the main argument for travelers who enjoy the bush - the lodge is located deep inside the Klaserie Private Game Reserve and shares an area of around 110 square kilometers with only three other relatively small accommodations (there are also short-term negotiated access rights in other sub-areas for very special observations). On the rustic bush slopes and off the slopes you hardly ever see other cars, interesting animal sightings are never overcrowded. The landscape is varied and hilly, traversed by the Klaserie River (still had water) and numerous dried up drainage channels, some of which are passable. There is no wide grassland, but there are some very beautiful trees on the river.

As with other safari destinations, the wildlife here offers no guarantee of certain sightings. Nevertheless, on four trips we had many interesting scenes of various kinds and were able to enjoy them all with the background of extensive safari experiences. Two highlights were seeing a leopard in the best light directly from the lodge in the early afternoon of the day of arrival (we then drove there spontaneously, aborting the lodge briefing - this is called flexibility!); We found this leopard again in the dark while eating a small antelope. The second highlight was a pride of lions of at least 18 animals (although we were very close, counting turned out to be difficult), which ate intensely on a medium-sized elephant that was probably torn during the night.

All in all, luxurious accommodation paired with a real bush feeling in a warm, attentive atmosphere. Great!

Makumu - what an unbelievable experience!

It's hard to put it all into words, just WOW.

The lodge location, the team, food and game drives are made up for one of the most amazing times. (We will still be speaking of this place for many, many years).

Thank you for everything.

Your whole teams makes it feel like home staying here.

Baie dankie vir 'n onvergeetlike vakansie. Julle gasvryheid is merkwaardig en ons het elk oomblik daarvan geniet.

Baie hartseer om huistoe te gaan, want alles hier is perfek!

Personeel is almal vriendelik en behulpsaam, en die kos smullekker!

Dankie vir die ekstra moeite :)

Ons is bly om 'n groot dag in ons lewe met julle to kon deel.

Sien elle hopenlik binnekort weer!

To everyone at Makumu,

Thank you so much for the wonderful stay. Everyone was so welcoming. Fantastic place to stay for a quick honeymoon.

Our footprints in the Bush might have gone already with the morning breeze, but our memories collected in your amazing Makumu surely will stay with us for a lifetime.

Never lose your passion and faith in your mission to show people what really matters in life!

Thank you all so much for the generous and warm hospitality! We had an incredible time staying with you all. We cant wait to come back and enjoy your home again soon!

All the best!

Thank you all so much for the generous and warm hospitality! We had an incredible time staying with you all. We cant wait to come back and enjoy your home again soon!

All the best!
From USA

Merci Beaucoup pour ce séjour extraodinaire!

Thank you for the stay, all was wonderful! Peaceful, Authentic, Restful and all surrounded by adorable staff.
It was great to meet you all, special thanks for the honeymoon attentions.

We hope to come back one day.
Memorable stay!

Es war weider wunderschön in der Natur zu leben! Wir werden Euer Paradies im nächsten Jahr auf jeden fall wieder besuchen. Danke fur alles!

Was fur ein unvergesslicher Ort. Vielen dank fur due wunderschöne tage und die herzliche Atmosphäre.

Our stay at Makumu was above and beyond any expectations we had.
From the staff to the owners and the camp itself it was just overall outstanding.
We would happily come back and recommend it to all we come across.

So thank you all again a thousand times over!

How wonderful to stay with friends!
Makumu is delightfully uncommercialised and we have enjoyed every minute. Lovely company, good food, good game drives. Who could ask for more?

We shall be back!

Wir durften bei eine wunderbare zeit verbringen im Familiären Atmosphäre.
Ganz vielen dank dafür an alle!

Die Safari's werden fur uns unvergesslich blieben!

Wow, where do we start?!

We had the most incredible stay at Makumu & felt at home from the moment we arrived. Thank you for making us feel so welcome! It was our first safari experience and it definitely lived up to our expectations. We learnt so much from Ruan & Richard not only from animal behaviour from big to small, but also for the respect and appreciation for nature.

We've been overwhelmed by the hospitality provided by Shelley, Melina and the great team here at Makumu - from the food, the birthday cake and helping out when one of us was a little under the weather! It felt like everyone cared, which is why we felt so at home. Stefan and Karin you have the most magical place here but also an amazing team.
We hope to be back very shortly!

P.S. Thank you for the most amazing Valentine's Day!!

Die tage auf Makumu waren traumhaft und wir haben es sehr genossen.
Die tierwelt is fantastisch.

Auf der lodge wurden wir aufs beste zeit.
Vielen herlzlichen dank an Karin & Stefan und die Crew.

Vielen Dank, waren sehr schone tage. Kommen gerne wieder.

Dear Makumu Family!

It is not only the view breath taking; all your love and effort makes it complete!
Thank you very much for all these nice memories you made for us.

Tausend Dank fur eure herzliche Freundschaft. Momente mit den wilden Tieren im Busch. Wir kommen wieder. In Freundschaft und liebe.

Dear all @ Makumu,

Devastate we have to go, it has been the most amazing time and we really could not have asked for better.

You are all wonderful at what you do; so friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and skilled - it really is a 'home away from home'.. but better!

Thank you so much, for everything.
Hope so much that we come back in future (I will start saving now)

We had a fabulous time here. Thank you so much to all of you. You made our stay a perfect one. All the best for all of you!

Thank you so much to everyone at Makumu.

We loved our stay here - it was absolutely perfect!

We had an amazing stay - highlights include the herd of elephants, amazing lion sightings, the wild dogs, tracking the rhinos and of course the leopard tortoise. The staff were incredibly thoughtful and caring. Lucky to have had the opportunity to stay here. Thank you for everything.

Wonderful, fantastic, stunning, beautiful, relaxing, friendly and exciting... what more can we say - this was simply an amazing experience. Thank you!

In addition the service was great, the food was amazing and the rooms were very nice. Thank you for the wonderful time we had it was the best vacation.

Thank you very much to the Makumu Lodge and its wonderful staff for providing the experience of a lifetime. The setting is spectacular, the food and service outstanding, and of course the safaris - incredible!

Until next time...

Thank you for your great facilities

To all the terrific staff at Makumu,

Thank you for the most incredible stay and making our trip to South Africa a trip of a lifetime!

We are so grateful for your amazing hospitality. The safaris were truly spectacular - beyond expectations on all fronts. All the best for the new decade - we look forward to returning one day and telling our family and friends about our wonderful experience at Makumu!

We enjoyed of (course we did!) despite temperatures around or even above 40 degrees!

All was good - no complaints!

Just the lions were missing, but that's nature (the reason why we came here!)

Thank you!

We had an amazing experience with wildlife and going on a journey in the bush.

We recommend having Richard as your tracker - a kind and wonderful man. Also Chris as the ranger - he is extremely knowledgeable and funny. A true heart.

Thanks for everything.

Eine fantastische Lodge mit super freundlichen Menschen! Absolute tolle Lage mitten im Busch. Tolle Game Drives mit tollen Guides. Sehr familäre Atmosphäre. Die Suite sind perfekt ausgestattet. Es mutet zunächst etwas seltsam an, dass es kein elektrisches Licht gibt aber wenn man abends in die mit Kerzen beleuchtete Suite kommt, ist das super romantisch. Wir waren schon in einigen Game Lodges und Makumu ist definitiv oberste Liga. Vielen Dank für die tolle Zeit an alle!

Thanks for great memories!

We'll remember this trip forever!

What a beautiful creation you are, Makumu. I love you where the skies are blue, orange and pink. The people are unique and filled with inner kindness. You are an endless memory in my heart that I hold dearly.

Our first trip to SA and the site of the Lodge was overwhelmingly beautiful and serene. The room was cozy, romantic and perfect for the location. Open viewing to the local animals. All driven by candle light (perfect), comfortable bed with mosquito netting. The safaris were awesome, even with getting up at 4:30am (trust me, is worth it!). The small group communal meals made the trip more memorable. But best of all was the staff - the Ranger, Tracker, staff, Owner!, all of them - they made you feel as if you were the only and most important person there. Good food, clean space, great views (I don't have space to talk about the animals you get to see!). Our Ranger was more than just the guide, he was our educator as well. A good safari is meaningless if you don't learn about the areas and animals. If you want a non commercial true lodge safari experience, this is the Lodge to stay at. Saving for the next trip back!

The biggest thank you to everyone in the Makumu family! We couldn't have asked for a better three days to finish our first trip to South Africa. You have something very special here, which we will remember forever!

Fondest wishes and hope to see you and the animals in the veld again one day.

Dear Makumu Visitors,

This place is amazing!

You will feel like you have another family.

Thanks so much to all!

Stefan, Karin, Melissa, Morné, Joyce, Lisa (perfect smile), Sibu (perfect tracker) - you are all awesome!

P.S. Say hi and thanks to all staff members for this magical stay we had, memories for a lifetime!

Dear Makumu,

From the bottom of our hearts thank you so much for this very special experience.

Makumu is warm, light hearted and adventurous - what more do we need?

Thank you to everybody here, especially Melissa & Morné, the sweet ladies in the kitchen and the best teacher, Sebu!

And thanks to the Aardvark for popping out - even though we didn't understand how special it was!

Best wishes for the future and we will see you again!

Dear Makumu Team,

We appreciated our stay at Makumu!

This is a wonderful place and you re the heart bringing it to life! We loved this time and it's hard to leave since it feels like home. You do a fantastic job and could read our wishes from our lips before we could even say it out loud.

For us it won't be the last time at Makumu - coming back soon!

All the best.

Dear Makumu Team,

We wanted to say thank you for making our stay just perfect.

This place really feels like home and all the staff members were lovely!

This was an amazing experience for us and its all thanks to you guys.

The place is perfect and we hope to come again in the future!

Dear Makumu Staff,

Thank you for a brilliant time.

We enjoyed game drives, meals, the pool, etc.

We had a great honeymoon trip here.

Hope to see you again.

Thank you!

From Japan

Makumu Private Game Lodge is in a league of its own. It started with being picked up from Hoedspruit airport and driving an hour and a half away into the bush, far away from the rest of humanity.

When we arrived at the lodge, we were greeted with wet towels to freshen up, a nice touch that would be repeated every time we returned from our game drives throughout our time there. Melissa, the general manager, took us on a quick tour of the property.

Thankfully, we arrived just in time to join the 4 pm game drive. You'll be treated to two game drives per day - one at 6 am, one at 4 pm - with rangers and trackers who are simply outstanding in their knowledge and hospitality focus. Our ranger, Reynard, and our trackers, Richard and Sebi, made each game drive so exciting, personalized to our interests, and informative.

Each night, we dined together as a small group (the lodge hosts no more than 12 guests per night) including the rangers and Melissa and Morné, Melissa's husband/co-GM/ranger. Amazing South African wine and delicious food every time. Each morning, after the 6-9 am game drive, we were treated to delicious brunches. On each game drive, we stopped halfway through to enjoy either coffee/tea (AM) or beer/wine (PM) and snacks.

In between and before and after game drives and meals, we swam in the pool overlooking the "endless view" for which Makumu is named. We used spotlights to scan the area at night, spotting elephants, baboons, hyenas, impalas, and warthogs all roaming near (or on) the lodge grounds. We relaxed around the fire. We took naps. We took a bath in front of a huge floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the savannah.

One surprisingly nice touch - the lack of lights and AC was actually a positive. We could see the stars and hear the sounds of hyenas. The room had screen doors on two sides, and a ceiling fan in the middle, so the airflow was plenty to keep the room cool without drowning out nature's soundtrack. I'm usually a big baby when it comes to temperature, but I was so exhausted at the end of every day, and the breeze through the room was plenty to keep me comfortable.

This was my first trip to South Africa, and thus my first trip to Makumu, but after such and amazing trip I can attest that it will not be my last. Thank you, Makumu family, for such an outstanding vacation.

Thank you, it was a wonderful time in your accommodation and the views were fantastic. We loved our time here and would be happy to come back one day. Los of nice cats you got! :)

All the best!

To the Makumu Family,

Thank you for making our time here so amazing! The team was perfect - 100% dedicated to making us feel like family. Leaving here feels more like leaving. relative's house than "checking out" of a lodge.

We loved it and we will return!

Dear Makumu Team,
Dear Ryan, dear Shelley,

We had an absolutely amazing stay with you!

The game drives were so special and can't find words. We learned so much, experience so much, talked and laughed so much...

We will remember you always :)

Thanks for everything, especially making us feel like family!

All the best for the future.

Makumu exceeded all four expectations and it was an absolute (hopefully not) once in a lifetime experience.

Humbling animal encounters, amazing, friendly, professional staff who made us feel like family and truly beautiful sunsets, where to start...

Thank you so much for everything, especially Shelley Ryan and aaaaaall the others!

Dear Makumu Team

Thank you for this amazing time. It's been so special for us to be here again. We hope to come back in the future.

The private dinner was amazing and a nice surprise.

Next time we'll be prepared for the impala-poo-spitting-contest :)

Take care and see you soon!

De l’accueil, au départ tout était parfait, mais en plus de cela toute l’équipe fait attention au besoin de chaque clients..
petite lodge (pas plus de 12 personnes) avec safari matin, après midi, des Rangers formidable, une responsable formidable, des cuisinières formidables, du service formidable tout était superbe. Le prix payé vaut la peine, et effectivement la « perfection existe ». La lodge est situé sur une petite colline, avec piscine à débordement et vue sur un point d’eau ou des animaux viennent boire. Les chambres sont magnifique, grande, baie vitrée, ils préparent 3/4 fois la chambre par jour.. tout est impeccable. Le petit déjeuné un choix énorme et tout est fait maison, des madeleines, des petits pains.. le soir se retrouver autour du boma (feu) est superbe, avec vin, bière etc. Le repas du soir est servis comme dans un restaurant gastronomique, là saveurs sont excellente encore une fois.. Vous payez, mais tout est compris, boisson à gogo, tous les snacks fais maison, un service et prise en charge impeccable.. Wouhaaaaa merci nous reviendrons soyez en sûr.
PS : merci pour le dîner priver et gâteau pour ma fiancée.

Um sonho! Lugar sensacional e encantador. Foi tudo mágico, desde a chegada até a hora da saída. Tem amor em cada detalhe. Todos que trabalham no Makumu são atenciosos e carinhosos. Os safáris foram incríveis, nosso ranger Wiann e nosso tracker Sibu deram um show a cada game drive, com muita experiência e atenção. Nota 1000 para eles! Com certeza, Makumu foi o melhor lugar que já estivemos. É surreal!!

Les mots ne sauraient rendre justice à la beauté et la magie de Makumu
Lieu exceptionnel
Chambres féeriques
Moment rendu encore plus incroyable grâce à toute l'équipe de ce lodge
Des amours de cuisinières
Rangers et trackers passionnants
Hôtes d'une grande serviabilité et très sympathiques
Le plus bel endroit de notre séjour
Merci à toute l'équipe de Makumu

According to the people who manage Makumu staying at the lodge is meant to feel like staying at a friend's home, and they certainly achieve that aim. Everyone who works there is unfailingly warm and welcoming, and the fact that the lodge is set up with just six rooms means that it is cosy and private and easy to get to know all the other guests. We appreciated being able to walk into the kitchen to help ourselves to drinks and snacks at any time.

The rooms are spacious and very comfortable and come with outdoor patios that overlook the surrounding wilderness. The pool area is stunning and perfect for lounging in the heat of the late morning and early afternoon in between game drives, and it is delightful bliss to alternate between basking in the sun and plunging into cold water. The entire place from the rooms to the kitchen and the other communal areas is beautifully furnished. The food was uniformly very good and the staff were diligent in accommodating dietary restrictions and preferences.

The game drives were excellent. We frequently saw antelope, giraffes and elephants, and we were fortunate enough to see leopards, lions, wild dogs, jackals and hyenas. It must be borne in mind that when it comes to spotting the bigger carnivores there is a lot of luck involved and it can be hit-and-miss: we did six game drives and we saw leopards, lions and/or wild dogs on every one of the first three but not at all on the last three. But Makumu's location in Klaserie private wildlife reserve carries with it three important benefits that greatly enhance the quality of game drives: the first is that the safari experience is refreshingly uncrowded, the second is that one can get very close to the animals, and the third is that one can spend a lot of time with them. For instance, on our first game drive we spent more than an hour observing two leopards, one of which climbed a tree to finish off what was left of an antelope carcass, as well as a hyena waiting under that tree for scraps, from less than 10 metres away, and throughout that time there was no one else around except for the two safari vehicles from Makumu.

The terrain around Makumu is undulating in parts and there is a substantial amount of vegetation, which means it is more challenging to spot animals than on flat open grassland, but the staff who act as wildlife-spotters are incredibly good at what they do and so one can rest assured that they will see an animal if it is there. The last part of the afternoon game drives take place in darkness after the sun has set, and on two such occasions the spotter in our vehicle (Richard) somehow managed to see chameleons in trees despite their camouflage.

All in all our three nights at Makumu were wonderful and we were very reluctant indeed to leave. We certainly hope that we will have occasion to return in the future.

Foi uma experiência incrível!!! Desde a recepção no aeroporto até a despedida... o cuidado que Shelly e Ruan tiveram conosco foi incrível!!! O tempo todo preocupados com o nosso bem estar e se estava tudo em conformidade...todo o staff é super simpático e atencioso!!! O hotel é muito confortável, agradável e com luxo na medida certa!!! ! Proposta é se sentir em casa e foi exatamente isso!!! O Ruan conduziu os Safaris com muita atenção e cuidado... sempre respeitando a natureza e explicando pra gente!!!! Se quer ter uma experiência incrível, esse é o lugar!!!!

From the time you arrive at Makuma you are made to feel like you are at home with their warm hospitality.
Food is plentiful. The Lodge and suites are comfortable. The amazing Game Drives to see the wildlife each morning and evening in their natural environment was fantastic. We weren't rushed in seeing the animals and to the see the Big 5.
Thank you to everyone especially Morne and Melissa. We've come away with so many happy memories. Our stay at Mukumu was a memorable experience which we will never forget.

From the accommodation and service levels(including incredible food) through to the safaris, it is rare that any property exceeds everything that they advertise. This was very much the case at Makumu, where accomodation actually added to our African experience. Put it on the top of your list!

Everything about Makumu and its staff, tour guide and transfer were fantastic. Shelley and Ruan are keepers and excellent hosts. Thank you for everything and keep up the good stuff.

We had such a wonderful stay at Makumu! Shelley and the house crew were excellent, the food was amazing, the wine was flowing, and of course our game drives were outstanding. Richard has a keen eye and Sean has a wealth of knowledge. We would, hands down, recommend Makumu to anyone! Thank you so much!

What a wonderful, wonderful time! Very memorable stay, food is delicious and staff wonderful!

Thank you for making my experience so great. Better than one could ever imagine. Would love to bring my grandchildren.

We are extremely grateful for this incredible time we get here. This will be a lifetime memory and we will be back!

Each day started with coffee before a morning safari which included a stop for coffee and snacks followed by a huge breakfast back at the lodge which i cider 10 different options that were never the same and cooked to order. Then we had the afternoon off where we could sit by the pool and elephants would come and drink from. Then we had high tea with appetizers and then an afternoon safari which lasted another three or four hours and during the afternoon safari we stopped for drinks and snacks. Then we would return back to the lodge for drinks by the fire before a three course dinner paired with wine.

We fell in love with the staff who have an impressive resume. Raun and Sibu our guides had answers to every question we had. We saw the big five within 24 hours and we spent no less than 35 to 40 minutes with each animal getting to know them and learning all about their life in the bush. The fact that we were the only car out our trip felt really personal and intimate.

Shelly, Rauns fiancé and the house staff felt like family. They bent over backwards to make sure we felt at home during our stay. The entire staff hugged us goodbye and waved us off on to our next adventure. It didn’t feel forced or corny, you could tell they actually cared about us. No meal is cooked twice and they never prepare the same meal more than once a month which is very impressive. Also all alcohol is included they they have the pantry open at all times to take what we want.

The entire property is lit by candlelight at night and each room only has one outlet for cell
Phone or camera charging. They give you flashlights to walk around the property for better seeing. The rooms were huge with a large bathroom.

All and all I would recommend this lodge to anyone traveling on a safari, as we couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

Thank you to everyone for making our stay and our honeymoon absolutely unforgettable! We had the best time and the team at Makumu makes it a very unique experience. We hope to come back again soon!

Thank you for everything!

Thank you for the amazing stay. An experience to never forget.

Amazing views, great wildlife, great food.

Thank you so much for everything that you have given to use.

Liebes Makumu team. Vielen dank für die tolle zeit = die familiare atmosphate war einmalig bei euch. Wir kommes auf jedeu fall wieder!

Wiir hatten eine fantastische zeit bei euch. Vielen dank für alles. Gant besonderen dank fur das tolle chamaleon und die "Big Five". Wir welden diese reise nie vergessen

To the lovely staff, managers, guides, rangers, trackers of Makumu Lodge:

Thank you so much for an absolutely breathtaking and beautiful stay.

Quite apart form the special encounters wer had here with the leopards, lions, elephants and more, an exciting fuel leak incident, we enjoyed our stay here to much. The rooms are so beautiful and comfortable, the food and drink so abundant and frequent and delicious, the pool with a view of the watering hole which made time pass quickly, the cozy lounging areas and the kitchen that felt like home, we enjoyed all of it and can't bear to leave.

Everyone was so friendly and hospitable, made us feel like family the whole time. And all the nice touches like the blankets, private dinners, hot water bottles - we loved it all.

Thank you so much, we won't forget!

An unforgettable stay surrounded by abolutely beautiful people. The tracker and ranger were top. It was a stay of dreams. Thank you Makumu

Foi a nossa primeira experiência em um safaria, então não tenho muita base de comparação. É sem dúvida um lugar incrível e sensacional, com vistas sem limites para a savana, fazendo jus ao significado da palavra "makumu". Avistamos vários animais nas poças de água próximas ao lodge. As acomodações são muito espaçosas e confortáveis. O banheiro é um espetáculo à parte, com uma ótima ducha e uma banheira com vista para a savana. Ficamos no quarto king da suíte zulu. Não há energia elétrica nos quartos a não ser em uma tomada utilizada para recarregar os aparelhos eletrônicos. As noites são iluminadas à luz de velas. Isso permite nos desconectar e nos integrar ao ambiente da savana. As refeições oferecidas são sensacionais, sempre muito saborosas. Destaque para os lanches servidos antes do safari da tarde (comi o melhor wrap da minha vida). Toda a equipe do lodge é muito simpática e faz de tudo para o hóspede se sentir em casa. As jantas geralmente são realizadas em conjunto com os demais hóspedes em com a equipe do lodge, o que torna a experiência ainda mais enriquecedora. Durante os três dias que passamos no Makumu, tivemos um carro de safari exclusivo para nós durante quase todos os dias, porque o lodge não estava lotado. Merecem elogios especiais nosso ranger Reinhard e nossos trackers Richard e Sibu. Se esforçaram ao máximo para encontrar os animais mais raros (pudemos ver dois rinocerontes negros) e sempre nos posicionar no melhor local para as melhores fotos. Uma viagem ao Makumu vale cada centavo. É a experiência de uma vida em poucos dias.

We spent a wonderful time at Makumu. We enjoyed incredible animal sightings, relaxing moments at the fireplace. We would like to thank you for letting us be a part of this amazing place in the middle of nature.

Hopefully we will have the chance to come back!

A great experience of Africa and its animals.

All the best.

Out of the hundreds of properties in Southern Africa, we chose Makumu and what a wonderful choice we made.

The staff, the facilities and food were excellent and I can highly recommend Makumu Lodge to anyone.

Liebes Makumu-Team

'Es war Lecker!'

:)

Dear guys,

We had a great time here.

Thanks for everything!

Die Lodge war authentic und nicht stereotyp afrikanisch mit einem hohen Mass an Individualität... und es hatte einfach Klasse!

Da gibt es nichts, ausser dass der aufwnthalf viel zu schnell vorbei war..

Dear guys,

Thank you so much for the lovely time we spent together! You are the best!

In just 2 days we saw a lot and we really enjoyed our stay.

Thank you for the great hospitality!

We had a great time the past 3 days and it was in fact the best time we had for our whole trip!!

We were very happy that we got to see almost all the animals we hoped to see!! (Special thanks to Ruan and Richard!!)

Overall an amazing and truly special and unique experience. we felt like family not guests (a big thank you to the whole staff, especially Ruan and Shelley) and at home for our time spent there. Initially, you had to leave your car at Klaserie Headquarters (approx. a 1 hour drive from the nearest Kruger gate to get there). An open jeep picked us up and brought us to the lodge (approx. 40 mins drive) - definitely the beginning of the adventure. The lodge itself is perfectly situated near a waterhole, with a wonderful outlook on the surroundings, a nice pool to relax in hours between game drives and a spacious room. Accommodates a max. no. of 12 people. the rooms were big and interior was very nice and authentic. There is no electricity (other than power outlets obviously), the whole room (as is the lodge) is lit up by hundreds of candles at night. Game drives were perfectly organised and executed (e.g. hot water bottles and blankets, snacks and drinks for a short stop). We totally fell in love with the animals and the overall experience (my wife even had to cry out of happiness- #foodporn : brunch after the game drives had everything you could dream of and was just amazing. Dinner was held beside the open fireplace, where the managers of the lodge would sit together with us and share their stories of animal/nature encounters. Dinner was accustomed to our needs and very delicious. P.S. A very big thank you for our wedding anniversary surprise, we loved it :-)

It was all perfect. The only regret we had was staying only two days. We wish we could have stayed longer. There are no words to describe the entire Makumu team that made the experience even more special

Makumu,

Thanks for all the fun, the kind attention and the love that we have received. You are awesome. The place is super beautiful, the people are super nice and the game drives are unforgettable. We have learned a lot. Special thanks to our ranger and tracker.

See you again!

Our first holiday in Africa - a dream!
Makumu was the best start on our vacation, that could ever exist.
Fantastic lodge, great people and pure nature.
Thank you for the great time.
See you next time

Le lodge superbement décoré et équipé est magnifiquement situé au milieu de la savane; l'éclairage le soir à la lampe à pétrole ajoute au charme; l'équipe est formidable, tout est fait pour mettre tout le monde à l'aise; tracker et driver sont expérimentés et font vivre une expérience unique à la rencontre des animaux

Dear Makumu Team,

Thank you SO SO much for an incredible stay.

The rooms were lovely,
The staff were lovely,
The food was lovely,
The lodge was lovely.

Most importantly the game drives were AMAZING. We saw the Big Five :D

Thank you Shelley, Ryan, Joyce, Maggy, Sibu, Richard and everyone else!

We had an amazing stay and an amazing experience.

We had an amazing time and really enjoyed ourselves!

We don't want to leave!

Thank you so much

Fabuleuse expérience !!!! Je recommande ce lodge ! À faire absolument si vous allez en Afrique du Sud !!! Personnel incroyable !!! Merci à Shelley, Juan et à tous ... C’est un paradis sur terre !

Fabulous experience !!!! I recommand this lodge if you travel in this country !!!! Staff incredible ! Thanks to Shelley and Juan and all ... It’s a paradise on earth !

Thank you very much for this amazing experience and for your kindness. Thank you for all the things we've learned about animals and South Africa.

Bisous des Belges

Makumu, we had the most enjoyable time with you. I appreciate your extreme kindness, generosity and love. We particularly enjoyed the special elements of the stay.

The brunch dining by the tree, the private night dinner.

The food preparation was magnificent.

To Ruan and Shelley, we wish you the best in your wedding plans and in life.

May God bless you and be with you and plant you by the river of life and bless you with family and prosperity.

Dear Makumu,

Thank you for such a wonderful experience. We will treasure the memories made here for the rest of our lives!

Your entire team was fantastic, thank you all very much!

My wife and I are very happy. Thank you for making this experience unique and incredible.

We had a great time during our stay.

I don't think this is a good bye but a see you soon on our next trip (maybe with our 4 kids).

Dear Makumu Team,

We had 2 perfect nights and 3 perfect days here. This place is a perfect mixture of nice people, good sightings and a familiar atmosphere.

Also thanks to Mr Breuer to share is dream with us.

Dear Makumu Friends,

Thank you sooooo very much for this truly amazing, unforgettable experience. We had an amazing time learning about all these beautiful animals and enjoying the landscape, and staying in this incredible lodge. Thank you again and we hope to be back!

We say thank you, mercy & Danke for this wonderful stay, the unique experience, so many nice conservations and just an unforgettable memory!

The Hermann family had an amazing time at Makumu Lodge. The staff were very accommodating and we would stay forever if we could!

Thank you so much for the incredible food, the adventurous safari and the informative bush walk. I believe it's safe to say that all of us feel comfortable tracking lions now :)

The lodging and facilities are absolutely beautiful!

This is a vacation we will never forget!

Thank you!

Big thanks to the team for making our stay so nice. They were all so helpful and accommodating with the kids. Ruan was so patient with all the questions, even about penguins!

Beautiful views and lodge, perfect relaxing time!

Thanks

With much happiness in the celebration of my birthday. We have memories to carry us through to our return visit. Thank you Morné, Melissa, et al. for a fabulous experience. And thank you Richard for spotting those elephants!

With full hearts and many many lifetime memories, we sadly depart from beautiful Makumu and its wonderful, gracious and ever-helpful and welcoming staff. We couldn't have asked for anything more in such a wonderful visit and vacation for our family's first visit to Africa.Our kids (14,12) will carry this experience throughout their lives!

Thank you so very much.

Thank you for a life-changing experience! And most of all for allowing us to be a part of the Makumu Family. We are so blessed to have met all the staff, and especially Morné and Melissa. We cannot wait to be back, God bless you and your family.

Makumu Team,

Thank you for the most wonderfully magical stay! We are already making plans to come back for another anniversary trip. Everything has been absolutely perfect and we will remember every small detail, big meal and beautiful sight for the rest of our lives!

Dear Makumu Team,

Thanks for everything. Our stay with you was just wonderful. We enjoyed every minute - but especially the game drives and the food.

We will miss you and the lodge and who knows, perhaps we will see each other again.

Dear Makumu Team,

Thank you so much for this wonderful experience we had when staying with you! It was magical - candlelight at night, beautiful night sky and even falling stars. Thanks for welcoming us to your beautiful home and make us feel part of the family instead of just guests. We'll be thinking back many times for sure - probably also when watching the Lion King remake :) Thanks especially for the great drives! I doubt we'll find another ranger as knowledgeable as you Morné! It was really amazing.
All the best for you and your families!

We hope to be back!

Makumu team,

I really want to thank you for this unique experience.

I will come back!

Dear Makumu Team,

We are leaving speechless!

Thank you so much! This will be unforgotten - wish you all the best!

Makumu is a little paradise on earth and the whole Makumu team made our stay and our wedding unforgettable.

Makumu is located in the beautiful Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and even if you just sit on your balcony you can see the elephants crossing the river. In the night the whole lodge is lighted just with candles, so you can see the stars while the lions roar in the bush. It is an amazing memory.

The whole team and the owners, Stefan and Karin, are so friendly in a heartfelt way that, after four days we didn't want to leave.

The Game Drives with the tracker Richard and the rangers Matt and Morné were fantastic. All of them had such a profound knowledge that you can learn something new on each Game Drive. During our stay we were lucky to see lions, leopards, giraffes and elephants as well as a pack of wild dogs directly at the lodge. The food was delicious and served either at the floating boma or under a tree in the bush.

But besides all these wonderful experiences we would like to thank the whole Makumu team, especially Melissa and Morné that you made our wedding in the bush to such an unforgettable memory. It was perfect and we never imagined in our dreams that we can have such a romantic and wonderful wedding. The place you had chosen for the ceremony was overwhelming. The traditional song and dance of the Makumu team was awesome. We even had a wedding cake in the bush - amazing. Thank you for the wonderful time. We surely will see you again soon.

Katja & Clemens

We appreciate the affection of the whole team. The lodge is incredible. But the most precious thing is the people who work here.

Thank you for the wonderful stay!

Dear Makumu Team,

Thank you so much for this wonderful experience we had when staying with you!

It was magical - candlelight at night, beautiful night sky and even falling stars! Thanks for welcoming us to your beautiful home and make us feel part of the family instead of just guests. We'll be thinking back many times for sure - probably also when watching the Lion King remake :)

Thanks especially for the great drives, I doubt we will find another ranger as knowledgeable as you Morné! It was really amazing!

All the best for you and your families!

We hope to be back!

To the amazing Makumu Team!

What a truly special place this is from the food, the lodge and all of you who make up the team.

I feel like you have all set the standard incredibly high for my first safari experience and it will be hard to beat.

I hope not too far in the future I will return to make some more memories in the bush.

Much love
Christina
xxx

To all of the Makumu team

I cannot express how amazing the trip has been! From the amazing tours to the delivious food and most importantly all the happy faces.

Everything has been perfect!!

Look forward to our return and hopefully send family and friends also!

All my love,
Katherine xx

Dear Friends,

There are no words to describe the wonderful time we spent with you guys at Makumu!

Every minute spent in this wonderful place, the amazing game drives filled with interesting facts, stories, breathtaking views and wonderful encounters with the animals, the sunrise and sunset, super delicious cuisine and especially the whole staff will remain in our memories forever.

We hope to be back soon again. Thank you for your great hospitality, we felt like at home.

Liebes Makumu Team
Liebe Karin, Lieber Stefan,

Was Ihr hier geschaffen habt ist einfach unglaublich. Es fehlen einen die worte. vielen Dank fur alles!

Stefan, Karin, Melissa and Morné and the whole Makumu family,

What can we say!!!! What a truly unforgettable experience. Your village is so welcoming, we felt at home!

The game drives were unbelievable, I cannot believe the amazing things we saw! Stefan, Morné and of course Cyril - what a fantastic team! We could keep going out on the drives for days!

The food, the rooms, the pool, all of it was beautiful and completed a wonderful holiday for us.

We will be back one day! We have a lion to see.

Much love, Anna and Christian

We stayed at Makumu five days and four nights, that will stay with me forever. First the most important thing about Makumu, and the reason you would most likely go on a safari, the animals. We were able to see the big five (and wild dogs) thanks to are incredible guide Matt and tracker Rich. There teamwork, knowledge of the bush, attentiveness, and friendly attitude made the morning and evening safari rides, to put it simply, magical. Because you can spend seven to eight hours a day with them, there importance can not be overlooked. Matt’s knowledge and passion for African wildlife is infectious. His ability to rattle off answers helps pull you into this foreign world. You leave with a greater understanding of the animals you witnessed and the overall ecosystem that is the Klaserie.
The lodge itself is a beautifully designed oasis. Sitting on a small outcrop, it wows you with views of the bush. When you first walk into the upstairs and witness the landscape, it may best be described as an emotional experience. The architecture of the lodge helps to show off the true masterpiece, the scenery.
I want to include the owners Stefan and partner Karin with the overall staff. This is where Makumu separates itself from anything I have experienced with any other stay. I may have luck describing it like this… imagine you had cousins you never met before and they happen to own a lodge in South Africa. When you visit you are instantly treated like long lost family. You catch up on each others life over drinks and delicious meals while gathered around a fire. Everyone is attentive to your every need with a warm familiarity that normally comes from being family. The entire staff feels like the greater extended family. What has been accomplished here is more than special, it is perfection.
OK, so I loved it but, if you are looking to drive around a zoo, this is not for you. This is the open wilderness and nothing is guaranteed. We were very lucky to see three different leopards and eleven different lions, plus the rare wild dogs. However, that does not guarantee you will see all that. I recommend staying at least three days. Also, it is lit by candles in the evening. My wife and I loved that, not everyone might. This is a magical place that will leave memories that will last a lifetime for most people. I hope if you are reading this that includes you.

Dear Makumu Team

We will never forget these incredible days at Makumu, full of endless views, delicious meals and so many unique moments.

Mostly - Stefan on game drives that let us see, understand and especially feel the bush life...

A dream come true through all these moments of being so close with elephants, giraffes and our shy friends!

We will never forget your hospitality and promise to take this unique spirit and invite with our stories to tell the next guest coming to Makumu

We recently booked Makumu through Go2Africa. We spent three nights at Makumu and another three nights at another lodge in Sabi Sands. Go2Africa was really helpful in planning our trip and arranging all our transfers. We highly recommend!

There is something truly special about Makumu. The owners, Stefan and Karin, welcomed us into their home and treated us like family. All the staff cared about making our experience unique and special. They even baked me a birthday cake!

The rooms here are amazing and beautifully decorated. The food was delicious. Loved tea time before the evening game drive! Wifi is available everywhere. Bonus - elephants visiting to drink water out of the pool right beside our room!

As Makumu is a smaller lodge, you get a more personal and intimate experience. This is truly the best part of this place! Words cannot express how beautiful it is. It is so peaceful and relaxing.

Our safari guides were Matt and Morris. They were awesome and we learned so much from them. We had some great sightings and even tracked lions on foot (five of them to be exact!).

Makumu is a refreshing change from the typical hotel/lodge experience. We wished we could've stayed longer and will definitely be back! Thank you Team Makumu -- you made our honeymoon unforgettable!

Words or pictures cannot express the real experience of staying at Makumu. The staff made all efforts to make us feel at home! Great food from Nellys and Grace's kitchen, each day a different course (loved the Impala, amazing) - and I even cooked a Brazilian special sweet myself (so special). We basically had the entire lounge to ourselves and couldn't have felt more spoiled. The game drives were amazing and even though we didn't get to see all the big five, the tracker (Morris) and the rangers (Alan and Morne) made sure we had an unforgettable experience. Rooms are beautifully decorated and super comfortable, with big windows from which you can see the savanna and be welcomed by Impalas (or if you're lucky, an even wilder animal). And the fact that there is no electricity AT ALL makes it even more special at night (don't worry, their WiFi works just fine). Melissa, the manager is the sweetest - always thoughtful and making sure we were getting the best treatment (even when we were least expecting). Last but not least, the owners Karin and Stefan are so open, friendly and nice that you'll never feel like leaving. This was definitely an experience remember and hopefully to repeat.

A 3 day visit to this beautifully appointed Private Game Reserve turned into an unforgettable experience of fascinating event filled game drives, luxurious accommodation set up on the hill with panoramic endless views; sights, sounds and smells of everything a visit to the bush should entail, and coupled with exquisite hospitality ensuring that your every wish will be accommodated. The roar of lions, the laugh of hyenas, the cackling of wild dogs, the trumpeting of elephants were but a few of the sounds and sights to be heard. The knowledge and sensitivity of the rangers, Matt and Morné, brought a reality to the experiences with their endless pursuit to present an authentic viewing of the world within the Klassiere Game region, and aided by their extraordinary tracker, Morris, who seemed to see things long before anyone else in the party. Our guides wives, Francé and Melissa, ensured hospitality that made you feel so totally at home, that by the end of every game drive you couldn’t wait to fall into the relaxing atmosphere they worked so beautifully to create. Exquisite cuisine, totally unexpected for a bush experience, simply added the cherry to this symphony of delights. Two of our party being vegans were suberbly catered for with imaginative and tasty alternatives, whilst the remainder of the group salivated over the choice of cheeses and meats on offer, exciting main courses and desserts, presented with delightful wines from the top shelf. Our hosts, Stefan and Karin, have gone to extreme lengths to ensure their guests do not look forward to their date of departure, only dreaming of how soon they can return. Makunu is a must for the discerning visitor looking for the ultimate game viewing experience whilst enjoying total luxury, friendliness and professionalism.
Jean-Pierre Pfeiffer and family

I am someone who was bitten by the "safari bug" 3 years ago after my first game drive, and this is the 6th lodge we've been to in many African countries so I believe I am a good judge of quality. I must say this is one of my favorite places I've ever stayed at and my husband and I will definitely return. First of all the property is stunning and so tastefully decorated and built into nature. The views are endless, just as the name "Makumu" means, with multiple areas to relax and enjoy the magnificence! The rooms are big with wonderful amenities. The only downside is the lack of air conditioning, as it was very hot when we were there and the fans didn't help much.
Luckily the pool was close by and always available. Staff are extremely friendly in a heartfelt, genuine way and this was much appreciated. By the end of 3 nights, it felt like we were leaving family, and I must say I had never experienced this before at any lodge. Another bonus is the total quiet, serenity, and sense of privacy. We really enjoyed this aspect!! With only a total of 12 guests possible, this is a definite bonus of this lodge. This privacy also follows into the game drives. Morne and Ceril (? spelling) were amazing and what I enjoyed most about Morne was not only his 19 year wealth of experiential knowledge but also his passionate love and respect for nature. We were able to spend good quality time with the animals we were blessed to encounter which for us, was a beautiful male leopard "Question Mark" and the herd of African dogs with hyenas. We even saw all of the big 5 but also amazing birds which I enjoyed, as well as the plants, flowers, and vegetation. This was my first time being able to really be given the time on a game drive to "sit" and observe animal behavior, which I greatly enjoy. Nothing ever felt rushed. The experience was priceless, unforgettable, and will be in my memory forever. If you're reading this as a new safari explorer, this is of utmost importance as many lodges have multiple jeeps and people. This is another bonus of this private lodge. Now, moving on to talk about the food, let's just say my stomach anxiously anticipated each meal, including lunch, which I normally do not eat. The food is superb with quality ingredients cooked with care and love in the recipe. I agree with another post that the scale moved up after leaving. I also must give a shout out to Melissa, the manager. She pays great attention to detail in making your stay perfect while enveloping the lodge in a sense of caring kindness combined with efficiency. For this we are most grateful. Make your booking now because once this gem becomes known, it will fill up quickly!

I picked the place based on its rating and didn't know what to expect.
I knew i made the right choice the moment i was picked up at Hoedspruit Airport by "Morne", the property manager and then was greeted by the owner "Stefan".
Our stay was nothing short of amazing, from the rooms, service, and surrounding area.
They made us feel like we were guests at their home
Definitely going there again

This was one of the best stays of our lives. We felt like at home since our arrival when Stefan, the owner, picked us up at the airport and drove us through the park on the way to the lodge. We were welcomed by the Makumu staff who took care of every single detail to make our stay so amazing until our departure. We’ll definitely go back as soon as we can.

Liebe Makumu Team

Wir verlebten zwei herrliche Tafe mitten in Afrikanischeu Busch. Die Lodge engebettet in die Natur, bis ins kleinste Derail konzeguent Afrikanisch und sehr Liebevoll auf hochsten Niveau ausgestattet - EINMELIG UND UNVERGESSEN.

DasTeam hat uns jedeu Wunsch von den Aufen abgelesen und uns umsorgt.

Jede Buschtour war ein besonderes Erlebnis und wurde von den Ranger hervorrageud betreut.

Danke.

We simply loved the 2 nights we stayed here!

For sure we'll never forget such awesome people and special moments lived!

Thanks for the endless memories and hopefully we'll be coming back soon!

"Já estamos com saudodes"

To Stefan and Karin, Morne and Melissa, RIchard, Grace, Nellys and all the other wonderful staff here - thank you from the bottom of my heart for the incredible experience!!! I'll treasure the memories for the rest of my life!

That was a very unique marvelous homey experience.

Thank you Morné, Melissa, Karin and Stefan.

Thanks to all the helpful, pleasant people here.

Our time at Makumu was wonderful and full of adventure.

The guides are fantastic, the staff are the friendliest, the food is amazing and the owners are incredibly welcoming.

We hope that this lodge lives on for many generations to come. Hopefully we can come back one day for a longer stay and maybe spot the elusive lions and leopards.

Big thanks to: Matt (our favourite guide, full of knowledge and passion for the bush), Morris (the best tracker of SA), France and Melissa (who provided the best receptions and great company), Morné (the best stories and awesome friendliness), Stefan and Karin (fun drives and great passion for Africa) and all the staff (friendly, genuine and hard-working).

Nothing short of amazing, the location, staff, room, facilities, it was the most welcoming place I've stayed at.

Our experience at Makumu was fantastic! Sophistication, quality and care with details are present in everything. On the other hand, there is a very pleasant atmosphere of informality, in so many trips that we have already made, it was the first time that the concept of "feeling at home" was actually experienced by us. As there are not many rooms, the integration between guests occurs naturally, we meet great people. The hotel is all-inclusive and generous in relation to drinks. The safaris were note 10. Both ranger and tracker showed great experience, we learned a lot! We saw man animals, very often. And it is a delightful experience to be able to see giraffes, zebras and elephants from the hotel's balcony. I recommend at least 3 nights, each safari brings a new discovery, a new learning. The park borders the Kruger and has no fence, the ambiance is authentic. If you are lucky enough to meet the hosts Karin and Stefan, even better. We miss. There is only one small discomfort but it has no relevance: there is no electric light in the rooms, only the plugs to charge the electronics. In the evenings the room is illuminated by candles, as well as various environments of the hotel. This is precisely for a more organic integration of the environment. Better that way.

Words or pictures cannot express the real experience of staying at Makumu. The staff made all efforts to make us feel at home! Great food from Nellys and Grace's kitchen, each day a different course (loved the Impala, amazing) - and I even cooked a Brazilian special sweet myself (so special). We basically had the intire lounge to ourselves and couldn't have felt more spoiled. The game drives were amazing and even though we didn't get to see all the big five, the tracker (Morris) and the rangers (Alan and Morne) made sure we had an unforgettable experience. Rooms are beautifully decorated and super comfortable, with big windows from which you can see the savanna and be welcomed by Impalas (or if you're lucky, an even wilder animal). And the fact that there is no electricity AT ALL makes it even more special at night (don't worry, their WiFi works just fine). Melissa, the manager is the sweetest - always thoughtful and making sure we were getting the best treatment (even when we were least unexpecting). Last but not least, the owners Karin and Stefan are so open, friendly and nice that you'll never feel like leaving. This was definitely an experience remember and hopefully to repeat.

Beyond 5 star. Exceptionally well appointed suites with thoughtful, tasteful and high quality finishing touches throughout. Gracious and friendly assistance all the time. All our meals were a joy, fine dining in a family friendly atmosphere of sharing and fellowship.
Of course, the game viewing was special, especially from the deck, the hammock, the pool and our bed. A brief but completely energizing interlude, food for the soul.

After having stayed in 5 different lodges in different countries , Makumu is definetely on top of the list .
The game drives in the evening are absolutely fascinating , coming across a group of elephants or rhinos under the stars is an amazing experience .
The hosts Stephan and Karin ready know how to give you a treat , the food , the staff , the comfortable beds and the fine drinks are just part of s memorable week at their lodge .
They sure know how to do it .
Thanks to the fabulous staff with smiles and beautiful voices .
We will be back to see the lion ..
Well done

One week in Makumu was the highlight of our vacation in SA. Everything was outstanding: the food, the room, the staff, the sightings...

I highly recommend this lodge to everyone who wants to have an authentic safari experience without having lots of other tourists around.

Thanks again Matt and France and the Family Breuer and everyone who made it so special for us. We hope to see you soon!

Staying at Makumu was the best part of our vacation.
It’s a beautiful and clean lodge that offers astonishing views and the chance to experience the bush away from regular tourism. Animals come very close and the game drives are individual and always an adventure.
The lodge is located in a peaceful area and the atmosphere is very special. We have never felt so relaxed after such a short time. The staff is professional and simply amazing and the food was more than delicious. It deserves more than 5 stars. Sarah and Allan were wonderful and perfect hosts - we already miss them and their positive energy. For us, it was the best experience. We will come back!

I’ll never forget this incredible time with you. We enjoyed it so much, especially the game drives. Your knowledge and skills were a true blessing and especially reassuring while facing down a herd of angry elephants. It was such an unbelievable experience for us and we are very sad, to leave. I never ate such good food in my life.