Located right in the centre of Welgevonden’s big five territory with sweeping views over the Makweti Gorge and a nearby water source, Makweti Safari Lodge offers a wonderful safari experience within 3 hours of Johannesburg.

Makweti Safari Lodge has always been one of the smaller camps in the “big five” Welgevonden Game Reserve, proving that size is not a defining factor in the creation of unforgettable experiences. To be perfectly frank, it’s a prime advantage, offering guests the opportunity to find solitude, peace and the personal space to connect with nature, while viewing the exquisite, bustling wildlife in an untainted setting.

Makweti’s Indaba Lounge is a perfectly positioned vantage point to take it all in, with views that extend across a natural flood plain and waterhole. A highlight of Makweti, this water source attracts animals of all sizes and stature as they casually traverse through the unfenced camp. The energy reaches an all-time high when local elephant herds decide to satiate their thirst with water from the guest pools, a spontaneous and breath-taking event.

Five air-conditioned suites, built from African stone and thatch, are dotted around the main lodge, accessible by winding pathways through the natural bushveld. Each one accommodates two people and has an expansive, private deck facing one of Welgevonden’s glorious scenes, with four of the five suites being complete with a private plunge pool.

All suites tend to the human need for comfort, with a healthy dose of luxury and indulgence. Melt into the king size beds (which can be exchanged for two twins), invigorate the senses with an outdoor (or indoor) shower, or warm up after a drive with a decadent soak in the Victorian bath tub as the chill rises off the land. Enjoy the crackle of an open fireplace in your suite, as you sip on treats from the minibar. Suites are further equipped with his and hers amenities, a hair dryer, air conditioners and an overhead fan.

Twice daily game drives are conducted in the Malaria-free Welgevonden game reserve in open vehicles by qualified guides. The reserve is a natural home for Africa’s “Big Five” – elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, lion and leopard. Makweti has no fences, so the Big Five, zebra, wildebeest, and a host of other iconic species wander freely through the Lodge’s surrounds. Often, these wild “owners of the terrain” come for refreshment to the stream-fed waterhole just 80 yards from the open lounge and viewing deck.

Beyond the waterhole, Makweti’s luxury suites and dining room command panoramic views across a gorge-defined valley, toward infinite blue hills beyond. These views, and many other enchanting vistas, extend across one of Southern Africa’s largest private game reserves – a wilderness expanse of some 40,000 hectares. For Makweti’s guests, the reserve stands open in its entirety to wonder-filled exploration.