Makalali Game Reserve Holiday Rentals

"Beautiful hotel with stunning rooms and real sense of luxury. The pool and grounds are so tranquil and calm and everything is immaculate The staff are attentive and professional and the setting is beautiful with giraffe and zebra roaming around - so lovely. The restaurant is gorgeous. The only tiny bit of feedback is that the restaurant staff got things a bit confused for us and forgot some of the food and got the courses mixed up so the children got their main courses while the adults were served the starter so then had to wait ages for their pudding while we had the rest of the meal, and the side orders of vegetables never materialised but overall we had a wonderful stay "

"Our stay at Milima Big 5 Safari Lodge was very enjoyable overall, with great highlights and a few points for improvement. Sydney is an excellent game driver, very attentive and dedicated, always committed to finding the Big 5. His knowledge of the region is impressive, and thanks to him we had already seen all of the Big 5 by our second game drive, which was incredible. The food was excellent, the staff were friendly and attentive, and the lodge is very comfortable, creating a relaxing atmosphere. However, there were some issues. Upon arrival, the bathroom trash had not been emptied and still contained waste from previous guests. The bathroom door in Tent 1 does not close properly, affecting privacy. We also experienced noise from staff conversations near the tent. We booked a transfer to Hoedspruit Airport but were not informed that the only available time was 10:30 AM. Our flight was at 3:20 PM, so we waited about four hours at the airport, which has limited infrastructure. When we asked to cancel, the lodge refused to refund, which felt inflexible given the price level. Lastly, the air conditioning in Tent 1 was inconsistent and sometimes left the tent very hot. Overall, a great safari experience, especially thanks to Sydney, but with some operational improvements needed."

"The entire property was spotless. The hosts were always available for assistance when needed and treated each guest with a smile and courtesy. The breakfast was generous with yogurt, museli, fruit, eggs, bacon, and cucumber/tomato garnish. Of course coffee, tea, and juice were offered as well. The pool and pool bar were not ready for use. Of course the summer season had ended. I did not ask why, so if that is important to you, I recommend you ask ahead of time. The pool was clean except for some fallen leaves. The location was secure inside the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate. It was very quiet at night except for the occasional animal sounds. There was easy and convenient access to Hoedspruit shops and restaurants. For the great service, cleanliness, and security... I recommend this stay."

"Very friendly staff. Very spacious room with nice view and selection of food. Hotel and pool are in good condition. "

"Communication between Gem in the Bush and us before arrival was good and clear, providing detailed entry and check-in instructions to enter the estate. Room was clean and in good condition but very basic. Staff were polite and courteous. The reception area, dining room and kitchen are all in one room as you enter so it is not pleasant to be checking in whilst other occupants are dining. The walkway from the parking to the front entry is not lit up at night so a torch is necessary. Maybe some garden lights along the pathway could help."

"A very warm welcome from the team.The tent was cosy, as was the bed on the cold nights. Great to hear the local animals during the night, with wonderful day visits from the ellies."

"Lovely accommodation plenty of room all around excellent "

"The rooms are lovely and a decent size, however Khiwane is set up and feels more like an apartment block than a hotel. The cupboard is very small and is only made for one person, the hanging rod is very low and you can’t hang dresses properly. Although it says they offer breakfast at their restaurant and on doing online check-in you’re asked to choose time for dinner, Khiwane does not have a restaurant. They work with another restaurant, Arugula in the area where you walk to for breakfast. Minimum wait for breakfast is about 40 minutes so don’t go if you’re in a hurry to get elsewhere. You will have to find another restaurant in the area for dinner as if Arugula is open their kitchen closes at 19:30 and it’s not really set up for dinner, in any case. Also, Khiwane is in a built up area with lots of other businesses around, the pictures and statements of mountain views makes you think that you are in a place with a lot of property around it away from the city but in fact you are right off main road with the sounds of traffic coming clearly into the room. Our room also had an issue with the sliding door to the garden as it wouldn’t open so trying to get some fresh air into the room proved difficult, we had to open the door that leads outside but then could hear everyone walking past and dragging their suitcases in the corridor. Lastly, there was a constant pong in the bathroom, I think there is something wrong with the drainage system."