A once in a lifetime experience. Hard to find words for describing the beauty and magic of this place. Most beautiful lodge, amazing food, incredible game drives. Ruan taught us so much about all the beautiful animals we spotted and tracked. The hospitality is next level. The whole team does an amazing job in making your stay a very special one and in making you not want to leave ever again. One day, we will def come back!

All other lodges will look bad after visiting this one.

there is nothing not to like about Makumu. I cannot even put to words how amazing the resort was, as well as the quality of the staff. Kitchen, housekeeping, rangers, spotters, everyone was beyond accomodating and kind. there are 1000 places to stay to do a safari in the Kruger area and we feel SO lucky we found Makumu. It is luxury and quality and you will get an authentic safari experience. we left feeling so sad, as the staff started to feel like family. Truly look no further for a place to stay for incredible views, perfect hospitality, and an authentic safari experience. we will be back!!

literally nothing

This place is truly special. It feels like a family home, a luxurious one in the middle of the African bush. The interior is truly African and very tasteful. Everything is spotlessly clean. The food is very good. The service excellent. The safari tours (happening twice a day) are well organised and professional. The ranger can literally answer any questions you might have about flora and fauna. Their expertise makes you feel very safe, and the vehicles are in top shape. All in all it could not have been any better. Recommend a stay of at least 4 nights.

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Where to begin! This was the most incredible stay we’ve ever experienced. We were lucky to stay here on our honeymoon and Makumu exceeded expectations on every level. The lodge itself is stunning - pictures don’t do it justice. We could see elephants, giraffes, and so many more wildlife from our room. The candles at night were such a magical and unique experience. The staff is phenomenal. When we were researching lodges, we were looking for reviews that mentioned the staff because you spend so much time on game drives and like so many reviews mention, the safari guides, trackers, and all staff were incredible!! We saw so much every drive and came back to an amazing meal and luxurious accommodations to rest. My husband had been on safari before in Kruger and said this experience didn’t even compare to the first. If you’re like us and are torn between several lodges - look no further. Hope you enjoy as much as we did!

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.

There wasn't anything we didn't like. It was literally perfect.

Our stay at Makumu was incredible! My family and I spent 4 nights / 5 days at the lodge, and we all had an incredible time thanks to the Makumu team. They handled everything to make our vacation fun and relaxing. We can't thank Cherie, Shelley, Ruan, and AD enough for making our stay so enjoyable! Facilities The whole lodge is beautiful. The rooms were spacious, clean, and functional with incredible views. I was in the Zulu king suite, and just from our room we were able to see giraffes, elephants, baboons, water buck, and impalas. The main lodge communal areas were also well taken care of and beautifully decorated. It is very apparent the Makumu team puts a lot of thought and care into making the place feel comfortable for their guests. This is one of the few places I've stayed where the pictures on the website are accurate and are exactly what you get when you arrive. Activities The twice a day game drives were of course the highlights and exceeded our expectations. Seeing so many animals was exciting (big 5 and then some!) but the absolute treat and bonus was our ranger, Ruan, who taught us SO much on each drive. My whole family was amazed with his keen eye to spot wildlife (he spotted a baby chameleon in the dark while driving!!) and the breadth of knowledge he shared with us. Food All the meals were delicious, and the team was accommodating to my dietary restrictions (no meat). We were given breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack breaks during each game drive, and a snack before the evening game drive. I foolishly had brought snacks thinking I might need them, but I never touched them.

Exceptional staff and service, excellent rooms, wonderful game drives with great wildlife sightings; all around just fabulous! I also have a few specific food allergies which they accommodated without a fuss and they were able to provide very tasty food without making me feel like I was missing out on the menu everyone else was being served. Loved the outdoor fire (Boma) and appreciated the air con (heating) in the villa on the cold winter mornings just to take the chill out of the air when you get out of bed before the sun is up. Transfer to and from the airport was seamless and easy, and the game vehicles were very comfortable. Drinks and snacks were provided on every game drive.

Just a minor thing but the curio shop didn't have much on offer; I just wanted a nice little memento from my trip.

The location is a dream! The lodge is absolutely high end and the view is stunning! Watching animals from the moment you wake up in the morning until it gets dark - an absolte dream! Also, the Team is amazing and makes everyone feel more than welcome. Even though we unfortunatly got sick and couldn't enjoy the food and drinks as much as we would have wanted, it was still an outstanding stay which we 100% reccomend!

nothing we didn't like

Exceptional property managed by. 3 capable, knowledgeable, experienced and professional couples. We saw every animal we wanted to see. The meals were delicious and plentiful. Top shelf staff in every way.

The property is lit at night exclusively by candles. While we understand the esthetics of this, it is impractical. It is hard to do somethings in the dark much less while holding a bright Qbeam with the other hand. This alone may prevent us from returning.

Rooms were large. Shower great. The main lodge was big perched high providing a great view of the reserve. Nice indoor and outdoor dining facilities. Access to all beer, wine, alcohol and coffee. Great staff. Very personalized and very knowledgeable ranger.

All good. The critical element for most guests is the quantity and types of animals seen. This is my first safari so I am unable to assess that issue on a relative basis against other lodges. in addition, one cannot predict what one will see as it is dependent on numerous factors. Having said that we saw all the so called Big 5 and much more including a leopard. The sighting exceeded my expectations.