On my last trip to South Africa, i got to experience a stay at Makalali Private Game Lodge.
We flew from Durban into Nelspruit and picked up a Nissan 4WD and headed towards Makalali.
We flew from Durban into Nelspruit and picked up a Nissan 4WD and headed towards Makalali.
The drive from Nelspruit north is quite interesting. After half an hour or so of clearly farmed eucalypts, the road cuts its way through a valley into areas that start to look like there might be wild animals !! Up until this point we could have been anywhere !!
Along the way, God's Window, is worth a look. Supposedly the highest spot (?) in South Africa, several viewing platforms along the ridge top allow great views over the vast gorge below.The normal array of tourist wares are on display in the car park - and interestingly, in the lead up to the world cup we are told, entry fees had been introduced. 20 Rand please.
After descending from the altitude of Gods window, the landscape starts to open up and dry out. Dirt roads and vast fenced reserves start to appear. The GPS starts to drop in and out !!
Nelspruit to Makalali takes about two and half to three hours - depending how you drive. A 4WD is very handy for the last 30 or so kilometres, to make the trip more enjoyable if not for the wear the road would have on a sedan.
We arrive at the gates, complete the standard gate check in - our names are on the list - yay !!
Its a slow 20 minute drive through the game park as we follow the signs that say "Check in". Along the way we encountered zebra and giraffe, as well as some warthog.
Check in is a standalone building with a gift shop. currently packed to the brim with stuffed animals and wooden carvings. The world cup will see Makalali full the entire time and gift sho sales are good business !!
Home the over a thousand wild animals including Africa's big five, I was really looking forward to seeing Makalali for the first time. Makalali is located close to the mighty Drakensberg mountain range, west of the Kruger National Park.
An enormous conservancy of over 26,000 hectares, Makalali is operated in 4 different camps of 6 suites with all meals included and morning and night game drives daily.
Our enormous suites with sala’s (??) were really cool. Fire places for the winter. Huge balconies to relax and read. Heaps of room and great air conditioning for hot nights in summer.
NOTE | I'm sure i locked the outdoor shower door, absolutely positive. Needless to say it is not a good thing to do and i should have known better. Monkeys love bread, chocolate and avocadoes and i don’t think i was gone 5 minutes before they were into my stuff. I apologised profusely to the staff, and in what became regular fashion they respond with truly warm hearted smiles if not a real chuckle at my stupidity. The manager burst out laughing and no one else could contain themselves. Everyone started laughing. I had to smile, i was in Africa, and there are monkeys.
Our game drives were fantastic, excellent cold wine and beers were produced for sundowners and blankets and hot water bottles to fight of the chill of May in south Africa.
We had some fantastic elephant and lion sightings - most excitingly of all was our rare sighting of a pangolin.
You know what you are looking at is rare when Tom our super driver and guide doesn’t know what to say. A quick discussion with our tracker determines the best way to view animal that throughout our trip receives gasps of "oooh that’s rare, you’re very lucky"
we were lucky indeed but we didn’t know it at the time !!
Dinner in the Boma that evening is a communal affair, and we enjoy our meal with some travel agents from Italy, also in South Africa for Indaba. The menu is mushroom soup with beautifully fresh baked bread. The main course is choice of grilled beef fillet, or oven roasted chicken in tomatoes and onions. Dessert is sticky date pudding with fresh cream.
The wine list was excellent and the choice of drinks from the bar extensive. Local and imported beers are on offer - so basically everything you need.
Makalali offers a truly first class game experience. It is not expensive, and is not pretending to be something it is not. It is a truly excellent 4 to 4 1/2 star game reserve in South Africa.
The game viewings is top class - the vehicles new, the drivers and trackers friendly, informative, knowledgeable and open. All the staff are welcoming - making the whole experience one to remember. I can’t wait to go back - and I promise to lock my door this time !!
Check out my iPhone suite walkthrough | And some great pictures recently taken from Makalali Private Game Lodge
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