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Makweti Safari Lodge - Welgevonden Game Reserve - Limpopo

Makweti Safari Lodge is the authentic African classic when it comes to wildlife experiences in Welgevonden Game Reserve, with a history dating back more than 25 years. 

Makweti prides itself on offering the luxury of intimacy and congeniality at it’s best, in a breath-taking wilderness for only 10 special guests.

The opportunity to be in such close proximity with South Africa’s flora and fauna is an absolute honour; one that cannot be aptly understood without having experienced it first-hand. Being one of the very few unfenced camps in South Africa, Makweti has merged to become a part of the surrounding environment, allowing wildlife to continue with their natural migratory patterns in, through and around the camp.

Makweti Safari Lodge - Image Gallery

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Makweti Safari Lodge – Welgevonden Game Reserve

Makweti Safari Lodge is the authentic African classic when it comes to wildlife experiences in the malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve, with a history dating back over 25 years.  The guides at Makweti are mature, professional individuals, each one chosen for their passion and deep respect for the environment. Only six guests can be assigned to a single guide. Makweti believes in maintaining high standards, and serves delectable, beautifully-presented, world-class cuisine, paired with fine wines from an exceptional collection. All is catered for by the dedicated team at Makweti, providing personal and discreet service to guests.
Makweti Safari Lodge’s luxury is the intimacy of having only ten guests at the lodge at one time. 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 views from 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.
Makweti has two game vehicles and three dedicated, skilful guides for our ten guests. The diversity of wildlife in the reserve is simply beyond belief, especially to guests who are enjoying their first (but definitely not last) safari trip. It’s also best explored through the eyes of our professional guides whose wisdom extends beyond anything learnt in a book. Savour their stories of the wildlife and ecology, infused with African folk-wisdom and personal anecdotes. Walking safaris can be arranged by prior request, tailored to your unique preferences or interests, or you can sit back and relax in our open game vehicles, taking in the details and simply being in the moment. Makweti Safari Lodge is nestled within Welgevonden Game Reserve, a malaria-free wilderness of over 40,000-hectares. The reserve is ranked among one of the largest in the country, and certainly one of the most pristine. Welgevonden is a part of the UNESCO-declared Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, which is characterised by high-plateau geology, magnificent cloudscapes, crystalline streams and an immense diversity of wild species. The fact that guests are not permitted to drive their own vehicles within the reserve adds to the exclusive nature of the Makweti experience. It also offers the expert guides the opportunity to shine, while guiding guests through a variety of interesting and unforgettable routes. If you are searching for the genuine African experience, allow yourself to be swept away on the adventure of a lifetime with Makweti Safari Lodge.
Children over 12 are welcome, whereupon full rate will be charged

Makweti Safari Lodge - Video

Welgevonden - Wildlife Gallery

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Includes

Luxury accommodation, all meals & 2 safaris daily

Enquiry Form - Makweti Safari Lodge









    Sabi Sands Lodges Reservations Reviews

    “Felt like home, but better”  
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    We absolutely loved this resort. The staff is so warm and welcoming, the rooms and public areas are beautifully and

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    United Kingdom   
    “Felt like home, but better”  
    Stacy C via tripadvisor    United Kingdom   
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    We absolutely loved this resort. The staff is so warm and welcoming, the rooms and public areas are beautifully and comfortably decorated, the food was delicious (I'm a San Francisco foodie pescetarian and absolutely loved the food/presentation), and the game drives were unforgettable. Don't miss the bush walk--we walked through a field of butterflies, saw all kinds of animal tracks, and enjoyed a different view of the landscape we'd been driving through all week. I would also highly recommend visiting the Thornybush Community Project gardens with Gavin, where some of the beautiful food served in Sabi Sand resorts is grown by local women as part of a community collective. We also visited a school, which had an incredible impact on us. I loved Simbambili--a little piece of my heart is still there

    “Perfect place for safari”  
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    This was a perfect place for a safari. We stayed in one of the two suites, and this was perfect.

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    Lillehammer, Norway   
    “Perfect place for safari”  
    EvMe via tripadvisor    Lillehammer, Norway   
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    This was a perfect place for a safari. We stayed in one of the two suites, and this was perfect. The game drives were so exiting. Of 8 game drives we saw leopards at 7 of them.
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    MalaMala is the best  
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    We had a great overall experience at Mala Mala. We saw abundant animals and several exciting interactions between them. Our

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    San Diego, California   
    MalaMala is the best  
    Shannon S    San Diego, California   
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    We had a great overall experience at Mala Mala. We saw abundant animals and several exciting interactions between them. Our guide was knowledgeable and nice (the others in our group had a guide who had had incredible intuition for finding animals and we benefited from it). The rooms are nice, beautiful and comfortable. The food was good/okay... We were there for three nights and it seemed like there were a lot of repeats between the meals. The staff were all friendly and the customer service was great!

    “Couldn't have been better!”  
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    My daughter and I spent 3 nights at Notten's in April 2017 and we loved everything about it! We loved

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    Hobart, Australia   
    “Couldn't have been better!”  
    Mrs V via tripadvisor    Hobart, Australia   
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    My daughter and I spent 3 nights at Notten's in April 2017 and we loved everything about it! We loved the fact that we were teamed up with the same driver/tracker/four other guests in the same car over the course of all the days - we had such fun together and really got involved in trying to spot the animals. And we were rewarded with multiple leopard sightings and the other big 5, as well as all the other beautiful animals - zebra, giraffes, kudu, impala etc - and many birds. The rooms - including outdoor shower, dining area, food, pool, gift shop, massage, the lovely candle light (and lack of electric lighting) and special sundowner by the river were all fabulous. We felt so relaxed and welcomed. The staff were professional and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble. They went the extra mile to engage with my 9 year old daughter. This place suited us perfectly. It was top class without being pretentious. Worth every penny - and actually better value than some other lodges. Recommended without hesitation. We hope to return one day. Thank you to all - Dale, Suzie, Gift, Desmond, Tulani, Riddent, Joe and everyone else (sorry if names are miss-spelt).

    Stayed April 2017, travelled with family

    “A memory for a lifetime”  
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    I can´t stop thinking about my visit at Arathusa. Just want to go back. It was so amazing in every

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    Stockholm - Sweeden   
    “A memory for a lifetime”  
    Twirly72 via tripadvisor    Stockholm - Sweeden   
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    I can´t stop thinking about my visit at Arathusa. Just want to go back. It was so amazing in every way. The lodgin itself was so nice and luxury, the food excellent and you really had everything you could possible need.

    "OY!" Watch That Charging Rhino!  
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    Fabulous three days at Idube Game Reserve. Lovely people. amazing food. So many highlights. But one stood out. When we

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    "OY!" Watch That Charging Rhino!  
    Charles520    Boston, Massachusetts   
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    Windermere, United Kingdom   
    “Look no further”  
    angiep389 via tripadvisor    Windermere, United Kingdom   
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    If you are planning a trip to S.A. And want to spend time in the bush, then Sabi Sands is a must. We have been travelling to to South Africa every year for the past 12 years and stayed at many game reserves including the Krugar many times. This year we saved up hard and achieved our dream, to stay in Sabi Sands. All that I can say it's Well Worth every penny, the reserve is just something else! It's the best and it's a must, forget the rest push the the boat out and and stay at in Sabi Sands.. We chose Elephant Plains due to our budget. It was wonderful food fantastic, staff brilliant, service first class.
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    Loved Nkorho!  
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    Loved our time at Nkorho. Our guide, Matt, and tracker, David, were extremely professional and knowledgeable. The safari rides were

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    Loved Nkorho!  
    bgrove    Atlanta, Georgia   
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    Loved our time at Nkorho. Our guide, Matt, and tracker, David, were extremely professional and knowledgeable. The safari rides were incredible and we certainly saw everything we came to see. The entire staff works hard to ensure a great experience for their guests. Our suite was great, very clean and comfortable . The swing was cozy on the front deck! Enjoyed our meals and evenings in the bar. Thanks to all for a great time!

    “You will not be disappointed...its amazing”  
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    It's hard to put into words what a wonderful place this is , even before you arrive the staff are


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    London, United Kingdom   
    “You will not be disappointed...its amazing”  
    stuBamville via tripadvisor    London, United Kingdom   
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    It's hard to put into words what a wonderful place this is , even before you arrive the staff are extremely helpful with information and when you arrive they make you feel part of the lodge community not just a guest (truly welcoming).

    The staff are genuinely interested in your adventure and happiness joining in stories and experiences of each game drive .Be prepared for the early starts 5.30 am game drive however believe me this is the best time of the day to see the animals and is a magical time to see the bush. The lodge and rooms are to a very high standard with all rooms having great views and the best bit being no fences !!!! YOU REALLY ARE IN THE BUSH 🙂 .
    This is without doubt a luxury Safari

    Awesome experience  
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    This was a great experience overall. The resort was nice and homely. Our ranger Kelsey and tracker Bennett were very

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    Omaha, Nebraska   
    Awesome experience  
    latif8109    Omaha, Nebraska   
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    This was a great experience overall. The resort was nice and homely. Our ranger Kelsey and tracker Bennett were very knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions that we had. The game drives were exciting and the search for the leopard was one of the highlights of the trip. The rooms were spacious, and the food was almost unending. The only downside, and understandably so, was the inability to move from one room to another, after dark. While our sons were older and able to stay on their own, families with slightly younger children may have to stay in one chalet. Strongly recommend it!!

    “Breathtaking scenery, service and amazing experience.”  
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    I don't usually write reviews however, I travelled to Lion Sands with my girlfriend in March 2017, it was her

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    London, UK   
    “Breathtaking scenery, service and amazing experience.”  
    Raymondo84 via tripadvisor    London, UK   
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    I don't usually write reviews however, I travelled to Lion Sands with my girlfriend in March 2017, it was her birthday and I was planning to propose. From the moment the booking was made until the last minute we left the location the service was impecable.

    “Absolutely fantastic”  
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    Everything wonderful, just come back from part of Titan Tour. We saw the big five and so much more. Couldn't

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    Hampshire,UK   
    “Absolutely fantastic”  
    DillonHampshire_UK via tripadvisor    Hampshire,UK   
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    Everything wonderful, just come back from part of Titan Tour. We saw the big five and so much more. Couldn't fault it and would love to go back. You have to be there to believe how good it is, and how close you get to what is after all wild animals. I could have almost touched one of the lions we saw!!

    “Good to be back!”  
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    A wonderful visit that was nothing short of perfect. Amazing game sightings, the best I've had (and it is always

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    London, United Kingdom   
    “Good to be back!”  
    Meohmy68 via tripadvisor    London, United Kingdom   
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    A wonderful visit that was nothing short of perfect. Amazing game sightings, the best I've had (and it is always good), our Ranger and Tracker were great fun and very knowledgable, the staff were on the ball and the atmosphere and mood relaxed and attentive. My 6th visit, and great that Ulusaba is back to its best, thank you!

    “A continuation of the dream”  
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    After spending 2 nights at the Dulini River Lodge we spent 2 nights at the Dulini Lodge. Even though both

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    Maennedorf, Switzerland   
    “A continuation of the dream”  
    bscyb via tripadvisor    Maennedorf, Switzerland   
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    After spending 2 nights at the Dulini River Lodge we spent 2 nights at the Dulini Lodge. Even though both Lodges are in the same Reserve and very close they offer a different athmosphere. The Dulini Lodge gives you a stronger "Africa feeling" in terms of decoration and setup in my view.

    The bungalows are very spacious and well equipped.The welcome is kind and warm and the staff is amazing. They provided me with a special birthday dinner which made the stay even more memorable.

    The game drives with the Ranger Fred and our tracker May where an experience. We saw a lot and as haveing been on Safari before we received so much more indepth information since we did not have to worry about seeing all the big 5 (which we saw anyway).

    Will try to be back whenever possible

    “Leopards, lions, many elephants and much more!”  
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    I cannot express how great my experience was at Idube, I have a lifetime of memories from the 4 nights

    ...more
    Melbourne, Australia   
    “Leopards, lions, many elephants and much more!”  
    Brett S via tripadvisor    Melbourne, Australia   
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    I cannot express how great my experience was at Idube, I have a lifetime of memories from the 4 nights we stayed there. Highly recommended.

    “Absolutely the best experience.”  
    Author Picture

    Highly recommended. Amazing in many ways. Great safari experience. Unsurpassed food. Kind staff. Two safaris a day for three days.

    ...more
    New Jersey, USA   
    “Absolutely the best experience.”  
    podrozniczka60 via tripadvisor    New Jersey, USA   
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    Highly recommended. Amazing in many ways. Great safari experience. Unsurpassed food. Kind staff. Two safaris a day for three days. One extra walking safari midday. Excellent game viewing. Night time star gazing by the fire. Trip to the village. Great amenities. Boma, Observation points. Nice little library. The staff will walk you to your cabin at night. Our first time here was 2006 but this is the place to come for the best safari lodge experience.
    This is the place to come back to.

    “Fantastic Bush Experience”  
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    Our family just spend 3 days in the Cottage.
    The safaris were outstanding led by our intelligent and passionate guide


    ...more
    Johannesburg, South Africa   
    “Fantastic Bush Experience”  
    Czerno via tripadvisor    Johannesburg, South Africa   
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    Our family just spend 3 days in the Cottage.
    The safaris were outstanding led by our intelligent and passionate guide Michael. We saw so much and learnt so much in the "Land That Time Forgot". Leopard with Waterbuck kill, wild dogs, Lion and Elephant swimming and wrestling in a dam and so much more!!
    The camp manager Gary was so welcoming and friendly. His enthusiasm for the bush is infectious. Thanks for a wonderful time in a special place.
    Also thanks for arranging a truly unique bat sighting!!!!
    Stayed May 2017, travelled with family

    “Incredible experience at Sabi Sabi”  
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    We just came back from our first ever safari trip. We went not knowing what to expect. After our first

    ...more
    New York City, New York   
    “Incredible experience at Sabi Sabi”  
    Zack T    New York City, New York   
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    We just came back from our first ever safari trip. We went not knowing what to expect. After our first game drive, we got to know why Sabi Sands Lodges are the best when it comes to big five game viewing. We managed to view all of the big five on one day.

    The accommodation was perfect and the staff were exceptionally friendly. We are hooked, we will certainly visit Sabi Sabi again, very soon.