Name: Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge
Address: Krokodildrift Madikwe Game Reserve, Madikwe 2876, Madikwe, 2876, South Africa, Madikwe Game Reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve, 2876, South Africa
Rating: 10

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Sir Seretse Khama International Airport

Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge

Madikwe Game Reserve

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My recent trip to Makanyane was amazing! All the staff were very helpful and friendly and the food was incredible. Having the private land turned out to be a massive advantage as it meant we could sit in a sighting for as long as we wanted, as you don’t have to make space for other vehicles to come in. For example, we were able to sit with a pride of lions for over two hours as we watched the before, during and after of a warthog kill. This would have been impossible otherwise as usually you only stay for 5 or 10 minutes and then have to leave, but the private land gave us this unique opportunity.  There is a spectacular view of a river from the rooms where animals regularly come to drink throughout the day, meaning you feel immersed in the safari experience at all times, not just on game drives. It was a fantastic trip and I can’t wait to go back!

A fantastic safari experience

We went to Makanyane over Christmas 2022, and what a trip. By far the most extraordinary experience I have ever had. The views from the taxi on the way to the lodge were breathtaking, so I can’t even begin to describe the safari drives - we saw 4 out of the big 5 in the first 2 days, just unbelievable. I cannot recommend Makanyane enough, the lodge itself is stunning, the rangers pre-eminent and the staff uber-attentive. I felt at home even though we were in such a remote location, half way across the world. Thank you to Makanyane Safari Lodge for an unforgettable trip!

Thank you Makanyane!!

Friends had recommended Makanyane, but my first visit this last Christmas and New Year exceeded all expectations. The standard of accommodation, food and service was exceptional. 
Exclusive use meant that our itinerary could be tailored for our party and gave us the flexibility to pursue some remarkable wildlife encounters as they unfolded.
We had regular sitings of Big 5 and general game as well as some beautiful bird and plant species thanks to the spotting and tracking skills of our guides.
A truly memorable holiday with family and friends and I can’t wait to return!



Bespoke safari experience for family and friends 

I love Africa and I love safaris. This though is next level.
The animal sitings were incredible but what makes the place so special is the fact that there is no competition for sitings. Makanyane has its own exclusive land (albeit connected with Madikwe) so we were able to sit for hours with a pride of lions and then with a pack of dogs - no sharing of the sitings with other vehicles. Also a great cheetah siting as well as black rhino. Then the odd day when we’d cross the “drift” to Madikwe and see the general game, elephants and so on.

Then there’s the fact that the lodge itself is exclusive use. It means that between safaris our group could really chill out, swim, use the gym, chat and play games. We felt so relaxed. It also meant we could determine what we did and when. Night drives if we wanted to, a walking safari one morning, eating when we wanted to and so on.

Food was amazing. Staff incredibly friendly and guides very knowledgeable and engaging.

We will definitely be going back.

Beyond extraordinary safari

As with others, the owner of this lodge has cancelled our honeymoon with little notice and a poor explanation of "wanting to keep the lodge for family and friends" - how the other half live! We saved for the trip of a lifetime and are gutted that the owner doesn't have the decency to uphold bookings. We now have the stress of trying to find somewhere else in what should be a happy time looking forward to our wedding & honeymoon.

Cancelled Honeymoon!

With 3 months to go till our once in a lifetime trip to this sanctuary. The owner has decided to close his hotel and turn it into a home. He has ruined our dream honeymoon and I would like to tell him he has ruined it. Why wouldn’t you just complete your current bookings and then proceed with adjustments after? You’ve really let your customers down. I hope you read this.

The owner cancelled our honeymoon!

My husband and I visited here in March 2018, and haven't been able to get over it since. 

The lodge is on the Madikwe game reserve and consists of 8 private lodges which were bigger than the entire downstairs of my home. The rear of the lodge is glass and the bed faces this. There is also a large bathroom and even an outdoor shower if you wanted to feel at one with the surroundings. The lodge overlooks a private stream and we were lucky enough to watch giraffes, zebras and elephants to name a few come and drink from there. We even had a hippo come and pay us a visit during the evening. 

The main building has an infinity swimming pool which overlooks the reserve, seated areas located all over including endless amount of books for reading, a shop for purchase items you may wish to take home to remember your trip. We purchased fleece jackets, coffee mugs and hats to name a few items. The property offers all inclusive which is great too!

We were made to feel like family by the staff who would tend to our every need. Whether that be to ensure our favourite drinks were taken out on game drives and our favourite foods were ready for us for dinner. We were given private massages on the deck of our lodge and had personal guides to ensure our safety walking to and from our lodges to the main area. 

The game drives were incredible and consisted of two every day, you can even to a walk by foot (we did this and got to see hippos bathing in a river) where we would be able to witness beautiful sunrises and sunsets alongside viewing the beautiful animals out in the wild. We were lucky to enough to see the big five, watch wild dogs on a hunt and even see the rare black rhino. Our guide, Kaiser was amazing and so knowledgeable. He made every drive special providing us with breakfast and sundowners as well as teaching us about the beautiful animals we were able to see. 

The evenings were also special, we had a three course meal every night which consisted of specialty South African dishes as well as entertainment from the staff whereby they would sing African songs to us. They were all so lovely! 

We were even booked in to sleep under the stars in their treehouse, however, we were unable to do this due to a storm but my in laws visits last year and had this experience and they told us there aren't enough words to express how incredible this was. 

We loved this place so much that we are booked to return in 2021 with our in laws and to say I cried with pure joy when this was done says it all really. 

Could not recommend this place anymore. 

I decided to keep this review short and sweet as I could talk about this place for a week straight and still have more to say. My icon was from this trip. 

If you are thinking about visiting here, do it!

AMAZING! RETURNING 2021

We went to Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge for our honeymoon in September 2019. It was the most amazing trip and I can't recommend staying here highly enough! From the moment we arrived we were made to feel so welcome and the staff are more like a family. 

The rooms are so incredible, probably the best room we've ever stayed in complete with outdoor shower, bathtub, veranda and glass walls meaning you can see animals right from your bed! We saw a hippo whilst in the room which was so special. 

The food was hands down some of the best food we've ever had and there is no shortage of it!

The safari was incredible, we saw all the big five and it was made all the more special by our guide Reuben who made our stay very memorable. Sundowners and breakfast drinks were a firm favourite! 

We could write so much about this lodge and our time there but it feels like words don't quite do it justice. This trip will stay with us for a long time to come and I hope we can go back some day.

Truly amazing stay!

We chose this lodge as we didn’t need to take malaria tablets. We had also been on a Sanctuary river cruise in mayamar and the standard was excellent so we thought it would be good for us. 

This lodge is rustic chic with beautiful attention to detail. We were met by the team and made very welcome from the start. This would be our home for 2 days. Our room was just gorgeous. The windows were floor to ceiling and outside was the river. Hippos came to say hello!!

Our ranger was a fabulous guy called Dillon. He was experienced, professional and gave excitement to all the game drives. The other guys on the game drive were good fun to be with as well. Dillon made sure we saw everything. 

Water buck 
Zebra
Elephant
Impala 
Baboon 
Shar tail wyder 
Pale chanting goshawk 
Tortoise 
Giraffe
Paradise wider
Rhino
Wilder beast 
Lion
White rhino 
Steenbok 
Water buck
Brown hyena 
Pumba 
Cheetah 
Ground squirrel 
Egyptian geeee 
 Baboon 
Rhino 
Hippo
Red billed quelia 
Hyena 
Bat eared Fox
Kudu  antelope 
Guinea fowl
Buffalo 
Jakal 

In between the game drives I had a fabulous massage treatment. 

The team who work at this lodge were fab and we so enjoyed it. I would recommend this lodge 100%. 


One of the best trips 

This is an extremely well run organization with attention to the comfort and experience of guests. Our guide, Francois, was friendly, knowledgeable and skilled in showing us the wildlife and large animals. The meals were first rate with a wide selection. We were fed constantly. The staff were courteous and attentive. This was one of our most memorable vacations. 

Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge

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