Makweti Safari Lodge

Makweti Safari Lodge is nestled within Welgevonden Game Reserve, a malaria-free wilderness of over 40,000-hectares. Our 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. If you are searching for the genuine African experience, our experienced guides take each guest on an unforgettable journey of discovery through the African bushveld. Makweti is one of the few unfenced camps in South Africa, allowing wildlife to amble right up to our doorstep.

Makweti Safari Lodge has always been one of the smaller camps in the “big five” Welgevonden Game Reserve, offering guests the opportunity to find solitude, peace and the personal space to connect with nature, while viewing the exquisite, bustling wildlife in an untainted setting.

The intimate nature of Makweti is further solidified by 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. 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.

Makweti’s Indaba Lounge is a perfectly positioned, with views that extend across a natural flood plain and waterhole. The energy reaches an all-time high when local elephant herds decide to satiate their thirst with water from the guest pools, a spontaneous and breath-taking event.

Rates are fully inclusive of exhilarating morning and evening open-vehicle safari game drives, luxury accommodation, mouth-watering meals, and of course our legendary African hospitality.

Elegance and authenticity define Makweti’s cuisine. Each meal is a graceful culinary event, featuring African-inspired themes, locally sourced ingredients, and a wine list that nods to the best of South Africa’s famed vineyard estates. Dinner is usually served in our candlelit dining room but on nights when the African cosmos shines with particular brilliance, we dine in the outdoor boma (a traditional enclosure) around glowing log-fires.