Makweti Safari Lodge – Crafting Unforgettable Safari Experiences Since 1995
Almost 30 years’ of experience in treating guests to the most celebrated and remarkable safari encounters is only the beginning.
- Located right in the centre of Welgevonden’ s big five territory with sweeping views of over the Makweti Gorge and a waterhole.
- Our experienced guides take each guest on an unforgettable journey of discovery through the African bushveld.
- Proud member of the ‘by invitation-only’ Chaîne des Rôtisseurs – the global hallmark of excellence in cuisine and culinary service.
- Specialists in tending to the finest detail, from private plunge pools on your personal deck to the fine collection of African artifacts.
- An unfenced camp, so expect the unexpected
These are only a few of the highlights that beckon guests back to Makweti. The rest is obviously best experienced in person.
Makweti Safari Lodge, is an intimate camp in the “big five” Welgevonden Game Reserve, offering guests the opportunity to connect with nature, while viewing the exquisite, bustling wildlife in an untainted setting.
Makweti’s Indaba Lounge is a perfectly positioned vantage point, with views that extend across a natural flood plain and waterhole. A highlight of Makweti, this water source attracts animals of all sizes and stature as they casually traverse through the unfenced camp, giving guests the ultimate bushveld appeal that is both exciting and awe-inspiring.
The views from the main lodge change with every season, offering guests a unique treat. The summer months bring new life to a natural waterfall that flanks the western side of the main lodge.
Seasonal delights extend to the kitchen where our chefs busy themselves creating unforgettable culinary masterpieces with locally sourced, fruits, vegetables and spices, to be paired with the finest of South African wines. As a proud member of the “by-invitation-only” Chaîne des Rôtisseurs – the global hallmark of excellence in cuisine and culinary service – we are consistently creating authentic, African-inspired themes that resonate with flavour.
The intimate nature of Makweti is further solidified by having only ten guests at the lodge at one time. This gives us the opportunity to attend to our guests every need, while forging warm relationships with guests, who ultimately return time and again.
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 have, private deck facing one of Welgenvonden’s glorious scenes, with four of the five suites being complete with private plunge pools. Guests retreat to their own space, where they can take in the events of the day, while listening to the intricate goings on of the bush.
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. Guests can greet the rising dawn with a hot cup of coffee made from the in-suite coffee making facilities before heading off on the morning drive, where it all starts over again; a daily routine that welcomes completely unique experiences.
GAME VIEWING
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, Safaris are 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.
Makweti Safari Lodge is nestled within Welgevonden Game Reserve, a malaria-free wilderness of almost 40,000-hectares. Our home 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.