A Place We Didn’t Want To Share – Guest Review
Thank you, Liz Newton for this honest and captivating review about Makweti Safari Lodge on TripAdvisor. We understand exactly what you mean by not wanting to share Makweti with the world. But the beauty of our lodge is that even if every person knew about it, it would always be an intimate, quiet retreat due
Read MoreTravel Safely Feathered Friends
With the world at a standstill as we battle through the current pandemic, travel restrictions all over leave us dreaming of our next exotic holiday. Nature, however, continues to take to the skies, and it is quite simply business as usual. It’s that time when the mornings are cooler, rain clouds visit us less often,
Read MoreMeet Our Guest Liaison Charlotte Masai
If you have ever visited Makweti, then you will have met Charlotte Masai, our guest liaison extraordinaire. Charlotte was born in Malamukle, near Giyani in Limpopo, which is a good 405km from Makweti. One of four siblings, she became intrigued about life in a safari lodge after reading about it on the Internet. The rest
Read MoreWhat’s In A Name?
“What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” ~ Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. A name. It is most often the very first thing we learn about something or someone. It allows us some insight into that person (or in this case an animal) and forms the basis
Read MorePrawn And Sole Roulade With Champagne Reduction
At Makweti, we don’t do half measures. We always go above and beyond to treat our guests like an extended family. One of our favourite ways to do this is through food. Each and every recipe is created and perfected in the Makweti kitchen, and we get so much satisfaction from constantly surprising our guests
Read MoreSpicing Up 2020 With Our Favourite Recipes
With the dawn of 2020, we decided to celebrate a few of our favourite spicy recipes that we’ve shared in the past. Phillip Nthai and the chefs in the Makweti kitchen are certainly not shy when it comes to adding unique flavours to their dishes. This is something that sets our culinary delights apart, making for memorable
Read MoreFlight of Fancy
The mass movement of the Brown-veined White Butterfly sp. Belonois aurota aurota “Flight of Fancy” definition – fictionalisation, fantasy, mirage, unreality… or is it? The very thought of the annual migration of millions of tiny white butterflies all north-east bound in search of mates in wetter regions may seem to be fantastical. But this is
Read MoreIn Life And Death
Remember Disney’s, The Lion King? Mufasa: Look, Simba, everything the light touches is our kingdom Simba: Wow… Mufasa: A king’s time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king Simba: And this’ll all be mine?
Read MoreMakweti Beetroot Cheesecake Recipe
It sounds like an odd combination – beetroot and cheesecake – but that’s because you haven’t tasted it yet. It is absolutely exquisite, especially when made in the Makweti kitchen. You can, however, make it at home too. Our distinguished chefs have put together this easy, step-by-step recipe for you to try in your own
Read MoreMeet Talent – One Of Our Spa Specialists
Talent Nyamusa, known simply as Talent, is one of the incredibly energetic and enthusiastic ladies who keep Makweti going. She wears a few hats at Makweti Safari Lodge, and always carries out her day with a smile. Born in Zimbabwe, Talent is some 800kms from home, but Makweti feels like home to her too. She
Read MoreLights, Camera, Action
The waterhole at Makweti Safari Lodge has always been a hive of activity and over the past three years has provided our guests with much entertainment and enjoyment. It’s the start of Summer, which is ultimately the driest part of the year. The Waterberg is well known for its abundance of fresh water, however it is
Read MoreThe Magic Of Bush Coffee In The Morning
There is something incredibly magnificent about early mornings in the bush. It’s a moment shared with hundreds of species of insects, birds, animals and all sorts of other creatures as the night disappears and the new day begins. We have been doing mornings in the bush for a long time, and we know that there
Read MoreMeet Chef John Makgoba
Makweti Safari Lodge is world-renowned for our haute cuisine. We are a longstanding member of the (by-invitation-only) Chaîne des Rôtisseurs – a hallmark of fine cuisine. The reason behind this is the imagination and ingenuity that comes out of our kitchen. People like Chef John Makgoba make it possible to “wow” our guests with every
Read MoreMakweti Marmite And Cheese Bread Recipe
There is nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked bread. Actually, we lie. Eating freshly baked bread probably tops the smell, but both are heavenly. This home-baked bread is a Makweti favourite, made with a local ingredient that South African kids grow up on: Marmite. Add loads of cheese and you have a recipe
Read More‘A O Bone Peolwane?’ – Did You See The Swallow?
Red-breasted Swallow (English) Peolwane (Northern Sotho) – Hirundo semirufa Early on Monday morning, we headed out on the game drive just before 6am. It was a cool morning, typical of spring but the sun was starting to rise above the hills that surround the Makweti Gorge. We had discussed birding the night before around the table and
Read MoreCape Brandy Pudding Recipe
In keeping with our Women’s Month theme, we thought we’d share something sweet and delicious with you; a recipe for Cape Brandy Pudding. It’s not just any recipe, no… this is something special. It has a history as rich as the dessert itself. Cape Brandy Pudding originates from a popular South African dessert known as
Read MoreThe Lion Queen – African Lion Panthera leo
The old phrase “lightning never strikes twice” is born in myth and truth depending on how this phrase is used. Most storm chasers will have you know that this is false and given enough time it is certainly quite inevitable. Lightning can and will strike the same place twice at any time. There are many things to
Read MoreCelebrating Our Wonderful Women
South Africa celebrates the women of our country on the 9th of August every year with a public holiday that is unique to our country. We see it as as opportunity to celebrate the bravery and strength of South African women, a day which was first acknowledged in 1995. The History Of Women’s Day Women’s Day
Read MoreTwo-Tone Roasted Yellow Pepper And Tomato Soup
This two-tone soup is made from a roasted yellow pepper soup and a separate tomato soup; both rich in flavour and colour. It is a real treat for the senses and so easy to make. Roasted Yellow Pepper Soup Ingredients 4 yellow peppers 1 onion, finely diced 1 tsp thyme, chopped 250 ml vegetable stock,
Read MoreMeet Ellard Banda – Makweti Field Guide
Ellard Banda is an exceptional field guide at Makweti, and one of our most trusted members of the extended Makweti family. He came to our lodge in 2013 to fulfill his role as our maintenance man. It wasn’t long before he became completely captivated by the nature around him and chose to study to become
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