Makanyane Safari Lodge

RATES ARE

• Inclusive of VAT
• Invoiced and payable in ZAR
• Quoted per person sharing per night
• Subject to a 50% supplement for single occupancy
• Subject to availability
• Subject to change without prior notice

LUXURY SUITES RATES INCLUDE

• Luxury accommodation
• Three meals daily
• Transfer from Eastern Strip to Makanyane return
• Tea/coffee
• All beverages such as soft drinks, waters, house wines, beers, ciders and selected spirits
• Two game drivers per day including refreshments and beverages

LUXURY SUITES RATES EXCLUDE

• Premium wines and champagne on wine list
• Premium and craft spirits and single malt whiskeys
• Fedair flights
• Transfers
• Gratuities
• Curio purchases
• Laundry services
• Landing fees
• Conservation levies

CHILD POLICY

• Children from 12 and above are welcome
• Children 12 years and older pay the adult per person per night rate
• Only 2 person per room max, a 3rd person would need to take a 2nd room, which means the individual rate would apply

 ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE 

• Guests may check in from 14h00
• Rooms are to be vacated by 11h00

Deposit Policy

For all bookings made within 45 days of travel

Full payment Is required within 48 hours of your booking. This payment can be made via bank transfer or credit card (Master/Visa).

For all bookings made more than 45 days of travel

A 50% deposit Is required within 48 hours of your booking and the balance 30 days prior to arrival. This payment can be made via bank transfer or credit card (Master/Visa).

Cancellation Terms

• All cancellations should be made in writing. Cancellation charges are calculated on the total value of the booking.
• If cancelation is received more than 60 days prior to arrival - 20%.
• If cancellation is received from 60 days to 31 days prior to arrival - 50%.
• If cancellation is received less than 31 days prior to arrival - 100%.
• A 10% admin fee will be retained for cancellations made after the card has been charged.

Terms and Conditions

• All Reservations are subject to the Makanyane Safari Lodge cancellation policy which is:
• A reservation is not secure until the deposit is received. Makanyane Safari Lodge reserves the right to automatically release any accommodation being held where the required deposit has not been received within the stated period.
• All rates quoted are subject to change without notice. The above rates supersede any rates previously distributed by Makanyane Safari Lodge.
• Payments can be made by electronic transfer or by credit card. (A credit card authorisation form will be provided).
• Reservation information, such as any special dietary requirements, allergies or medical conditions, guest’s contact number (if possible) and the estimated time of arrival at the lodge needs to be communicated well in advance of arrival at the lodge.

GAME VEHICLE POLICY

• Vehicles can carry 10 guests per vehicle
• Private vehicle with private guide will be quoted on request

GAME DRIVES TIMES
Summer Times
• Morning Drive: 05h30 to return between 08h30/09h00
• Afternoon Drive: 16h00 to return between 19h00/19h30
• Note: Game Drives could end later depending on sightings
Winter Times
• Morning Drive: 06h30 to return between 09h30/10h00
• Afternoon Drive: 15h00 to return around 18h00/18h30
• Note: Game Drives could end later depending on sightings

CONSERVATION, GATE AND LANDING FEES
• Conservation Levy: R520 per person per night (confirmed until 1 December 2026, rates change annually)
• Adult landing fee: R240 per person
• Gate Fee: No gate fees as Makanyane has a private gate

Your excursions at Makanyane are not just confined to safaris.

The finest local ingredients are combined in the kitchen by our talented staff of chefs to produce delectable dishes that will give your stay with us a new thrilling dimension. African flavours and European influences are combined to produce distinctive and unforgettable dining experiences.

Meals are provided throughout the lodge in a variety of settings. Visitors can eat on the main deck while gazing at the sky, near to the glittering pool, in our “Boma,” which is encircled by trees and lit solely by flickering lanterns, or even out in the reserve while having a “bushbraai.”

All menus can be discussed in advance with the chefs for preferences and dietary requirements to be accommodated

From our wine cellar we serve outstanding wines to go with our delectable meals. In addition to offering traditional South African wines like Kanonkop’s Paul Sauer and Klein Constantia’s Vin de Constance, our award-winning wine list has received meticulous attention to detail, and we have gone to great lengths to source wines of excellent quality and variety to compile a selection with something to appeal to everyone. Visitors can explore our underground cellar and choose their own wine from a wide range of delectable options.

As the lodge is reserved on an exclusive-use basis, game drive times are completely flexible and can be specifically timed to suit the guests.

After settling into the open vehicle specially designed to ensure your comfort and safety, your qualified, professional and armed safari guide will take you on an adventure through the African bush.

Lion, elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo and leopard  are all here in abundance, as well as cheetah, giraffe and both spotted and brown hyena and you have the chance of seeing any of these species. Madikwe is also the one of the best places in Southern Africa to watch the elusive and rare wild dog, a fascinating species on the brink of extinction. Energetic, entertaining and with a highly complex social hierarchy, these fearsome predators range widely across the changing landscape of the reserve in search of prey, providing excellent and unique game viewing.

One of the most significant aspects of Madikwe is the extremely varied terrain, providing a backdrop to the rich diversity of plant, bird and animal life. Located on the edge of a very arid Kalahari region, but still receiving relatively high rainfall, Madikwe is unique in that both dry area and moist area plant and animal species are found in the reserve. (As an example, it is unusual to find both springbok – typically an arid species – and impala – dependent on higher rainfall) – flourishing in the same area, as they do in Madikwe.

Travelling through Makanyane’s completely private 1,800 hectares and the 75,000 hectares of the magnificent Madikwe Game Reserve, your guide will share their wealth of knowledge with you, from the fascinating private life of the dung beetle to the intricacies of the wild dog’s social system.

Typically we recommend two daily game drives at Makanyane,  timed to make the most of the periods when the game is the most active, one in the early morning and another in the late afternoon.

But exclusive use gives guests the freedom to choose to spend the day out exploring the bush across the reserve, or head out after dinner to look for elusive nocturnal animals on Makanyane’s private ground.

The afternoon drive, after a brief stop to enjoy sundowners, continues into the night, a shielded spotlight revealing the nocturnal wildlife of the bush.

Game drive times will vary according to guest requirements and game activity and spontaneous drives may also go out in response to animal activity near the lodge.

For an even more in-depth exploration of the bush, a game walk is essential. A highly educational and uniquely enlightening experience, your armed and experienced guide will lead you along game paths in the footsteps of the animals, allowing you to feel the thrill of walking through this wild environment.

Away from the noise and disturbance of the game drive vehicle, guests are able to experience the more subtle nuances of the bush – the sounds, smells and textures of the surroundings can be appreciated.

The walks are planned according to the interests and abilities of the guests and are a highly recommended experience!

(Please note that guests under the age of 16 years are not permitted on walks. Guests over the age of 65 are required to produce a medical certificate stating that they are fit for such an activity.)

Makanyane Safari Lodge is ideally situated overlooking the Marico River in a secluded corner of the north-eastern part of the Madikwe Game Reserve.

Located on 1,800 hectares of privately owned ground reserved exclusively for the use of guests at Makanyane, the lodge does also own full traversing rights over the entire 75,000 hectare Madikwe Reserve.

Madikwe Game Reserve is approximately 45 minutes by air from Johannesburg. There are daily shuttle flights between the reserve and Oliver Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport.

Driving time by road from Johannesburg is approximately 3.5 hours using a route via Sun City and 5 hours using an alternative route via Rustenburg and Zeerust.

BY CAR
There are two routes by road from Johannesburg International Airport to Makanyane

The first route (approximately 3.5 hours driving time) travels via Sun City to the Makanyane private entrance. This route travels over approximately 20 km of gravel road. Detailed directions and map are available on request.

The second route (about 5 hours driving time) travels via the towns of Rustenburg and Zeerust. Detailed directions and map are available on request.

Makanyane’s private gate will be attended in anticipation of guest’s arrival. Please advise the lodge of your estimated time of arrival when making your booking. If possible, it would be greatly appreciated if you could confirm your time of arrival while en-route to the lodge.

Makanyane is approximately 60 kilometres from Gaborone, Botswana.

BY PLANE
Federal Air provides daily scheduled return flights between Oliver Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg International Airport) in Johannesburg and Madikwe Game Reserve.

O.R. Tambo International to Madikwe Game Reserve:
Departs from O.R. Tambo at 13:00 and arrives in Madikwe Game Reserve at 14:00 at the latest.

Passengers must check in for the flight by 12:00. (Check in opens at 09:30)

Madikwe Game Reserve to O.R. Tambo International

Departs from Madikwe Game Reserve at 11:15 and arrives at O.R. Tambo at 12:15.

(Federal Air advises that no onward International flights that depart from O.R. Tambo before 16:30 and no onward Domestic flights that depart from O.R. Tambo before 15:00 should be booked.)

Your guide will meet you at the airstrip on arrival and take you back to the airstrip for your departure.

BY PRIVATE AIRCRAFT
Madikwe Game Reserve has a 1200 metre, all-weather, gravel airstrip approximately 10 kilometres south of Makanyane. Transfers to and from the lodge are free of charge.

Co-ordinates: 24°44’00” S and 26°24’27” E
Elevation: 3200 Ft
Runway direction: East/West 11/290
Please note that all private pilots wishing to make use of the Madikwe airstrip must sign a pilot indemnity form before doing so.

PLEASE NOTE

• Flight times are subject to change and there is a restriction on luggage of a maximum of 20kg of soft luggage.
• Free excess bag storage is available if required.
• Bookings for single passengers carry a single supplement charge.
• Makanyane can book flights for guests flying into the reserve, please contact enquiries@amaratwo.wpengine.com or more information and rates.
• Federal Air can be contacted at: Tel: +27 (0) 11 395 9000 – Email: fedair@inspirationalplaces.com – Website: ww.fedair.com
• Transfers from the Madikwe Game Reserve airstrip to Makanyane Safari Lodge are provided at no cost.
• Charter flights to the Madikwe Game Reserve can also be arranged. Please contact reservations@makanyane.com for urther details and quotes.

Makanyane is the ideal venue for the ultimate intimate and romantic wedding. As the lodge is booked on an exclusive-use basis only, the entire lodge is reserved only for you and your party to savour this unforgettable experience.

Imagine the romance of your wedding deep in the African bush, surrounded by the peace and tranquillity of a truly wild place. Here, secluded from the pressure and stress of city life, you can relax, unwind and truly enjoy your most important day in the company of your family and friends.

The staff at Makanyane understand how precious this day is to you both, and how everything, from the setting to the service, must be as you want it to be. We will go out of our way to ensure that your wedding is a fairy tale come true. Let us worry about the details of the catering, the flowers, the decorations, the photographer and the minister. All you have to do is enjoy your special day!

Makanyane is ideally situated for a dramatic, unforgettable ceremony, with stunning views of the surrounding bush. Wedding photographs can be taken around the lodge, in the bush against the backdrop of wide African plains, or in the cool romance of the forest.

With just eight luxury suites, each secluded in the forest on the bank of the river, privacy and exclusivity are assured.

Allowing our expert health and beauty therapist to pamper you is a great approach to relieve the stress and strain of daily life. There is something for everyone on our extensive selection of Health and Beauty treatments, which range from massage, aromatherapy, and hot stone therapies to facials and manicures.

The isolated bush spa, the terrace of a guest’s room, or other settings, like our look-out point, where the treatment may be enjoyed while taking in the scenery, are all options for where guests can enjoy their treatments.

Madikwe Game Reserve is known as an excellent reserve for families and children to safely enjoy the excitement and stimulation of a real safari experience. It is one of South Africa’s top “Big 5” wildlife locations free of malaria.

Makanyane provides children and families with an unforgettable wildlife experience, designed to inspire, educate and above all entertain young minds while promoting a deep respect for the environment and natural areas and a strong desire to preserve both.
Children can enjoy a child orientated menu if required and any specific dietary requirements will be taken into account.

Please note that Makanyane is not fenced off from the reserve – it is the responsibility of the parents to be mindful of potential dangers as Makanyane is in a prime wildlife area. Children may not walk between the main lodge and their suite without an adult.  All swimming must be supervised by the child’s parents and no children are allowed in the gym unsupervised.