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Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge

Our rating

8/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Glass walled bedrooms with river views
- Morning and evening game drives
- Game walks, sleep-outs under the stars
- Heated infinity pool, spa, gym

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Overview

Nestled beside the serene Marico River amidst 1800 hectares of privately owned land, Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge offers an appealing combination of adventure and luxurious relaxation in the heart of the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. This charming and characterful retreat is constructed from local stone, wood, and thatch and set on the edge of a ravine with suberb views of the surrounding bush. There are eight elegant, secluded guest suites, along with a heated infinity pool, a spa, an on-site gym and an extensive wine cellar.

All suites house glass-walled bedrooms for unobstructed views of the river and the surrounding forest. Each suite also has an en-suite bathroom that opens out to the bush with both an indoor and outdoor shower, an open-front lounge, and a private sundeck. Open air sleep-outs at the lodge's hide are also possible.

The main lodge provides a perfect, elevated vantage point for spotting the local wildlife while perhaps enjoying a glass of fine wine from the award-winning wine list. Dinner is served here, and there’s also a library area, a curio shop, and an upstairs den for quiet and privacy.

The game drives at Makanyane are superb. Lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and black and white rhino are often seen and, although less common, sightings of cheetahs, giraffes, and brown hyenas are not unheard of. There are two game drives per day – one in the early morning and the other in the late afternoon which continues into the evening, revealing glimpses of the area’s nocturnal wildlife. Game walks are also recommended and one of the highlights is sleeping under the stars in the outdoor hide.

While children are welcome at Sanctuary Mankanyane, it must be said that the atmosphere is adult in feel and so it's not really suitable for families with young children. Note that children under the age of 16 are not permitted to participate in walking excursions and due to the rural nature of the lodge, parents are reminded that children of all ages should remain under adult supervision at all times.

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What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

  • It was certainly a holiday of a lifetime for us and we loved every minute!! The standard and location of each accommodation was excellent, as was the variety of each different accommodation type. Our schedule was perfect and we managed to achieve everything on our to-do task list. Your documents were also really helpful, as were the driving directions. We all thank you for making this such a wonderful holiday. Happy to leave a review publicly if you point me the right way. Best Steve

    MissingStephen H reviewing Classic Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari on 01 September 2023

  • Hi Lisa, We had a fabulous time thank you. The accommodation and other ideation were all terrific - that’s so much for your help. The apartment in Cape Town was particularly good - we would never have found that: Boschendal was great as well and game lodge was superb. Thanks again, Alistair

    MissingAlistair A reviewing Cape Town, Garden Route and Kruger on 28 April 2023

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