Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa

WOW. Mhondoro truly has our hearts! From the minute we arrived at the main gate of Welgevonden Game Reserve and were welcomed with drinks and snacks to the morning we left where we watched the rhinos at sunrise everything was perfect. I had read many reviews and you often can't believe how incredible a place is but even then it managed to surpass all of my high expectations. From all of the places I have stayed so far in the world this experience has beaten them all! The staff are the friendliest we have ever met and I think it helps having such an intimate boutique lodge (only a maximum of 24 guests at any time - there were only 10 during our stay) because you really have a personable experience. They can not do enough for you and always greeted us with smiles and happiness. The food was incredible! Each day we enjoyed a fresh continental breakfast as well as wonderful hot options. Dinner is always 3 course a la carte except for the special Boma evening around the fire where we enjoyed a traditional South African BBQ with dancing which was great. Our favourite meal had to be the lunches though. Every day between the two game drives we experienced gorgeous homemade soup and bread, followed by a meat/fish platter with salads. Plus you get pudding. And who doesn't love pudding twice a day?! We stayed in the honeymoon suite and loved the privacy of our terrace with a large plunge pool and outdoor day bed where we could watch the zebra and impala coming down to the watering hole. The rooms are beautiful and spacious with unique outdoor showers. Plus there is a pillow menu for ultimate comfort. Our favourite thing from the minibar was the Rooiboos iced tea! We miss it! We spent some time down at the main lodge pool too which was magnificent overlooking the watering hole. There is something very surreal about being in the water enjoying a glass of wine and admiring the wilderbeest and warthogs snoozing in the sun. If you are very lucky the pool ellie may come to join too! We saw two pool ellies in our time there which is so special. Also, we went in June for 4 days and the weather was glorious. Don't let anyone tell you winter in SA is not worth it because although we had cold mornings and evenings the winter sun between 10am and 6pm was stunning! Then the game drives. Well the safari honestly changed our lives. You see the animals going about their daily lives and suddenly everything at home seems so insignificant, all the daily worries we have. Nothing matters to the animals in the bush and to be so engrossed in nature was just the eye-opener we needed to escape from our corporate life at home. Welgevonden is home to the Big 5 and we were lucky to see 4/5 of them (the leopards are very elusive!). There are rhinos in abundance and we saw these every day without fail which I loved. We had multiple experiences with elephants and lions and even a couple of cheetah sightings. Every game drive had a stop with either ranger coffee in the AM or a glass

This place can really be highly recommended. Fantastic good service throughout our stay with very knowledgeable safari guides who gave us fantastic experiences. The food and personal service are excellent at this place. strongly recommended. Kind regards Andre, Jack, Svein and Asle from Norway

This place is heaven on earth! The location,the view with the animals,the game drives,the people on the resort,the foooood!!!! It was an amazing experiance I will never ever forget! Timmy and Isaac was wonderful and so kind,pauline gave the best massage ever and Biggie was the best ranger we could have. I miss the place so much!!!

We had the most amazing few days at Mhondoro, staying in the luxury pool suite for 4 nights. Rene gave us the warmest of welcomes on our arrival and the most heartfelt farewell when the time came to check out. Isaac, Jacob, and Sam were fantastic on the service team, always providing welcome towels on arrival back to the lodge and making sure we had everything we could possibly need to make our stay as comfortable as possible. The food was nothing short of incredible with fresh menus every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all expertly made with local produce. Hien was our guide and provided amazing knowledge paired with mad driving skills. He answered every question we had on the drives and is clearly extremely passionate about what he does. Thanks to him, we managed to see 4 out of the 5 Big 5 and almost every other animal in the park. The couple that were on the drives with us had stayed at Mhondoro three times previously, which says so much for the quality of the service provided, and like them, we will most definitely be back! We would absolutely recommend choosing Mhondoro for your safari stay, and we can't wait for our next visit.

Our stay at Mhondoro Safari Lodge was nothing short of sensational. We spent four unforgettable nights in the villa with friends visiting from the USA, and every moment exceeded our expectations. From the very beginning, we were warmly welcomed by Rene at the reception lodge. Her friendly, informative approach set the tone for what would become an incredible experience. We enjoyed a delicious fresh farm-style lunch before being transported to the villa by Jake, our ranger for the stay. Jake was world-class—his expertise, enthusiasm, and care made every game drive extraordinary. Thanks to him, we witnessed an impressive array of wildlife and dared not miss a single drive for fear of what we might miss! In the villa, Thembi, our talented chef, and Jacob, our attentive butler, catered to our every need with grace and precision. They ensured we had a say in everything, from meal options to scheduling activities, and even offered a pillow menu to ensure maximum comfort. The villa itself was a haven of luxury, complete with a private pool, gym, and spa, and the rooms were immaculately clean and exceptionally comfortable. Special thanks to Isaac and Altie, the guest relations managers, who went above and beyond to make sure every desire was fulfilled. From lazing by the pool while rhinos, giraffes, and elephants wandered by, to indulging in healthy, wholesome meals, every moment was a dream. A highlight of our trip was the boma evening—a magical celebration of African culture, complete with traditional food, singing, and dancing. Our kids were equally thrilled by the activities on offer, from stargazing and shooting to wood whittling and spear-making. The animal hide was also a favourite spot for them to watch wildlife up close. The only downside to Mhondoro Safari Lodge? You’ll never want to leave. We’re already counting the days until we can return. This place is simply spectacular.

Well, what can we say. An unbelievable experience from start to finish. From the moment we arrived at the reception and greeted by such friendly and attentive people, till the moment we left when we had tears in our eyes. Upon arriving we were offered lunch which was an amazing way to showcase what we were in store for. The freshness and choice was outstanding. All grown from their own gardens and meat locally sourced. We were then driven to the lodge on the reserve which took roughly an hour, but the time flew past. So much to see and scan for, it was just a taste of what the next 4 days would be like. When we arrived we were greeted by the lodge staff as they sang a song about Mhondoro which means the 'spirit of the lion'. The staff were so welcoming and made us feel like we had met them all 100 times before. Friendly chat and jokes from the start was a great way to introduce us to our home for the next 4 days. We met our guide Hein and straight away we were impressed. his knowledge on not just the wildlife, but the insects, birds and tress was outstanding. He was able to answer every question confidently. He truly made our stay so special. giving us time to photograph and take everything in that was going on round about us. The staff at the hotel were always so happy which then rejected on us, making us enjoy our time there even more. Andri, David and Oupa to name a few were always ready for a chat and a joke and always so eager to hear about what we saw that day. The kitchen staff were phenomenal, putting on Michelin star worthy meals every night. The house keeping staff worked away in the shadows. You never seen them but they were in twice a day to tidy, making the bed in the morning and setting the bed at night to sleep. Every day was an adventure at Mhondoro. We seen so much and made friendships with the people that worked there and the other guests. It was our first time visiting South Africa, it won't be the last and we will definitely be back at Mhondoro. Could not recommend this place any more highly. 10/10