Kukummi Lodge - formerly Mackaya Bella Country Lodge

Our stay at Mackaya Bella was sensational. Our family of five had the whole lodge to ourselves as we booked out three huts making the experience feel luxurious and intimate. Patrick and Lynn were the sweetest hosts who catered to our every need. Patrick was kind enough to act as a tour guide going above and beyond to walk us to the phenomenal Bushman cave paintings and stunning freshwater pool along the river. This hike was located on their property so there was no need to drive all the way out to see the nature (although leaving the property to explore was not a problem either). They also allowed us to spend time with their beautiful dogs Bella and Little Bear which helped us with the separation from our own beloved pets. We felt very safe. The nature reserve around the lodge was stunning. At your doorstep is a view of the Drakensberg mountains and surrounding wildlife - the perfect backdrop. Plenty of wild animals roam the property and you can see the trails they leave behind. Right near the lodge is a small waterfall that flows almost all year round. The water in this area is as pure as pure can be. Our rooms were very cosy and comfortable. There were very little mosquitoes when we were there considering the fresh water was constantly flowing on the property. There was a fireplace inside the main lodge as well as outside with the mountain views that allowed us to enjoy each space in the evening (even with loadshedding). Lynn and Patrick accommodated our dietary requests (vegetarian and vegan) giving us wonderful breakfast options where other places would be lacking. We visited Champaigne Castle Hotel out of curiosity. Albeit very nice, we were extremely happy that we chose Mackaya Bella instead. We felt so at home at this wonderful lodge and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to visit the Drakensberg area. We hope that Patrick and Lynn will see many more guests this year as they could not be more deserving.

It was pretty much perfect.

we loved how accessible the little remote beautiful logde was in the mountains… absolutely stunning view, so comfortable and our hosts we just so friendly and amazing people

I can’t say anything bad everything is just so lovely

Pat, Lynn and the staff were amazing and couldn't be more friendly and helpful on this property with a magnificent view.

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We had a wonderful stay and would highly recommend! The location was amazingly beautiful, peaceful and well connected to other activities in the area. The hosts were very friendly and accommodating, with great recommendations regarding hikes, activities, food, wine and logistics. The rooms were very nice and all facilities were clean and comfortable. Breakfast was also delicious! There are two things that are not bad but worth mentioning so future guests are aware of their limitations. 1. Unfortunately there was a lot of loadshedding - this is not something the hosts can be blamed for and they were very helpful with the schedules for example. Future guests should just bear this in mind and make sure to charge their phones, be prepared for the power outages, etc. 2. There are no cooking facilities (e.g. stoves) for guests, so bear this in mind for dinners- you will need to either eat from a restaurant or have food that requires minimal preparation (there is a microwave and hot water).

The hosts are wonderful and made us feel right at home. The view is extraordinary and the gardens and waterfall feed the soul

The venue is wonderful. We loved everything about it

We had an exceptional stay here. You have know that the B&B is remotely located and you have drive off-road for about 10 minutes. A SUV with good ground clearance is a must. If you do not feel good about driving the hosts are more than happy to drive you as well. Upon arrival, our hosts have met us at the gate, offering us to drive our car up to the lodge. Once we got there, they have showed us around the facilites and explained the surroundings incl. hiking routes etc. Just when I thought our hosts could not be any nicer and more helpful, our car showed a mechanical issue. Our host did not waste time, took a close at the problem and offered us to repair it the next morning. He really saved our trip as we had to drive for 10 hours that day and swapping cars or finding a mechanic would have cost us a lot of time and money. I have never seen anyone as nice and helpful as these two. We would always love to come back when we have the chance. Thank you!

1. The best by far was the location itself – beautiful, peaceful, serene, quiet. The mountain view from the lodge's lawn is exceptional and awe inspiring! 2.The hosts went out of their way to make our stay pleasant. They provided us with excellent recommendations of places to visit, things to do, and restaurants to eat at. This allowed us to book ahead of time, and made for a memorable and relaxing visit. 3. The breakfasts at the lodge were delicious! There was a selection each morning, and the options were great. 4. The peaceful sound of running water (both of the river below the property and the waterfall behind the property) soothes the soul.

Some guests might find the lack of cellphone signal (especially Vodacom) and intermittent internet connectivity limiting or frustrating. However, this is exactly the value of a remote place: the ability to switch off completely and rest fully and uninterrupted in the most beautiful surrounding nature.

the view was amazing. breakfast was great, fresh and homemade. the hosts were very friendly and gave very nice advice. the place was very clean. we would come again if we rent a 4x4

the road to get there 😂 even though we were prepared it was a quite though drive.