Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK

Location: Timbavati Nature Reserve, Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, 1380, Bushbuckridge, ZA

Star Rating: 4 Stars

Property Type: Lodges

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 12:00 PM - 06:00 PM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Instructions: This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). To arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 72 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. The front desk is open daily from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM. To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 72 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions. The front desk is staffed during limited hours. For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests arriving after set lunch, afternoon game drive and dinner times may possibly not be accommodated for these activities/meals. Guests with dietary restrictions or food allergies should contact this hotel in advance.

Amenities & Facilities

• Free breakfast
• Meeting rooms
• Area shuttle (surcharge)
• Fireplace in lobby
• Free WiFi
• Terrace
• Luggage storage
• Wheelchair accessible
• Gift shops or newsstand
• Golfing nearby
• Fireplace in lobby
• Television in common areas
• Library
• Free breakfast
• Safe-deposit box at front desk
• Multilingual staff
• Front desk (limited hours)
• Meeting rooms
• Smoke-free property
• Tours/ticket assistance
• Area shuttle (surcharge)
• Ecotours on site
• Free self parking
• Computer station
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Free full breakfast
• Game viewing on site
• Safari on site

Rooms Available

• Luxury Bush Bungalow

  1 King Bed

  108-sq-foot individually decorated room, patio with valley views

  
  

  Internet - Free wired internet access

  Food & Drink - Kitchenette with coffee/tea maker and electric kettle

  Sleep - Egyptian cotton linens, a down duvet, blackout drapes/curtains, and turndown service

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, deep soaking bathtub and separate shower

  Practical - Safe and desk

  Comfort - Air conditioning and daily housekeeping

  Need to Know - No rollaway/extra beds available, toothbrush and toothpaste not available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Safety deposit box
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Kitchenette
  • Bathrobe
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Electric kettle
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Designer toiletries
  • Turndown service
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Separate bathtub and shower
  • Down comforter
  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • Soap
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

• Luxury Bungalow

  2 Twin Beds

  108-sq-foot individually decorated room, patio with valley and resort views

  
  

  Internet - Free wired internet access

  Food & Drink - Kitchenette with coffee/tea maker and electric kettle

  Sleep - Egyptian cotton linens, a down duvet, blackout drapes/curtains, and turndown service

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, deep soaking bathtub and separate shower

  Practical - Safe and desk

  Comfort - Air conditioning and daily housekeeping

  Need to Know - No rollaway/extra beds available, toothbrush and toothpaste not available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Safety deposit box
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Kitchenette
  • Bathrobe
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Electric kettle
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Designer toiletries
  • Turndown service
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Separate bathtub and shower
  • Down comforter
  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • Soap
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

Guest Reviews

• Raphael (10/5): - I had a fantastic stay at Motswari. It’s so welcoming and the staff treats you like family or old friends visiting. The hotel is beautiful, the delicious breakfast overlooking the river and the dinner in the bush were unforgettable experiences. Guide and tracker team was also great, very friendly and knowledgeable.
• Justin (10/5): - Such a magical experience. The staff was incredible and really was the reason this was a memorable trip. Hayden was an incredible guide. His enthusiasm, knowledge, and outgoing nature made each day more enjoyable. We saw all big 5 including seeing all 5 during one day. We were very lucky to experience a lion pride kill as well. Also, the food was incredible at all meals. Can’t recommend this place enough! Incredible value overall for what you get.
• Andrea (10/5): - Amazing trip! Motswari is very lucky to have the fantastic Owen (guide) and George (tracker). They made our experience incredibly adventurous, and we felt very safe throughout. Highly recommend! Service and rooms where great as well.
• Classy Canine (10/5): - Excellent property, good, game drives with attentive, knowledgeable staff and great food.
• Stefanie (10/5): Incredible experience - A fantastic reserve and safari. Couldn’t recommend this place enough, the hotel is beautiful and the food exceptional. We had Eric and Difference as our guide and tracker and they made our trip. If you are looking for a safari experience then this is the place to book.
• Raymond (10/5): - Fantastic stay.
• Claire (10/5): - As a returning guest, I like the friendliness and professionalism of the staff, the layout of the property and of course, the guides and trackers who make the drives.
• Morris (8/5): - I will not be returning to Motswari and this was my third visit. The lack of internet access is a huge problem for me.
• Michael (10/5): - My wife and I visited motswari on our honeymoon and absolutely loved the whole experience! The property and rooms are nice and well decorated but the staff make the place so special. Our guide (byron) and tracker (hendry) did an amazing job on all of our drives, we saw the big 5 by our second day and were able to see all the animals we wanted to view. They were also very knowledgeable and provided a lot of information on the animals and area. In addition to the drives, the staff and service back at the lodge was incredible. All of the staff are very friendly and helpful and go out of their way to make sure that you have a wonderful stay. Lastly, the food at motswari was amazing and there is so much of it! Every meal we had there was delicious. Highly recommend staying at motswari for a safari!
• DARREN (10/5): A friendly, happy camp - Had a fantastic two night stay in mid March. Wished it had been longer, suggest a 3n minimum ideally. Food was very good and service even better. The guide and tracker were excellent. The bush was predictably quite thick at this time of year, but we still saw lots of lions and antelopes. Weather was good, shirt or light jumper was all that was needed for the evening.
• William (10/5): - Motswari provided a luxury accommodation and first class service while doing so in a way that was sensitive to the natural environment and its wildlife. The property did not have manicured lawns and ornate gardens but instead allowed the natural vegetation to flourish. The grounds were unfenced and lighting throughout was minimal to avoid light pollution. This made for a unique atmosphere which felt like you were actually staying in the bush. The huts were sympathetic to the local style of buildings with thatch roofing. They were air conditioned and had comfortable beds provided with mosquito nets. The food was excellent at every meal with a different dinner location for every night of our stay. The staff were really friendly at all times and the game guides and trackers were of the highest quality. All in all our stay was fabulous.
• Claire (10/5): - The staff at Motswari were amazing. They knew evryones names and made you feel like a friend not just a guest. They all went above and beyond with the effort they put into the service. It was an amazing experience, I would go back in an instant and recommend it to everyone.
• Narsay (10/5): - This lodge is AWESOME! My wife and I stayed here for three days and we had an amazing experience. The rooms are really comfortable and have everything you need and I was surprised by how nice the bathroom was given that we were in the middle of nowhere. The food was fantastic. Staff is super friendly and helpful, always got us what we wanted within minutes. Most importantly, our game drives were stellar with Patrick (our tracker) and Mbgooni (driver and guide). They’re super knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. We got to see all the animals except for cheetah (which is hard to see obviously). Finally, the property arranged our transportation back and forth to Hoedspruit airport and the ride was in a huge 14 person van with just the two of us in it…I highly recommend this lodge, you won’t regret it!
• Faizal (10/5): Awesome experience - Awesome accommodation, food and game drives
• Verified traveler (10/5): - The safari camp (well more all inclusive resort, in the best way possible) was much better than I expected and unreservedly recommend Motswari. First and foremost, I’m guessing most people go to “see the animals,” and we really did. Often only 10/20 feet away, including seeing a leopard carry an adult male impala up a tree. Incredible. I don’t know if our good fortune in seeing so much wildlife is typical- and I do credit our tracker, Tiyani, and Driver, Stanely, with getting used access to so much and so close. They were both incredible. The room was very clean and beautiful. The mosquito netting was also beautiful and undoubtedly functional Food and food service were likewise very good. They do feed you often and well. Snacks, breakfast, high tea before the afternoon drive, dinner under the stars at night. Also includes wine and gin and tonic (towhee cocktails are available at a small charge- though perhaps not their forte). The other service staff we to a person great Special thanks to a woman named Patience who each day came from the office to greet guests over breakfast and handle any open administrative items (transport or the like). She’s a great find and someone we looked forward to seeing each day And at night the resort requires you to be escorted from your room to dinner and back (it is in the middle of the wilderness and , though safe, not impenetrable to animals. One of the gentlemen escorting is, Cliff (Ciffiord? was great THANKS!!!
• Verified traveler (4/5): - This webpage includes reviews for two different Motswari lodges (other is Geiger; they are not the same). Recently spent 3 nights at Motswari, disappointing experience overall, in part due to torrential rain and flooding, but more importantly the resort itself. Weather: Roof leaked at night, soaking the bed/clothes. Game drives poor d/t flooding. For 3/6 drives, couldn't access main reserve, and were limited to dangerous river crossings in the cold/rain seeing only impalas and the odd bird. Missed big 5 (must for anyone on safari). Credit to Sean and Hendry (driver/tracker) for trying to salvage the experience, not much they could do with the weather unfortunately. Resort: Billed as "luxury", more like "functional." Understand this is the bush, but for the cost and description, it didnt meet our expectations. Food was hit/miss, not the quality expected for the price. Staff: Also suprisingly mediocre (based on reviews). Genrally ignored in common areas (while other guests served drinks), nightly confusion about who was sitting where. No luxury feel. Tried to book couples massage at reception and was told "look for the lady in the red top at breakfast tomorrow" by a staff member with a mouthful of food. Needless to say she wasn't there. Bill: Added charity donation without our permission. It wasn't a large amount, and I would usually be happy to pay, but a) this should be disclosed, and b) not after this experience! Overall, a disappointing experience, wouldn't recommend.
• Jen (8/5): - Such a Beautiful experience, amazing staff, great vibes. Would truly recommend this property
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Very friendly staff, great food and well organised safaris. We are vegan, so they made special dishes for us which were wonderful.
• Molly (10/5): The best safari experience ever! - Amazing, all around! Service was impeccable and staff was so friendly and went above and beyond. Facilities and chalets were beautiful, so clean and spacious. Food was gourmet, so many options and beautiful display. Game drives were amazing. The best safari experience we could have asked for! Thank you Motswari.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - motswari was incredible. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left we were looked after and it was the best part of the trip. The food is fantastic and the staff are friendly. Incredible views- we had elephants come over to our room. The game drives are also great and the guides do their best to make sure you see everything you want to see. We saw the big 5 on day one and it just got better. Perfect holiday destination!
• Mommers (6/5): - Nice and friendly people. Special compliment for Khomotso, the lady at the reception. Beautiful property, breakfast and lunch where enough and varied. But dinner wasn’t in ratio at all ! Very disappointing. Quality and offer in ratio not good. Summarizing, the price for two persons for two days, included safari tours (4) ZAR 22.800,00 is much to much !!! Our advice would be: in Hoedspruit a lodge, for example African Rock logde, and Safari tours separate booking. At the final we had to pay in the Motswari park a fee for ZAR 100,00 and our friends more than ZAR 1000,00 !!! Very strange this difference for a donation Rhino Disharmony, and we where not informed About that before. We would not recommand this property.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Amazing, Incredible & Inspiring. We spent 3 nights in Motswari (MW). If you are deciding whether to go for 2 or 3 nights, always choose 3. We stayed in ‘Elephant’ which was the last room in the camp. The room was spacious, the bed comfortable & so was the bathroom. Every day the superb housekeeping team would tidy up our room twice & the heater would be turned on so we would come back to a warm room after dinner. Our days at MW consisted of early morning & late afternoon game drives led by our awesome Guide Sinhle & Tracker Patrick. We learnt a lot about the animals, the land and everything that made Kruger/Timbavati magical. There were breaks to have a morning coffee and an afternoon Gin & Tonic etc in the wild. We saw the big 5, numerous Antelopes, Zebra, Giraffe, Warthogs, Hyenas and many more amazing animals and birds. Thank you Sinhle & Patrick for making it unforgettable. The food at MW is amazing. Delicious breakfasts, lunches & dinner around the boma just made the experience even better. MW’s greatest asset is their staff. Friendly, always smiling, telling us jokes, singing songs & just spreading their positive energy. To the reader – Book MW! You won’t regret it. You will be sad to leave but you will be planning your next visit as soon as you depart. PS – We were in MW in July. There were ZERO mosquitoes. But we carried repellent anyways. I guess it all depends on when you visit. Also, carry warm clothes (hoodie & beanie) as it gets cold on the morning drives.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Unbelievable attention to every detail, food was gourmet, all fruits and vegetables grown locally . The staff attended to every detail, even changing our tire! Sean and Henry were our guide and tracker. They were so knowledgeable about every species and gave us ample time with each animal. The reserve strives for animal conservation and preservation . U will not be disappointed
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Had an absolute amazing time here. The food, the staff and the guides were super helpful and made sure that all our needs are taken care off.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Great property and safari - The stay was absolutely amazing, primarily because of the staff who made the extra effort to make our stay special. The lodge itself is beautiful and has enough game around to keep safaris interesting. Our ranger, Weinand was especially dedicated and relentlessly pursued tracks to spot animals. Simply because of his patience, we were able to spot rhinos, lions etc. in the thick bushes simply by tracking footprints. I have been on 5-6 different safaris and Weinand is easily the most dedicated ranger I have been with. Food was incredible, with enough variety and a good view from the Veranda. Will happily come back again for a longer stay and request for Weinand as the ranger.
• Daisy (10/5): True safari experience! - An amazing overall experience where you get to experience a real safari. Friendly guides/trackers and amazing food for being so far from the city. Cozy lodges that are all themed by animal names.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Wouldn't change anything at all. Great first safari.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - I wish I stayed there for a couple more days. It's a life time experience..
• Verified traveler (10/5): - We had a fantastic experience in Motswari. Stayed for 2 nights and did 4 game drives. Our guide Gina and our tracker Difference were both fantastic and made sure we always had a great time. We managed to see all the big 5 and much more. The food is also a highlight. Plentiful breakfast, homemade lunch and candle lit dinner were all fantastic. Only problem is that the food is so good that you end up eating way too much! The lodge doesn't have a fence and animals can wander around freely, which is great! All the staff really care about the animals, which we found inspiring. A point worth noting is that there is no cell phone reception and WiFi is available only in the communal areas, but this is probably for the best as it gives you the opportunity to truly disconnect. All in all, I wouldn't think twice about booking with Motswari!
• Chris (10/5): - Great stay with wonderful staff. The room we had (Buffalo) was large and plenty of space for 2. Our guide and tracker (Andries & Petro) were wonderful, so friendly and knowledgeable. We had so much fun with them and saw all the big five and more. The food was great and all items about this property was fantastic. Highly recommend and would definitely stay again.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - We loved Motswari!! Amazing staff. Amazing service. Amazing safari experiences. Just an outstanding holiday.
• Verified traveler (6/5): Overpriced for what it is - Average. Overpriced for what it is. They messed up our transportation pick-up and left us waiting for hours at the airport.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - It’s a lovely stay. Room was clean and comfy. Food really much better than I expected. Our guide was Danell and tracker was Lot. They are so professional and took really good care of us. Thank you for everything. Definitely will go back again.
• Gregory (10/5): African game park satisfied customers - The staff and tours provided could not have been any better. We were totally satisfied with this property and the people who looked after us. We will return.
• Stefan (10/5): Amazing safari, great food and friendly staff - This was our first safari, so we have nothing to compare it to... but we can't imagine being more satisfied elsewhere! We stayed 3 nights and did 6 game drives and one bush walk. Our guide, Wienand, and our tracker, Pedros, were both great! Wienand was very knowledgeable and full of fun facts and good stories. We saw the big five and plenty of other interesting wildlife. Parking the vehicle within 3 meters from a pack of lions was definitely one of the highlights! The lodge was overall very nice, although some spots would probably need to be up for refurbishment within the next couple of years in order to not look too worn down. You are not allowed to walk outside in the dark and there is no WiFi in the rooms, so make sure you get your internet fix during the day. All the food provided was fantastic – no risk of ever being hungry for more than a heartbeat!
• chad (10/5): Beautiful way to explore Kruger - Amazing and luxurious lodge in the heart of Kruger National Park. Stayed for three action packed days in a private and breathe taking villa. Comfortable bed with with AC and a moxie net. Food was nice and we really enjoyed the open truck safaris. The highlight is the staff. Anything we needed, they made sure we had it. Everything was taylored specifically to us. Can’t wait to go back.
• Katrina (10/5): Fabulous 2 nights on our honeymoon! - We spent two nights here on our honeymoon and loved it! The staff kept us with the same guide/tracker & guests for our game drives which was perfect so that we all saw the same thing/could focus on what else we wanted to see for the day. Shaun and Tiyani were amazing and somehow saw all of the big 5 in just 4 drives! Wish we could have stayed longer! This safari camp is perfect at the price point! with comfortable & spacious accommodations, tasty food and kind staff. I would note that the meals are buffet style and not a la carte ordering. Not a problem for us but for some they may prefer more customized meals.
• Dianne (10/5): Amazing experience - Our family stayed there during the Christmas holidays. We are a party of 6 with children ranging from ages 8 - 13. We all had a fantastic time and wished we could stay longer!
• Anne and Steve (10/5): An amazing experience - This is the most incredible holiday experience. The accommodation is excellent, the food outstanding and the staff could not be more helpful and welcoming. The game drives are awesome with knowledgeable trackers and guides.We have stayed here three times and will definitely come back!
• Martin (10/5): Great first safari experience - Staff was super friendly and food was good, it was simple and well executed. We thought the whole setup was perfect for.a.safari, it's clean and comfortable but not luxurious and it's what you want when you are in the middle of.the bushes. The room was clean and you can drink the water they give you. 0 mosquitoes at this time of the year. Our guide Andris was fantastic, very knowledgeable and always in a great mood. We were able to see the big 5 although it seemed hard to see lions we got to see two. We even saw a pangolin, a very rare animal. Wi-Fi doesn't work they really need to work on that
• Ben (8/5): Great safari and guide - limited mod cons - Good stay but the wifi was pretty much no existent and no TV - in fairness not the reason you go on safari but still disappointing.
• Mark (8/5): Great wildlife interaction - In general it was a great experience, but there were some minor points of frustration. We drove from Pretoria and had a difficult time finding directions. The resort did not respond to emails and Google ZA directions ended in a local town. Also, wireless was not available at the resort which would be fine if it was not advertised as being available. Other than those minor inconveniences, I would recommend this resort and hope to return some day.
• Lillian (10/5): A must stay luxury lodge in the wild - Absolutely amazing place. We stayed for 2 nights, we booked one but loved it so much we extended our stay. Everything about Matswori is amazing. The people are phenomenal and incredibly helpful, you can tell everyone loves being there. The guides are so knowledgeable about the game, and go out of there way to make sure your game drive is the best. The food is delicious, we've never eaten so much good food. And the hotel itself is adorable. Animals wander right into the camp, so you can watch elephants from your porch, kudu at breakfast and warthogs by the pool.
• Natalie (10/5): Outstanding! - We visited Motswari Geiger's Camp for our honeymoon and had a wonderful time! We stayed for three nights and were looked after exceptionally well by all the camp staff. The chef, Grace, was lovely and the food during our stay was delicious- some of the best meals we have ever had. Perfect fillet steak and delicious desserts! The camp staff looked after our every need- Octavia and Ronnie made us most welcome. Octavia organised a lovely dinner for us on our last night on our terrace and had the room decorated beautifully. The room was always spotless for us returning from our drive. In one word the camp was luxury! Now the safari- we had a fantastic time with our guide Angie and tracker Tiani and managed to see so much more than we expected. Mating rhino, wild dog undertaking a kill, a lion digging out its prey and leopard on two occasions. Angie was great company and joined us for dinner at the camp which was lovely. We were lucky to get on really well with another couple on our game drives which made our experience even better. Overall this was fantastic, we could not have asked for more! The staff are amazing and we hope to return in the future!
• KERRYN ELIZABETH (10/5): Amazing lodge - All staff remembered and used our names always. The excellent guide Richard and tracker Jackie made our trip better than we thought possible. Their obvious knowledge and care for the animals was appreciated even if it meant not seeing an animal, not chasing it and causing it stress (as I experienced at another lodge). They always took the time to explain about the animals, going slow and stopping even for the little ones & birds (not expecting that eveyone just wanted to see the "Big 5"). I loved the option of eating the evening meal with your group and guide, a good chance to get to know each other and discuss the day. Meal choices and room were excellent. Only problem I had was that my stay at Motswari was too short!!
• Verified traveler (10/5): Safari done proper - Outstanding personnel and the whole operation has an approach to viewing and respecting the wildlife you can feel comfortable taking part in. Looking after rookies in the bush is probably harder than we give credit - but at Motswari it was done well and our comfort and safety was well looked after.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Everything was fantastic. Food was delicious, rooms were luxurious and the game drives were superb.
• Aline (10/5): Amazing Game Reserve Experience - Motswari was an amazing choice! The staff were so nice and helpful. Everyone comes to introduce themselves to you and learn your name. The food was really delicious; you get three choices and it is served in different and exceptionally prepared locations. We loved our Game Reserve Guides (Angie and Goodmen). They were both so knowledgeable and passionate. We felt very safe, yet we got to see many of the animals up close. I would return to this same hotel without thinking twice!
• Verified traveler (10/5): Great Game Reserve - Great game reserve. The food was very good. Service was great and very warm hospitality. Our guide and tracker were excellent and we got to see a lot of animals (including all the big 5) on our safari. Only complaint is the bugs (mosquitoes, ants) - but you are in Africa and that can't be helped, really not the hotel's fault in any way. And they do provide bug repellent lotion and mosquito nets in the room.
• Heather (10/5): Luxury in the Wilderness - We had a fantastic time at Motswari. It was a 5-star safari experience worth every Rand. The private guides were exceptional and knew where to spot the wildlife. And the food was divine. I'd definitely go back and stay longer!
• Ayesha (10/5): Perfect Safari Game Reserve - Amazing private reserve for safari in Kruger National Park! Welcoming, warm, knowledgable, and helpful staff. The game drives were lovely with plenty of animal sightings. Every meal with delicious and different daily during our stay. Beautiful rooms with relaxing terrace, clean modern bathrooms, great decoration. Cannot wait to go back!
• Anne & Steve (10/5): Perfection - This was our second visit to Motswari. As previous, the location was perfect, the staff couldn't be more helpful. Food and drink excellent but the game drives were once again unbelievable. The guide and tracker make incredible efforts in tracking, finding and following game. Very knowledgable and full of enthusiasm. What the tracker spots, particularly at night with a sweep of a torch beggars belief. Like many other guests there, we will be back again. Steve & Anne
• Verified traveler (10/5): Great safari, delicious food, friendly staff - The safari drives are the reason to choose Motswari. We saw Amazon. Animal interactions during our 3.5 hr drives (twice a day), and the coffee / sundowner breaks are great. The staff is all very friendly, and we enjoyed all of our meals. The bathrooms are a little dingy, but this is probably due to minerals in the water. Overall the rooms were clean and comfortable.
• Nicole (10/5): WOW! - What an amazing experience! The staff is so welcoming and accommodating and work hard to create an environment of eco-friendly fun. I appreciate how much they were willing to teach us about the game reserve and wildlife and the history of Kruger National Park in relation to the Motswari. Fantastic safari tour, best safari vehicles I've ever seen!
• Keith Halstead (10/5): Great time on safari - We really enjoyed our stay at the Motswari Lodge. Located one and a half hours from the East Gate Airport. The private reserve allows you to go off road to discover or follow animals. The remote location adjoining Kruger National Park is ideal for viewing animals. The staff and the meals at the resort were terrific. We would return to this lodge.
• Alison (10/5): Fabulous place to experience a safari - Wonderful place, Rangers, trackers and staff. Excellent food in terms of quality and choice and lovely wines / beers. Loved every minute and would love to return again. Been to other ( more expensive) camps in the area and this one is much more relaxed and enjoyable.
• Christine (10/5): Fantastic stay and want to come back soon! - A fantastic stay. Well organised, brilliant staff both at the lodge as well as on the drives. Marka and Petro were fantastic on the drive and we had a member of staff always hosting us in the evening. Location was excellent with elephants walking past the pool as well as behind our room! At night time, we were escorted to and from dinner and they even wake you up in the mornings. As I said, a fantastic stay with excellent food and staff. Great place for our first safari and we were not disappointed. Want to come back soon!
• Patricia (10/5): Excellent Lodge - Very nice, relaxing stay at Motswari. Everything about this lodge is top notch. Highly recommend.
• Peter (10/5): Great experience - Our room was wonderful, strewn with Boganvilliea flowers for our arrival and the staff working at Motswari were all so friendly and interested in our days' experiences. Our safari guide & tracker, Henry & Patrick made our adventure memorable and informative. We saw so much on each of the safaris, varying each time we went out.
• Ilana (10/5): Best getaway I have ever had! - absolutely amazing! everything, staff, room, game drives, food, management, grounds. I would give more than 5 stars if I could
• Verified traveler (10/5): Motswari is a home run - the hotel is located in Timbavarti Game Reserve which is adjacent to Kruger National Park. There are no fences between the reserve and the park and there are no fences at the hotel. Animals roam free and they also enter the grounds of the hotel which was fantastic. The hotel staff is superb and so was the food. Our driver and guide were friendly and professional. We saw the big five plus dozens more. We had a great experience.
• Kash (10/5): A fantastic stay! - We stayed for 4 days at Motswari Reserve's Geiger Camp. It was an amazing experience. Superb service at the camp, delicious food, superb game drives with an expert guide - all at a very reasonable price for a 5-star rated location.
• Nick (10/5): Magical - Motswari (Geigers Camp) is truly 5 star luxury in the bush with a genuine rustic feel. Nothing is too much for the staff, by the conclusion of our stay we felt like family. The accommodations, food and game drives exceeded expectations which were set high. For anyone who seeks classic safari luxury in the bush with 1st class game viewing and Michelin quality meals this is your place. An amazing experience that left us feeling like we were kids again. Highly recommend and will definitely return...hopefully soon.
• Jodi (10/5): Outstanding experience. - The staff was incredibly service oriented, accommodating, and knowledgeable. The safari guides were terrific. The food and beverage manager made sure all our dietary requests were taken care of. We were delighted. What a great experience.
• TB (10/5): Amazing stay... - From the moment we arrived at Motswari we felt special.... From the welcome at reception desk to tracker helping with the luggage to our room. The rooms are small but comfortable and clean. The bathrooms cater for all needs, even special bath salts to help relax. The highlight of our trip were the game drives! Dave and Tiyani were amazing, their knowledge of the park and animals is outstanding. Thank you Dave for making every single game drive exciting (even when there was nothing to see) and for great company. Dave is kind,helpful and always attending to our every need. Dave gave us 5 star service, thank you very much!! The food was awesome too - breakfast was amazing!! The set up in the boma area was well thought out and the staff were friendly and very helpful. The Manager Dave was attentive to our needs and managed the lodge well. Thank you to all the staff at Motswari - you made our stay so memorable!! My only regret is that I did not buy the Motswari Game book in reception - but this is my reason to return.....
• Glen (10/5): Safari Paradise - Nice people, nice place, nice food. You cannot fault Motswari. Shaddy and Tyani showed us the big 5, Leopard 3 days in a row!
• Niraj (10/5): Awesome Stay - Wonderful resort. Staff take the extra effort to make us have a wonderful stay. Very friendly and knowledgeable team. The Safari experience was amazing. Harrold and Difference who were our guide and ranger respectively, had good knowledge of the safari and were committed to making us have a good experience
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Wonderful and personal environment. Highly recommended. Great staff
• Tracey and John (10/5): Perfection - One of the best weeks of travel we have ever experienced in 30 years - Big 5 easily seen, open top jeeps and fantastic driver (Richard) and tracker (petros) meant we got up close and personal to so many animals it was beyond our expectations. But what made this a magical experience was the staff and facilities at Motswari - gorgeous food and drinks all day included, dining in 3 different outdoor areas, happy and friendly staff that made it a pleasure to stay there for the week - David and Thea should be commended for how they make Motswari like a home away from home. We were lucky enough to have Elephant Room which had it's own private patio and sun loungers overlooking the waterhole so we had hippos, water buffalo, crocs and impala visit just meters from the patio and of course a whole host of other animals wandering through the camp every day. We had the most amazing stay - do yourself a favour and choose Motswari for your safari
• Craig (10/5): Wonderful staff; facility fine, not perfect - What made this place memorable were the staff, particularly the tracker and driver/guide (Jackee and Josh). We had incredible close-up views of all of the Big 5 (Leopard, Lion, Elephant, Rhino, and Buffalo). The tracker and driver/guide were very knowledgeable in their craft, and Josh's English was easy to understand to this US English speaker. Those booking here should understand that this reserve is probably the most remote lodging that exists in Kruger, over 90 minutes from the nearest airport (Huidspruit), and over 3 hours from Nelspruit and over 7 from JNB. The food was surprisingly good and fresh given the reserve's remote location. The management staff speak easy to understand "BBC English" as well as high/standard German and Schwyzerdeutsch (we saw a lot of guests from German-speaking countries). Some areas which could be improved include the hot water in the showers which kept changing in temperature, the internet connection which was glacial in speed when it existed at all, and the pool, which was unheated. Since I would assume most guests come in the winter/dry season, when big game can be sighted, the pool is essentially decorative in nature due to its cold temperature. Although the resort is almost straddling the Tropic of Capricorn, it gets very cold at night, down to 6C or lower, so the temperature of the water was around 15C despite highs during the afternoon to 25C. Be sure you get detailed directions from the staff prior to leaving.
• James (10/5): Outstanding - 3 night stay with 2 teenagers (17 and 14), we all had a truly amazing safari experience we shall never forget! Saw the Big 5 by end of 2nd game drive and again later in stay we saw all Big 5 plus hippos in one drive! The game drive guides, hotel, rooms, service and welcome were all of an extremely high standard. We cannot recommend Motswari highly enough and will undoubtedly return at some point in the future.
• Vinicius (10/5): Impressive. - I was expecting a lot from Motswari. And as you might know, high expectations usually come together with huge disapointments. Not in this case. Motswari is fantastic in all points: Excellent food and I mean excellent fine dining food, amazing service, great Safari, rooms are excellent and also is the bed. Just loved everything. Thanks to motswari and to our guide Rich and tracker Petrus... We had a great time.
• Jared (10/5): Magical place - Food was awesome. Bungalows amazingly comfortable. Service impeccable. Then there is the actual reason you are there-the game drives and safari experience for which I could not imagine a better place. Thrilling game drives both from the 4wd itself to the thrill of the scenery and animals.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Fantastic experience! - This trip exceeded our expectations. The staff at Motswari were very well coordinated and helpful. Ever since the initial booking, they put us at ease with their professionalism and hospitality. The game reserve itself is beautiful and overall, it was a fantastic trip!
• Verified traveler (10/5): Excellent in every way! - Great service, great food, and great game drives!
• Rod (8/5): Great hotel and great staff - Fantastic holiday for the family - the trackers made all the DIFFERENCE - considering you spend 7 hrs a day in the jeep - they were so knowledgeable and good fun and tracked all the big 5 for us - we had a brilliant time - thank you Herald and Difference
• Phil (10/5): Real "bush" experience - If you want a real authetic wild bush experience, then Motswari is the right place. It's rustic and all about being there. No TV's in the place. No fence or fakeness here. It's all about the great drives with expert and personable guides and trackers in very new comfortable range rovers. But not for the faint of heart. This is the real thing. The only real super comfort or luxury I would mention is that the food isexceptionally good by any standard.

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