South Africa is a country of wonders – ordinary and human alike. From such exceptional array of marvels, one might be hard-pressed to handpick the best bucket-list of wildlife experiences for this holiday period. We had an opportunity to review Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa recently and it is by far one of the best options to consider.

Mhondoro is a luxury 5-star accommodation in Welgevonden Game Reserve, a malaria-free and Big 5 game reserve in Limpopo. Its main lodge and private villa have recently been rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2013.

Accommodation

The interior of its suites has been refurbished, offering a tasteful mix of African chic and contemporary design. We had an experience in one of the luxury pool suites – so luxurious that it didn’t feel like we were in the bush at all. The suite features an air-conditioning and fan, electronic safe, gas fire-place, king size bed, minibar, private bathroom with bath and separate walk-in shower, rain amenities, sundowner deck, umbrellas, views of waterhole and bush, and more.

The private Villa at Mhondoro is a luxurious yet comfortable home-away-from-home, perfectly suited as exclusive family or group accommodation. The exclusivity of the Mhondoro Villa means that all meals and selected local drinks are included, and it comes with its own private pool, a private gym, spa and yoga room, as well as a private game viewing vehicle with ranger, a private chef, a private butler, and housekeeping staff.

The Mhondoro Villa is booked at a fixed price for one to four guests. Additional guests are charged per the specified surcharge per season. The Villa boasts a magnificent master suite and two additional bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms. To accommodate a bigger group, the adjacent family suite may also be booked with the villa, accommodating two adults and two children, to dine up to 10 guests in the Villa.

What impressed us the most about this luxurious, child-friendly lodge was its new underground waterhole hide connected to the main lodge by a tunnel, offering an easy, safe and above all an exceptional opportunity to be amongst the animals drinking at the waterhole in front of the lodge.

Mhondoro is family friendly yet private and quiet to accommodate small groups to relax and explore the abundantly present wildlife during game drives. For those who prefer to indulge in ultimate relaxation or work up some sweat, the spa and gym are at your disposal, including a team of qualified and experienced beauty therapists. The pool, bar and lounge are available for guests.

Exceptional facilities

Mhondoro features great facilities including the main lodge, gym, curio gift shop, and more. The main lodge – masterfully decorated building – is the vibrant heart of Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa. It boasts an Africa-meets-Europe chic and contemporary design that invites guests of all ages and from all corners of the globe to make themselves at home.

The design and décor are modern and sophisticated, yet comfortable and welcoming, enticing guests to relax on the expansive wooden decks overlooking the waterhole and reserve, or to cuddle up in a cozy corner next to a roaring fireplace.

The main lodge and the Mhondoro Villa each feature a fully equipped gym where you can stay in shape while watching the wildlife activity. All the facilities are designed to make the most of the magnificent view of the busy waterhole where Welgevonden’s wildlife gathers to take a drink or a bath. It is the entry point to an adventurous 65-metre walk through a tunnel leading to an intimate underground waterhole hide.

If you’d like to take home a piece of Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa, their collection of African products offers mementos for yourself or souvenirs as gifts, catering to all ages. The Curio Shop stocks traditional African jewellery, luggage and interior design ornaments. The collection also includes modern South African design classics like the handcrafted Pichulik jewellery, a bespoke range of handcrafted necklaces and accessories made in Cape Town.

Also for sale is the Rain Africa collection used in the spa treatments and guest bathrooms. Rain products are made from indigenous plants that have been used since antiquity by African healers. Rain Africa creates handmade bath and body products using natural African ingredients. They are responsibly handmade with love and care for their customers, craftspeople and the environment.

Both the main lodge and the Mhondoro Villa feature heated saltwater pools. The elephants in Welgevonden have also taken a liking to the pools and you could be lucky enough to laze in the pool and watch the elephants come to drink from the pools. The pool decks are the perfect vantage points to marvel at the breath-taking wilderness scenery with unimpeded sunrises and sunsets over the Waterberg mountains and valleys.

Adjacent to the main lodge is the Spa Suite, which offers a quiet and secluded haven for those seeking inner peace. Guests can indulge in the moment and let a dedicated spa therapist treat them to a deep tissue massage, a hot stone massage or an aromatherapy treatment.

Mind-blowing wildlife experiences

Welgevonden Game Reserve is home to over 50 different animal species, including the Big 5. The diversity of habitats leads to a wide range of wildlife, and crossing the grassy plains you will see an abundance of antelope, from the largest eland to the diminutive duiker. Big cats like cheetah, lion and leopard are also regularly seen close to where the antelope are. Sightings of rare and unusual species such as brown hyena, aardwolf, pangolin and aardvark are best seen at night.

Over 300 bird species are found on the reserve, including the rare blue crane which breeds in the southern section of the reserve, early in the year. The rangers will tell you all about the wonders of the wilderness on bush walks as they take you up-close-and-personal with nature. Taking no chances with your safety, they will guide you on safe encounters with Africa’s renowned Big 5 –lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino –or with the many other species living within the reserve, such as giraffe, kudu, and warthog.

The guided bush walks provide the perfect opportunity to explore the flora and fauna around the lodge at close quarters.

For many, just being on safari in Africa is an experience in itself. Adding in Mhondoro star deck to this experience, as an exceptional vantage point to gaze up at the vast Africa night sky, will take romance to a whole new level.

From the private viewing deck of the infinite constellations, with very little light pollution in the area, you can look up into the Milky Way from where, on a clear night, you should be able to see about 2,500 stars. You will be able to spot the Southern Cross constellation with its two stars of Alpha and Beta Centauri, often referred to as the ‘pointers’ to help stargazers locate the asterism of the Southern Cross. The elevated wooden star deck has custom-made seating, with seatbacks angled at 45 degrees to allow for comfortable star-spotting. The high-powered telescope is linked to a sophisticated computer programme that enhances a thrillingly detailed search of the cosmos.

Recently, Mhondoro launched its new Overland Safaris product, offering bespoke, guided itineraries for small, private groups of up to 14 guests, to Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and around South Africa. Hosted by a dedicated safari guide, chef, butler and maintenance crew, up to seven guests may be transported in each of the two custom-designed Mhondoro Landcruisers. Enclosed for longer distance travelling, these comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles have sunroofs and charging points, but also convert seamlessly into open game-viewing vehicles with raised, pop-up platforms as roof height vantage points. Accommodation is provided in glamping tents with comfortable beds and crisp, fresh linen, set up in spectacular sites that include some unfenced, wild camping in nature reserves, complete with the basic comforts of a gas-heated hot shower and toilet facilities.

Mhondoro Safari Lodge is only a 2-hour 45-minute drive from O.R. Tambo International Airport, making it the perfect safari destination for those coming to South Africa via Johannesburg. Even faster is travelling by small plane as you’ll arrive in less than an hour and you’ll enjoy the breathtaking experience of flying over the Waterberg and Welgevonden Game Reserve en route.