Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa

We had three wonderful days at Mhondoro! Tish - an amazing ranger - took care of us during our stay. And what shall I say?! She was THE best ranger I ever met. Amazing knowledge, great eye for photography, calm and personal. I've been on quite a few safaris in my life but that one was beyond. Tish has such a connection with the animals. We had some outstanding moments there. In addition the service was also great, everyone was so courteous and friendly. Food was also really amazing, the view, the reserve. All in all ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From the moment we arrived at Mhondoro Lodge, our holiday felt like it had truly begun. The welcome at reception was so warm and efficient, setting the scene & tone for the upcoming experience for our family. The staff at Mhondoro is exceptional. Every single person we encountered was attentive, friendly to ensure our comfort and enjoyment. The lodge facilities themselves are nothing exceptional - from the beautifully rooms to the common areas, everything is designed with incredible attention to detail. We particularly enjoyed relaxing by the pool and taking in the breathtaking views, including the elephants coming by (aka “pool ellies”). A special mention must go to our guide, Tish. Her passion for the bush was infectious, and her expert knowledge of both the animals and the flora was truly impressive. She patiently answered all our questions, pointed out details we would have otherwise missed, and even helped with DSLR camera settings and telephoto lenses to capture the perfect wildlife shots. Tish made every game drive an exciting and educational adventure. The game drives were, of course, a highlight. We saw an amazing array of animals in their natural habitat, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Finally, the Boma dinner under the stars was another unforgettable experience, with delicious food and a wonderful atmosphere. In summary, our stay at Mhondoro Lodge was exceptional in every way. The outstanding staff and everything else – from game drives to the spa - made this a holiday we will cherish forever.

If there is one lodge you should visit on Safari it is the Mhondoro Safari Lodge. Exceptional from the moment we were greeted at reception by our hosts, to the amazing safari experience, to the luxury befitting the awesome lodge, to the staff attention and service. it was friendly, it had a great vibe and me and my family would all highly recommend this magnificent lodge to anyone who is thinking of going on safari. It was truly the best experience as a family we have ever had and we have had some great ones. My adult children want to come back with their children someday to make the same memories.

We had a wonderful stay at the Mhondoro Lodge! All the staff tried their best to ensure our stay was a pleasant one. During our three-day stay, we celebrated our engagement. The Mhondoro staff helped me plan the engagement in advance and organized the perfect decorations. Many thanks to the entire team for this wonderful experience!!! :)

We had a wonderful time at the lodge: our guide (Chad) was so enthusiastic and knowledgable and we saw a lot of animals. In addition to that the food was amazing and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful! The suites were also very nice, maybe a little brush-up is recommendable as they are not brand new anymore.

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