The Amakhala Game Reserve is set in beautiful surroundings, offering a massive area and lovely scenery. If you have been following my blog for a while, you might remember that last year I visited South Africa to live out my childhood Lion King dreams. This time, instead of going solo, I took my mum along so she could experience an epic, safari experience too.
Whether you're seeking a romantic getaway or a family adventure, Amakhala promises an unforgettable experience. Here’s a detailed look at what makes this reserve a must-visit destination.
Accommodation Options
I chose a different lodge and here is my complete review of the Amakhala Game Reserve Bush Lodge.
Bush Lodge
You’ll get to stay in a tent when you visit the Bush Lodge at Amakhala Reserve. This is not like any regular tent. It’s glamping in the most luxurious way.
Your spacious tent is home to a cozy bed, bathtub, fireplace, desk and wardrobe area, and a few bugs because it kind of goes with the territory.
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The room is serviced during the game drives and they even draw you a hot bath in the evenings while you are out looking at the animals. When you return, you can relax and warm up in the tub before dinner. There is an outdoor shower as well and having a shower under the stars is a nice way to end the day. The only thing I think it is missing is a bathrobe, but, other than that, it’s got everything you need.
When you stay at the Bush Lodge, your tent comes with a deck and private plunge pool. Whether you want to relax on a sun chair and read, or pour a glass of wine and take a dip, you’ll be able to completely relax and unwind. There is also a larger shared pool by the main building.
Both have views that stretch out into the reserve, and one of the things I enjoyed doing was animal spotting from the pool. I was lucky enough to see warthogs, monkeys, antelope, and even a rhino!
Leeuwenbosch
We stayed at leeuwenbosch. We felt at home from the moment we arrived. The owners chatted to us every day, the staff were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble. We felt at home and part of the family!
For us as a family the house was perfect and our private terrace gave us a place to sit whilst the children played in the shade. We stayed in the old colonial house which was lovely and made you feel like you wanted to drink iced tea on the veranda for ever!
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Shearers Lodge
We had a look around shearers lodge, the finish is beautiful and would really work well for a more romantic stay.
Bukela Lodge
We enjoyed the cosy setting of Bukela lodge.
Game Drives and Wildlife
We had four game drives where we saw many of the big 5 animals. We particularly enjoyed seeing a lioness with her cubs. A highlight of our safari was a bush picnic as the sun was setting over the reserve.
Two game drives per day are included in your stay - one in the morning and one in the evening. You will likely have the same ranger for the duration of your stay, which is a treat because this way they know what animals you’ve seen, and what you haven’t. They also can keep track of what information they’ve already shared with you so you don’t end up getting the same facts over and over.
Our ranger was an endless fountain of knowledge and fabulous with the children. We saw the big five and so much more. The weather was perfect.
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My ranger was ‘Lynx’ and she was absolutely fantastic. From the outside, it seems like the job of a ranger means having a masters degree in multitasking. She could drive, answer questions, listen out for important announcements on the radio, and spot animals all at once. Not only was she a complete badass, navigating the 4WD tracks in all sorts of terrain while making it look easy, but she had a wide knowledge of everything in the reserve from plants, to birds, to the big game.
Intimate experiences with cheetahs, black rhinos and zebras were plentiful. Good variety of landscapes in a relatively small park with enough wildlife species in small herds/groups. Enough to see for three days - six game drives.
The reserve needs the active search spirit as the accidentation hides the wildlife. We enjoyed the wonderful ranger Andre for his perseverence that made us all eager to be the one to spot a 'prey', as we all did during day or night.
Dining Experience
The food was lovely, my husband gained quite a bit on weight !! It’s certainly a place where you are very well fed.
The buffet breakfast spread, with baked goods, cold cuts, exotic fruit platters, oatmeal, and yogurts, is an impressive meal on its own. But, just like a classic infomercial would say, ‘but wait - there’s more!’ You also get to choose a made to order breakfast meal with options like an omelet, big breakfast, French toast, or simple bacon and eggs.
There is a light lunch before the afternoon game drive where you get things like a wrap, burger, or quiche. When it comes to dinner, this is where you really need your stretchy pants. The 3 course meal every night will fill you up and also give you an opportunity to try unique, local foods like antelope, ostrich, or kingklip fish. Yes, I tried all these and they were all delicious, especially the ostrich. There were always standard and vegetarian style meals on the menu if you prefer.
One of the things that makes it special is that no detail is spared when it comes to the elegant setting. Each night had a different design, with different candle holders or decorations, and it was like observing a work of art each time I sat down for dinner.
Additional Activities and Amenities
If you want to add on something extra to your stay, you could visit the spa for a treatment or even add on an extra activity like a horse riding tour. I opted for a massage between game drives one day and it was heavenly. My therapist even asked me to look up at the window at one point because there was a family of warthogs getting a drink at the small waterhole outside. I can tell you, I’ve never seen anything like that during a massage.
There is also a small store where you can get unique souvenirs like a rhino t-shirt to help rhino conservation, ornaments for your home, or handmade beaded jewelry.
Cost and Value
When booking and comparing costs, the important thing to remember is that when you book at the Bush Lodge, your food, drinks, game drives, and accommodation are all included. During your stay, you only have to budget for extra add-ons and tips.
The awesome hosts, Athi and Brenda, who will make your cheeks smile from laughing so much and take great care of you.
Completing a conservation and immoblization medicine course through Brothers Safaris at Amakhala Game Reserve was a truly awesome experience.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I say that the Bush Lodge is absolutely worth staying at. I think the same for the Bukela Lodge where I stayed last time, and I’d hazard a guess that it’s the same for any of the lodges on the reserve. You’ll always get what you pay for no matter where you stay.
There are certainly larger parks and reserves, but we never felt restricted here. There was always a rush of excitement while looking for the animals, especially the lions. It was a great experience that I'll never forget. I'm proud to say that a few of my photos were used on this site, too!
Myself and my wife stayed here on our honeymoon. We had a amazing experience and would recomend it to friends, the staff are very knowledgable and helpful. They know the reserve wll and the pattern of the animals are so there is not too much trekking about.
Highly recommended...
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