Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge

There are 8 luxury suites at Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge. All are cosy and warm, nestled in the heart of the bush and surrounded by sweeping plains and overlooking the Marico River. The suites all contain a lounge area, bedroom, and ensuite bathroom, as well as a private decking and are decorated in an authentic safari chic style, with traditional art, polished wooden floors and exposed thatch ceilings.

The bedroom is glass-walled, immersing guests in the luscious bushveld which surrounds them, and filling the room with bright, natural light. A comfortable bed sits in the centre of the room and is covered in plush duvets and pillows, and crisp white bed linens. Next to the bed is a huge stone fireplace, which will keep guests cosy and warm on colder nights. A lounge area with snuggly chairs has a completely open front, which fills the suite with fresh South African breezes.

All suites come complete with their own ensuite bathroom, which has the option to be open-sided, bringing the outside elements in. A large claw-footed bathtub sits in the middle of the room, perfect for a relaxing evening soak, and the bathroom also includes an indoor shower as well as a unique outdoor shower.

The private decking offers guests the ideal space to relax after a long day, gazing over the sparkling river, keeping an eye for any meandering animals, and watching as the pink sunset tones fill the air.

Meals at Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge are prepared by talented and imaginative chefs, and reflect a delectable mixture of European and African cuisines. Breakfasts are eaten with your game drive guide for the day, allowing you to enjoy a continental or English breakfast while discussing your day’s plan for adventure.

Lunches are usually buffet style although there are some dishes which can be ordered. Dinners are 3-course meals, a la carte. Meals can be enjoyed in a variety of places such as around the crackling boma fire pit, out on the main decking under the stars, or in the privacy of your own suite.

Most dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice. Meals come paired with some of the finest classic South African wines from Makanyane’s very own wine cellar. Guests can ask for the best pairing, or can visit the cellar themselves to choose their own wine.

Guests can head out on two game drives per day in the comfort of a custom-built 4×4 safari vehicle. With a knowledgeable and friendly guide travel through the Madikwe Game Reserve, looking for wild animals such as elephants, lions and hippos lounging in the waters. The first game drive heads out early in the morning when the bush is lively, so guests will be able to see the bush at its prime.

The second game drive heads out in the late afternoon, and includes a traditional sundowner drink surrounded by the warm sunset tones before continuing the drive in the dimming light, experiencing some of the nocturnal creatures of the reserve coming out for the night.

For a more immersive exploration of the bush, guests can head out on a guided walk. A friendly and professional guide will be able to lead you in the footsteps of animals, and will be able to impart their in-depth wisdom of the flora and fauna of the bush. Without the disturbance of a game vehicle, see animals undisturbed and in their natural habitat.

This is also a great time to enjoy some bird-watching, with over 360 species of bird in this area, all you have to do is look to the treetops and see if you can spot some colourful feathers, or listen to the sound of bird song filling the air.

There is a sparkling infinity pool at Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge where guests can catch a refreshing dip while gazing out over the vivid bushveld.

A half-day tour to the city of Gaborone in Botswana can be arranged at an additional cost. Guests can enjoy viewing the main buildings of the city such as the parliament and bank buildings, before heading to Main Mall for a touch of souvenir shopping, and visiting the Old Naledi Township, which was one of the first settlements of the city.

Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge’s close location to Botswana means guests can enjoy the Botswana ‘Lady Detective’ Cultural Tour which follows the life of Mma Ramotswe, the heroine from the ‘No.1 Ladies Detective Agency’ books. Spend the day visiting locations from the books before finishing in the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Coffee Shop.

Since the opening of their first camp in Kenya in 1999, Sanctuary Retreats has been committed to responsible tourism and conservation. They aim to create long-lasting relationships with local communities throughout the African continent and select projects based on this potential. Working closely with communities to improve their well-being they identify “long-term, viable and self-sustaining projects that will have the support of our staff and visitors.”

Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge helps to support the local communities through various initiatives. One of these initiatives is The Makanyane Children’s Tree-planting Campaign where children and their parents in the local villages help to plant saplings in the reserve, having a hands-on impact on the conservation of the area. Most of the staff at Makanyane Safari Lodge are Tswana people, from the local communities. Through their pay, they help to support various dependents and create a more empowered community.

Rhinos are still under huge threat from poaching due to the persistent belief that powdered rhino horn can be used as a medicine, so “Sanctuary Retreats has partnered with Rhino Conservation Botswana Defence Forces and others to translocate 20 rhino, both black and white, from South Africa to Botswana where they will be safer from poachers.”

This project focuses on educating the local Botswana youth on the elephant’s importance in the ecosystems to help curb the ongoing struggle between humans and elephants. Sanctuary Camp guests and local school children can interact with the elephants during excursions meant to introduce the local children to the animals. “With a new understanding and appreciation for the elephants and their place in the local ecosystem, the children feel inspired to protect their future.”

Sanctuary Retreats operates in 7 African countries and has various conservation and community initiatives in each of them. One of these initiatives is the Bicycle Shops they support in Uganda, Botswana, Tanzania, and Zambia. This enterprise empowers these local women and provides them the opportunity to earn an income whilst helping their community, and involves second-hand bikes being sent to them from countries such as the UK, US, and Australia which the women then fix and sell to members of the community who need to travel such as health care workers and students.

Sanctuary Retreats work closely with Maasai communities in Kenya to help positively impact education, by building classrooms and sponsoring student school fees, developing community enterprise and encouraging conservation. They also have an initiative to introduce sustainable means to acquire clean water for local school students, with a similar initiative in Zambia and Tanzania.

Sanctuary Retreats has partnered with local schools in Tanzania, close to Tarangire National Park to provide “education and support for the next generation of conservationists.” Another school that is being supported here is Ilboru School for children with special needs. Local businesses have been supported in Zambia with eight local female artisans working in Sishemo Bead Studio in Nakatindi.

Through this, these women have a chance to improve not just their own lives but also their families. Sanctuary Retreats works more widely within the village of Nakatindi in Zambia, supporting their primary school by providing school lunches, refurbishing classrooms and building a medical clinic in 2013.

Sanctuary Retreats has partnered with the rural village of Sin Kyun in Myanmar. Working alongside the Chief of the village they have built a Middle School, a house for teachers, and provided emergency assistance during severe flooding.

Sanctuary Retreats “strives to improve the lives of the local communities in which we operate.” In Uganda, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp works in partnership with the Uganda Nursing School Bwindi helping to invest in and provide scholarships for students who will be the area’s future nurses and health care workers at Bwindi Community Hospital.

The Waiting Mothers’ Hostel in Uganda was created to provide vital support for expectant mothers by giving them a safe space to stay in the later stages of their pregnancy. The home has recently been expanded and a new wing added to include more beds so more women can be looked after before birth.

All the suites at Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge are designed to blend in with the natural environment and not negatively impact the surroundings. They are built with a conscious design and make use of natural materials such as stone, wood, and thatch.