Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa

What an experience! It was a surprise to me and my girlfriend from my husband and we loved it all. The safaris with our ranger Zaan was the cherry on the cake. She is so professional and determined to see as many animals as possible. The staff, the location, the food, the spa... we just loved it.

The best word to describe Mhondoro is magical. While the amenities are amazing, it’s the people who really make Mhondoro so special. On arrival, we were met with a delicious lunch and drinks at their welcome center. Renee was super welcoming, and the chef was so friendly and passionate about her job. I forget her name but I LOVED her. She walked us through her gardens and told us a bit about why she loves cooking so much. It was a really great addition to the trip. From there, our guide (we had Chad) drove us to the lodge. We were greeted with a song, a hand towel and a welcome drink from all the employees. We had a person assigned to us, Andri, who we could contact for anything we wanted - from scheduling massages, to stocking our mini bar and removing a mouse from our room. She was always checking in on us throughout our stay. The butlers - Jacob, Oupa and Isaac truly made the experience for us. They’re some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. They took the time to get to know us, and remembered our preferences. They always made sure we had everything we needed. We spent the most time with Jacob and Oupa and wish they were my friends. My husband really hit it off with Jacob during all the times I was napping or at the spa. We will really miss them! Chad was an incredible guide. He was often the first person on the reserve to find the lions and cheetahs. We saw literally everything - Lions, cheetahs, leopard, zebras, elephants, hyenas, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, buffalo and so many more. We saw cheetahs eating their recent kill and one of the male lions swoop in and chase them off. We learned so much from Chad - there wasn’t a question he couldn’t answer. He had our espressos made before our 530 game drive and packed us our favorite beers for the afternoon game drives. The stops for snacks and drinks were a really thoughtful addition. I had one of the best massages in my life at the spa. I ended up having two because they were so great. My biggest regret is I didn’t do more of them. Thank you, Gift! The food was so freaking good. I was full the entire trip. The head chef would come out often and ask how we were doing and made sure everything was perfect. The bomas were fun and delicious (we got 2 while we were there!). The chefs/cooks, the butlers and the message therapists would join in on the singing and dancing. I thought it was cool that they let the guides eat with us too. My only wish is we could’ve had Jacob, Oupa and Isaac join us for dinner :) The housekeepers were incredible. The first and last night they drew a warm bath and put flowers on our bed. Our bed was made twice a day while we were there and they restocked everything we needed without asking. Even the marketing team was great. Robbin and Ramon joined us for an afternoon game drive and we had a great time with them. It’s clear they are very passionate about enhancing the guest experience. It goes without saying - I definitely recommend Mhondoro and I’m excited to re

From the arrival at the reception area just out of the Reserve gate you are welcomed in a lovely location. The Lodge itself is amazing, an architecture that blends perfectly with the nature around. We stayed in a room with a private pool. The room is very spacious with lovely decor, the bathroom has a bath and a spacious shower (an outdoor shower is also present). We loved the outdoor space of our room with the heated swimming pool and the patio. Every room has great privacy. Food at the lodge was great, they serve local and fresh fruits & veg and the staff is always extremely helpful in trying to welcome all requests (thank you so much to the chef Betty for being so kind with our son and for making pancakes for him every morning, such a sweet treat!) The main swimming pool where the elephants come to drink is something incredible, and the tunnel which leads to a hidden viewpoint to see the animals is such a precious spot, amazing for both adults and kids. All the staff is very kind and always greets you with a smile, which made us feel very welcome. We definitely recommend Mhondoro for a once in a lifetime experience, it exceeded all our expectations, thank you for the most incredible stay.

This is our second visit, and it won’t be our last because my son and I absolutely love it here, especially my 8-year-old, who has been talking about this place ever since our last stay. The level of service is simply unmatched; we’ve stayed in many luxury hotels, but nothing comes close to the warmth and attentiveness of this team. Oupa, David, and Isaac are outstanding butlers who go above and beyond to make us feel welcome and cared for. My son especially bonded with Isaac on our previous stay, and we were thrilled to see him again. David, Oupa and Isaac’s kindness, patience, and enthusiasm made my son’s experience even more special. And Simon, the chef, is truly exceptional; every meal was prepared with such care and skill, it wouldn’t be the same without him. When I noticed some new faces, I was initially concerned, as our return visit was very much about reconnecting with the people who made our last stay so memorable. However, everyone was absolutely wonderful, and the kindness of the team was so evident. Renee, in particular, was a comforting presence. I was unwell during the first two nights, and she took care of everything, making sure my son and I had everything we needed. She was like a motherly figure, constantly checking on us with genuine concern, and I truly hope she’ll be there next year. Zaan was an outstanding guide, her patience and warmth with my son were incredible. Her knowledge of the reserve was unmatched, and she took the time to connect with him and make the experience come alive. As a single, busy working mom, holidays are precious one-on-one time for my son and me. He is usually very shy and reserved, but the kindness and encouragement from Zaan, Oupa, Isaac, and David brought out a happy, confident side of him that I rarely get to see. They truly took the time to engage with him, making him feel valued and special. We are beyond grateful for their kindness and dedication, and we are already looking forward to next year’s visit. This team has given us memories that will stay with us forever, and we can’t thank them enough for making this such a wonderful experience.

After four previous trips to South Africa, my husband and I wanted to bring our children and grandchildren there. Mhondoro was recommended as a malaria free game lodge that was family friendly. Our four days there were wonderful in every respect for our group of thirteen people, aged 2-78. The lodge and its facilities are excellent and all levels of staff are simply outstanding. Our rangers Tish and Chad led amazing game drives while Isaac and Jacob cared for us like well loved family at the lodge. . The food was by far the best we have experienced in all our previous game lodges. It is only two days since we have all been back in Canada but two people have already bought Marula and made ranger coffee at home! Plans are afoot to return - without question Mhondoro has left a very positive mark on each of us. I cannot recommend more highly.