Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa

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.

From the moment we arrived at Mhondoro, we were left speechless and even brought to tears more than once. Hospitality and customer service are at the heart of everything they do. We arrived as strangers and left with lifelong memories and friendships.||I’ll never forget Isaac’s warm smile as he welcomed us at reception and how beautiful of a scene was set with a farm fresh meal and glass of South African wine. My boyfriend and I realized this was going to be the African Safari we dreamed of.||Travel from reception to the lodge on a safari vehicle was the perfect start to our trip. We saw some of the Big Five on our way in! We were warmly greeted by a welcome song from the staff and Oupa's smile with a glass of homemade tea that was delicious. ||Every dish felt like a culinary adventure and as foodies from the U.S., we were blown away by what truly felt like five-star dining throughout our stay. The food and water were safe (such a bonus) and we were also in a malaria-free zone. The weather the first week of June was pure perfection, with warm sunny days and cozy, fire-lit evenings. ||The lodge itself, from reception to the rooms, was beautifully decorated with thoughtful details designed for comfort. We especially loved the romantic touches: evening turndown service and sleeping beneath a canopy of netting. Taking a dip in our private pool and using the outdoor shower during the warm afternoons was such a luxury. One unforgettable moment? An elephant stopped by for a drink from our pool at the Honeymoon Suite!||Oupa, Jacob, Isaac, Renee, and Andre truly felt like family by the time we left. Tish, our safari guide, made the early mornings worth it. She kept us laughing, taught us so much, and made it her mission to find all of the Big Five (though that elusive leopard managed to stay hidden!).||Sunrise "Rancher" Coffee and sunset happy hour stops while watching South African wildlife, will forever hold a place in my heart. The views and sounds of nature were magical. ||I mentioned in passing this was a 55th birthday celebration and on our final night, Renee and the staff surprised us with a special dinner by the fire, a song, and birthday cake. We shared stories and laughter - it was a truly memorable moment.||If you’re in the U.S. and feeling hesitant about booking Mhondoro, don’t be. It’s everything a luxury African safari should be and more. The people make it unforgettable. They’ll go above and beyond to make sure your trip is truly the experience of a lifetime.||Tips: Pick a room with a pool, pack warmer items for early morning and evening game drives in the winter months, and book a couples massage to relax. Wake up a bit early for fresh cappuccino and the beautiful sunrise, before the morning game drive. Don't pack a hairdryer - the one provided is powerful. 2 USB plugins are on either side of the bed, so you likely don't need adapters. Make sure to stop by the gift shop for treasures to take home. You'll definitely want a Mhondoro hat :)

Everything from start to finish was incredible. The staff was super friendly and helpful, the food was beautiful and tasted amazing, the lodge is stunning and the game drives were so much fun and informative. Thank you René, Jaces, Althi, Zaan, Patrick and everyone involved! It was an experience we will never forget.

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’ve just got home from the most amazing stay at Mhondoro! ||The lodge was absolutely beautiful, full of 5 star luxuries like our own private pool, gym, sauna and spa with amazing treatments. The room was beautiful with an amazing big bed and turndown every evening. They’ve even got to the effort to build a luxury farm at the reserve gates where you stop for lunch before driving to the lodge about an hour away - this in itself was like a 5 star hotel with showers, sofas etc and must be a godsend for those arriving straight off long haul flights. ||The food was incredible and you’re never left hungry, the chef and his team were also incredibly accommodating with my dietary requirements too. ||The staff absolutely made the stay, everyone was so friendly and warm they felt like friends by the end of the trip. Our guide Chad was absolutely incredible, his knowledge of the area and patterns of the animals was unrivalled and we were first to sightings nearly every single time.||Welgevonden is a great reserve, we had some amazing sightings and ticked off the big 5 in the first couple of days. The rhino population is huge, so we had some amazing sightings everyday of white rhinos (frequently at the lodge itself) we also saw a black rhino and leopards multiple times! The effort the park puts into conservation is amazing and is great going somewhere knowing that the welfare and protection of the animals is paramount.||We’d love to return one day in the near future!

We stayed at Mhondoro a few weeks ago and from the moment we arrived at the farm for our welcome lunch it was a wonderful experience. Welgevonden is beautiful, we had so much luck in seeing wildlife. Big Five included. The Lodge itself was amazing! Food was excellent. And not to forget the staff, they made our stay unforgettable. Tish had so much knowledge, her enthusiasm was infectues and tracking skills like no other. Andri made sure everything run smoothly for us. And Jakob: Keep those smiles! They brighten everyone's day. But, it's actually the whole team that makes Mhondoro, so thank you all!!!

What a magical place! Sadly we encountered a years rain in 2 months whilst we stayed here but that didn’t put anything past the fact that we were treated like royalty and our stay was amazing, all the staff were so welcoming friendly and helpful, the surroundings and the facilities were out of this world, and our guides they were the stars of the show, to start with Christian was amazing and so knowledgeable and then we had zaan (our kids favourite) she made the stay for them and was so informative and friendly and really did add an extra dimension to our stay, can’t wait to plan our next stay!

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.