Rhulani Safari Lodge

Our first visit to Madikwe Game Reserve and Rhulani. What a wonderful experience in every respect. Sean, our Field Guide, was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable, he even made the coldest morning game drive pleasurable and his amarula coffees are addictive. We saw so much from the small (leopard tortoise) to the Big Five and were able to observe all the animals close up. He had the ability to find something of interest, even when “scratching” around. Thank you Sean for making our game drives so enjoyable and memorable. The food was varied and delicious and beautifully presented and our server Priscilla was charming. Also to Michael who walked us home each night. A truly wonderful experience made possible by the Rhulani staff.Anneme44, UK

On a strong recommendation we carved a day out of our schedule to visit Madikwe (which we had never heard of), and as it was last-minute there were only a few lodges with available accommodation. We chose Rhulani purely for the great late-booking special rate, and we were absolutely blown away by the luxury, the attention to detail, the superb staff and the excellent food. From check-in (with warm, scented face cloths and a non-alcoholic drink served in the covered, outdoor lounge with a view of the waterhole) to our enormous private 'villa' with its own plunge pool and romantic, evocative styling, the lodge experience was exceptional. All of our meals were served with style and a tremendous view, and were fresh, tasty, and eye-catching. Having done Addo a few weeks prior, we were struck by how authentic our game drives were at Madikwe. Our guide, Sean, offered a wealth of information beyond the 'basics' about the park and the animals; he spend a great deal of time tracking lions during both our evening and daytime tours, and we learned a lot about their 'thought process' from his comments about the 'behavior' of tracks he was seeing. When we viewed any animal, he fully explained the reasons behind whatever it was they were doing (we're looking at you, wacky young elephants!). With tremendous persistence, he found a somewhat wayward male lion in the evening, and two females with cubs the next day. While our tours were not one animal after another in quick succession, we certainly felt they were the real deal, and a brilliant taste of the true safari experience. Coming back to Rhulani after our tours, for plenty of pampering (and that wonderful outdoor shower!) made this a five-star experience for us. Although it is not an inexpensive proposition, our next visit will certainly be of longer duration (3-4 days). We cannot wait to return!CleoV, Florida