Motswari Private Game Reserve by Newmark

Motswari, what can I say! This was definitely one of my favourite places to stay. I love the fact that there are no fences around the Lodge. Sean our guide, Edan our training guide & Elly our tracker. You guys made our time great. The wealth of knowledge that Sean shared with us was fantastic and Elly, what a tracker, spotting chameleons as we are racing to get back to camp, in the dark, flicking a light from side to side, then telling Sean to stop as he spotted one. We couldn't believe it. We just had the best time. Brillant people, brillant staff, brillant accommodation, brillant sightings! What more can one say, We will definitely be back. We highly recommend this place and will continue to do so.

We had stayed at another lodge Arathusa for 3 days and this was very different, more relaxed and spread out, villas smaller but staff more friendly, very European establishment, safari staff were exemplary, best we had, helpful, chatty and friendly, we saw all you needed to see including the buffalo which had eluded us, dinners good and breakfast sensational, really recommend it as great value/place, staff great

From the moment we arrived at Motswari we were made to feel welcome. All staff members introduced themselves with a warm handshake...and it wasn't long until those handshakes turned into hugs! Ofenste made sure that our group of 13 were comfortable, entertained and that every need was accommodated. He could not have been more attentive, flexible and communicative. Motswari is perfect for those who seek time in the bush disconnected from the day-to-day distraction of their regular lives. Initially I felt a little uncomfortable - no wifi except in 'the gallery', not being able to walk at night without a guide (the lodge is not fenced) dark yet beautiful bungalows. But it didn't take me long to appreciate the opportunity to rest and reset in a place that soon came to feel like home. The lodge and bungalows reflect the mission, philosophy and personal attention that is the hallmark of Motswari. Each bungalow is unique and interesting; each piece of furniture has been lovingly chosen by the owner. She is an artist and her art adorns many public areas. While the bungalows may be described as rustic, they are wonderfully comfortable and have every amenity one could need. We loved that our bungalow (Buffalo) had an outdoor shower, an indoor shower, a luxurious bathtub, and hanging basket chair on our patio. As others have mentioned, the rooms are dark and could be enhanced with a little more light for those who prefer. As I prefer an environment with natural light, I did not spend much time in the bungalow between the game rides, but rather chose to enjoy my down time at the pool or at the outdoor patios with other guests. The public spaces are comfortable and welcoming, and there is always a friendly face (such as Trust) nearby to offer drinks or conversation. Our group enjoyed delicious meals and many laughs together in various settings - a private room, the outdoor patio, the serene breakfast area, a boma and even a spectacular breakfast in the bush! While all the food (lovingly prepared by the team led by Head Chef Eugenia Mtungwa) was delicious, we especially enjoyed the variety of dishes served at lunch. And we eagerly anticipated the lunch presentation parade every day from the kitchen - multiple dishes of food presented joyfully with song and dance! The catering team were very attentive to our dietary needs and made sure that the celiac members of our group were treated to delicious gluten-free alternatives when needed. And there were ample choices for the vegetarians! Our game drives were a highlight. We had three knowledgable and personable guides (Jeremy, Owen, and Lola), and two masterful trackers (George and Hendry) who made sure that we saw the big five and lots more! As anyone who has been on game drives knows, part of the excitement and enjoyment is the chase and anticipation of coming across a 'find'. Owen, Jeremy and Lola used this time to teach us about the birds, the vegetation, the insects, and a plethora of

Amazingly friendly people, incredible diversity of wildlife, absolutely fantastic food, and just an all around wonderful experience. Big thanks to Owen and George for helping spot all the big 5 and much, much more! We would go back in a second!

We spent 3 nights at Motswari & couldnt have been happier with our choice. From the moment we arrived until we left we treated like royalty. The staff were outstanding, remembering our names, the food superb & more than ample, the rooms spacious & very comfortable. The game drives were informative & we saw the Big 5 along with a lot of other animals & birds. I must make special mention of our ranger Eden & Tracker Elly who were a pleasure to spend 7 hours a day with. I cannot recommend Motswari highly enough

Motswari was incredible! Our guide Owen, and tracker Elly, were the best. We were so bummed to have missed our connecting flight and therefore missed 1 out of our 3 nights here- however we were able to see the big 5 in just our first 2 game drives! On top of helping us see the best of the bush, they made us feel safe. The game drives were so amazing, as was our time back at the lodge. All of the food was delicious, and the presentation of meals was such a great experience. The accommodations were clean, spacious, and safe. Would recommend to couples and families alike!

Absolutely fantastic place to have your Safari Experience, we were there for 3 days in February 2024, our guide and tracker was Eden and Lot, they were brilliant, did everything they could possibly do to ensure we had a great safari, we saw the big five a few times whilst we were there, these two guys wouldn't rest until they got us to where we needed to be. The support teams at Motswari were also fantastic, again nothing too much trouble, food and accommodation were great. Would highly recommend***********

The Big 5 are there waiting to show you their world and the trackers and drivers will guide you to jaw-dropping up-close sights and experiences. You will be fed and watered with quality food served with charm. The GM and his team make you feel very much at home. You will not want to leave - we didn’t!

The Motswari team took our three generation party on six morning and evening game drives during the three night stay. Our guide Josh and tracker David were masters at finding wildlife and put significant effort into making sure we saw the big five and tracked leopards for about three hours to make the sighting. Especially memorable were the sightings of a rare white lion of a rhino and baby. Sightings included: Buffalo, Elephant, Giraffe, Hyena, Impala, Kudu, Leopard, Lion, Painted Dog, Rhino, Warthog, Wildebeeste and many others. The lodge itself, a series of thatched bungalows with separate viewing/sitting area and eating areas, provided well-appointed accommodation and a variety of outstanding breakfasts, lunches and dinners. A thank you to the staff for taking care of us so well and especially to Josh and David for sharing their depth of knowledge on the game drives. An experience of a lifetime for the whole family.