Monwana

We have travelled extensively in South Africa over many Years and with many good lodges in our portfolio. Monwana Game Lodge in Thornybush is simply the BEST LODGE EVER we have visited. This is judged on all relevant aspects of a Bush GAME safari: - location - game population to be reached - talents and knowledge of Rangers & Trackers - vehicles & general comfort while driving ( max 6 pax, good binoculars, seats, blankets/ponchoes, cold water/good coffee to go, suspension,driving style, safety etc.) -design of the lodge in general ( New, excellent architecture, fantastic building materials, wine cellar under the restaurant with glass ceiling) - design of the suites ( excellent, beautiful, functional, comfortable etc.) - food ( top of the range at every meal) - wine experience ( very well stocked wine cellar, wine tasting at high level, wines served to meals or at bar of outstanding quality ) - service ( staff extremely good, helpful, very skilled and with karisma) - safety ( very good safety and still close to the game population) - easy accessability ( Thornybush airstrip very close and Hoedspruit Airport 60 minutes on road away) It was from Travel Leisure : Worlds Best Awards extended the : No 1 Africa Safari Lodge 2024. It was so well deserved - It should be repeated in 2025 ! Over 3 nights we experienced more exhilarating game drives than ever before. This lodge and its staff is a "must" - and we will definitely return Else Beth and Sven Trautner / Denmark

This was my 3rd safari experience. I went with my wife and 2 daughters. Monwana Lodge was incredible. The rooms are luxurious, the main lodge overlooks a watering hole, so you can be enjoying breakfast while watching elephants bathe, the food is incredible, and the Thorny Bush area has animals in abundance (lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, zebras, etc.) - but it's the people that really makes this place shine. Almero, Nick, Robbie, July - Thanks for taking such care of us. You made our trip unforgettable! If you're considering staying at Montana - book with confidence. 5 Stars! -David

Monwana was a fantastic experience from beginning to end. The people were so lovely and attentive. Food was beyond exceptional and the rooms were spacious and comfortable. Great drives - of course saw the big 5 - we loved our stay there - total luxe and we were completely taken care of every minute of every day!

Our family spent six unforgettable days at Monwana Lodge in the stunning Monwana Residence, a nearly 5,600-square-foot haven perfectly positioned before a tranquil watering hole. From morning coffee to evening sundowners, we watched elephants, rhinos, hippos, and antelope gather — a breathtaking reminder of Africa’s wild beauty, right at our doorstep. The residence and lodge epitomize luxurious safari elegance. Every detail — from the curated décor to the woven safari bags and plush blankets in the jeeps — reflected thoughtful design and care. Monwana has mastered the art of anticipating every guest’s need, allowing one to simply arrive and be fully immersed in the experience. As seasoned safari travelers who have stayed at world-class lodges across several African countries, our expectations were high. Yet Monwana managed not only to meet them but to surpass them in every possible way. We were a three-generation family celebrating our parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, and the staff made the occasion profoundly special. Highlights included a beautifully arranged bush breakfast, complete with floral touches and a heartfelt card; a private braai on our residence deck cooked by our personal chef, Joel; and a surprise anniversary cake presented on our final night, adorned with sparklers and a “50” topper — moments we will cherish forever. Camp Manager Talitha was the heartbeat of it all — warm, gracious, and attentive, orchestrating a seamless and deeply personal stay. Chef Joel’s cuisine rivaled that of Michelin-starred restaurants, while Butler Phillip provided flawless, intuitive service. Glory, our housekeeper, maintained our residence with exceptional care and kindness. Our guide Alex and tracker Matimba were a world-class team. Alex’s knowledge, humor, and storytelling made every drive engaging for both safari veterans and first-timers, while Matimba’s skill and keen eye were extraordinary — spotting even a perfectly camouflaged chameleon at night, some 50 feet away. Their expertise led us to unforgettable sightings: not only the Big Five, but also the rare thrill of witnessing wild dogs on a hunt, followed by a leopard appearing from nowhere to steal the kill and carry it up a tree. It was pure National Geographic — live before our eyes. From coffee and Amarula stops at sunrise to sundowners under painted skies, and indulgent spa treatments with Phido and Ragna, every moment at Monwana felt designed to delight and restore. Monwana truly lives up to its ethos of #ComingHome. It is a place where luxury, nature, and heartfelt hospitality meet — and where we felt both profoundly cared for and deeply connected. We left with full hearts, lasting memories, and immense gratitude to the incredible Monwana team.

Thank you so very much for the most amazing stay at Monwana. Tommy and I loved every single minute. It really was coming home for us after being part of the corporate lodge so many years ago. The lodge is beautiful, our room was gorgeous, the food was absolutely delicious and the service was outstanding. Our butler July was awesome and looked after us so well and our guide Alex is a respectful, well mannered, upstanding young man. The game viewing was crazy! We saw so many leopards, 8 different ones and some more than once. The attention to detail and everything was perfect! Thank You!

Wow! What a fabulous experience we will never forget! From the moment we walked into Monwana, the service was exceptional. The water hole is an incredible bonus and within about an hour of arriving, a giraffe wandered over, assessed whether there was any danger, and dropped down to drink from the water hole. In the 3 days there, we saw elephant families, lions, and many other animals at the water hole. We had the pleasure of staying in the owners residence and it was just gorgeous. We literally had front row seats to the water hole. The food was outstanding.....AND importantly, our guide and tracker we super experienced and managed to track almost every animal we could think of including a leopard lying up a tree with his catch on another branch, wild dogs, lots of giraffes, zebras, elephants, etc etc. Thank you Monwana for a truly memorable outstanding experience.