Makumu Private Game Lodge | Klaserie Private Game Reserve
Welcome to the Home of Endless Views. Makumu, meaning "endless view" in the Xitsonga language, is a private game lodge located in the Big Five Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. It is an intimate oasis surrounded by the raw beauty, unpredictability, and untouched appeal of the African bushveld.
The lodge features six luxurious suites across three villas, accommodating a maximum of twelve guests. Each villa is inspired by the Bushman, Ndebele, or Zulu tribes and designed with unique cultural character. Every suite is spacious and includes a large King Suite and a smaller adjoining Impi Suite, ideal for families or friends.
To preserve the authentic, back-to-nature experience, all lighting is done using candles and lanterns. For comfort, each suite is fitted with international plug points, air conditioning and fans.
Game viewing is flexible and spontaneous, with expert guides offering morning and afternoon drives, bush walks, tracking and peaceful observation from a hide. A highlight is iThumbela, meaning “place to hide” in Xitsonga, a sunken photographic bunker beside a watering hole. It allows guests to capture wildlife up close as animals come to drink or cool off.
Makumu offers an unforgettable, immersive African safari experience.
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The bow and quiver of arrows will leave you in no doubt as to the theme of this room, from the earth colours of the bed cover to the printed bedding. Luxury suite featuring king bed with bath and shower en-suite.
6m x 6m, en-suite bathroom with bath & shower, walk-in closet, viewing deck with hammock
The bow and quiver of arrows will leave you in no doubt as to the theme of this room, from the earth colours of the bed cover to the printed bedding.
5m x 6m, en-suite bathroom with shower only, viewing deck
Please note: beds can be twin or King as per request
Decorated with a contemporary African theme, in bold and vibrant earthly colours, our Ndebele Suites offer warmth, solitude and elegance. It is the southern Ndebele’s typically striking, artistic and colourful flair that inspired these two suites’ décor. These beautiful geometric designs define a Ndebele household, celebrating the matriarch’s warmth, hospitality, personality and individuality within the community.
The Ndebele history began in the 1600’s when tribal leaders decided to branch out from what would become present-day KwaZulu-Natal and forge an independent and culturally autocratic community. Internal politics, however, would divide the clans into the northern (present day Zimbabwe) and southern sects that settled in the vicinity of what is now the Mpumalanga and KZN provincial boundary region.
Decorated with a contemporary African theme, in bold yet vibrant earthly colours, our Ndebele King Suite offers warmth, solitude and elegance. Overlooking the dry riverbed our luxury suite with bath and shower. King bed.
6m x 6m, en-suite bathroom with bath & shower, walk-in closet, viewing deck with hammock
Decorated with a contemporary African theme, in bold yet vibrant earthly colours, our Ndebele suite offers warmth, solitude and elegance. Overlooking the dry riverbed, this suite holds beautiful bushveld views.
5m x 6m, en-suite bathroom with shower only, viewing deck
Please note: beds can be twin or King as per request
Decorated in the theme of the Zulu, our King Suite offers spaciousness, elegance, unparalleled intimacy, and seclusion. Overlooking the camp waterhole, the game viewing holds spectacular potential, also offering a large bathroom en-suite.
6m x 6m, en-suite bathroom with bath & shower, walk-in closet, viewing deck with hammock.
Decorated in the theme of the Zulu, our Suites offers spaciousness, elegance, unparalleled intimacy, and seclusion. Overlooking the camp waterhole, the game viewing holds spectacular potential.
5m x 6m, en-suite bathroom with shower only, viewing deck
Please note: beds can be twin or King as per request
The bow and quiver of arrows will leave you in no doubt as to the theme of this room, from the earthy colours of the bed cover to the printed bedding. Leather, eggshell beadwork, bows and arrows were functional fingerprints which defined their simplistic yet inspiring way of life. Very few traditional Bushmen are alive today, but the legacy of these amazing people is still very much felt across the continent and is proudly showcased in our Bushman suites.
The various groups of San people colloquially known as “Bushmen,” are the first known people of Africa and the oldest culture on earth. Drawing from a deep pool of ancestral knowledge and legendary bush craft, the San were master survivalists, hunter-gatherers and herbalists living in a remarkable partnership with the land. With the arrival of the ancestors of Africans, as well as the colonial era, the Bushmen communities were forced into the drier and inhospitable Kalahari region, which would later become their heartland.
Decorated in the theme of the Zulu, our Zulu suites offer spaciousness, elegance and seclusion. Warfare and decoration were a central pillar within the Zulu tradition, and typical décor consists of spears and shields, as well as colourful beads. The vitality and energy of Zulu people, typified through dance, storytelling and a strong sense of identity is very much evident in modern times and in our Zulu suites. Overlooking the camp waterhole, the game viewing holds spectacular potential.
The vibrant legacy of the Zulu nation is attributed largely to the legendary figure of King Shaka (1787 – 1828). Shaka’s vision was to amalgamate the various communities scattered around the region of present day KwaZulu-Natal into one autonomous ethnic group. He achieved this largely by force and intimidation, creating the Zulu nation as we know it today. King Shaka remains a pillar of history and legacy within the southern African sub-region.
Property Facilities
Air conditioner, Bar, Children Friendly, Cinema, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Gym on property, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service, Outdoor Pool / Pool Deck, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking, Spa, Vegetarian
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Balcony / Deck, Bath, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Detached Private Bathroom, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En Suite Bathroom, External Shower, Fan, Heater, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Lounge, Mosquito Nets, Oil/Paraffin Lamps, Outside Shower, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Available Services
24-hour Security, Airport Shuttle (Available), Credit Card Facilities, Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Private Vehicle (Available)
Activities on Site
Big 5, Bird Watching, Fine Dining, Game Drives, Game Viewing Hide, Game Viewing, Game Walks, Helicopter Scenic Flights, High Tea, Massages, Night Drives, Rhino Tracking, Safaris, Scenic Flights, Walks (Guided)
Activities Nearby
Big 5, Bird Watching, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Game Walks, General Sightseeing, Helicopter Scenic Flights, Rhino Tracking, Safaris, Scenic Flights, Walks (Guided), Wildlife Tours, Wine Tasting
Book the lodge exclusively and enhance your experience with the Bush Cinema. Expert guides will escort you to a picturesque riverbed beneath Makumu, where lanterns create a magical atmosphere for an extraordinary evening. Enjoy a welcoming drink, Makumu Pizza by the fire, and settle into oversized beanbags for a unique cinematic experience surrounded by the African bush. The Bush Cinema at Makumu Private Game Lodge is the perfect blend of luxury, adventure, and wildlife immersion—an exceptional addition to your exclusive getaway in nature.
Enjoy a massage with stunning views and natural sounds of the bush....
Makumu offers guests basic exercise equipment for those who may miss their daily trip to the gym. Makumu also has an entertainment area in the main lodge where guests can enjoy a game of pool.
Another special treat for our guests when visiting us during the wet season, is our Bush dinners in an open clearing. This is where we come together to tell stories and share once in a lifetime moments with new friends. Only available for guests staying 4 nights or longer. Weather and season dependent.
Looking for a different photographic perspective? Makumu's ground-level photographic bunker offers the opportunity to be at eye level with the water to take spectacular shots of wildlife visiting the watering hole. Nicknamed iThumbela, loosely translated meaning “place to hide” in the Shangaan language, this is the perfect vantage point for the perfect shot!
Makumu Private Game Lodge is ideal for celebrating a honeymoon, an intimate wedding or a special occasion for up to 12 guests – offering you a private and relaxing
location to celebrate your special day. Makumu is also a favorite for special engagements. Tailored to meet your needs, stunning views and luxurious accommodation are
just a few of the amazing things we offer. Rates: Wedding Package Rate (excludes cost of accommodation) Nett and non-commissionable
Conducted twice daily or as you prefer, in open Land Rovers with an armed ranger and a tracker, normally conducted early morning and late afternoon to search for the more elusive and nocturnal animals by spotlight.
Game viewing opportunities abound. From the early morning birdlife as the sun peeks over the horizon, to our resident warthog family that frequents the lodge lawns during the day as well as the elephant herds that choose to quench their thirst in our swimming pool, there is always the possibility of a sighting.
Pearl-spotted owl, giraffe, hyena, wild dog, zebra, warthog, elephant and vervet monkey are among the frequent visitors — not forgetting a variety of antelope: kudu, impala, waterbuck and nyala.
“On foot, the pulse of Africa comes through your boot. You are an animal among others, chary of the shadowed places, of sudden quiet in the air” – Petere Matthiessen, The Tree Where Man Was Born
Join our highly skilled guides on foot to track big game in the surrounds, from antelope to elephant and experience the ultimate feeling of being one with the African bushveld.
A fresh footprint in the dust, the faint sound of a breaking branch, wet mud rubbed on a tree, the presence of birds or a sudden quiet in the air are all part of the tracking experience. The senses are heightened searching for clues, sounds or smells to indicate an animal is nearby.
Looking for a different photographic perspective? Makumu's ground-level photographic bunker offers the opportunity to be at eye level with the water to take spectacular shots of wildlife visiting the watering hole. Nicknamed iThumbela, loosely translated meaning “place to hide” in the Shangaan language, this is the perfect vantage point for the perfect shot!
Makumu Private Game Lodge supports Eco Children, a non-profit organisation that was initiate by the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve which focuses on hands-on environmental education and whole school development.
Experience one of our panorama route sightseeing and adventure flights by helicopter.
Spend quiet time in our hide overlooking the watering hole and watch as the wildlife come and go to quench their thirst in the hot African sun. For the more adventurous, the treehouse also provides guests with endless views of the Klaserie as well as the opportunity to spot wildlife from up high!
Dining at Makumu
Makumu is part of the Seven Group and we are lucky to have some amazing chefs in our kitchen.
The kitchen is undoubtedly the heart of the home and at Makumu our kitchen is exactly that! A warm and friendly gathering place, our open style invites guests in for a chance to peak in a pot and savour the pre-dinner fragrances while choosing a fabulous wine from our extensive list to compliment the upcoming meal.
Some of the chefs favourites include Ostrich fillet with berry and red wine reduction, venison poitjie and for the sweeter of tooth, white and dark chocolate mousse with chocolate crumb and chilli orange syrup – to mention but a tantalizing few! The greatest reward for any chef is the delight and contentment on the faces of those they serve!
Your Stay
3 Nights
Half Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Activities
Fast Facts
Lodge
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English, German, Italian, Xhosa
No. Rooms: 6
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife
