Going on safari is not just for the bucket list, it can be a life-changing experience! There’s simply no better place to combine exhilarating game viewing with luxury and pampering, than Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa in the Waterberg.
Less than 3 hours’ drive from Johannesburg lies a veritable ‘Garden of Eden’. Close enough for a weekend breakaway, and yet far removed from city stress, Welgevonden Game Reserve stretches across 35 000 hectares of protected land. It is home to the Big 5 – lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant, and provides sanctuary to more than 50 different types of mammals, 2000 plant species and 350 bird species. It forms part of the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and is the ultimate ‘big sky’ destination with unimpeded sunrises and sunsets over mountains and valleys.
Within this malaria-free reserve, 5-star Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa is a fusion of African chic and edgy European design influences. Decorated by the Dutch co-owner, interior designer Myriam Vogel, the lodge features luxury accommodation, fine cuisine, passionate hospitality and service, and breathtaking views from wide decks and all rooms.
Private and exclusive, Mhondoro sleeps a total of only 24 guests, and includes a 2-bedroom Executive suite, as well as two Family suites. Most of the guest suites come with private, heated plunge pools. There is the ultimate romantic Honeymoon suite with a private spa pool and deck with a daybed overlooking the waterhole. The lodge is child-friendly, with a dedicated open-air play area protected by an elephant fence and an indoor playroom with games where children can enjoy themselves without disturbing other guests. Babysitting and special children’s activities can also be arranged.
Set apart from the main lodge, Mhondoro Villa is the ideal destination for families or groups of friends travelling together, and is also a popular destination to celebrate special occasions. The villa features a magnificent master suite and two additional bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, as well as a private gym and massage room, and a heated swimming pool with sun loungers. Exclusive-use rates includes all meals and house drinks, as well as a game-viewing safari vehicle with personal ranger and the services of a personal chef, butler and housekeeping staff.
Unique features at Mhondoro include a custom-built stargazing ‘star deck’, and a waterhole with underground game viewing hide that is connected with the main lodge by a tunnel. At ground level, the hide provides excellent photographic opportunities, as well as the excitement of getting really up close, anytime day or night, to elephants and other wildlife drinking from the waterhole.
Other lodge facilities extend to a gym and heated swimming pools for all year-round swimming. Mhondoro has received insta-fame globally (#poolellie) – thanks to remarkable social media posts of guests taking a dip while wild elephants stop by at the eco-friendly swimming pool for a drink of the clean, salty water. The dual treatment Spa Suite has a private, outdoor spa deck and bath where facials and massage treatments are offered, along with manicures and pedicures.
All operations at Mhondoro are based on sound, sustainable environmental principles aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the lodge. Waste is recycled and various other eco-friendly initiatives have been put in place. Mhondoro’s solar power installation has successfully taken the lodge operation off the grid to be self-sufficient in terms of all its electricity requirements. Adjoining Welgevonden Game Reserve, Mhondoro’s Eco-Farm grows fresh, organic produce for use at the lodge, with surplus produce donated to surrounding communities in need. Free-range chickens are also kept here to supply farm fresh eggs to the lodge. Farm tours are offered, providing guests with the opportunity to help pick herbs and vegetables and enjoy a freshly prepared organic lunch on site.
Guests can expect varied terrain, breathtaking landscapes and a diverse variety of natural habitats featuring the ‘Big 5’. Guided walks with trained game rangers are offered by special arrangement, providing an excellent chance of spotting these precious, endangered beasts in their natural environment. During early morning or late afternoon game drives guests may explore the rich and varied reserve, and enjoy a coffee stop in the bush, or toast the end of yet another unforgettable day with sundowners in the wilderness.
