Monwana

“Exceptional in every way!”

Monwana was one of the most incredible life changing travel experiences I’ve ever had, and what makes this place so special is the people. The level of warmth and attention to detail from every single person at the lodge was unmatched. The property itself is stunning, but what truly sets Monwana a… more

Monwana was one of the most incredible life changing travel experiences I’ve ever had, and what makes this place so special is the people. The level of warmth and attention to detail from every single person at the lodge was unmatched. The property itself is stunning, but what truly sets Monwana apart is the people. You can find beautiful hotels in many parts of the world, but the level of hospitality here is something entirely different. First and foremost, our guide Alex and tracker Lukas absolutely made this trip. I cannot say enough about them as a team. Alex is one of those people where you can immediately feel how deeply passionate he is about what he does. His excitement is genuine and contagious, and you can tell how much he truly respects and cares for the animals and the bush. We learned so much from him, not just about the animals, but also the landscape, the stars, and everything around us. Lukas was equally amazing. The two of them together created such a seamless experience that made us always feel safe and taken care of. It was also the little things that made such a difference, like stopping for a bush breakfast and seeing Lukas thoughtfully set everything up with beautiful arrangements using things from the bush. He even made us bracelets out of a tree vine, which was such a sweet and memorable gesture. They always remembered our preferences, like what we wanted to drink and what snacks were our favorites. Everything felt so personal and intentional. I truly do not think this experience would have been the same without them, and I feel so grateful that my first safari was with Alex and Lukas. Beyond them, every single person at the lodge was incredible. Philip, our butler, took care of us the entire time and somehow always anticipated what we needed before we even asked. We were completely spoiled. July, the food and beverage manager, made everything feel approachable and helped us with pairings that elevated every meal. Our housekeeper, Glory, was also incredible. The room was immaculate at all times, somehow refreshed multiple times a day in a way that felt seamless and never disruptive. I also had a massage at the spa with Phido and I am not exaggerating when I say I went into another dimension. To be honest, I usually don’t expect much from hotel spas, but she completely blew me away. One of the most unforgettable moments was a surprise bush bar experience they set up for us at sunset. There was a full bar, incredible snacks and desserts, and the most beautiful sunset view. Robbie and his colleague were so friendly and hospitable, and it was just one of the many moments where we thought “I cannot believe this is real life.” What really stood out to me about Monwana was how welcoming everyone was. Even staff who were not directly assigned to us greeted us by name and made us feel so at home. Talitha and Lara, the lodge managers, were always around with warm, smiling faces, making sure everything was running smoothly and checking in on us throughout our stay. Overall, this was an exceptional experience from start to finish. There is something truly special about the people here. Their slogan is “coming home,” which I admit sounds a little cheesy at first, but once you stay there, you realize it genuinely rings true. It really does feel like you are being welcomed into a family. Thank you Monwana for the trip of a lifetime. We will be back!

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“5 stars is not enough. I would give 100 stars!”

My best friend and I just returned home from our first ever safari and we stayed at Monwana. It completely exceeded our expectations and I can’t say enough good things about our experience. The rooms and common spaces were immaculate. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. Upon check in you have… more

My best friend and I just returned home from our first ever safari and we stayed at Monwana. It completely exceeded our expectations and I can’t say enough good things about our experience. The rooms and common spaces were immaculate. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. Upon check in you have dedicated staff for the entirety of your stay which really helped you feel like you were home. Our game driver Alex and tracker Lukas were so amazing and made our game drives truly magical. Every other staff member that we interacted with made us feel special and like family. We already want to go back!

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“Simply fanatstic in every way!”

Our safari experience at Monwana Lodge was unique, idyllic, and breathtaking in every way. We were a family of five adults visiting South Africa for the first time and experiencing our first safari. My husband was in poor health and partially confined to a wheelchair. Right from the moment we were… more

Our safari experience at Monwana Lodge was unique, idyllic, and breathtaking in every way. We were a family of five adults visiting South Africa for the first time and experiencing our first safari. My husband was in poor health and partially confined to a wheelchair. Right from the moment we were picked up at the airport in Hoedspruit, we were warmly welcomed and greeted by beaming staff. And this warmth continued throughout all departments and our entire stay. We were welcomed as if we had returned to this wonderful place in the bush countless times before, as if we were family members. The team was simply phenomenal! The game drives with Almero and Nick were so entertaining, exciting, and educational because they possessed an incredible wealth of knowledge that they shared with us. We were lucky enough to see the Big 5 and so much more! We were also deeply impressed by their respect for the animals and nature. There were even picnic and aperitif stops in the middle of nature that will remain unforgettable. The lodge itself is simply beautiful. In the spacious accommodations, every detail has been thought of with great care—I couldn’t imagine how it could be done any better! The cuisine was absolutely wonderful, as was the service team—requests were handled superbly, preferences noted immediately—here too, a huge compliment, and once again, that palpable warmth from the staff!!! Best "place" ever!!! Always again!!!!!

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“Top Luxury in Thornybush Game Reserve”

Monwana is a gem of a property in the Thornybush Game Reserve, in a private concession that is open to Kruger National Park. The lodge itself is stunning, with amazing rooms and amenities, like a gym and spa. The food and drink were excellent, and there were so many individualized touches that ma… more

Monwana is a gem of a property in the Thornybush Game Reserve, in a private concession that is open to Kruger National Park. The lodge itself is stunning, with amazing rooms and amenities, like a gym and spa. The food and drink were excellent, and there were so many individualized touches that made my stay extra special. The game viewing was also amazing, despite the fact that many of the roads and off-roading were inaccessible after the January 2026 flooding. My guide Rian and tracker Bennie, were able to find just the animals I was looking for, and we very easily saw the big 5 within the first 2-3 drives that we did. I cannot recommend Monwana enough if you are looking for exclusive luxury in the greater Kruger Area.

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