Amakhosi Lodge

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Highlights

• Spacious and luxurious accommodation
• Big Five game-viewing within the AmaZulu Game Reserve
• Well-trained and attentive management couple and staff
• Over 400 recorded bird species in AmaZulu
• Family-friendly

AmaKhosi Lodge is set in the AmaZulu Private Game Reserve in northern Maputaland, and offers Big 5 game viewing amongst other wildlife, bush walks with experienced game rangers and excellent birding. AmaKhosi's direct translation from Zulu is "the Place of Kings" and this is an apt description for this intimate and exclusive game lodge with only six suites. The attentive and experienced management couple with their well-trained staff really do make you feel special. A big feature of AmaKhosi is the extensive river frontage overlooking the Mkuze river. The thatched accommodation is particularly spacious: the six air-conditioned river suites are well spaced and offer great seclusion and comfort with a bedroom, separate sitting room, bathroom, separate shower room and loo as well as a large timber deck overlooking the river below. The suites are decorated in African fabrics but it is the glass walls onto the bush, and the decadent bathrooms, with a bath for two surounded by candles which attracted me. The main lodge is equally expansive, with two sitting areas, bar, indoor dining area, covered terrace for evening dining and an expansive deck for breakfast and lunch with open views of the Mkuze River.

The AmaZulu game reserve is over 10,000ha and offers the Big Five - elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo - as well as a range of wildlife. The several different co-systems of the reserve - mountain grasslands, wetlands and valley bushveld - leads to a diversity of animals including giraffe, warthog, hyena, hippo and 15 different antelope species. The wetlands area of AmaZulu in particular, offers spectacular birding with over 400 recorded species. Early morning and afternoon game drives and bush walks introduce you to the fascinating world of animal inter-dependence and hierarchy.

Children are welcome at Amakhosi. The spacious suites are particularly well-designed for families with a bedroom, separate lounge with a sleeper couch, separate toilet, shower room and main bathroom with a bath and another toilet. Cot can also be supplied. Amakhosi doesn't recommend the adult drive for children under 7 years. They offer baby sitting facilities and a 'kiddies drive' outside of scheduled game drive times, which is shorter, and specifically designed for little ones to enjoy and stay entertained.

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