Morukuru Family – Morukuru River House, Owners & Farmhouse

• Morukuru Family is a collection of three private villas - The River House, The Owners Villa and The Farmhouse - which allows you to set your own safari rhythm
• They offer the best of contemporary décor mixed with vibrant African colours and fabrics
• Take the 3 bedroom Morukuru Villa sleeping 6 adults and up to 4 kids….
• Or combine it with the Owner’s Villa for larger parties of up to 14 people
• Or take the contemporary Morukuru Farmhouse
• Each villa offers you a private ranger, chef and hostess

Morukuru comprises three beautifully appointed villas nestled in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve on the banks of the Marico River. This are private villas, suited to small groups of friends and families looking for an exclusive-use bush retreat that combines stylish décor with luxury and warm African hospitality. Their aim is to make you feel completely at home, aiming to give you freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. All of the villas at Morukuru are decorated in a contemporary fashion using African colours and fabrics.

Morukuru is particularly known for its child friendly safaris. At each villa, you can choose your own safari pattern - heading out when you want for as long as you want. Morukuru can even give your children their own private safari experience which is always great fun!

Morukuru consists of three separate villas which can be taken separately or together.

Morukuru River House

The Morukuru River House is ideal for 6 adults and up to 4 children. River House combines European styling with handpicked African pieces, wonderful indoor and outdoor flow and plenty of al fresco dining. It is perched on the banks of the river where the sound of cascading waters offers a blissful background for your stay. It has 3 bedrooms each with their own private deck, air-conditioning and fan. Each bedroom at Morukuru has a full bathroom en suite with inside and outdoor shower, crackling log fire for the winter evenings and a large tree-shaded private deck. Adjacent to the bedrooms is a family/study room which can accommodate up to four children on two bunk beds. This family room at Morukuru enhances the home from home experience with recreational facilities, including a television and DVD, as well as internet and satellite access, a selection of DVDs and board games. A heated rimflow pool, boma for bonfire feasts and an alfresco dining garden make Morukuru River House a true haven of peace.

Morukuru Farmhouse

The final villa is the Morukuru Farmhouse which is a safari-chic take on a traditional African farm homestead. It offers five en suite bedrooms suitable for up to 10 people. The Farm House is unpretentious yet stylish, with bespoke items produced by local artists and craftsmen in a neutral palette. The suites are airy and bright with en suite bathrooms, beautiful glass doors that open onto the bush at Morukuru. The Farmhouse offers all the same features as at the Villa and Owners House but with a modern design and green eco-settings. It comprises an open plan kitchen, lounge, dining room, courtyards, wine cellar and fireplace. It is set within a 100 ha fenced in area of bush, home to only general game, so kids can play and roam at will. Morukuru Farmhouse has been built using eco-building principles and has a tranquil garden complete with pools and ponds.

Morukuru Owner’s House

Across a small bridge (and completely hidden from the first villa) is the Owner's House – a decadent ultra-luxurious residence. This consists of two suites and beautifully appointed public rooms with an elegant dining room and lounge. This is decorated in a similar fashion to Morukuru River House but with a 'state of the art' Wine cellar featuring some of South Africa's great estate wines. There's an outside bath under the starlit sky as well as a heated pool and private outdoor sala. Whether reclining together by your infinity pool, or alone in your private sala, or just lying in bed with the doors wide open, the combination of dappled shade, and the sound of nature is deeply restorative. Given the open stairs and valuable artefacts, the Owner's Villa is generally not used for young children.

The Owner’s House can be taken separately or added to Morukuru River House (which is walking distance away) to offer 5 en suite bedrooms plus the children's room sleeping up to 14 people in total – ideal for a multi-generation family gathering where you can come together and separate at will.

Children at Morukuru

Morukuru is one of the most family-friendly lodges in Madikwe as its exclusive nature means that safaris can be built around your children's interests. As it is only you at the lodge, all ages of children are allowed on game drives. (Though the proximity to the larger predators will be gauged by your ranger guide, depending on your children's ages and temperaments.) Back at the lodges there are a range of distractions for kids including painting, colouring, making pizzas and biscuits, board games and even the ubiquitous playstation for older kids.

As all game drives are private, kids of any age can accompany you on game drives, though naturally the ranger will use their discretion in terms of how close to get to a sighting.