Motswari Game Reserve in the Timbavati
Motswari Game Reserve lies deep within the Timbavati Nature Reserve. As part of the Greater Kruger National Park Conservancy and traversing close on 200 square kilometres of pristine habitat, offers visitors the best of Africa; wide horizons, untamed wilderness and plentiful game in its’ natural habitat.
Main Lodge
Motswari is exclusive in that we never have more than 30 guests present at any one time, providing a more serene environment for our visitor’s African experience. With 15 luxury-appointed en-suite bungalows, each with air-conditioning, and all offering unrivalled bush views, guests enjoy a high level of comfort which complements our level of service excellence. The naturally-furnished interiors of each bungalow reflect the wonders of nature that exist just outside the windows.
There are no spas or gyms here at Motswari. Instead we provide the serenity and relaxation that comes from exploring the intricacies of the living ecosystem that will surround you and the exercise that comes from walking the untamed trails that abound in the pristine environment you will find yourself in.
We house a fully-equipped conference facility for executives making use of the lodge for team-building, product launches and corporate getaways. There is also an internet hotspot available for those wishing to conduct business during their time with us. Our conference room can be configured according to your specific needs by prior arrangement with your hosts.
Also in evidence are two fully licensed bars, a swimming pool and a shop which promotes and sells carefully selected curios from the region. In addition we have a library available as well as an art gallery. Meals are taken either at a scenic location out on the trail with one of our highly-trained guides or in our lounge and, depending on the season, evenings can be spent dining in the bush or inside the Boma, a traditional meeting-place. Meals are accompanied by an award-winning selection of Southern African wines.
Geiger’s Camp
Geiger’s Camp embodies African beauty, style and comfort. This camp is a true place of reflection and tranquillity, quietly nestled a few kilometres from the main game lodge.
The lodge comprises two stone houses boasting a total of four spacious en-suite bedrooms (five bedrooms if sold to a single group of travellers), a communal lounge area and a swimming pool. Views of the Nhlaralumi River are breathtaking, and the wrap-around patio is the perfect place for a cold gin and tonic.
Our team will make sure that all you need to do on your holiday is sit back, relax and have a great time. A professional game ranger will accompany you on two daily game drives. You could also decide to take a Motswari trail walk with a ranger for an unmatched African wildlife experience.
If you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere, peaceful communion with nature and a luxury safari experience on a traditional African game farm, this holiday location is for you!
Motswari Game Lodge / Geiger’s Camp
- Morning and evening game drives in open Land Rovers with professional field guides and trackers
- Mid-morning bush walks
- Overnight Walking Safari with experienced guides
- Giraffe’s Nest Hide sleep-outs in the Motswari Game Reserve
- Swimming pool
- Boma & bush dinners
- Pre-lunch safari interest talks
- Curio shop at Motswari Game Lodge
- Brunch, high tea (late lunch) and dinner
- Library and Art Gallery with 24-hour internet facility at Motswari Game Lodge
- Fully equipped air-conditioned conference room for 20 delegates at Motswari Game Lodge
- An additional vehicle plus guide can be arranged for an extra cost per day and covers 2 game drives per day
Getting close to the untouched wildlife that South Africa is famed for on an African wildlife safari, is what Motswari is really all about. All of Africa’s Big Five are abundant in the area, as are countless numbers of other naturally-occuring African Plains Game which traverse the open boundary between Motswari and the Kruger National Park. Our guides are residents of the area and have, in addition to the scientific knowledge that we encourage them to attain, an intimate knowledge of the location and wildlife that comes from a lifetime of co-existence with their surrounds.
We encourage visitors to make the most of the time that they have in this setting by offering extended game drives of three-and-a-half hours each in open Land Rovers at sunrise and sunset to ensure an unforgettable game viewing experience. We also offer guided walking safaris with one of our highly experienced and armed trail-guides for those who wish to get the most from their African experience. Our knowledgeable staff members give talks on wildlife and bushveld topics and will gladly answer any related questions for our guests. We offer a daily total of up to nine hours of interaction and exploration within the veld itself.
Supporting the Big Five are several other species of wildlife, including cheetah and wild dogs and naturally occurring herbivores from the antelope and gazelle family. There are a variety of nocturnal animals which make our sunset drives completely different from their daytime equivalent which include, but are not limited to, hyena, honey-badger, civet, the bush-baby and owls. The avian population is unrivalled for the avid birdwatcher, with well over 350 different species to be spotted year-round. Taken all together this is an unmatched chance to view the splendour of all manner of creatures unique to the continent.
An overnight walking safari has now been added to the Motswari experience for avid bush lovers. You can engage all five of your senses as you become one with nature on a footpath through untouched wilderness with one of our experienced and knowledgeable guides as they lead you through majestic scenery to come up close and personal with the Big (and small) Five. Along the way, your guides will share their knowledge whilst using their experience to give a wonderfully natural insight that will further your own appreciation of the African bush.
Guests who choose to experience the overnight walking safari will leave the main lodge after lunch to a chosen destination from where they will walk with a guide, stopping to enjoy nature. On foot, life slows down and our senses are sharpened to absorb the smaller things that surround us and make up this incredibly diverse ecosystem. You will enjoy every moment of this walk in the wild until you spot a tented campsite tucked under trees, deep in the bush. Here your guide will prepare a delicious meal on a warming fire. The tents are equipped with proper beds and all luxuries you may need including a bush bathroom.
After an exciting night surrounded by the many aural sounds of the African bush, you will be awakened with a steaming cup of tea or coffee. Soon after you will then set-off from the camp, meandering through the bush for another walk filled with adventure, before returning to the lodge for brunch.
Giraffe’s Nest
Imagine waking up high in the elevation of a tree, in the middle of the African bush, watching the sun rise over the horizon and the wildlife environment coming to life, shedding the mysteries of the night in its cleansing embrace. That is exactly what the Motswari Giraffe’s Nest will offer guests who decide to spend a night overlooking Xanatsi Dam, providing an experience that will live long in the memory.
Offering the comfort and indulgence of our main camp, you can relax on the sumptuous bed or in one of the cosy chairs on the viewing deck. Adding to your comfort is an eco-bathroom upstairs so there is no need to leave your platform above the landscape. For those looking for a truly unrivalled experience, be sure to leave the front section of the roof open so that you can enjoy the stars on a clear night from your bed or cover up in case of the threat of rain with the retractable canvass roof. You may be lucky to hear hyenas, a leopard or lions calling or the nocturnal birds like owls and nightjars piercing the night.
As our guest, you will be escorted to the dam shortly before sunset, with our guide detailing the evening ahead before leaving you alone to enjoy the tranquillity and privacy of this amazing addition to the Motswari portfolio until the following morning. Drinks and a delicious simple dinner will be provided for you to enjoy.
