In the peace and quiet of the Marakapula Reserve, Makubu Lodge finds its home where the wild fig trees offer shade to the ground-dwelling animals, and the surging Selati River feeds the thirst of the elephants and the antelope. Warmly painted red, with thatched roofs covering high ceilings, and authentically African artefacts adorning the wooden surfaces, Makubu Lodge is a place of traditional luxury, inviting guests to stretch out in safari comfort.
Location, location, location. Nothing could more accurately describe the placement of this Kruger retreat. Tucked away in the community-owned, Big 5 Marakapula Reserve, Makubu is only a 20-minute drive from the Kruger National Park. Just outside the town of Phalaborwa in the beautiful Limpopo Province, the scenery at Marakapula is an undeniable attraction. Identified by the big, rounded heaps of boulders that interrupt the flat landscape, and the powerful flow of the Selati River, this reserve looks like an African paradise.
Elephants visited the lodge on my first day… and every day after that! Reclining on the private deck outside my individual, thatched chalet, an earth-shuddering crash resounded through the silence, then a satsified crunching commenced. There wasn’t much time for questioning what the sound was because the great, big culprits showed themselves on the riverbank soon enough. The next morning as we were enjoying our 05h30 breakfast before game drive, our guide called us outside and just where we were to board the vehicle, two elephants were munching happily on the mopane trees outside the lodge. An incredible moment to be able to stand and watch them move slowly through the bush.
Makubu Lodge spreads itself spaciously alongside the Selati River, having placed 7 chalets, quite literally, on the riverbank. The view is unbeatable, whether you are enjoying some solitude on your bedroom’s private wooden deck, or putting your feet up at the swimming pool, in the elevated lounge, or on the veranda beneath the biggest fig tree. One truly feels the tranquillity of Marakapula here, and a sense of being in a safari sanctuary, insisting that you connect with the natural beauty of the place.
Meals at Makubu Lodge are served either outside under the trees or indoors in the African-inspired dining room. A side table is topped with dishes of delicious home-cooked meals, freshly chopped salads, daily-baked bread rolls, and at dinner time, a couple of finely selected wines. It’s a help-yourself setup and a convivially set long table, which is abuzz with conversation every night. Spanish owner, Luis, is easy going and effortless, and after 12 years in the South African bush, safari has become a part of his style. Before dinner, Luis joins guests in the boma where a big campfire burns away and a table of (again, help yourself) drinks, ice, and tasty snacks are laid out on offer. By 21h00 when dinner is served, your appetite has worked up and the kitchen’s wonderful creations go down well.
Ambling off to bed in the evenings takes you away from the glowing lights of the lodge and along a lantern-lit pathway through the ‘secret garden’ vegetation and over a little wooden bridge. Comfortably spaced from one another, the rondavel-style chalets lead off the path and onto their own riverfront locations. The rooms are open-plan, with the ensuite bathroom leading off the bedroom without much of a barrier, although the shower and the toilet are behind their own separate doors. Each chalet has a very big stone bath that looks out the wide windows and onto the river, and the vanity cabinet is stocked with towels and bathroom products for guests to use. Incorporating wood into the room blends beautifully with the thatched roof, and the African art on the walls ties the theme together. There are ceiling fans and an air-conditioner for ultimate temperature control, and a fireplace with a mini-lounge that creates a warming ambience.
At night, the frogs come to life and chat away melodically, while deeper into the darkness one may hear the call of a lion, a hyena, or a leopard. Makubu Lodge truly offers a level of comfort in the immaculate Marakapula Reserve. Get ready for a superb safari experience.
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