The Lodge at Melozhori Private Game Reserve: A Five-Star Safari Hideaway

It doesn’t get better than a lazy afternoon at Melozhori Private Game Reserve, lounging beside the rimflow pool, the silence and solitude of the sun-drenched landscape lulling you into a soporific siesta. Spanning 2 300 hectares, this private game reserve near Bonnievale –  just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Cape Town – feels a million miles away. An acacia-shaded valley extends to the Riviersonderend Mountains in the distance, a herd of wildebeest romp boisterously on the open plains, giraffes browse nonchalantly, zebras play fight and birds of prey circle overhead. There’s something so grounding about watching animals in their natural habitat… even more so when you come home to this exclusive-use luxury lodge after game drives and nature walks filled with wildlife encounters.

Embracing the landscape

The magical wildlife sightings don’t stop there. The beautiful thatched lodge curves around a wide deck and infinity pool with a firepit encircled by water. As you float in the pool at sunset you might glimpse a herd of springbok hopping across the veld in perfectly choreographed unison, the last rays of sun catching their tails. An outdoor shower is accompanied by the busy chirping chorus of weaver birds building their nests in the tree overhead; soaking in the hot tub with a glass of bubbly you might be entranced by a herd of zebra coming to drink at the nearby dam. This unspoilt wilderness is all about privacy, peace and seclusion, and started with one family’s dream.

Built for a family

Searching for a getaway in nature to call their own, the Bhorat family acquired a dilapidated sheep and cattle farm in 2008. Lying in the Overberg’s majestic Cape Fold Mountains, the conservation journey took them many patient years. The family has rehabilitated the indigenous vegetation and carefully reintroduced historically-occurring species of game into the 2 300 hectares of sweeping hills and plains. Now a pristine landscape of Karoo succulents, mountain fynbos and endangered renosterveld offer the perfect grazing ground for a slew of wildlife – 36 different mammal species and 129 identified birds.

Only open to resident guests (a maximum of 18 at any one time on the whole reserve), Melozhori is now a peaceful pocket of paradise where you might encounter the incredibly rare yet beautiful sable antelope, as well as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, eland, oryx, bontebok, black-backed jackal and bat-eared fox to name a few. The Cape leopard has also been spotted here on rare occasions and among the bird species are the blue crane, black harrier and Cape vulture.

At home in the wild

The thatched luxury lodge is available on an exclusive-use basis, so that you and your party have it all to yourselves. With four spacious ensuite bedrooms, a wide living room and dining area, a large deck, rim-flow pool and a separate boma with a pizza oven, as well as a hot tub, it’s a stylish oasis of superbly comfortable luxury. And you look out over an endless landscape of wild hills and blue-fold mountains with not a soul but the animals in sight.

Every last detail is taken care of for you in your all-inclusive stay, with a dedicated team tailoring experiences to your interests at your own pace. It’s ideal for families with children (malaria-free and no big predators). And the lodge chef rustles up delicious meals from locally sourced produce with lashings of culinary artistry. You’ll be served meals to your preferences, from lavish breakfasts to veld picnics, starlight pizza nights, leisurely lunches and celebratory dinners.

Exclusive-use luxury

An oasis of understated luxury, the lodge is a true home from home. 

• sleeps 8 adults + 4 children in four luxury rooms 
• ensuite bathrooms with bath and shower
• in-room fireplaces
• air-conditioning and underfloor heating
• decks with sun loungers and stargazing hammocks
• outdoor showers
• open-plan lounge with fireplace
• dining area
• heated rim-flow pool with firepit
• outdoor boma and firepit
• hot tub
• outdoor dining and relaxation area
• bespoke menu from private chef

Good to know The lodge can only be booked in its entirety, not on a per-room basis. At least three to five days’ notice is required for lodge bookings depending on the group size.

A meaningful connection to nature

Soaking up the rhythm of nature, spend your days as active or relaxed as you wish. The experience is deliberately unrushed and intimate, leaving plenty of time for unstructured connection, and can include a whole host of activities.

• guided game drives
• nature walks (no dangerous animals) and hiking
• mountain-biking (e-bikes available to rent)
• birdwatching
• fishing dam
• stargazing
• outdoor movie nights
• sundowner picnics
• massages (on request at additional cost)
• wine farms nearby

Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Wifi Yes
Sleeps 8 adults + 4 children
Good to know Rates are all-inclusive for a minimum two-night stay. There are also two self-catering eco-pods, a two-level off-grid treehouse and a family-friendly cottage available on the reserve.
Cost From R55 000 per night for four guests
R8 500 per additional guest
Where to find it Melozhori Game Reserve, 5km from the N2 turn-off to Stormsvlei
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