Mavela Game Lodge

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Pricing

pp/night sharing

Advance Purchase

1 Jan - 31 Jul '26

R 7500

1 Aug - 15 Dec '26

R 8250

Includes:

Accommodation
All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
Safari Activities: Two game drives daily with a professional guide or a safari walk instead of a morning game drive
All drinks: soft drinks, South African wines, spirits, and beers
Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, breakfast juice, and filtered still water are available all day
Snacks and refreshments on both morning and afternoon safaris
Wi-Fi in the main lodge area and in your luxury tent

Our Verdict

INCLUDES DRINKS! The 7 gorgeously stylish and luxurious new tents, boasting light oak wooden floors and feature walls, are the star of the show at Mavela, an owner-managed lodge in the Manyoni reserve that now rates in the top ranks of game lodges in KZN!

Lodge Gallery

Our Ratings

8.1

Overall

8.5

Luxury & Style

7.5

Setting

7.5

Game Viewing

8.0

Romance

Our Ratings

8.1

Overall

8.5

Luxury & Style

7.5

Setting

7.5

Game Viewing

8.0

Romance

What's Hot

With their light oak wooden floors and wood-panelled feature walls, the new tents at Mavela are wonderfully stylish, airy and contemporary, not to mention refreshingly different from the styling of most other tented lodges which are often far more traditional and dark in their furnishings and fittings
Help yourself to a drink from the upstairs bar so that you have something suitably cold and refreshing to enjoy whilst drinking in the expansive views across Manyoni’s rolling landscapes
We particularly enjoy the light and bright bathrooms with the walk-in shower and double vanities – but the highlight has to be the twin outside showers which you and your better half can enjoy together either under the stars or the African sun!
At Bushscapes we’re huge fans of owner-managed lodges – at Mavela, the Stevens family with their passionate hands-on commitment, ensure that guests enjoy a truly satisfying and personal experience!
Birdbaths positioned in front of your tent’s deck attract loads of feathered friends wanting a quick refreshing splash or drink – great for a spot of bird watching right from the comfort of your room!
Whilst the usual twice daily game drives will give you the chance to spot the Big 5 and more, we love some of the other more unusual activities that are occasionally on offer, like the Pangolin Experience or the chance to join a rhino de-horning team!

What's Not

The lodge’s location, whilst enjoying lovely views across the reserve, perhaps lacks the real “wow factor” enjoyed by some other lodges
Mavela lacks the private plunge pools that feature at a couple of its direct competitor lodges in the reserve, which would be welcome in the heat of the Zululand summer

Mavela Game Lodge We especially love the bathrooms with their open walk-in shower and double vanities – but it’s perhaps the twin outdoor showers that are the highlight. After all there's nothing quite like showering under the sun or stars with your partner!

Lodge Profile

Quick Overview

Location

Manyoni

Drive time

6 Hours from Jo'burg & 3 Hours from Durban

Malaria

Yes, Low-risk

Setting

Hillside, looking over a valley.

Rooms

7 tented suites

Aircon

Yes

Pool

Yes, in the main area

Spa

No, however private massage can be arranged easily.

Camp Fenced

Tracker

No - only ranger

Off Road

Yes

Child policy

Mavela Game Lodge has been around for a long time, but it’s the magnificent mid-2021 upgrade to its tented accommodation that has successfully elevated it to the ranks of THE most desirable game lodges in KZN! In fact “upgrade” really doesn’t do full justice to describing the transformation here, as these are effectively completely brand-new and significantly more luxurious, spacious and stylish tents then was previously the case!

But let’s not jump the gun too much, but rather go back and re-trace the basics. Mavela is located in the heart of Zululand, specifically the Manyoni Private Game Reserve, a 23 000-hectare conservation area that is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including the Big Five plus cheetah, wild dog, not to mention a multitude of other game as well as prolific bird life. Mavela is owned and run by the Stevens family (always a huge plus in our books as we inevitably find that owner-managed properties benefit from the innate passion and hands-on commitment that translates into a more personal and satisfying guest experience)

You’ll stay in one of the 7 new and spacious and luxurious safari tents that lie nestled on a gently sloping hillside studded with acacia trees overlooking a waterhole below. With their light oak wooden floors and wood-panelled feature wall at the head of the bed, the tents are attractively light, airy and contemporary in looks. A new and welcome introduction is an air-conditioning unit which takes the edge off the heat of the fierce KZN summers. We especially love the bathrooms with their open walk-in shower and double vanities – but it’s perhaps the twin outdoor showers that are the highlight. After all there's nothing quite like showering under the sun or stars with your partner! And it’s not just the guests that benefit from outdoor bathing facilities - each tent has a birdbath positioned in front of its own private deck so you can relax whilst watching the birds attracted by the prospect of enjoying a refreshing splash or drink!

Wooden walkways lead from the tents to the main lodge area, where you can relax in the lounge, dining room or upstairs bar with its gorgeous views out over the rolling landscapes of the Manyoni reserve. And in line with the family-run “home from home” feel of Mavela, you’re welcome to just help yourself to a drink “self-service” whenever you fancy, as the lodge is all-inclusive. Alongside the main lounge and bar area you can also enjoy the swimming pool, boma and fire pit, where you can socialize with other guests and watch the stars. And as you can imagine, the lodge prides itself on its warm hospitality and delicious cuisine which attracts consistent rave reviews from guests!

Manyoni has gained a decent reputation over the years as a safari destination that offers you the opportunity to see the Big Five as well as other endangered species such as cheetah, wild dog, pangolin, and black rhino. At Mavela you will be guided by experienced and knowledgeable rangers who will take you on game drives in open safari vehicles or on bush walks where you can get closer to nature. The reserve is also home to over 420 bird species, making it a bird watcher's paradise. But it is perhaps some of the more unusual activities that are occasionally on offer that are a potential highlight here: for example the Pangolin Experience where you can observe and follow rehabilitating pangolins, confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, on foot through the bush; or perhaps you could join the reserve’s wildlife management team to assist in a rhino de-horning experience!

Pricing

pp/night sharing

More Information

Booking Notes

Child Policy

No children under 5 unless whole lodge booked

Useful Links

Lodge Website

Visit the official lodge site.

Trip Advisor

Read guest reviews for this lodge.

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