Private En Suite Bungalows
No Single Supplement
All Ages Welcome
Makutsi Main Camp
Makutsi Main Camp is set on around 10 hectares of tropical and landscaped gardens — plenty of quiet corners to relax, read, or simply watch the bush. Rustic, clean, and well run, with personal attention to every guest.
Nestled among indigenous trees, the camp’s natural mineral spring pools offer the perfect way to unwind between safaris. Soak in our 33-metre outdoor pool or the indoor Roman Bath — both fed by warm spring water straight from the earth. The same water, cooled in storage reservoirs, flows by natural pressure to every rondavel. It comes straight out of your shower and tap — natural spring water safe to drink.
There is no boundary fence around camp — animals roam freely through the grounds at any time. Monkeys, warthogs, giraffe, and occasionally elephant pass through as they please. This is their territory, after all. It makes for extraordinary moments on your private terrace, but it also means awareness and common sense are essential. On arrival, all guests receive a thorough safety briefing.
Walking in camp is permitted between 07h00 and 17h30 only — children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times during these hours.
Outside walking hours, guests are collected and dropped off by vehicle. Respect for the environment — and the animals who share it with you — is part of what makes the Makutsi experience so rewarding.
Features & Facilities
Bird Hide
Tennis Court
Table Tennis
Chess Board
Library
Safari Shop
Swimming Pools
Restaurant
Bar
WiFi
Garden Games
Our 33-metre outdoor pool sits at the heart of camp, surrounded by tropical gardens. Cool off after a morning safari — while monkeys play in the trees and impalas graze on the lawn.
The indoor Roman Bath is filled daily with warm fresh mineral spring water — perfect for unwinding on a cool winter morning, or soothing tired muscles after a long safari.
Hourly shuttles run to our viewing deck — the Hippo Hide. Settle in and watch for hippos, monitor lizards, and crocodiles around the waterhole below. A focal point for birders and wildlife photographers alike. Patient guests are often rewarded.
A 'lapa' is a traditional open-sided structure — no walls, just a roof and the bush all around. Ours sits on the edge of the Makutsi River; a game viewing spot by day, and a bar by night. There is no better place for a sundowner as the sun sets over the Drakensberg Mountains.
Perched above the restaurant with views over the outdoor pool. Free Wi-Fi daily from 07h00 to 19h00, a well-stocked library, and home-baked cakes and good coffee. A peaceful spot to start the morning or wind down after a safari.
Our safari shop is open daily from 09h00 to 12h00. Browse safari clothing, hats, children's wear, nature and wildlife books, postcards, jewellery, wooden crafts, and more. The perfect place to find something to remember Makutsi by.
Tennis racquets and balls available from reception, free of charge.
An outdoor human-size chess set and indoor table tennis table — ideal for hot afternoons or rainy days.
Available on request from reception. Priced per item and returned within 1–2 days.
A selection of garden games available to borrow from reception — KUBB, badminton, and swing ball.
Breakfast and dinner are included in your package, served in our open-air restaurant. Guests dine together at long tables — a social highlight of the day. Lunch and coffee with home-baked cake can be ordered daily at your own cost.
Accommodation
Individual thatched rondavels (bungalows) are set throughout the tropical grounds, each with its own private terrace and a sense of seclusion. What people come to Makutsi for is nature, wildlife, and the sounds of the bush — so there are no televisions, radios, or telephones to get in the way. Consider it a welcome technology detox.
That said, comfort matters too. All rondavels — available as family, twin/double, or single rooms — include: en-suite bathroom, air conditioning and/or ceiling fan, 220/230 volt electricity, tea and coffee facilities, mini-bar fridge, mosquito nets, private terrace with lounge chairs, bath and pool towels, and shower and hand soap.
The outdoors is what matters most here — and sitting on your terrace, you will quickly discover just how many unannounced visitors Makutsi has.
Amenities
Laundry Service
Air Conditioning
Ceiling Fan
Coffee/Tea Station
Fridge
Electricity
Mosquito Nets
Restaurant
Home cooked meals at Makutsi are served in an open-air Lapa, where fresh, locally sourced ingredients are prepared and enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Rooted in the slow food philosophy, meals are about more than nourishment — they are an opportunity to savour local flavours, connect with others, and take time to appreciate the experience of family dining. Guests come together at long communal tables, exchanging stories and experiences as the sun sets on another day in the bush.
Breakfast and Dinner are included in your package and you can order lunch on the days that you are in camp.
* Please advise us in advance if you have any dietary requirements. We will do our best to cater for your needs, but please keep in mind we are very remote and some ingredients are difficult to find.
We keep our own cattle, grow vegetables in our small organic garden, and occasionally serve seasonal venison. Meals are simple, fresh, and made with care.
Breakfast | 08:00 – 09:00
Included in your package
Buffet Breakfast with fresh seasonal fruits, cereals and muesli, egg orders as you like them, toast, coffee/tea.
Lunch | 12:00 – 16:00
At own cost (Not included in package)
Enjoy a selection from our lunch menu and homemade cakes, which can be conveniently pre-ordered at breakfast time.
Dinner | 19:00
Included in your package
A 3-course set menu is served during dinner.
Natural Warm Mineral Spring Pools
Private Game Reserve
Guided Safaris & Excursions
Swimming Pools
Makutsi has two mineral spring pools, both fed by natural warm water straight from the earth at around 34°C. The outdoor pool is 33 metres long, set among the tropical gardens — a real oasis on a warm afternoon. The indoor Roman Bath sits right on the banks of the Makutsi River, filled fresh every morning at 9am. Because it is refilled daily, the Roman Bath is generally warmer than the outdoor pool, which cools down overnight. On a cold winter morning, this is where you want to be.
How Do Mineral Springs Form?
Deep beneath the African bush, rainwater slowly filters down through ancient cracks and faults in the earth’s crust. On its journey underground it absorbs heat from natural geothermal energy, and along the way picks up a rich variety of minerals and trace elements from the rock formations it passes through. Eventually — warmed, enriched, and purified by its long journey through the earth — this water finds its way back to the surface as a natural mineral spring.
At Makutsi, this remarkable process has been flowing for thousands of years. The warm spring water flows directly into our outdoor 33-metre pool and indoor Roman Bath — completely natural, heated by the earth itself. For the rondavels, the water is first pumped into holding tanks where it naturally cools and airs, before flowing by natural pressure directly to every room. No chemicals, no municipal water supply — every drop that comes out of your tap, your shower, and your bath at Makutsi has made that extraordinary journey through the earth beneath your feet.
