About Etali Safari Lodge:
Etali Safari Lodge is a luxurious, small private lodge located in the heart of the Big 5 Madikwe Game Reserve. This stunning lodge’s minimalist design and use of natural materials such as boulders, timber and thatch allow it to blend seamlessly into the Tamboti trees and granite koppies (small hills) on which the lodge is built.
The main lodge features a reception area, spacious dining room, and a comfortable, beautifully appointed lounge with a vaulted timber and thatch roof. The expansive deck offers incredible views over a nearby waterhole and the surrounding sweet-acacia thorn veld.
Etali Safari Lodge offers guest accommodation in eight luxurious double suites – one of which is wheelchair accessible for guests with limited mobility – and one family suite. The free- standing thatched suites are all slightly raised on a wooden deck and set apart from one another to ensure optimal privacy, and offer stunning views over the surrounding bushveld. Each spacious suite features a comfortable lounge area with a built-in fireplace, an en-suite bathroom, both indoor and outdoor showers, a viewing deck, and a private heated whirlpool, as well as air-conditioning and Wi-Fi facilities.
Guests can enjoy a number of activities at Etali- ranging from the adventurous to the indulgent. These include early morning and late afternoon game drives and guided nature walks in the Big 5 Madikwe Game Reserve accompanied by the lodge’s expert trackers and guides. For the avid outdoor enthusiast, individually tailored game viewing excursions are available by pre-arrangement.Etali’s field guides have undergone intensive training and have an in-depth knowledge of African flora, fauna, natural history and ecology, ensuring an unforgettable experience in the African bush.
Guests can look forward to a spectacular evening of stargazing, and, for those who need a little help unwinding, Etali’s Wellness Spa provides a welcome respite from the stresses and strains of everyday life. The Wellness Spa has a steam room and an open-air gym, as well as three treatment rooms where guests can indulge in a range of therapies like hot stone massages, aromatherapy, and the lodge’s flagship “Thlakanya” massage. Guests also have the option to indulge in any spa service in the privacy of their own suite.
Etali has been named among the 100 top restaurants in South Africa for its reinvention of gourmet dining in the bush. The cuisine is a contemporary fusion of local African and Asian flavours and all meals are freshly prepared by Etali’s in-house chef using seasonal and organically grown vegetables, fruit and herbs, and accompanied by excellent house wines from Glenwood Estate.
Guests have a choice between fine dining in the main dining area or on the viewing deck, or they enjoy traditional South African dishes catered in the stone “lesaka” kraal alongside the waterhole. There is also a bush site where breakfasts and dinners are served al fresco, weather permitting.
This luxurious bushveld haven prides itself on its warm hospitality and impeccable service, ensuring guests enjoy an unforgettable African safari experience.
Rooms:
To ensure individual guest attention and privacy, Etali Safari Lodge can accommodate a total of 20 guests in 8 luxury suites plus a ninth family suite consisting of two rooms. The free- standing thatched suites are all slightly raised on a wooden deck and set apart from one another to ensure optimal privacy, and offer stunning views over the surrounding bushveld. Three of the suites overlook the lodge’s waterhole.(Guests should note, however, that these suites cannot be pre-booked.)
Decorated in natural, earthy tones, the beautifully appointed thatched Luxury Suites all have a comfortable lounge area with a built-in fireplace, an en-suite bathroom, both indoor and outdoor showers, a viewing deck, and a private heated whirlpool, as well as air-conditioning and Wi-Fi facilities. Guests can unwind on the extra-length King-sized beds with fine, crisp linen for a perfect night’s sleep. Extra beds can be made available for families with children, on request, and one of the suites is wheelchair- friendly, making it accessible for guests with disabilities.
Etali’s Family Suite offers two back-to- back rooms connected by an extra-large shared deck and includes all the double suite facilities- except that both showers are indoors- along with a private swimming pool and a private lapa.
