Motswari Private Game Reserve

Kruger and surrounds, South Africa

Virgin rating

Waterbuck Room
Lion Room
Elephant Room
BOMA
Geiger's Camp
Geiger's Camp, Motswari Private Game Reserve
Geiger's Camp, Motswari Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Geiger's Camp
Giraffes Nest
Giraffes Nest
Waterbuck Room
Lion Room
Elephant Room
BOMA
Geiger's Camp
Geiger's Camp, Motswari Private Game Reserve
Geiger's Camp, Motswari Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Geiger's Camp
Giraffes Nest
Giraffes Nest

The hotel

Private and serene, Motswari Private Game Reserve is small and intimate with no more than 30 guests present at any one time, allowing for peace and quiet aplenty. Family-run and All Inclusive, you’ll enjoy Southern African hospitality at its best here. Individual bungalows, each slightly different, offer a superior level of comfort with luxurious bathrooms and stunning views of the surrounding wilderness from your terrace. The owner has personally added her own unique touch with individual art pieces across the property. Extended game-drives at sunrise and sunset allow plenty of opportunity to spot the 'Big Five' as does a guided walk through the Savannah with one of the resort’s highly experienced and very friendly trail guides. If the sun feels too warm, it’s not a problem, enjoy a refreshing dip in the swimming pool any time of day. There’s also a lovely lounge area overlooking a waterhole where you can admire the visiting wildlife as you relax. Meals are served in the lounge or in the boma, a traditional fire side meeting place. Season dependent, you can also head into the bush for a picnic style breakfast or an early evening dinner under the stars.

Amenities

  • Safari
  • Bar
  • Internet Access
  • Laundry Service
  • Restaurant
  • Swimming Pool
  • Near National Park

Where is it

Set in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, part of the Kruger National Park Conservancy. Transfer time from Hoedspruit Airport: 50 minutes.

Hotel information

15 bungalows, 2 per unit. All with air-conditioning, ceiling fans, a terrace offering unrivalled bush views, safe, hairdryer and some with outdoor shower offering a serene and peaceful environment. Standard Rooms are naturally furnished to reflect the African surrounds with 1 king-size bed or twin beds, generous sitting area and en-suite bathroom, sleeping maximum 2 adults or 2 adult and 1 child.

All Inclusive of: all meals and soft drinks, local wines, beers and refreshments on game-drives. Daily game-drives and a guided safari walk.

Conservation fee is payable locally on departure.

Standard Interconnecting Rooms also available which are perfect for families, sleeping maximum 2 adults and 2 children.

Geiger's Camp is a nestled a few kilometres from the main lodge and offers an escape to African beauty, tranquility and comfort. The lodge comprises of 2 stone houses with 4 beautiful en-suite bedrooms, a large communal lounge area/library and it's own swimming pool with breathtaking views of the Nhlaralumi River. Geiger's Camp is also available for exclusive hire - perfect for groups and families.

Why not spend a romantic night under the stars in your very own private treehouse? Add a night in the Giraffe’s Nest Treehouse to a stay in either camp.

Meals are served either in the lounge, inside the Boma or on the breakfast terrace. Bush breakfasts and dinners can be arranged locally. Bar. Infinity swimming pool. Library. Gift shop. Extended sunrise and sunset game-drives. Daily bush walks, bird watching and local community village tour. Giraffe's Nest Treehouse*. Complimentary WiFi access in the Indaba Room (public area). Library and art gallery. Curio shop. Laundry/dry-cleaning facility*.

2 nights between 1 May-30 Sep and 3 nights between 29 Dec-2 Jan.

* Denotes local charge.

Please note: children should be 6 years and older for game-drives, 12 years and older for bush walks and 18 years for the Giraffe's Nest Overnight Experience.

Please note: guests having dinner at Geiger’s Camp are requested to dress in smart/casual attire. Gentlemen are requested to wear long trousers and closed shoes.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (983)
  • Very good (45)
  • Average (17)
  • Poor (8)
  • Terrible (2)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating The very best Game Reserve

Jan 21, 2025 I1548LMsteveh

Motswari!! We definitely arrived as guests and left as friends. The staff were beyond excellent, they were so kind, so caring and so professional I’m not sure where to start. The facilities are fabulous and just what you want, based in a camp the buildings are spaced so you don’t feel overlooked, the beds are so comfortable, the air conditioning… Read more
Motswari!! We definitely arrived as guests and left as friends. The staff were beyond excellent, they were so kind, so caring and so professional I’m not sure where to start. The facilities are fabulous and just what you want, based in a camp the buildings are spaced so you don’t feel overlooked, the beds are so comfortable, the air conditioning and fans work, the bathrooms have great showers, the housekeeping team come in twice a day to service and clean, the mosquito nets are substantial, it is a low risk area so we weren’t affected at all. Opposite our building was a small river so we watched the animals come down each evening. The bar, restaurant and relaxation areas are staffed by the most outstanding team all of them with great characters and all of them who knew your names within minutes. The food! WOW! Brought in by the chefs and kitchen brigade singing and dancing. We were amazed at the quality and variety of meals, snacks and drinks. We loved the food, especially our meals in the Boma room. It is unfair but I do want to mention Prince and Timothy who were great. The staff in reception were so helpful and friendly - even arranging for us (without asking) to delay the arrival of our car so that we didn’t wait too long at the airport. And then the Guide and Tracker. What can we say - Josh and Lot! You made our holiday so special by your knowledge, your kindness, your friendship and your humour. Lot (tracker) must have the best pair of eyes in Africa. He spotted everything, from tiny dung beetles, to huge rhinos. We saw everything and had our eyes opened to the wonders of Africa. We would have stayed for another month. We loved Motswari and need more people to go so that they can learn about this wonderful environment and spread the word so that it is preserved for our grandchildren.. Thank you Motsari - we will be back. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Amazing experience!

Jan 20, 2025 David R New York City, New York

Our safari adventure was truly brought to life by Rudolph, our outstanding guide, and MJ, our incredibly skilled tracker. Rudolph’s deep knowledge of the wildlife and his ability to share fascinating facts with enthusiasm and clarity made every game drive a memorable experience. He was patient, engaging, and always ready to answer our endless… Read more
Our safari adventure was truly brought to life by Rudolph, our outstanding guide, and MJ, our incredibly skilled tracker. Rudolph’s deep knowledge of the wildlife and his ability to share fascinating facts with enthusiasm and clarity made every game drive a memorable experience. He was patient, engaging, and always ready to answer our endless questions, making us feel like we were part of the journey! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Best safari experience of them all!

Jan 15, 2025 978iral Los Angeles, California

This was the best safari experience of all we had while in Africa for a month during December to January when we visited South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. Our guide Hayden was amazing, taking us off-road into the bush to catch some incredible animal sightings. He and the 2 trackers, Patrick and David, had a skill that others we… Read more
This was the best safari experience of all we had while in Africa for a month during December to January when we visited South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. Our guide Hayden was amazing, taking us off-road into the bush to catch some incredible animal sightings. He and the 2 trackers, Patrick and David, had a skill that others we experienced did not at finding the Big Five up close and often during our 3 days at Motswari. The twice a day schedule was a bit crazy especially the 5:00 am game drives, but missing a bit of sleep was worth it over and over as we had incredible success catching so many animals at this preserve. The accommodations and the meals were also first class considered being out in the wild, and the entire staff was attentive and friendly, particularly in the restaurant and bar. If there is one safari experience not to miss in Africa, Motswari is it! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Unforgettable experience

Jan 15, 2025 albionHalesowen Halesowen

This was everything we were hoping for. Firstly we received a very warm welcome on arrival for our 4 day trip and within 20 minutes we were off on our first safari! The accommodation was really good with everything we needed. The food and drink was excellent and our location was fantastic and great for the safari drives we had each morning and… Read more
This was everything we were hoping for. Firstly we received a very warm welcome on arrival for our 4 day trip and within 20 minutes we were off on our first safari! The accommodation was really good with everything we needed. The food and drink was excellent and our location was fantastic and great for the safari drives we had each morning and afternoon. All of the staff were really friendly and went out of their way to make our experience memorable. Our guide and tracker, Josh and Patrick were exceptional and we had them for all our drives. We saw many different animals including the big 5 which was a treat. We saw lions on numerous occasions and herds of elephants and water buffalos. Also giraffes, rhinos, hippos, crocs, wild dogs, hyenas and a leopard on two occasions. All in all it was a fantastic experience that we will never forget. Thank you to all of the Motswari staff for making this experience really special. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Jan 11, 2025 _lsemenick Huntington Beach, California

I can’t imagine anyone leaving a poor review for Motswari. My husband and I visited for five nights as part of a honeymoon trip. We were absolutely blown away by the accommodations staff and grounds. The camp is situated in the middle of the bush with individual villas for each set of guests for a total of 32 maximum. There was only Wi-Fi in the… Read more
I can’t imagine anyone leaving a poor review for Motswari. My husband and I visited for five nights as part of a honeymoon trip. We were absolutely blown away by the accommodations staff and grounds. The camp is situated in the middle of the bush with individual villas for each set of guests for a total of 32 maximum. There was only Wi-Fi in the common area, but this made the experience that much better allowing us to fully focus on the animals and Safari, which is why we were there. Once it gets dark, they do have to escort you to and from your room, but this is purely for safety reasons which we completely understood. Our Guide Eden and tracker Magic made our game drives very educational and we were beyond blown away at all the animals we saw and how close we could get to them. The camp staff was very hospitable and friendly and provided us with anything we needed. The food was also fantastic! In between the morning and afternoon drives, they have a masseuse on site for massages and a beautiful pool overlooking the surrounding area that you can relax in with drinks. It was much more relaxing than we had thought about it being which was a plus for us. We also spent a night in the giraffes nest, which was a once in a lifetime experience; with a tree house like structure out in the middle of the bush by yourself. We saw a hyena and heard lions roaring all through the night. Overall, my husband and I thought this was the absolute perfect first Safari for us and we would highly recommend to anyone wanting to experience it. Thank you Motswari team! Read less