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Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK

4.0 star property
Guesthouse in Umbabat Nature Reserve with free breakfast and spa services
your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK

Outdoor pool
Outdoor pool
Egyptian cotton sheets, down duvets, in-room safe
Standard Room
Bar (on property)
VIP Access

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Spa
  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
The price is AU$1,381
includes taxes & fees
8 Jan - 9 Jan 2025

Perks for members at select top-rated stays

Our Silver and Gold members get perks at select VIP Access properties, on top of exceptional service.
Silver tier member
A perk like food and drink extras, free breakfast, or parking credits
Gold tier member
Room upgrades when available, plus Silver perks

Room options

Available filters for rooms
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View all photos for Standard Room

Standard Room

Standard Room

Highlights

Patio
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Kitchenette
Down duvet
Ceiling fan
Blackout curtains
  • 10 sq m
  • Resort view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds
Outdoor pool, pool umbrellas, pool loungers

Simbavati River Lodge

Pool
Breakfast included
All-inclusive
Spa
9.6 out of 10, Exceptional, (26)
The price is AU$1,847
includes taxes & fees
24 Dec - 25 Dec
Simbavati River Lodge
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About the area

Map
Timbavati Nature Reserve, Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, 1380

What's nearby

  • Greater Kruger National Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Timbavati Private Nature Reserve - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate - 75 min drive - 60.1 km
  • Nyani Cultural Village - 100 min drive - 59.5 km
  • Andover Nature Reserve - 106 min drive - 61.1 km

Getting around

  • Hoedspruit (HDS) - 110 min drive

About this property

Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK

Upscale guest house in a national park
At Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK, you can look forward to free full breakfast, game and wildlife viewing and a poolside bar. Treat yourself to a massage or other spa services. The on-site restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Free WiFi in public areas is available to all guests, along with a terrace and a library.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
  • An outdoor pool
  • Free self-parking
  • A safari, a round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge) and smoke-free property
  • Meeting rooms, a computer station and a TV in reception
Room features
All rooms are individually furnished, and feature comforts such as air conditioning, as well as thoughtful touches such as free Internet and safes.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Egyptian cotton sheets and down duvets
  • Bathrooms with designer toiletries and deep-soaking baths
  • Patios, kitchenettes and electric kettles

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free wired internet
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • 24-hour return airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast available daily 5:30 AM to 10 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • Ecotours
  • Game drive
  • Game viewing
  • Library
  • Outdoor pool
  • Safari
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • In-room kitchenette
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool

Conveniences

  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service

Business services

  • Computer station
  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • In a national park
  • Terrace

Spa

  • Massage
  • Spa services

Accessibility

  • No lift

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Down comforter
  • Egyptian cotton sheets

Bathroom

  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • Designer toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Separate bathtub and shower
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Kitchenette

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: noon; check-in end time: 6:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 72 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The front desk is open daily from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 72 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
For more details, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Guests arriving after set lunch, afternoon game drive and dinner times may possibly not be accommodated for these activities/meals.
Guests with dietary restrictions or food allergies should contact this hotel in advance.

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Cots (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Destination fee: ZAR575 per person, per night. This fee does not apply to children under 1 year of age.

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: ZAR 1550 per person (one-way)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system and a first aid kit
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

National rating

Quality graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) – South Africa's official quality assurance organisation.

Property is also known as

Motswari
Motswari Game
Motswari Game Reserve
Motswari Private Game
Motswari Private Game Reserve
Motswari Private Game Reserve House Kruger National Park
Motswari Private Game Reserve Kruger National Park
Motswari Reserve
Motswari Private Game Reserve House
Motswari Private Game Reserve Guesthouse Kruger National Park
Motswari Private Game Reserve
Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK Guesthouse
Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK Bushbuckridge

Frequently asked questions

Does Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

How much does it cost to stay at Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK?

As of 23 Dec 2024, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK on 8 Jan 2025 start from AU$1,280.37, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK?

Self-parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK?

Check-in start time: noon; check-in end time: 6:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK?

Checkout is at 11 AM.

Does Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of ZAR 1550 per person applies.

Where is Motswari Private Game Reserve Resort by NEWMARK located?

Situated in a national park, this guesthouse is within a 15-minute walk of Greater Kruger National Park and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Selati Nature Reserve is 13.2 mi (21.2 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 153 out of 171 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 171 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 171 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 171 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 171 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

8.8/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Andrea

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing trip! Motswari is very lucky to have the fantastic Owen (guide) and George (tracker). They made our experience incredibly adventurous, and we felt very safe throughout. Highly recommend! Service and rooms where great as well.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Classy Canine

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent property, good, game drives with attentive, knowledgeable staff and great food.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stefanie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Incredible experience
A fantastic reserve and safari. Couldn’t recommend this place enough, the hotel is beautiful and the food exceptional. We had Eric and Difference as our guide and tracker and they made our trip. If you are looking for a safari experience then this is the place to book.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Raymond

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Samantha

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rachel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Claire

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
As a returning guest, I like the friendliness and professionalism of the staff, the layout of the property and of course, the guides and trackers who make the drives.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dana

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Morris

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I will not be returning to Motswari and this was my third visit. The lack of internet access is a huge problem for me.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My wife and I visited motswari on our honeymoon and absolutely loved the whole experience! The property and rooms are nice and well decorated but the staff make the place so special. Our guide (byron) and tracker (hendry) did an amazing job on all of our drives, we saw the big 5 by our second day and were able to see all the animals we wanted to view. They were also very knowledgeable and provided a lot of information on the animals and area. In addition to the drives, the staff and service back at the lodge was incredible. All of the staff are very friendly and helpful and go out of their way to make sure that you have a wonderful stay. Lastly, the food at motswari was amazing and there is so much of it! Every meal we had there was delicious. Highly recommend staying at motswari for a safari!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

Nathan, Bulawayo

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

DARREN

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A friendly, happy camp
Had a fantastic two night stay in mid March. Wished it had been longer, suggest a 3n minimum ideally. Food was very good and service even better. The guide and tracker were excellent. The bush was predictably quite thick at this time of year, but we still saw lots of lions and antelopes. Weather was good, shirt or light jumper was all that was needed for the evening.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

William, Belfast

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Motswari provided a luxury accommodation and first class service while doing so in a way that was sensitive to the natural environment and its wildlife. The property did not have manicured lawns and ornate gardens but instead allowed the natural vegetation to flourish. The grounds were unfenced and lighting throughout was minimal to avoid light pollution. This made for a unique atmosphere which felt like you were actually staying in the bush. The huts were sympathetic to the local style of buildings with thatch roofing. They were air conditioned and had comfortable beds provided with mosquito nets. The food was excellent at every meal with a different dinner location for every night of our stay. The staff were really friendly at all times and the game guides and trackers were of the highest quality. All in all our stay was fabulous.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Elaine

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Claire

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff at Motswari were amazing. They knew evryones names and made you feel like a friend not just a guest. They all went above and beyond with the effort they put into the service. It was an amazing experience, I would go back in an instant and recommend it to everyone.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Narsay

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This lodge is AWESOME! My wife and I stayed here for three days and we had an amazing experience. The rooms are really comfortable and have everything you need and I was surprised by how nice the bathroom was given that we were in the middle of nowhere. The food was fantastic. Staff is super friendly and helpful, always got us what we wanted within minutes. Most importantly, our game drives were stellar with Patrick (our tracker) and Mbgooni (driver and guide). They’re super knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. We got to see all the animals except for cheetah (which is hard to see obviously). Finally, the property arranged our transportation back and forth to Hoedspruit airport and the ride was in a huge 14 person van with just the two of us in it…I highly recommend this lodge, you won’t regret it!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Leone

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Faizal

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Awesome experience
Awesome accommodation, food and game drives
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The safari camp (well more all inclusive resort, in the best way possible) was much better than I expected and unreservedly recommend Motswari. First and foremost, I’m guessing most people go to “see the animals,” and we really did. Often only 10/20 feet away, including seeing a leopard carry an adult male impala up a tree. Incredible. I don’t know if our good fortune in seeing so much wildlife is typical- and I do credit our tracker, Tiyani, and Driver, Stanely, with getting used access to so much and so close. They were both incredible. The room was very clean and beautiful. The mosquito netting was also beautiful and undoubtedly functional Food and food service were likewise very good. They do feed you often and well. Snacks, breakfast, high tea before the afternoon drive, dinner under the stars at night. Also includes wine and gin and tonic (towhee cocktails are available at a small charge- though perhaps not their forte). The other service staff we to a person great Special thanks to a woman named Patience who each day came from the office to greet guests over breakfast and handle any open administrative items (transport or the like). She’s a great find and someone we looked forward to seeing each day And at night the resort requires you to be escorted from your room to dinner and back (it is in the middle of the wilderness and , though safe, not impenetrable to animals. One of the gentlemen escorting is, Cliff (Ciffiord? was great THANKS!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
This webpage includes reviews for two different Motswari lodges (other is Geiger; they are not the same). Recently spent 3 nights at Motswari, disappointing experience overall, in part due to torrential rain and flooding, but more importantly the resort itself. Weather: Roof leaked at night, soaking the bed/clothes. Game drives poor d/t flooding. For 3/6 drives, couldn't access main reserve, and were limited to dangerous river crossings in the cold/rain seeing only impalas and the odd bird. Missed big 5 (must for anyone on safari). Credit to Sean and Hendry (driver/tracker) for trying to salvage the experience, not much they could do with the weather unfortunately. Resort: Billed as "luxury", more like "functional." Understand this is the bush, but for the cost and description, it didnt meet our expectations. Food was hit/miss, not the quality expected for the price. Staff: Also suprisingly mediocre (based on reviews). Genrally ignored in common areas (while other guests served drinks), nightly confusion about who was sitting where. No luxury feel. Tried to book couples massage at reception and was told "look for the lady in the red top at breakfast tomorrow" by a staff member with a mouthful of food. Needless to say she wasn't there. Bill: Added charity donation without our permission. It wasn't a large amount, and I would usually be happy to pay, but a) this should be disclosed, and b) not after this experience! Overall, a disappointing experience, wouldn't recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020

8/10 Good

Jen, NY

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Such a Beautiful experience, amazing staff, great vibes. Would truly recommend this property
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly staff, great food and well organised safaris. We are vegan, so they made special dishes for us which were wonderful.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Molly

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The best safari experience ever!
Amazing, all around! Service was impeccable and staff was so friendly and went above and beyond. Facilities and chalets were beautiful, so clean and spacious. Food was gourmet, so many options and beautiful display. Game drives were amazing. The best safari experience we could have asked for! Thank you Motswari.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019