No1 Africa Lodge in the 2024 Travel + Leisure Worlds Best Awards

Monwana Game Lodge: Where the Wild Feels Like Home
Discover what it means to truly come home to the wilderness

Set within the Greater Kruger National Park, Monwana Game Lodge offers an intimate safari escape surrounded by 14,000 hectares of unfenced Big Five wilderness. Just 45 minutes from Hoedspruit Airport, the lodge combines easy access with an authentic sense of remoteness, where wildlife moves freely between Thornybush and Kruger National Park.

With just six luxury suites and one private villa, Monwana provides an exclusive and peaceful retreat where guests can experience the bush at an unhurried pace. Solar-powered facilities and thoughtful design create a comfortable sanctuary that allows you to reconnect with nature while travelling responsibly.

Accommodation

Monwana features six beautifully appointed suites, including four designed for two adults and two spacious Family Suites. Each Family Suite includes a second en-suite bedroom, accommodating up to two adults and three children.

Every suite opens onto a private, shaded deck overlooking the bush, complete with a plunge pool and outdoor shower. Comfort is carefully considered throughout the seasons, with air-conditioning and ceiling fans for warm summer days, while underfloor heating and heated towel rails provide added warmth during cooler winter nights.

Beautifully selected linen, soft towels, bathrobes and premium amenities create a relaxed, homely atmosphere where guests can unwind in comfort after a day in the wilderness.

Monwana Residence 

For the ultimate private safari escape, Monwana Residence offers an exclusive-use retreat with expansive views across the surrounding bushveld.

The residence features two en-suite bedrooms accommodating up to four adults and two children, along with a fully equipped kitchen, comfortable lounge and dining area. Outside, a generous deck, private braai area and fire deck provide the perfect setting for relaxed evenings and sharing stories after a day of exploration.

A dedicated team is on hand throughout your stay, including a private chef and residence butler, while a private safari vehicle and dedicated field-guide team ensure a completely personalised safari experience.

Additional guests can be accommodated in one of Monwana's luxury suites, making the residence particularly well suited to families and small groups travelling together.

Monwana Highlights

• Prime wilderness setting: Thornybush Nature Reserve shares an unfenced boundary with the Greater Kruger National Park, creating an expansive habitat for abundant resident wildlife, including the Big Five, and excellent year-round safari opportunities.
• Wildlife at your doorstep: An active waterhole and dry riverbed directly in front of the lodge attract a variety of wildlife and provide exceptional viewing opportunities.
• Intimate atmosphere: The lodge accommodates a maximum of just 24 guests, ensuring personalised service and an exclusive feel.
• Expert guiding: Experienced field guides and skilled trackers bring the surrounding wilderness to life.
• Small-group safaris: A maximum of six guests per safari vehicle allows for a more comfortable and personal game-viewing experience.
• Private safari vehicles: Monwana Residence guests have their own open safari vehicle, as do families travelling with children who stay in a Family Suite.
• Exceptional dining: Meals are served in a variety of beautiful settings, ensuring that no two dining experiences are quite the same.
• Fresh, responsible cuisine: The culinary philosophy focuses on fresh, nutritious, sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients.
• Dietary flexibility: Vegan, vegetarian, reducetarian, halal and other dietary requirements can be accommodated. Kosher dining can also be arranged in advance at an additional cost.
• Wine experiences: Explore an impressive selection of South African wines through private or guided tastings in the well-stocked wine cellar.
• Wellness facilities: The lodge features a spa offering a range of therapeutic treatments, together with a fitness centre equipped for weight training, cardio workouts and yoga.
• Convenient air access: Daily scheduled flights connect Johannesburg and Cape Town with Hoedspruit Airport.
• Federal Air connections: Daily shuttle flights are available from several major safari destinations.
• Private air transfers: For Federal Air shuttle services and private charters, the closest airstrip is Thornybush Airstrip.
• Road access: Monwana is also conveniently accessible by road from Johannesburg and Nelspruit/Mbombela.
• Multi-property journeys: Seamless safari itineraries can be arranged between properties within the MORE Collection, making it easy to combine Monwana with other exceptional destinations.

Experiences That Bring You Closer to the Wild

Every experience at Monwana is designed to awaken the senses, inspire curiosity and create a deeper connection with the natural world.

Big Five Safaris

Explore Thornybush's vast wilderness on twice-daily game drives and guided bush walks led by experienced field guides and trackers. Encounter elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalo roaming freely in their natural environment, alongside the reserve's remarkable diversity of other wildlife.

Guided Bush Walks

Experience the wilderness from ground level. Walking through the bush heightens every sense, the crunch of stones beneath your feet, the scent of rain, the touch of grass and the intricate details of plants and tracks around you. Armed guides and experienced trackers tailor each walk to your interests, offering a fascinating perspective on the ecosystem.

Sustainability Experience

Discover the innovative ways Monwana operates as an off-grid lodge. Learn about its solar-powered energy systems, water filtration and other responsible practices that demonstrate how luxury and environmental care can exist side by side.

Helicopter Adventures

Take to the skies for a spectacular helicopter excursion over the Greater Kruger and Blyde River Canyon, continuing towards iconic viewpoints such as God's Window. From above, dramatic escarpments, winding valleys and untouched wilderness unfold in breathtaking detail.

Stargazing

With little light pollution, the African night sky comes alive above Monwana. Search for the Southern Cross, the Milky Way and southern-hemisphere constellations, while expert guides share fascinating stories and legends beneath the stars.

South African Wine Tasting

Discover the diversity of South African wines through curated tastings featuring renowned estates and smaller boutique producers. Guided by the sommelier, guests can explore different varieties, regions and styles while finding their own favourites.

Family Adventures

Young guests can discover the bush through the Mosaba Rangers programme, an engaging introduction to nature and adventure. Activities can include archery, tracking and survival skills, complemented by twice-daily game drives designed to inspire a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.

Dining in the Wilderness

At Monwana, dining becomes part of the safari experience. Enjoy bush breakfasts as wildlife gathers at nearby waterholes, dinners beneath an endless canopy of stars and sundowners overlooking the waterhole. Seasonal cuisine celebrates fresh ingredients while allowing the spectacular surroundings to take centre stage.

Spa & Wellness

Between safari adventures, retreat to the bush spa and wellness centre for moments of calm and restoration. African botanical treatments, bush-facing fitness facilities and peaceful spaces provide an opportunity to slow down, recharge and reconnect with yourself and your surroundings.

At Monwana, the luxury lies not only in the accommodation, but in the freedom to experience the wilderness slowly, intimately and authentically, surrounded by wildlife, expansive landscapes and the timeless rhythms of the African bush.