Exclusivity abounds.
From the minute you arrive at Morukuru Family Madikwe you are welcomed by the warm African spirit that the staff exude, smiling and friendly faces, willing and eager to assist with your every need.
The exclusivity of Morukuru is what we loved the most, not having to see other guests or needing to go to a general main lodge area for meal times, but rather feeling completely relaxed in what very much feels like your own home from the very first day.
We especially loved that meal times were more about quality family time instead of having to make sure the boys kept quiet and didn’t disturb other guests. The privacy of our own massive swimming pool and letting the boys splash around and make as much noise as they wanted to, and the drinks trolley they prepared for us, again made it feel so exclusive.
This magnificent, spacious villa is what dreams are made of, with beautifully decorated living rooms and bedrooms all leading onto large terraces which blend into the natural surroundings, making you feel like you are completely secluded and in sync with nature.
The game drives were superb, Evan and Gami are a dynamic duo who are knowledgeable about every aspect of wildlife, flora and the reserve. They managed to position us right in the middle of a cheetah hunt, and made sure we were always perfectly positioned to get the best photographs, as well as never making us feel rushed at a sighting, which we have experienced so many times before and this is honestly one of the most frustrating things. Evan is great with kids and added in so many exciting little moments for them, which they will never forget. We had the boys in tears the evening before departing, as they were so sad to leave their new friends.
The chef is accommodating at meal times and will whip up whatever your heart desires, albeit we aren’t fussy eaters, and were excited for him to spoil us as he wished and we were always pleasantly surprised with the delicious, hearty meals he presented.
I love how meal times are never served in the same place in the house, we even had a breakfast in the tree house where no effort was spared to make it extra special. It’s the little things that really make an impression on me and every little touch was thought of, I was even asked if I would like any of the recipes for the meals we had, and upon checkout there was an envelope with the butternut soup recipe waiting for me, which I now call the Morukuru butternut soup and will make it for my family often so that we can reminisce over our amazing adventure at this incredible lodge.
From the little gifts for the boys upon arrival, and even a thoughtful surprise waiting on your pillow each night (the boys were always excited for these), to the travel snacks they present to you before your departure, you couldn’t possibly wish for any more than this.
It was also our birthday week when we visited (3 birthdays in one week) and Eilsa and her team made it unforgettable, a great deal of effort was put into setting up balloons and a boma fire, yummy birthday cake with all the staff singing to us, and beautiful gifts.
The staff are always ‘just there’ in case you need anything, but rarely seen or heard.
The only thing we didn’t enjoy was leaving this magical home in the bush, but the staff even made that a memorable experience for us, which left every one of us a little emotional to depart. I would highly recommend staying for at least a week, this really is the best Madikwe game reserve has to offer, be it for a romantic breakaway or family holiday.