About Makanyi Lodge
Where Africa meets the heart
In April 2013, I found myself with no plans for the Easter holidays, but I had recently been in touch with an old school friend, living in Johannesburg, whom I hadn’t seen for years. So, when he asked me to visit, I didn’t hesitate to book a nine-day holiday to Johannesburg and Cape Town. This was my very first time in South Africa and I loved it.
Back home, my father was so enchanted by my pictures with lion cubs taken at a city lion park, that he decided he wanted for all of us to return together. I suggested going on a proper safari, as we had never been on one, and it would be an amazing experience for my son, a unique five-year-old with an unusual passion for animals and nature.Before I knew it, I booked to stay at a safari lodge for the half term holiday in May, and we were off – having the experience of a lifetime and meeting many incredible people. When we departed, we felt as though we were leaving part of ourselves in the bush. With the summer holidays looming and my son going away, the choice was obvious: South Africa was calling me again. This time, I wanted to do some community work, as well as catch up with the friends I had already made. The only thing holding me back was the thought that I had never been on holiday on my own. But I knew the place and had good contacts, so I took a deep breath and headed back.
I stayed much longer than planned, only leaving because of my commitments at home. Those had been the most beautiful and intense ten days I had ever experienced, going way beyond seeing the animals (although that is always amazing). It was the bigger picture that had made such an impression; the ways the country and the bush fit together, how it all began and where everything is heading. The happiness of the people, which reflected their environment, brought me back to the things that really matter: the beauty and simplicity of that environment, nature’s instincts and the delicate balance of it all – not the fast, anxious priorities of busy cities. I found myself thinking in a way I never had before. Having only ever lived in busy cities, how wonderful it would be to live in the bush! But what would I do there? And, most importantly, what would my son do?
Then again, maybe it wasn’t such a crazy thought. For my son, it would be an astonishing opportunity to grow up in one of the few places on Earth where nature is virtually untouched. He could live a happy, healthy, outdoor life surrounded by beauty, simplicity and genuine people with a common passion for nature. In London, he might go to a ‘good’ school, with the pressure to be the best, coming home in the rain to watch TV.
Or he could live in the sunshine, attend a school where kids are allowed to be kids, where priorities are different, surrounded by the natural world, spending his afternoons fishing, swimming and adventuring and dedicating his life to something he loves.
For me, it would bring my passions together. They didn’t make enough sense on their own, but in this new context, they took on a different meaning. I studied hotel management at one of the best schools in the world and, although I’ve always had a keen interest in tourism and hospitality, there wasn’t a particular area I was drawn to, nor any one location. I’ve always loved animals and wanted to find a way to work with them, but had put that enthusiasm to one side too as I didn’t know in what capacity. In South Africa, I knew I’d be able to combine these loves by owning and running my own lodge and dedicating my time to conservation. Perfect!
As I gave the idea more thought, it began to make real sense. I started looking at schools for my son and learn more about the local area, and realised it could work. It would be a massive change, but it could work.
A friend who knows Africa well helped me search for a lodge. One morning in September, he emailed with a brochure showing the most beautiful place for sale in the Timbavati. What do you think? He asked. It was my dream come true.
In October, I went to spend a day at Makanyi before revisiting the lodge where I had spent my holidays. I asked the people working there, many who had become my friends, for their opinion of ‘my’ lodge, and they told me it looked stunning. Most importantly, they knew it would be the perfect location to observe the fascinating wildlife. In November, I managed to secure this unique and wonderful property.
After a long period of preparation and hard work from all our team members, Makanyi opened its doors in June 2015 and it has been like a dream come true. I’d be delighted if you were to join me here.
I will be forever grateful to the people who are or have been part of this incredible journey and have led me here and I am thankful for this amazing opportunity.
10 YEARS LATER AND STILL LIVING THE DREAM
It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since we opened Makanyi’s doors in June 2015. So much has changed around us, but what truly defines Makanyi has stayed beautifully the same. Our heart has always been the people, and today, a decade on, our core team and most of our staff are still with us. That continuity is one of our proudest achievements. It’s what gives the lodge its unmistakable feeling of home and family, something that guests often remark on without knowing exactly why. You can just feel it.
When we first started, we were kind of winging it! We thought it would take time before anyone found us, that it might be a slow build. But it happened much faster than we expected. Suddenly we were open, full, and trying to find our rhythm while already running. It was exciting, occasionally chaotic, and completely driven by heart. Even in those early days, everything was done with intention, with care, and with this quiet knowing that we were building something special. And somehow, that early energy never left.
Over the years, we’ve welcomed guests from all over the world, many of whom return again and again, drawn not just by the wildlife and the landscape but by the spirit of the place. We’ve received wonderful feedback on TripAdvisor and in guest books and messages, but the most meaningful praise is often the quiet kind: a dinner shared with new friends, a story exchanged around the fire, a guest who lingers just a little longer because they don’t want to leave. One guest recently told a member of our team, “You can feel that this place was built with love.” That simple sentence meant everything. Because it’s true. It was. And it still is.
Since opening, we’ve consistently been recognised on the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards list. In 2025, during our tenth anniversary year, we were honoured to be voted number one in South Africa and number two resort in the world.
In 2026, we were thrilled to be ranked again, this time as number four in South Africa. That we reached that milestone during our ten-year anniversary feels symbolic. We didn’t plan it that way. We just kept showing up, doing the work, holding the vision. Back then we had no roadmap, just a dream and the belief that if we built something with soul, people would feel it.
Behind the scenes, we’ve quietly invested in making Makanyi even more special. We’ve refurbished the main lodge and, as we head into 2026, we’re so excited to unveil a brand new bar and a beautiful new spa. These fresh additions bring even more comfort and style to the lodge while staying true to its essence. Makanyi was never meant to be flashy or over-designed. It was meant to feel like coming home, just a bit more magical.
In a landscape filled with beautiful lodges, what sets Makanyi apart, I believe, is this deep sense of belonging. We are a privately owned and personally run lodge, not part of a chain and not following a script. We know our guests by name, and many of them know our staff by name too. There’s laughter in the kitchen, warmth in the greetings, and a shared pride in what we’ve built together. Everyone here has a hand in it. Every guide, every chef, every housekeeper, every single member of our team.
And at the heart of it all, Rico and Carmen, our general managers, have been with me from the very beginning. We’ve grown this together, with love and intention, and it truly feels like our shared creation. As Rico always says, we’re “living the dream” — and depending on the day, he says it with full joy or with a laugh and a shake of the head. Either way, he’s right!
I’m so grateful for these ten extraordinary years, for the team who’ve become family, for the guests who’ve become friends, and for the privilege of calling this piece of the Timbavati home. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings. If you’ve been a part of our story, thank you! If you haven’t yet, we hope to change that soon and become part of yours too.