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Makakatana Bay Lodge

4.0 of 5
iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site, Saint Lucia 3935, South Africa
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Makakatana Bay Lodge
Ranked #11 of 24 Saint Lucia B&B and Inns
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33 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveler rating
    20
    8
    4
    1
    0
Date Rating
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 11, 2013

We spent 4 days at the Makakatana Bay lodge in iSimangaliso Wetland Park during our 2 week holiday in South Africa. On arrival we were welcomed by Kyle and Claire, two of the people who run the lodge, and they absolutely made our stay unforgettable by their hospitality, friendliness and mostly their knowledge of the area and the park. The... More

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Durban, South Africa
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 5, 2013

The remote setting of the lodge offered a really quiet break from it all. The staff were tremendous and the food top class. The activities we went on included night and early morning game drives and a boat trip on lake St. Lucia. These were very well organised and what becomes immediately apparent is the personal touch that is given... More

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
5 hotel reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 22, 2013

The remoteness of this place is deceiving. It is off a dirt road, down a sandy path and in the middle of nowhere yet everywhere at the same time. The rooms are a great size and whoever designed it knew what they were doing. At dinner we had great conversation and the food was really nice. I would definitely go... More

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Durban, South Africa
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed January 2, 2013

We spent 4 wonderful days at Makakatana, friendly staff were attentative but not intruding, the perfect balance. We found the lodge to be somewhat rustic but most comfortable and true to it's surroundings with a lovely relaxing pool. Louwrina was most helpful as were the rest of the staff. Game viewing was a little disappointing but that happens depending on... More

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Dublin, Ireland
Top Contributor
62 reviews 62 reviews
13 hotel reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
20 helpful votes 20 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 24, 2012

This is delightful game lodge in the heart of the St Lucia wetlands (a world heritage site). The area for which the lodge has a concession is itself quite large but safari trips are also organised to the the nearby National Game Park. There is also a lovely boat trip on the wetlands themselves which I'd highly recommend if you... More

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Gloucester, United Kingdom
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
11 hotel reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed December 12, 2012

All the staff were very friendly and looked after us very well - Shannon couldn't have been more welcoming. The Lodge itself was small which is lovely but rather old fashioned compared to some we have been to but all in all it was a delightful place to spend a couple of days. Distinct lack of game everywhere but we... More

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Pretoria, South Africa
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
6 hotel reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed September 13, 2012

We stayed at Makakatana for 3 nights. A unique experiance ,great location ,most friendly staff and excellent service. Our rating would be Excellent if it was not for a few issues that should be addressed,in line with what is expected from this type of establishment.These are as follows: 1) Although food is of a high standard, an alternative starter and... More

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New York City, New York
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
14 hotel reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
19 helpful votes 19 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed September 5, 2012

The Makakatana Bay Lodge is located on the only private property in the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park World Heritage Site. While the lodge is only 12 years old, the land has been in the family for four generations and the owner lives nearby and is actively involved in running the lodge (and very personable). This is a really special... More

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Oslo, Norway
Senior Contributor
28 reviews 28 reviews
18 hotel reviews
Reviews in 19 cities Reviews in 19 cities
38 helpful votes 38 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 27, 2012

We had a great time at this lodge. Riley the ranger was THE MAN! He took us around and made sure we always had what we needed. We stayed in the honeymoon suite which was very nice. Funny with the monkeys on the roof in the mornings. Nice pool area. Nice food and the staff was lovely too. We had... More

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Pretoria
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 2, 2012

Had a wonderful stay at Makakatana Bay Lodge, thanks to Syanne's efficiency, we were able to get our visa on time and our ranger Riley, always went the extra mile to accommodate our requests. We were always late for activities and meals because we were having such a relaxing time, and the staff was amazingly patient with us. Beautiful serene... More

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5 of 5 stars 69 Reviews
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Additional Information about Makakatana Bay Lodge

Address: iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site, Saint Lucia 3935, South Africa
Phone Number:
Region: South Africa > KwaZulu-Natal > Saint Lucia
Amenities:
Bar/Lounge Beach Free Breakfast Free High-Speed Internet Free Parking Kids Activities Room Service Suites Swimming Pool Wheelchair access
Hotel Style:
Ranked #11 of 24 B&Bs / Inns in Saint Lucia
Price Range: $$$$
Hotel Class:4 star (4*)
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
Makakatana Bay Lodge is the only privately owned lodge set on the banks of Lake St Lucia, KwaZulu Natal, SA within the Isimangaliso Wetland Park world heritage site. It is 3 hours drive North of Durban & easy driving.The Lodge has 6 rooms with only 12 guests, offering guests privacy & intimacy during their stay at Makakatana. The full day boat safari is the benchmark activity offered at the lodge where guests are take on a private boat to experience the Estuary seeking out hippo, crocodile & incredible birdlife. After the boat trip guests enjoy a picnic lunch & game drive enroute home.The other activity that is a must is the Beach safari & exploration of the Eastern shores reserve. ... more   less 
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Makakatana Bay Lodge
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