Mavela Game Lodge is located within the beautiful Manyoni Private Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The lodge is approximately 3–4 hours by road from Durban and around 6 hours from Johannesburg.
Travel via the N2 towards Mkuze, take the Mkuze off-ramp, and follow the signs toward the reserve. Detailed directions will be provided upon confirmation of your booking. Air transfers and private charters can also be arranged on request for a seamless safari arrival experience.
We recommend packing light, comfortable clothing in neutral tones for your safari experience. Early mornings and evenings can be cool, so bring a warm jacket or fleece for game drives. During the day, breathable clothing, a wide-brim hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are essential.
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, along with swimwear for downtime at the lodge. Don’t forget your camera, binoculars, and any personal essentials you may need. Most importantly, bring your sense of adventure.
Mavela offers exceptional wildlife viewing year-round. The dry winter months (May to September) are ideal for game viewing, as animals gather around water sources and vegetation is less dense. Summer (October to April) brings lush landscapes, dramatic skies, and excellent birdwatching, along with warmer temperatures and occasional afternoon rains.
The drive to Manyoni from King Shaka Airport takes around 3 and a half hours. The drive is quite easy and most guests pick up a hire car at the airport and drive through.
Yes, please contact us to arrange a day drive or walking safari on the reserve
Manyoni hosts the Big Five and around 70 species of mammals. There are cheetah and pangolin, but finding the elusive pangolin is tricky. Some of the most experienced guides on the reserve have only seen the pangolin a handful of times.
We would argue that it most certainly is due to the fact that the reserve is privately managed by a team of passionate owners and conservationists, ensuring a balance of wildlife, endangered species and vegetation.
There are 2 game drives per day in open safari vehicles and they generally last around 3 to 4 hours each. Your stay at Mavela includes your game drives.
Yes, our luxury tents, delicious food and comfortable lodge are perfect for honeymooners.
Different times of year do have different rates. Visit our rates page to see our current rates and special offers.
Given that Manyoni offers exceptional game viewing with cost-effective access, Manyoni is very good value when compared with the private lodges inside the Kruger National Park and safari destinations north of South Africa.
The advantage of staying in a private game reserve is that the game drives are very well managed and not overcrowded.
Our rate is fully inclusive of all meals, drinks and game drives.
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Cancellations and Changes: We understand that travel plans can change. To support our guests, we offer flexible date changes and a clear refund structure. Please note that this policy applies consistently in all circumstances, including force majeure events beyond our control.
New dates are subject to availability and the rates applicable to the new travel period. We will honour the original quoted rate for any postponement rebooked within 6 months, subject to availability and excluding peak periods. Only one date change is permitted.
Refunds are issued less any credit card processing fees, and the final refund amount may vary slightly due to currency exchange rate fluctuations.
