Tuningi Safari Lodge

Our stay at Tuningi Safari Lodge was truly the highlight of our trip to South Africa. Every aspect of our experience exceeded our expectations, and I can honestly say this was my favorite lodge. The accommodations were beautiful, luxurious, and incredibly comfortable while still feeling connected to the African bush. The food was outstanding, every meal was delicious, and the entire staff made us feel welcomed and cared for from the moment we arrived. A special thank you to our wonderful host, Donovan, who made us feel at home throughout our stay. He was warm, attentive, and always made sure we had everything we needed. His genuine hospitality made our experience even more memorable. The absolute highlight of our stay was our safari guide, Ash. He was simply phenomenal. His knowledge of the wildlife, birds, and ecosystem was incredible, and his passion for conservation was evident in everything he shared. Ash worked tirelessly to give us the best sightings possible and always made sure everyone in our family, including the kids, had an unforgettable experience. His enthusiasm, patience, sense of humor, and ability to read the animals made every game drive exciting and unique. We learned so much from him and could not have asked for a better guide. We even shared a good laugh with him and had a Hot Toddy Drink before dinner while listening to his adventurous stories! The game drives were spectacular, with amazing wildlife sightings and breathtaking scenery. Every drive felt like a new adventure, and we came away with memories we’ll treasure forever. Tuningi Safari Lodge delivers a true five star experience in every way: exceptional hospitality, outstanding food, luxurious accommodations, and world class guiding. If you’re considering a safari, look no further. We can’t recommend Tuningi highly enough, and we are already dreaming of the day we can return. Thank you to Donovan, Ash, and the entire Tuningi team for giving our family the trip of a lifetime!

Lovely accomodation, well situated. Large spacious room and a fantastic outside shower and deck with a very cold plunge pool. Very clean, fridge stocked with your preference. Overlooked the waterhole trail so you can watch elephants and buffalo going to the waterhole which has a viewing deck and sunken hide. Food was excellent. Two game drives a day, Ash was great very knowlegable and enthusiastic, missed out on leopard and wild dogs. Very cold in the morning and evening, hot in the middle.

Tuningi has been beautifully decorated however some of the improvements need to be fixed. Bar fridge did not work, the toilet was loose in room 1, expired used milk left in the room before our check in a

We recently stayed at Tuningi in early February this year. We were my Fiancée and my parents . Our stay at Tuningi Safari Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve was nothing short of extraordinary. We booked the family suite, which was absolutely amazing, complete with its own private pool — pure luxury and comfort. This was my parents’ first safari, and it was so important to us that they experienced safari at its very best. Tuningi exceeded every expectation. The timing of our visit was perfect, and the wildlife sightings did not disappoint. We would give more than 100% if we could! Everything was exceptionally clean, and the suite was beautifully equipped with a well-stocked bar and every comfort you could possibly need. The main lodge pool was a highlight — the staff would bring drinks directly to you while you watched animals gathering at the nearby watering hole. It was surreal to witness wildlife activity while relaxing in the pool. The hide was another fantastic feature, allowing us to observe animals safely and up close, watching their natural behaviours undisturbed. The food was truly Michelin-standard — every single meal was exquisite, with not one disappointment. The braai evening was especially memorable, made even more special by the outstanding staff and their beautiful choir performance. We had the pleasure of meeting the chef, whose passion, care, and dedication to perfection were evident in every dish. A special thank you to Heidi and Gavin, who made our experience even more enjoyable. Gavin was incredibly determined to ensure we had amazing sightings, and seeing the cheetah brothers coalition was an unforgettable highlight! What truly sets Tuningi apart is the personal touch. The warmth, attention, and genuine care from every staff member made this experience unique compared to other lodges. We felt completely looked after from start to finish. We will absolutely return. Thank you to the entire team for making our time in Madikwe so memorable and unforgettable

This is an awesome experience. The lodge itself is so comfortable, relaxed and well maintained at all times. The hide at the watering hole is an amazing creation. Our room was excellent (No. 1) although the outside generator can be heard at times. The food is excellent, the staff are wonderful and whilst it’s very hard to name individuals, it is the presence of committed managers, Heidi & Donovan who stand out and lead a happy, competent team of staff. The safari drives are always worth that early alarm call ! Ashley is a knowledgeable, kind hearted, humorous guide who enabled awesome sightings. Unfortunately the last couple of days were rainy but still with good humour off we all went to explore. A final generous touch was to be escorted to the main gate in our hire car as the rain left the gravel road a little slippery but with care it was just fine. Thank you so much all of you at Tuningi, so hoping to see you all again one day. Liz & Carole

“Take only memories, leave only footprints (Chief Seattle)”. We certainly took many, many vivid and emotionally resonant memories back with us; from the tastefully decorated yet cozy rooms, to the warmhearted and very accommodating staff, not to mention the well-presented and delectable meals. Most graphic in our minds were the adventurous safari drives with our guide, Ashley. Ashley guided us through the park with his comprehensive knowledge of the bush and woodlands ecosystem while providing us with opportunities for close up and breathtaking wildlife photographs. My family and I came to Tuningi Lodge by recommendation and will continue to pass the word along while planning another visit to plant more footprints and keep these very special memories intact.

A truly incredible lodge with excellent food, service and very knowledgable game rangers. We loved our stay and were very sad to leave. They treated us like family and pampered us like royalty. Heidi and Gavin are warm, welcoming and friendly. Heidi went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed. We will be back.

This was our 5th visit to Madikwe but our first stay at Tuningi Lodge. The lodge and rooms are stunning having very recently been renovated but the real star of the show for us was the water hole and hide. Some of the best sightings of our 4 night stay happened at the hide between drives, including 21 adult and juvenile elephants visiting whilst we waited for our departure transfer to the airstrip ! The service and welcome from the bar and waiting staff was exemplary and the boma evening where they shared their local songs and dance, truly special. All of the food was of very high quality and always beautifully presented. Naturally, any safari comes down to the game drives and this is where Madikwe always delivers for us. Our preference is always to see what the bush delivers and on this trip it delivered the Big 7 and so much more.... We'll be back !

The most fabulous place to stay. Once again visiting Madikwe Game Reserve. A happenstance enabled our 5 night stay at Tuningi Lodge. Recently renovated, there are 2 family suites & 4 luxury suites. We were 4 friends, so in 2 of the luxury suites, with our own plunge pools!! So very comfortable and luxurious. We were able (when not cold or raining…. We had several seasons during our stay) to sit in the pool and watch Towers of Giraffe, herds of Elephants, some Zebra, Kudu and Baboons make their way past en route to the waterhole. We could also dash down and watch up close through the hide. The service was excellent, the food fantastic, the alcohol included!! To Heidi, Shontay, Reginald and the other wonderful staff, thank you. To Shaddy, the excellent barman with his never ending supply, also, thank you. All of the staff were excellent and hard working. To our fabulous Ranger, Marcel, thank you for finding nearly all the animals we could hope to see (no amount of manifesting could find the elusive Leopard), especially the 2 packs of Wild dogs. Also thanks to Heidi again for being willing to walk me past the spot where I had just seen a Mozambique spitting cobra!!!! Luckily it appeared more scared of me! Extremely highly recommended