I would like to thank the entire Last Word team for the unforgettable stay we had there. Everything was beyond excellent. I wouldn’t be able to make the word limit here if I wanted to list what we liked about our stay. Gold standard of hospitality - I’ll tell you that. For those who are interested mostly in the game drives - I can assure you Damien is the best in this business, simply unbelievable skill and knowledge of the subject - you are guaranteed to learn something new about the wildlife. Thank you a thousand times Team!!!!

-

The staff, all of them, were welcoming and professional. The facilities were very nice, both common areas and private rooms. The grounds were beautiful, with a large lawn and shade trees with scores of nesting masked weavers. The game hide was wonderful also. What truly sets Last Word Madikwe above the rest though were the stunningly good culinary treats. We looked forward to every meal and were never disappointed. We had stayed at another Madikwe luxury lodge several years ago and the food was good, but Last Word's meals were on another level. Finally, the complimentary adult beverages that we unexpectedly found in our rooms were quite good! Oh, and we saw a gazillion animals of all sorts of the game drives, many of them up close.

Not worth mentioning compared with the positives.

Great location, easy access from main gate of reserve. Wonderful setting, having the watering hole and hide were a HUGE bonus, having meals and watching the animals drink a stones throw away is magical! Small plunge pool and gardens added to the overall ambience. Highly recommended accommodation.

As a solo traveler I would have liked meals together on a large table so we could all chat and talk about our game drive experiences, however, as many of the others staying there were couples (some honeymooners) I know this may not appeal to everyone.

Well maintained, quiet, and peaceful. There’s also lots of old charm. The staff, without exception, was great. The Last Word is especially excellent for viewing the animals because of a wildlife “hide” adjacent to a pond just past the perimeter of the property. The pond is an essential source of water for so many of the animals, especially given the lack of rainfall recently. There was a continual parade of wildlife, not just at dusk and dawn, but during broad daylight. The pond is also easily visible while eating any of the meals, which we all had outside.

Really nothing.

The water hole

Room service such as replenishing the fridge was poor

The Last Word Madikwe was simply fantastic, impeccable, far beyond our expectations. The room was wonderful, comfortable, and beautifully decorated. A highlight of our stay was the care and attention of the staff, which made our stay unforgettable. All the staff members are very attentive and pleasant. Damien was our ranger and went above and beyond to ensure that we had the complete experience and saw the big 5 and more. Every day, they left sweets, poems, and other treats in our room. The hotel is fantastic. There are only 5 rooms, which makes the experience very exclusive and unique. Because it's so exclusive, we ended up interacting directly with the other guests, making the atmosphere lighter and more enjoyable and allowing us to make new friends. A unique feature of the Last Word Madikwe is the Hide, which allows you to see animals drinking water in the river literally 1 meter away. It was incredible. One night, we saw a herd of buffalo drinking water while enjoying a glass of wine and the starry sky! The safari was amazing! They divide the guests into two cars, so it's super comfortable! We loved the surprise breakfast in the middle of the savannah! What an incredible experience! We will definitely come back and recommend it to all our friends! Thank you very much, Last Word Madikwe! We already miss it!

I wish we stayed longer hahahaha

We booked this resort at short notice because there were problems with our original booking. That was an absolute stroke of luck. The resort is unique in many ways. The staff are incredibly friendly and courteous and the guides on the daily game drives (5.30 a.m. and 4 p.m.) are incredibly knowledgeable (especially Damian). But the absolute highlight is the waterhole directly at the resort. There is a kind of peephole or trench that you can go into. From there you can watch the animals that pass by very regularly (elephants, kudus, zebras, buffalos, lions etc.) from a distance of just 4-5 metres. It was particularly nice that South Africans who have been going on safaris for 20 years were also guests at the resort. And they also said that this peephole and the entire experience is truly outstanding and unique. Perfect all round.

Very low key and amazing watering hole on sight to see animals

N/a

Look no further, this is the lodge for your safari experience. Getting to the place from Johannesburg is very easy by car, they are in touch with you in case of any event. The lodge is just wonderful. This is the only safari I have been on but I think this is a very unique place. The place is very beautiful, service is top knotch, you feel at home but also you know you are having a premium stay. What is most unique about the lodge is the waterhole in front as many animals come during the day to drink water and you can witness this súper up close through an underground hide. It’s amazing and completely safe. The other unique aspect of this lodge is your game drive ranger. Damien is just the best. He goes the extra mile so that you see the most exciting sightings, we had so much fun.

Nothing it was perfect

We had a five night stay at The Bush House and we were truly blown away. It was genuinely one of the best experiences we have ever had and we can’t even begin to put into words how special it was. We had the most magical time and the memories that we have made will truly last a lifetime.  The Bush House was simply stunning, the lodge itself was so homely, our room was incredible, the food fantastic, the gardens were absolutely beautiful and of course there were the stunning views of the watering hole. The hide is incredible, you get so close to the animals and it’s truly a wonderful experience. The staff were outstanding and made our stay so special. They were absolutely fantastic in every way, looking after us, going above and beyond and always with a huge smile on their faces. A special shout out to Caitlin, Jodi and Roxy - nothing was ever too much trouble and they made us feel like The Bush House was our home. The game drives were so so special, we saw so much and it was really thanks to our amazing Field Guide Damian whose knowledge was incredible. The Bush House is such a special place, thank you again to everyone - an incredible team in one of the most stunning settings in the world. We really hope to be able to visit again in the near future.