Motswari Private Game Reserve

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South Africa
Hoedspruit
Motswari Private Game Reserve

An African dream beckons - defined by extraordinary scenery and warm hospitality.
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To book your stay at Motswari:
📧 [email protected]
📱📞 +27 21 427 5901 Open to the Kruger National Park and playing host to Africa's Big Five is Motswari Private Game Reserve. One of South Africa's jewels nestled within the Timbavati Nature Reserve, this family-owned and operated four-star luxury safari lodge prides itself on its warm atmosphere and luxurious African safari lodge acco

mmodation. The understated luxury of this traditional, vintage bush lodge promises an authentic African safari experience and luxury bush accommodation to all of its visitors from the world over. The 150 square kilometres that make up the reserve are part of the greater Kruger Park and guests will be treated to wildlife in their natural habitats as part of their unforgettable wildlife experience of Southern Africa. Ideally situated and exclusive, Motswari Private Safari and African bush lodge accommodation holds the best of everything for the traveller to the untamed majesty that is Africa.

14/06/2026

An unforgettable view from the pool ♥️🐘

Guests at Motswari recently enjoyed front-row seats to an unforgettable sighting when one of the reserve’s well-known grand elephant bulls made his way down to the water in front of the pool.

With his impressive frame and magnificent tusks, he captivated everyone watching.

Encounters like these are a reminder of what makes the Timbavati so special. Through decades of conservation and collaboration, this landscape remains a safe haven for wildlife, allowing iconic animals like this bull to thrive and inspire future generations.

🎥 .od.wild

13/06/2026

Curiosity is one of the lion cub’s greatest teachers.

As this mother led her cubs past our safari vehicle, the youngsters couldn’t help but stop and stare. Just a few feet away, they looked up at the guests with wide eyes, taking in the strange sight before continuing on their journey.

Every day in the wild is filled with lessons. What to hunt. What to fear. What to ignore. And sometimes, those lessons begin with nothing more than curiosity.

While on drive with .od.wild and tracker Hendry.

11/06/2026

One by one, Land Rovers emerge from the darkness.

Guests arrive from different corners of the reserve, following lantern-lit pathways towards a scene they might expect to find in a storybook rather than in the middle of the bush.

Tables glow beneath ancient trees, fires flicker softly, and the stars shine overhead.

The surprise is part of the magic. After an afternoon exploring the Timbavati, guests are welcomed to a Motswari bush dinner hidden deep in the wilderness, where safari stories are shared and new friendships begin.

For a little while, the outside world feels very far away, replaced by the timeless beauty of the African night.

08/06/2026

Has anyone ever seen this before? Spot the ball of fluff.

The other day we saw a pack of wild dogs resting right next to one hyena. Mortal enemies, but not this day.

For all the time we were there, they lay together in complete peace, neither side showing any interest in conflict. No chasing, no posturing, no signs of tension. Just a quiet moment of coexistence between two species usually locked in fierce competition.

In the wild, hyenas and wild dogs often battle over territory, food and survival. Nature never ceases to surprise us.

A rare sighting, and one we’ll be talking about for a long time.

07/06/2026

With an entire corner of the wilderness to yourself, the Modjadji Master Suite offers something that has become increasingly difficult to find: complete privacy.

The soundtrack is birdsong. The view changes by the hour as the African sun paints the landscape in an ever-shifting spectrum of colours, from soft morning golds to fiery sunset hues.

There is nowhere to be, nothing to tick off and no one competing for the view.

Some guests arrive looking for a safari. Others leave having discovered one of life’s rarest luxuries: time, space and an uninterrupted connection with nature.

06/06/2026

Some moments really do take your breath away. 🔥 🐆

This is Pezulu, possibly the grumpiest leopard in the Timbavati. But isn’t he just magnificent? ☺️

While on drive this week with Motswari guide and tracker Thabo.

27/05/2026

New Blog: Leopards living their best life (link in bio) or Google 🔎 newmark motswari blog leopards 🐆

What truly sets the month of May apart at Motswari is the impala rutting season, and with it, a remarkable increase in leopard activity.

Leopards are already known for their strong presence in the Timbavati, but in May, sightings often reach another level. The rut draws them in. Guides begin to follow the calls, interpreting not just the direction, but the intensity, reading the bush in real time.

Guests might find themselves tracking a leopard not by sight, but by sound, moving through the landscape with a growing sense that something is about to unfold.

There’s a particular magic in these encounters. Leopards, typically so secretive, become more active during daylight hours. Whether draped across the limbs of a marula tree, moving silently through green grass, or feeding on a recent kill, their presence feels both intimate and electric.

Image 1:
Image 2: Rodney Van Soest
Image 3:
Image 4:

25/05/2026

Two elephant bulls sparring at the entrance to Motswari.

What can sometimes look aggressive is often ritual: a test of power, confidence and hierarchy. When sparring, the bulls push, twist and lean into each other, reading every movement, every vibration, every signal.

Moments like this are ancient. Timeless. The raw energy of two gentle giants negotiating their place in the wild.

Filmed a few days ago by Motswari guide Owen .od.wild 🐘

Address

Timbavati Game Reserve, Off Argyle Road
Hoedspruit
1380

Telephone

+27214275900

Website

https://newmarkhotels.com/accommodation/motswari-private-game-reserve

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