Babanango Game Reserve, South Africa
Madwaleni River Lodge - Babanango Game Reserve
Rewilded riverside camp
Babanango Game Reserve, South Africa
Renovated
2023
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe LocalOutside the door
The house
Babanango Game ReserveRewilded riverside camp
Twelve sculptural tents sit along the White Umfolozi River, anchored in a reserve where the Big Five recently returned.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Curved twenty-two-meter timber arches support stretch-fabric canopies shaped like traditional Zulu shields.
Notable
Twelve riverfront tents feature private heated plunge pools, copper tubs, and guided game drives.
Notable
Local community artisans handwove the circular riverside boma using cleared invasive wattle saplings.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
from a private deck overlooking the White Umfolozi River, you might spot elephants cooling off in the water.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
The lodge sits inside twenty thousand hectares of protected bushland, where guided drives track roaming wildlife.
The rooms
Tented suites have private heated plunge pools on bamboo decks, copper bathtubs, and open views of the river.
The gym
Bring a swimsuit.
Kinetic energy-harnessing cardio machines sit beside glass walls looking straight out over the valley.
The spa
Therapists bring massages directly to your tented suite, incorporating indigenous botanicals into every treatment.
At the table
Meals are served beside a suspended fireplace under canvas canopies or outdoors on the timber dining deck.
How it began
Built on former cattle farms, the lodge opened in 2023 after a rewilding initiative returned the Big Five to Zululand.
Good to know
Stay here
Madwaleni River Lodge - Babanango Game Reserve
Choose your dates to see every room and rate, and book in a few steps.
Add dates to see the price for your stay.
Or book with
Booking.com ExpediaWe may earn a commission when you book through Booking.com or Expedia. It never decides which hotels we include or how we rate them.
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.