Get in touch
Traversing over the 9000 hectares of supreme African bushveld, the Karongwe Reserve is home to the Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant) as well as a wealth of other creatures.
At Karongwe River Lodge, a delightful dining experience awaits you. Dining under the stars has never been as romantic as when you enjoy our Pan-African cuisine in a rustic outdoor boma or, on alternate evenings, in the beautifully appointed dining room. To complement your meal, choose from our extensive selection of top South African and imported beers and wines, alongside a variety of spirits and soft drinks.
Spend the afternoon relaxing beside the pool or watching the game from your private deck before being whisked away on a late-afternoon safari in an open game drive vehicle. The enchanting view over the Makhutsi River is a natural treasure, offering insight into the secret life of the river. The spacious lounge area leading onto a vast deck provides endless opportunities to view elephants as well as grazing antelope.
Settle in at your leisure in one of our 11 spacious and air-conditioned suites, each featuring en-suite bathrooms. River Lodge offers guests a choice of five luxury suites, two family suites, and two executive suites, with the two presidential suites enjoying their own private plunge pools.
Traversing over 9,000 hectares of supreme African bushveld, the Karongwe Reserve is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant) as well as a wealth of other incredible creatures. Our open vehicle game drives are perfect for wildlife viewing, and you can enjoy a sundowner as the sun sets over the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains.
The spectacular game viewing provides perfect photographic opportunities. Take in the breathtaking views of the Lowveld from a “kopje” surrounded by lush vegetation, a huge variety of trees, and over 365 different bird species. Game drives are conducted by our qualified game rangers and Shangaan trackers, who will share their deep knowledge of the African bush, including an opportunity to view cheetahs on foot.
Time is luxury. We streamline your choices for the perfect safari.
✅ Free travel insurance before 30 Nov 2025
✅ An expert will reach out to you within 24 hours
✅ SAFARI.COM voted Africa's Leading Safari Company in the World Travel Awards 2024 + 2025
✅ Same price as booking direct, with expert care included
✅ With you before, during and after your safari
✅ We handle it all. Flights, transfers, lodging & activities

October 28, 2025
My husband and I are grateful that…
My husband and I are grateful that Leigh-Ann Croeser was very patient with us in planning our trip to South Africa next year. She was knowledgeable and listened to what we wanted to see and a couple of times when we needed to change our itinerary and budget. She was very responsive to our concerns. We feel lucky to have her arranging our trip and we highly recommend her to anyone who wishes to visit South Africa.
October 28, 2025
Leighann took patience and long hours…
Leighann took patience and long hours to craft our itinery as we were uncertain of what we want as this is our first visit to Safai. She contacted us after our inquiry to understand our need. We were uncertain about our length of stay and our budget. She patiently guided us and adjusted the itinery to meet our needs and budget. Very thankful and would recommend her to anyone to plan the trip. Now waiting for the trip to commence,
October 22, 2025
Leigh-Ann at Safari.com has been…
Leigh-Ann at Safari.com has been amazing and so easy to work with. She responds almost immediately to every question. This is our third time to Africa and I wish we’d had her before. She makes it so easy.
Crafting your journey from a curated portfolio of Africa's 500+ finest lodges and operators.