The Lodge

Aerial before sunrise of the pool deck with its lights on, Lake St Lucia and the wetlands beyond

The Lodge

Built into the forest, open to the lake.

Makakatana stands on the shores of Lake St Lucia, inside iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first World Heritage Site. Our eight suites are raised on timber in the coastal forest of the Western Shores and joined to the main lodge by boardwalks.

Each has its own private deck, with an outdoor bath and shower open to the forest. Below the main lodge, the pool deck and the lake deck look out over Lake St Lucia and the wetlands of iSimangaliso.

5 Luxury Suites · 2 Family Suites · 1 Honeymoon Suite

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The chef talks a couple through the wines at a cheese table on the deck.

Since 1999

Our doors opened in 1999. The welcome has not changed since.

More than 25 years of welcoming guests have made hospitality second nature here. Our guides know the lake by heart, our kitchen cooks with herbs from our own garden, and our team knows how to make a place feel like home.

That experience shows in the small things: a drive timed for the best light, dinner set wherever you would like it, and a stay shaped around you before you need to ask.

The main lodge from above at night, its dining tables lit beneath the roof and lit steps leading down to the deck boma, where the fire burns among string lights.

New in 2026

Renewed in 2026, closer to the water.

In mid-2026 we completed our most substantial renovation yet. The main lodge gained extended decks, the boardwalks were widened, and a new deck at the water’s edge now hosts canapés and private dinners under the moon. After dark, softly lit paths lead through the forest to our new main boma and the fire.

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First light over Lake St Lucia, the lodge roofs among the trees below.

The same lake. A lodge renewed.

New decks, softly lit boardwalks and a new boma, from first light on the water to firelight beneath the trees.

Step into Makakatana

The pool deck and its green-roofed lounge at the edge of Lake St Lucia, seen from the air

The lounge of the main lodge, rattan armchairs with red cushions round a carved table

Breakfast laid out in the dining room: croissants, cheese, fruit and cereals on timber boards

The extended deck of the main lodge at dusk, guests gathered round the fire on the deck

Hanging egg chairs under a big tree on the deck at the water’s edge, the lake beyond

The round pool on the pool deck, white loungers under a black umbrella, the lake through the trees

A Luxury Suite at dusk, its doors open to the lit bedroom and two chairs on the deck

An outdoor bath and rain shower on a suite’s private deck at dusk, a lantern lit, forest behind

A timber boardwalk winding through the coastal forest between green-roofed suites, seen from the air

Dinner tables laid in the main boma at night, guests round the fire and lanterns lit in the pavilion

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A lodge team member welcomes two guests up the entrance steps with a tray of rolled towels

Reservations

Come and stay with us by the lake.

Tell us when you would like to visit and who is coming, and our team will shape your stay around you, from your first message to your last morning on the water.

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“We spent an afternoon at the pool, which is also beautifully situated overlooking the lake. At night, we had warthogs under our house, which was simply indescribable to hear all the sounds at night and wake up to the birdsong in the morning.”

— Gabriele R, TripAdvisor, February 2024

“There is a genuine warmth here that can’t be faked. Every conversation was filled with stories, knowledge, and a deep connection to the land. You can feel how much everyone loves this land, and that makes you fall in love with it too.”

— Aarifah M, TripAdvisor, June 2026

“We had the most incredible stay at this special family run lodge. With over 120 years of history, there’s a real sense of legacy and love for the land here. From the minute we arrived, we felt like part of the family.”

— Rowan N, TripAdvisor, July 2025

“The rooms were immaculately maintained. The outside baths and showers were wonderful. Excellent food and drink including lovely wines. The chef came to chat every evening. The highlight was the personal attention we were given.”

— Dally (alibobs65), TripAdvisor, May 2025

4.7 out of 5 from 330 reviews on TripAdvisor

Two timber armchairs with cushions and a green side table on a suite deck, forest beyond.

A guest relaxes in an outdoor bath scattered with petals, a lantern lit and the forest beyond

A breakfast platter of melon, orange, strawberries and blueberries beside a bowl of yoghurt

Guests gather round wine and a cheese platter by lantern light on the deck at dusk

Guests relax around the fire pit of the deck boma as dusk falls

A couple share a table for two beside the fire pit on the deck boma by day.

A couple at a table for two on the lantern-lit boardwalk at dusk.

A pod of hippos in the bay in front of the lodge at dusk, two small boats beyond

An African paradise flycatcher perched on a thorny branch at the forest edge

A couple with wine on the Honeymoon Suite deck at sunset, Adirondack chairs facing the wetland.

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Letters from the lake

From time to time we share news from Makakatana: the seasons on the lake, sightings, and new ways to stay with us. Leave your details and we’ll write to you.

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