The first thing you’ll notice about Kwa Maritane is the grand entrance into the park which goes through the safari gates, then down to the lobby check-in area where you’ll have plenty of people waiting to greet you. The lobby vibe fits perfectly into the safari themed bush lodge and we were served complimentary lemonade and freshly made crepes while checking in. If you like, there’s also a popcorn machine to get some munchies.

Upon check-in, we were quickly swept away to our room, which was full of safari themed paintings like African sunsets, wildlife, and scenic vistas. Our outdoor patio had a view of an artificial pond along with a view of Pilanesberg Park (fenced off of course). After just a few minutes of being in our room, hotel staff came by and gave us some complimentary chocolates with leopards on them, pretty cute. Beds were nice and comfy, and there was an ample sized office desk, and multiple comfy chairs around the room. A flat screen TV showed a live camera of the hotel’s hide with a hippo. While not a real safari experience, it was a preview of things to come. The bathroom was nice, modern, spotless and white, with a large bath tub and separate shower as well.

The grounds at Kwa are rather sprawling, and depending on where you stay you might have to walk pretty far to get around. Our room was about as far away from the restaurant as possible, and while that gave us some quiet time, it made a trek in the rain not so fun. Fortunately we found the umbrella stowed away in the closet and were better prepared the rest of the trip. Throughout the grounds, you’ll also find a large chess board, a mini golf course, a thatched roof play room with ping pong and pool tables, a wildlife room with live snakes, a souvenir shop, a large pool with a water slide, a rock-climbing wall, and several other handy amenities. The lodge is about as family and kid friendly as it gets, and of course, there were lots of families with kids staying here.

The restaurant is also excellent, and has a changing buffet themes depending on what day you are there. One night we were there for the Fisherman’s Catch, while another we had the Bush Braai Boma. Both allowed you to select between about half a dozen raw selections and have them freshly prepared for you. There’s also an outdoor Asian wok at all times. Breakfast is much like dinner, and you’ll be delighted by a massive spread of food, along with a freshly made pancakes, waffles, and eggs anyway you like them. The only time there isn’t a buffet is lunch, but the options are reasonably priced and large. We had a burger and a prego roll, and out of the many prego rolls I’ve had in South Africa, this one was easily the best.

While the restaurant and hotel are fantastic, most people are coming to the bush lodge to see the animals. The snake show was excellent and featured three deadly snakes and a boa. The trainers were well-versed and knew plenty of information about them. We of course went on a safari there as well, and our driver was able to answer any question under the sun that we had. You can opt for a large safari vehicle, morning drives, night drives, bush walks and more while there. While you might see slightly less animals, I highly recommend the evening drive where you can catch an incredible sunset and spend about an hour cruising through the park after dusk. And if you didn’t get enough on the safari, Kwa also has a cool hide where you can view animals.

The onsite spa is the perfect place to go for a massage after bumping around in a safari vehicle all day. Go for a full body massage for an incredibly relaxing experience with soothing tea and calming music. You certainly won’t forget it.

Last but not least, and quite possibly the best thing about Kwa Maritane is the staff. They were stupendously friendly and helpful the entire time, and if you’re staying there, will accommodate for any possible need you can think of. From the front desk, to the restaurant, to the safari guides, everybody is exceptionally well trained and ready to give you the perfect safari experience.