About Xidulu
Are you a private group wanting an exclusive-use game lodge all to yourselves? Then Xidulu, a lovely 6-bedroomed lodge spectacularly positioned on the edge of a large dam in the Big 5 Makalali reserve could just be what you're looking for!
Fancy celebrating a landmark birthday in the bush together with family or friends? Or perhaps you’re wanting to arrange an unusual engagement party or small bush wedding? Maybe you’re a corporate looking for the perfect place to host a “bosberaad” for your top management? Or perhaps you’re a grandparent wanting to treat your children and grand-kids to a multi-generational bush getaway?
Now of course you could always just book your group into a normal game lodge along with the other guests staying there. But let’s face it, there’s little better for a group than having the run of a private lodge all to yourselves! Exclusive-use game lodges however, are not exactly thick on the ground in South Africa (especially ones that are even remotely reasonably priced!)
Which is where Xidulu comes in – a 6 bedroomed exclusive-use lodge stunningly positioned on the edge of a large dam in west of the Big 5 Makalali reserve! Accommodating a maximum of 12 guests in 6 lovely suites, Xidulu was actually originally built back in 2012 and originally operated as a private family lodge not open to the public – now though, it is available to discerning safari guests looking to book a truly exclusive bush experience perfect for private gatherings!
The star of the show here is definitely Xidulu’s spectacular water’s edge location and the lodge’s public areas in particular have been designed to take full advantage of this! The lodge’s swimming pool for example, has been built jutting out above the water’s edge and then there is the adjacent firepit area which offers prime views out over the water’s of Weaver’s Nest Dam with its resident hippos and crocs – the perfect place to relax with a drink after your evening game drive and chat with your friends and family about the day’s happenings!
With an exclusive-use lodge, the public areas are almost more important than the accommodation, as groups typically socialise together far more than guests at normal game lodges who often tend to stick to their rooms for much of their stay. So the good news is that this is an area where Xiduli really shines, with its expansive pool deck area, comfy lounge and sociable bar all overlooking the water and really lending themselves to a group of friends or family gathering to enjoy time together. A slight pity is that the pool itself is protected by glass balustrades so you don’t have the free flow across the pool deck that you get at normal game lodges – however this is an obviously sensible safety measure given that the lodge allows children of all ages, so parents of littlies can relax safe in the knowledge that access to the pool is controlled (and good to note in this regard too that the camp is also fully fenced)
We particularly like Xidulu’s social dining environment where you can watch the chef whip up another delicious meal in the open show kitchen whilst you relax and chat over a few cold ones! There’s also a really interesting choice of dining venues apart from the elegant main dining tables, including enjoying meals in the wine cellar, at the sand floored boma located at the back of the lodge or better yet, around the firepit deck with its prime views over Weaver’s Nest Dam! The dining experiences on offers are definitely one of the lodge’s highlights!
As far as accommodation is concerned, there are 6 suites sleeping 12 people in total and they’re divided into 3 distinct room types. The largest and most luxurious is the Mangwa Suite which is where the bridal couple, CEO or grand-parents who are paying for the whole shebang will no doubt end up staying! Reached by a wooden walkway which skirts the dam, this lovely suite lies literally in the prime position on the water’s edge. Apart from being the most spacious, its other outstanding features for us are the huge private outdoor shower and the outdoor shaded sala lounging area overlooking the dam – the perfect spot if you need a spot of private relaxing time with a book or pair of binoculars to get close up views of animals coming down to drink as well as the prolific birdlife around the lodge.
Families will be best accommodated in the Mhala and Xipene Suites – located just adjacent to the main public areas and fronted by a stretch of manicured lawn overlooking the dam so parents can easily keep an eye out for what the kids are up to (there’s a linking passage which allows for the 2 rooms to be interconnected if so preferred). Finally there are 3 stand-alone suites which are accessed again via a raised wooden walkway and which face out more into the surrounding bush (although the dam is still visible at a distance of about 50 metres from their decks)
All of the rooms exhibit the more traditional game lodge styling and furnishings and subdued colour palette that are typical of the period that the lodge was built – think brown leather headboards and dark wood furniture for example. The feel then is of restrained elegance and classy understatement rather than modern contemporary design and will no doubt make you feel immediately at home. We particularly enjoy the indoor-outdoor showers boasted by all of the rooms!
Whilst we’re still on the subject of accommodation, another big plus point is that Xidulu also offers the Lufafa Sleep-Out Hide, an exciting sleep-out experience (at no extra charge) located a couple of kilometres from the main lodge, where 2 of your guests are able to sleep in a simple reeded elevated “tree-house” which enjoys great views out over a dam – here you can enjoy a front row seat from your spacious elevated viewing deck to the constantly changing parade of game coming to slake their thirst at the dam below!
Speaking of game viewing, your group will have access to a game drive vehicle piloted by a very experienced ranger who has been working on the 27 000 hectares of the Makalali reserve for many years and who knows it (and its game) like the back of his hand! One thing to bear in mind is that the lodge’s vehicle only accommodates 10 people maximum on game drive, so if you do have a full house of 12 people and everyone wants to go out on drive, then you can hire an extra game drive vehicle (at extra cost). Cheetah and wild dog are a speciality here in Makalali – in fact you can even get a wild dog expert in to join you on drive at an additional cost. Another extra cost option available is to go on guided bush walk where you can enjoy this near-pristine wilderness up close and personal on foot!
