Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp

Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp is designed to reflect Hemingway’s Africa.

There are 15 tents which are nestled in a Tamboti grove overlooking a dry river bed. Our reception area is comprised of a large sitting area, an outdoor area with a splash pool & sun loungers, a bar and an extensive climate controlled wine cellar.

Game visiting the nearby watering hole can be seen from the swimming pool deck which adjoins the reception area.

The tents at Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp are furnished with king size beds (we can convert these to twins should this be required), mosquito nets and soft leather couches. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with a sunken concrete bath, double shower, his & hers basins and a separate toilet.

The tents are each set on a wooden platform that has 5 steps leading up to the tent. There is soft lighting within the tent and we do provide mosquito repellent for our guests.

Due to the layout and terrain of Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp, we only accommodate children over the age of 12 years.

Honeyguide Mantobeni Accommodation:
Mantobeni Camp is more of a remote bush camp, set in a grove of tamboti trees. Its free-standing bedroom tents are set on wooden platforms, with roll-up walls and a run-around terrace, making for a very “up and close-to-nature” feel. The nearby waterhole means you can often see Elephants from your room at the nearby waterhole. Leather sofas, a single standing lamp and a stone-built bathtub create a pioneering, colonial atmosphere. The main building, on the other hand, is a decidedly modernist and boxy affair, with earth-coloured walls and columns built around the teak-decked dining area and the narrow pool.

Features include: Fan, Mosquito net, Terrace/balcony (private), reading material, bottled water and homely comforts.

Honeyguide Mantobeni Meals:
The food is a highlight. At both camps it’s a communal affair, usually served outdoors at a long table, with log fires and torches to create a really authentic bush feel. Simple homemade dishes, using predominantly local produce, are plentiful and exquisitely presented. N.B. Special arrangements can be made for in-room dining or a private bush dinner.

The day starts with tea or coffee and rusks served in bed – and heralded by Honeyguide’s famous dawn drumbeat – before the early morning safari drive. On your return a scrumptious breakfast follows with a choice of cereals, fruit and a traditional cooked breakfast. Lunch is a light 3-course meal, served around 2pm. Dinner comes quite late – after a sunset game drive. It’s another magnificent 3-course affair served either in the boma (fenced-in campfire) accompanied by the fascinating and seductive sounds of the African night or a buffet in the main dining area on certain nights. Our chefs are well trained and able to cater for meal preferences. There is a well-stocked bar with an excellent wine selection, stored in a temperature-controlled cellar.

Features include: All meals included, selected drinks and game drive snacks.

Honeyguide Mantobeni Activities:
Guests are taken on game drives in open game viewing vehicles in the early morning and late afternoon/evening. Late afternoon and evening drives include sunset drinks, views over the Mohwareng Hills, and glimpses of nocturnal creatures. Larger game frequently sighted in the reserve includes elephant, rhino, lion and hippo. In between meals and drives, watch the game and birdlife pass by while relaxing by the pool or take a walking safari through the deep bush, accompanied by an experienced, armed ranger; it can be hot work, but it’s very exciting – seeing the animals from a vehicle just doesn’t seem to compare. Group tours are available to the nearby village of Welverdiend, where guests will learn about the relationship between traditional and contemporary living.

Activities on site or nearby include:
- Bird watching from a newly built hide opposite a watering hole
- Hiking and walking safaris
- Plant life/flora and footprint tracking
- Private guided tours
- Safaris in a private conservancy or into the neighbouring Kruger National Park
- Wildlife photography

When to go to Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp:
The camp is open to visitors all year. Game viewing is at its best the dry Winter (May-October) as animals congregate around water holes and the lack of foliage and grasses gives you a clearer view. But it does get cold at night and during the morning game drive, so pack accordingly. For bird watching, summer (December-March) is best: the rivers are full, the bushveld is lush, and there is no shortage of materials for food, nesting and hiding. This is prime holiday season in South Africa, but it can get seriously hot. Autumn (April-May) is also good for birding but probably the worst months for bigger game. In spring (November-December) you can spot lots of new-borns.