In August last year my benedict and I visited Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideway to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. Clifftop is a 5 star lodge based within the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve in the Waterburg Mountains of Limpopo. And what a magnificent anniversary celebration it was.

On our arrival at Welgevonden Game Reserve, we were directed to a central parking location close to the main gate. There, we were greeted by our Clifftop game ranger, Gibson Chirau, who picked us up in his game drive vehicle and took us and our luggage to the Clifftop Lodge. Upon our arrival at the lodge, we were welcomed with warm wet handtowels to freshen up with as well as a welcome drink. We then went to unpack and settle in our room. The rooms at Clifftop are just amazing. They are beautifully decorated, spacious and airy with gorgeous views of the natural surroundings. I loved the massive bath overlooking the private deck and pool (yes, you read that correctly… each room has its own private splash pool too).

Shortly after, we walked back to the main reception and restaurant for lunch. A few options are offered for lunch each day at Clifftop and the menu changes daily so you get to experience a wide variety of tasty dishes throughout your stay. On our day of arrival we had the prawns and salad for lunch. This was a simple, elegant, light dish and it tasted fabulous. The prawns were perfectly cooked and well flavoured making for a great meal. Shortly after lunch, we headed back to our room to grab our hats and sunglasses before returning to reception to meet our game ranger, Gibson. We then headed out on the afternoon 4x4 open vehicle safari. Welgevonden is a big five game reserve that has much to offer viewers and also includes a wide variety of bird life, reptiles and trees. Gibson was just the best game ranger. He is so knowledgeable about wildlife and his passion for wildlife and nature was practically tangible. Gibson’s well trained eye came in handy as he spotted magnificent sightings including lions, giraffe, rhino, elephant, cheetah, jackal, hippo and an array of buck life. There’s something so magical and humbling about seeing these beautiful creatures in all their glory roaming about their natural habitat. After some time we stopped off in a flat plain region of the game reserve and got out to enjoy a sundowner and some snacks. We enjoyed a glass of Amarula on ice while watching the sunset in the most gorgeous African terrain. We then continued with the evening game drive in hopes of spotting some nocturnal wildlife and we were fortunate enough to see a barn owl perched on a the branch of a tree. Eventually we headed back to the lodge and enjoyed a three course dinner at the restaurant. Similarly to the lunch menu, the dinner options too change daily. You can expect a light starter such as a hearty homemade soup (I loved the butternut soup), salad or carpaccio. And for mains you can expect to have something such as beef fillet, lamb shank, oxtail, chicken or venison (vegetarian options were also available). All main dishes were served with a side serving of vegetables and either some form of potatoes, rice or pasta salad. For dessert we were served dishes including malva pudding, crème brulee and glazed poached pear. The meals are typically comfort food that’s well prepared and delicious. All the dishes had an elegant flair to them, making for a lovely dining experience. After dinner, we were off to the bar for a night cap before finally heading to bed.

The next morning, we woke up early at 6am for coffee at reception before heading out for the morning game drive (don’t worry the 6am game drive is optional and not mandatory haha). Gibson had arranged thick warm ponchos and hot water bottles which were waiting for each of us in the game drive vehicle. The mornings were very chilly so this was a nice touch which made a massive difference along the drive. After our morning of game spotting, we returned to the lodge for breakfast. If you enjoy breakfast, you’ll love the offerings at Clifftop. Each morning you start with a cold breakfast including fruit, homemade granola, cheese and pastries. This is then followed by a hot English breakfast, eggs benedict or an omelette with fillings of your choice. In the mornings you can enjoy sitting outside on the covered deck overlooking the Sterkstroom River gorge enjoying the peaceful morning sounds of the flowing river and chirping birds. After breakfast, my benedict and I headed back to our room to relax and enjoy a quick refreshing dip in our private pool. We then enjoyed a full body massage by the spa staff in our very own room overlooking the stunning views. After some leisurely time and a quick post massage nap, it was time for lunch and this pleasurable process starts all over again.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway. It’s the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg and ideal for a special celebratory treat while enjoying some quality R & R. Clifftop is all about the game drives, great food, sundowners and beautiful serene views. It really is a little piece of heaven right here in South Africa. The food is incredible and the service we experienced at Clifftop was absolutely phenomenal. From the day we arrived till the day we departed, we felt like absolute royalty. You have never experienced a luxurious safari until you’ve experienced Clifftop. I look forward to visiting Clifftop again soon.