Lodge
Moditlo River Lodge
About the lodge
An overview of Moditlo River Lodge.
Moditlo River Lodge sits on the banks of a quiet river inside the 36,000-acre Blue Canyon Conservancy, an unfenced piece of the Greater Kruger where the Big Five move freely. The setting is intimate and personal, with a small team who handle every detail, daily game drives across open traversing rights, and a spa for the slower hours between drives.
Highlights
- 36,000 acres of unfenced wilderness inside the Blue Canyon Conservancy, part of the Greater Kruger
- Open-vehicle Big Five game drives with experienced trackers and guides
- Riverbank setting on a stretch known locally as the 'place of the elephant'
- Personal, family-style service with a small team who know guests by name
- On-site spa, pool and private villas for families and small groups
You Should Know
- Child policy applies; please confirm minimum ages for game drives and villa bookings at the time of enquiry
- The reserve shares an open boundary with the Greater Kruger, so wildlife moves freely through the property
The Details
Location
Moditlo sits inside the Blue Canyon Conservancy, a 36,000-acre stretch of unfenced bushveld that forms part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem. The name Moditlo, pronounced Mo-dee-tlo, means 'place of the elephant' in the local language, and the riverbank that the lodge looks onto has been a regular crossing for elephant herds for generations. With no internal fences between the conservancy and the wider Kruger system, the Big Five move through the property on their own terms.
Accommodation
The property offers a main lodge alongside four private villas: Villa Nsovo, Rhino's Rest, Villa Ukanyi and Villa Kimbilia. The villas suit families and groups who want their own space, while the lodge rooms work well for couples and individual travellers. Each is designed around the river and the surrounding bush, with private decks and quiet outdoor spaces.
Dining
Meals are served in a variety of settings across the property, from the main lodge dining area to bush breakfasts and dinners under the stars. The kitchen leans on fresh, seasonal produce, and the team will tailor menus for private villa guests.
Activities
Twice-daily game drives are the heart of a stay at Moditlo, led by trackers and guides who know the conservancy intimately. Between drives, guests can use the spa, the pool or simply watch the riverbank for elephant, buffalo and antelope coming down to drink.
Price Includes
- Accommodation in a lodge room or private villa
- Daily meals
- Twice-daily game drives in open safari vehicles with a guide and tracker
- Use of the lodge facilities including pool and spa areas (treatments charged separately)
The same as booking direct
Rates and pricing.
Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.
Valid until 7 Jan 2028
Why book through us
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup. What you get on top is a specialist who knows Moditlo River Lodge personally, looks after every detail of the trip, and stays reachable on WhatsApp from the moment you enquire to the day you come home.
By season
Festive
8 Jan 2026 – 7 Jan 2027
All Inclusive - All melas, welcome drink, private chef, butler, 2 game drives per day and return airport transfer
R 26 100
Rates are per person sharing, per night. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.
Family policies
Travelling with children.
What our safari specialists know about bringing children to Moditlo River Lodge: minimum ages, activities, family rooms and child rates, current as of May 2026. They plan family trips here all the time, so anything below that needs arranging, they will sort. For the bigger picture, see our guide to safari with children .
Minimum ages
- Stay
- 8+
- Game drives
- 8+
- Walking safari
- All ages
Programmes & care
Kids' programme
Accommodation
Family unit available.
Child rates
Main lodge: children 8+ welcome. Ages 8–11 sharing with two full-paying adults pay 50% of per-person sharing rate; 12+ pay full adult rate; children in their own room pay standard adult rates. Villa: each child counts as one pax toward maximum villa occupancy.
Notable exceptions
- Minimum age differs by product. The main Moditlo River Lodge accepts children from 8 years and older, with younger children possible on game drives via a privately booked vehicle (Exclusive use of game-drive vehicle R6,000/day in 2025; R6,500/day in 2026). The Moditlo Villa, bookable on an exclusive-use basis, welcomes children of all ages and includes a private vehicle for families with small children; each child counts as one pax toward maximum villa occupancy. Walking safaris are not documented in the supplier data.
Imagery
A closer look.
5 photographs · click any image to expand
Speak to a safari specialist
Plan your dream safari at Moditlo River Lodge.
From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at Moditlo River Lodge: multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
Ready when you are
Let's design your stay.
Your specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours with availability, exact pricing, and suggestions for what to combine it with.