Page 38 - Waterfall City Issue 3 March 2023

Waterfall City Travel

1. A sense of home
Originally a private family retreat, Molori has retained its Guests who’ve never experienced the fascinating dynamics
feeling of intimate familiarity, which is one of many reasons of elephant families from the safety of an underground hide
that multigenerational families love booking the lodge are always spellbound here. They’re endlessly fascinated as
exclusively. It sleeps up to 16 guests in five individually guides explain how elephant rumbles can be heard up to
decorated suites, and children of all ages are warmly 12 kilometres away, and why they flap their ears constantly
welcomed. and shower themselves with sand. It’s the ultimate close
encounter that creates lifelong memories.
Small numbers and a highly experienced and passionate
team allow this intimate safari experience to be entirely The hide does double duty as a gin and whiskey tasting bar,
flexible, which makes for a superbly relaxing retreat, and guests can also have meals in the adjacent glass-walled
especially with little ones in tow. dining area.

2. Focus on the kids Immersive one-day encounters at Madikwe offer guests the
From popcorn stops on game drives to steaming rare opportunity to experience collaring or rhino notching
outdoor jacuzzis to enjoy, plus animal-print manicures events with the wildlife vet and conservation officers. Molori
(understandably, the most popular treatment on Molori’s also offers one-day and overnight experiences at the K9
spa menu), children are in for a treat. Each child receives an facility at its sister conservation lodge in the Magaliesberg,
interactive safari book on arrival, but they soon discover that Moledi Gorge, which specialises in anti-poaching
their guide is a gifted storyteller, identifying everything from programmes across the continent.
dung to footprints and alarm calls along the way.
4. Star gazing
Back at the lodge, parents can happily retreat to the spa or Molori offers a private astronomy experience to all guests,
reading deck, knowing that the kids are in good hands while including children, through the technologically advanced
doing a cookery course or making pizzas with the chef. Meade telescope. Set on a giant tripod on a hill behind the
lodge, the telescope enables stars, comets, planets and
3. Unparalleled wildlife experiences galaxies to take on new meaning as the entire family gets
This starts with the superbly experienced and entertaining the chance to view the moon’s craters up close or discover
guides. They’re the secret to a great safari: they have the that Saturn’s rings are clearly visible at over 1.2 billion
ability to change what could be an indifferent experience kilometres away.
into a truly wild, educational one that is tailormade to
guests’ interests. A boma evening or bush dinner under the inky blackness of
a star-strewn sky will never be the same again…
With one of the most active waterholes in the game-rich
75 000-hectare Madikwe reserve – no fewer than three 5. Personalised service
elephant herds quench their thirst here daily – there’s no There is nothing staff at Molori like more than to surprise
doubt that Molori’s sunken hide gives it the edge, especially their discerning travellers with a personalised stay and
for seasoned safari lovers. genuinely caring, off-the-charts service. As one guest noted:

36 Waterfall City Issue 3 2023