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Accommodation at Mateya Safari Lodge |
| The moment you pass through the ancient Zanzibar Elephant Doors you have entered the world of Mateya. Mateya is designed for the discerning traveler, offering a graceful fusion of relaxed comfort in a beautiful setting. The lodge caters for a maximum of ten guests. As such, you are assured exclusivity, privacy and the very highest standards of personal care and attention at all times.
Nestled in the rocky outcrop of the Gabbro hills, the lodge, comprising dining, lounge, and relaxation areas, provides a high elevation, uninterrupted view of the reserve. The suites are arranged in a radial configuration around one of the hills, each with a private, rim-flow pool deck and natural window sala overlooking the waterhole and plains.
The emphasis at Mateya is on elegance; an atmosphere of comfort that in harmony with the natural surroundings reinvigorates the body, mind and spirit with an experience to be forever cherished. Close your eyes.
Imagine your ideal safari destination. The scene is breathtakingly beautiful, the game is
plentiful, and the comfort is unsurpassed. The artwork and literature capture
the essence of an untamed spirit. Savoured with either a glass of chilled
Chardonnay or well-matured Merlot, the Mateya Gallery and Library offer the
delight of sharing in the many breath-taking adventures of those to whose cannon
of experience your Mateya safari will be the latest addition.
Whether soaking up the afternoon rays whilst walking through the reserve on a guided tracking safari, or sitting down to an evening of fine dining, each and every feature of your visit will leave you with the pleasure of having indulged in an unforgettable experience. Gazing out through the glass walls of the main dining room, or watching the cinders leap into the starry
night from the bonfire in the open air Fire Core, you will feel that Mateya offers a sublime fusion of luxury carved into the edge of an untamed African wilderness. It is this balance which makes Mateya a truly remarkable destination. |
Reception
The Reception, beautifully decorated with original artworks, leads out onto a deck with a view of the reserve and surrounding escarpment.
Rare delights of exceptional craftsmanship and skill are to be found among the wide range of gifts and memorabilia on display in the Curio Boutique.
Full Internet and email facilities are available in our business centre. For those of you inclined to a healthy dose of physical exertion, our cardiovascular gym provides all the necessary equipment you require to satisfy the needs of your workout routine. |
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Suites
The lodge consists of five individually designed luxury air-conditioned thatched suites. Each suite blends with its natural surroundings and offers uninterrupted views of the waterhole and plains. Guests can enjoy a balance of sophistication and comfort, in total privacy and harmony with nature, savouring the rare pleasure of their very own secluded slice of Africa.
Indeed, the original African artworks that adorn each suite seem to reflect the very essence of the Madikwe Reserve – a beautiful, vital, and untamed stretch of bush. Reclining in hand-crafted mahogany furnishings, looking out as the Zebra lead
the plains game to the waterhole, the immediacy of your experience could not be
more vivid. Lying under the shade of your natural window sala, or
immersing in the cool water of your rim-flow pool, each and every feature of
your suite provides total privacy and comfort. Your en-suite bathroom complete
with a secluded open-air shower
invites you to luxuriate in a sensual setting that is designed to satisfy your ultimate enjoyment.
The ambience of a fresh and clear night is warmed by the heat from the custom-designed
fireplace, and as you settle down with a mug of hot coffee to admire the myriad of stars speckling the sky, the whispering breeze utters magical words that speak of tomorrow’s promise. |
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Lounge
It is at Mateya that the unique fusion of diverse African heritage is drawn together with the utmost finesse and style. Guests with a thirst for an unsurpassed blend of beauty, discerning taste and cultural delights can relax and indulge in inspiration drawn from every corner of the continent. In celebration of a rich history of diversity and the untamed beauty to which the lodge is home, Mateya has acquired one of the world’s finest collections of art from throughout the continent. Each piece purposefully chosen for the way in which its canvas captivates a vibrant feel for Africa. Proudly, Mateya is home to 21 original paintings by Paul Augustinus for whom the vast landscapes and abundance of wildlife have been an emotive inspiration. Nothing quite captivates the vitality and exhilaration of the wild like Robert Glen’s magnificent bronze sculpture of an agile lioness attempting to bring down a leaping impala – “Near Miss”. Adding to the allure of this piece, Mateya also boasts several exquisite bronze sculptures by Dylan Lewis. |
Dining
Only the finest homegrown ingredients go into each and every meal, prepared to delight the palate with a harmony of flavours and textures true to the African spirit.
You may want to marvel at the canopy of stars on a clear night, whilst dining on the rim-flow pool deck of your suite. For a wilder culinary experience, submerge yourself in the glory of the African night skies as you dine beneath the clear glow of a galaxy of stars while the roar of an open-air fire core ensures your comfort. Mateya will invite you to a royal feast and a demonstration of expert culinary skills. With the freshest produce offered straight from the earth and the finest cuisine you will find your palate transported on a journey of African fusion and gastronomic delight.
The Mateya wine cellar is also available for private dining, offering a more distinctly elegant setting. And for a spectacular view of the plains, both the glasswalled main dining room and lounge deck afford uninterrupted panoramas of the reserve. Of course, bush picnic lunches are available on request and on all guided walking safaris. |
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Wine Cellar
Lingering flavours of the palate may be sampled from the extensive assortment of wines housed in the cool atmosphere of the Mateya Cellar.
An impressive collection of both esteemed local and rare French wines and champagnes make up the cellar’s 8 000 bottles of indulgence that lie chaste, waiting to be hand picked by Mateya guests as an accompaniment to their dining. Our brandy and cigar corner is the perfect conclusion to a pristine Mateya dining experience. |
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Library
The library is home to an invaluably rare collection of works of African literature dating back to the turn of the 19th century. In quiet seclusion guests are able to immerse themselves in the rich past of this land and relive the splendour unique to Africa through the captivated eyes of superbly talented authors.
Should you wish there is also a surround sound plasma screen audiovisual console. Guests may enjoy an afternoon viewing wildlife programs from the DVD collection or television if they so please. |
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Curio Shop
Our curio shop is full of delightful items created by skilled craftsmen. Many of the items are hand crafted by the very same artisans whose works adorn the lodge. Unique items of memorabilia are also on sale with the Mateya Safari Lodge logo emblazoned on them as a reminder of one’s African adventure in one of Africa’s most exclusive game lodges. Guests can purchase all necessary safari regalia from the boutique, as well as any conventional items that may have been forgotten, for example, film or batteries. |
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Wellness Treatments
Our wellness centre facilities include a well equipped cardiovascular gym, a Jacuzzi, body and facial treatments. Our therapist is of an international standard with extensive training and experience in the field. |
FACIAL TREATMENTS:
In our wellness centre we have chosen to use the French house of Gatineau as it is a brand leader in research and development creating the best, most effective skincare products with the use of plant, marine, aromatherapy and synthetic ingredients along with the most innovative biotechnology.
This provides you, the client, with an individualized facial treatment suited to your unique and specific skin care requirements.
It would be our pleasure to include in your facial treatment an eyelash or eyebrow tint or facial waxing. Kindly note there is an additional cost.
MASSAGE THERAPY:
Massage is a holistic treatment able to effectively induce a state of relaxation and wellbeing by easing muscular tension, stimulating the circulation of blood and lymph and encouraging the immune system while relieving pain in muscles and joints.
HOT STONE THERAPY:
Basalt stones are placed on specific acupressure points on the body and then incorporated into massage strokes. The direct heat of the smooth stones relaxes muscles and allows for greater manipulation than regular massage, a sedative effect is created on the nervous system and blood vessels are dilated thus pushing blood and unwanted waste materials through the body.
AROMATHERAPY:
Aromatherapy is the use of pure essential oils in the massage treatment. Essential oils are the ‘life force’ of the flowers, leaves, bark, wood, roots, plants and fruit peel that they are extracted from. Essential oils are absorbed into the body through inhalation and through external application making aromatherapy a truly holistic therapy, treating and balancing the mind, body and spirit.
AFRICAN HEAD MASSAGE:
African head massage incorporates massage techniques, shiatsu and acupressure on the upper back, shoulders, arms, neck, scalp and face. Relieving mental tiredness, anxiety and stress, relaxing tense, knotted muscles, rebalancing the energy pathways, clearing any areas of negativity, improving levels of alertness and concentration and creating a general feeling of wellbeing, calmness and relaxation.
MANICURE:
A manicure improves the condition of your hands, skin and nails. It promotes healthy nails, improves skin texture and accelerates tissue regeneration whilst moisturizing the skin and conditioning the cuticles.
PEDICURE:
A pedicure effectively removes hard, dry skin from the bottom of your feet and helps to prevent callus build-up. Tissue regeneration is accelerated, skin texture is improved, cuticles are conditioned and healthy nails promoted.
PARAFFIN WAX:
Paraffin wax delivers the benefits of soft, smooth skin and therapeutic heat in comfort. The wax helps to moisturize and soften dry, chapped skin while soothing painful, stiff joints and sore, tired hands and feet.
REFLEXOLOGY:
There are reflex areas on the feet that correspond to all of the body’s organs, glands and limbs. They are arranged in such a way as to form a map of the body on the feet with the right foot corresponding to the right side of the body and the left foot corresponding to the left side of the body. Reflexology thus treats the body holistically.
WAXING:
Waxing is probably the most effective method of temporary hair removal, as it removes hair with its roots and not just at the level of the skin’s surface as with shaving. Regrowth can take between 3-8 weeks and the new hair is softer, lighter in colour and much sparser.
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