Elela Villa

Elela Villa accommodates up to six guests in 3 suites and is designed for families, friends or multi-generational groups who want to stay together in complete privacy.

If your group is larger than six, Elela can be seamlessly combined with Kopano Camp, Lelapa Camp or Dithaba Camp. This allows your wider group to stay close – sharing safari experiences and meals when you wish – while preserving the privacy, discretion and flow of a villa stay.

Elela Villa is booked on a fully exclusive-use basis. The rate applies to the villa as a whole, whether it is occupied by one guest or the full complement of six.

This pricing reflects the privacy, dedicated space and personalised experience of staying in a private safari villa, rather than a per-suite or per-person arrangement.

Yes – safari times at Elela Villa are flexible, but always guided by the natural rhythm of the bush.

With your own private guide and vehicle, your day can be shaped around your group’s preferences: later starts, extended drives, or returning early if you wish. This flexibility is especially valuable for families, photographers, or guests who want a slower, more personalised pace.

That said, safari timing remains intentional. Early mornings and late afternoons are when weather at its most comfortable and wildlife activity is at its best. Your guide will always advise on the optimal times to maximise sightings and experiences.

Elela Villa is designed as a fully private safari home, with generous indoor and outdoor spaces reserved exclusively for your group. Facilities include:

• A comfortable lounge with a wood-burning fireplace for winter evenings and air conditioning for summer comfort
• A spacious shaded deck overlooking a waterhole, ideal for relaxed game viewing between activities
• A private infinity pool
• A traditional boma for open-air dining and fireside evenings
• A dedicated fire pit for starlit nights
• A well-equipped kitchenette with coffee-making facilities
• A stocked fridge, glasses, cutlery and crockery for everyday use
• A private game drive departure point, ensuring complete privacy and flexibility

All spaces within Elela are yours alone, allowing your group to move through the day at your own pace, without shared areas or interruptions.

A stay at Elela Villa is built around private, personalised safari experiences, with the freedom to shape each day entirely around your group.

Your stay includes:

• Private game drives with your own guide and vehicle, tailored to your interests and pace
• Flexible safari planning for families, photographers or guests who prefer a slower rhythm
• All meals enjoyed privately at the villa, whether in the boma, on the shaded deck overlooking the waterhole, or indoors by the fire
• Time to relax at the villa’s infinity pool, fire pit and private viewing areas

Elela guests are also warmly invited to enjoy the wider Madikwe Safari Lodge experience:

• Dining at the other camps, including boma dinners at Lelapa and relaxed deck meals at Kopano
• Spending time at Lelapa’s signature swimming pool — perfect for a leisurely lunch, a swim, or a cocktail in the afternoon
• Full access to the spa, gym and boutique at Lelapa, with the spa just a short distance away

Elela offers the privacy of a standalone villa, combined with the freedom to move between camps, dine in different settings and enjoy shared spaces — creating a stay that feels both deeply personal and richly connected.

Yes. Elela Villa is supported by a dedicated team, ensuring a seamless, private and highly personalised stay.

Your group will have your own guide and safari vehicle, along with a villa team who look after the day-to-day flow of your stay – from meals and hosting to ensuring the villa is always quietly and thoughtfully cared for.

The service style is warm and intuitive rather than formal, allowing you to feel at home while knowing everything is taken care of. It’s this balance – attentive but unobtrusive – that makes Elela feel like a private safari residence rather than a hotel.

Yes. Elela Villa is exceptionally well suited to multi-generational families travelling together.

Because the villa is booked exclusively, it allows different generations to move at their own pace – whether that’s early starts for some, slower mornings for others, or time together balanced with moments of privacy. With your own guide and vehicle, safari activities can be tailored to suit varying interests, energy levels and ages.

Shared living spaces encourage connection, while the villa’s layout allows everyone to retreat into their own space when needed. This makes Elela an ideal setting for families who want to spend meaningful time together, without the constraints of a traditional lodge environment.

Arrival at Elela Villa is designed to feel private and unhurried, whether you arrive by road or by air.

Guests are welcomed directly at the villa, where your dedicated team will take care of check-in discreetly and efficiently. There is no formal reception or shared arrival space – you simply arrive, settle in, and begin your stay at your own pace.

On departure, arrangements are handled just as seamlessly. Your team will coordinate timing with your onward travel, whether that’s a game drive before departure, a relaxed breakfast at the villa, or a direct transfer.

The experience is intentionally simple and personal – more like arriving at a private safari home than checking into a lodge.

Yes. Elela Villa is well suited to private milestone occasions, including birthdays, anniversaries, elopements and intimate weddings.

Because the villa is booked exclusively, it offers the privacy, space and flexibility needed for meaningful gatherings without external guests or shared spaces. Ceremonies and celebrations can be arranged within the villa’s grounds, at the boma, or in select bush settings, subject to reserve guidelines and advance planning.

The focus is on intimate, personal occasions rather than large events. Our team will work with you to understand the nature of the celebration and ensure it is thoughtfully integrated into your stay, in keeping with the rhythm of safari life and the setting.

Children of all ages are welcome at Elela Villa.

The only age-related consideration applies when visiting the other camps for dining. As Kopano Camp is reserved for guests aged 16 and over, families with younger children may prefer to dine at Lelapa Camp, which is designed to accommodate families and offers a range of dining options and facilities.