On the bright side, the staff were VERY friendly, and the safari itself was a nice experience. The guide was knowledgeable and ensured we saw many animals up close. The guide Kathy was so great, she found a great spot at the end of a safari for a glass of wine!

However, the safari felt a bit like a zoo rather than a true wildlife experience, and unfortunately, our group was split up in different parts of the vehicle, which took away from the shared experience. The accommodation was disappointing. The rooms were quite old and not as clean as expected. Additionally, we were given only one blanket despite being two guests. When we requested another, we were initially refused, and when one was finally provided, it was completely wet. Overall, while the hospitality and safari guide were great, the lodge could improve significantly in terms of organization and accommodation quality.

Enjoyed the game drives and got to see most of the animals. Loved the heated plunge pool and outdoor bath/shower at our room. Comfortable spacious room.

A little more guidance on arrival about where things are located would have been helpful.

When you arrive, you get greeted immediately, and staff would help you with your luggage to the room. The rooms are all beautiful, and the drives are fantastic. I was very happy about how mindful our guide (Cathy) was towards the animals (If there were other cars near a certain animal, we would try to come back later. She kept good distances), and how knowledgeable she is. She tried to really find all the animals (except leopard, as they would be exceptional to find). I would really recommend staying 2 nights, so you have enough game drives to also go and see the giraffes (they live further away in the reserve). The dinner is fantastic, the breakfast is fantastic, and the morning coffee with a view of the elephants really ties everything together (they also live in the big reserve, but tend to come into view in the morning). The staff is all really nice, and the spa treatments are not too expensive.

Nothing

This was our first safari, we are a family of 4 with two kids aged 2 and 5. The game lodge is extremely family friendly and amazing for kids. They thought of everything from the colouring pen to the couch next to the restaurant with the TV to allow the parents to have a peaceful dinner. The pool is heated and wonderful. The staff is great, you have a dedicated waiter fine you and a dedicated ranger, it feels like a butler service. The most amazing part of course is the game reserve, it's quite big, and during our two night stay and 4 safaris we got to see all the animals. Cherry on the cake was to encounter the cheetah who just hunted his meal for the night. The elephants for some particular reason like a specific space in the reserve, which happens to be not far from the restaurant, so you end up having breakfast every morning with the view in the 2 magnificent elephants. Our ranger, Janel, was amazing, extremely knowledgeable, super friendly and tried her best to make every safari unforgettable. Overall, 1 night is not enough, 2 nights is the minimum to enjoy the stay properly, otherwise if you want a more relaxed time you can go up to 3 nights and do a road trip on the garden route and visit the wonderful beaches around. Thank you to the garden route game lodge team for making our stay with you guys exceptional.

Nothing all was perfect

It was a once in a lifetime experience. The safari tours are truly extraordinary. The land is gorgeous. The cars are comfortable and the animals roam freely. Our guide was superb, she answered all questions and explained so many things. You could tell that she genuinely cared about those animals. Authentic rooms, delicious breakfast and dinner. The service is impeccable. You are treated as a valued customer from the beginning. This is a luxury experience. They greet you, pick you up with a golf cart and carry your suitcases to your room while you check in.

Yes big 5 does exist on this property. What they don't tell you until you're there is that to see the Giraffes you have to be staying there for a longer than one night. Otherwise they say the trip to the giraffes is so long that you'll miss other animals. We stayed one night and we spend both our trips to see all the other animals and didnt get to see giraffes. Would be nice to know this beforehand.

We throughly enjoyed our stay here, the luxury chalet was gorgeous and we were so thankful they upgraded us for one night. The staff were all absolutely amazing and attentive. The spa is stunning and so relaxing. The game drives were very entertaining and we saw most of the big five but unfortunately I was sick and it was torrential rain so I missed a few of the drives and missed the lion. It’s very accessible for location and price compared to most safaris.

The dinner set menu food was quite poor compared to the amazing food we had in Cape Town. I totally get that they have to feed a lot of people in a short space of time and would have need to pre make most of the dinner menu. I would opt for the room service to be enjoyed at the chalet with the stunning view.

From the moment you arrive at the Game Lodge you feel like you ve entered a different world. Where on one hand you have the serene feeling of wilderness and on the other hand the luxury of a five star resort. The staff were extremely polite and courteous. The game drives were amazing. The food was delicious and they catered for our dietary requirements of halal food. On leaving, we only had one regret that we could have booked for 2 /3 nights ! Perhaps next time !

The check out time could be 1130 but this a minor feedback as even after check out they allow you to use the facilities of the lodge for the rest of the day.

Pros: - staff are helpful and knowledgeable - safari drives were incredible - spa offered great services - the food was delicious - the view from the property is stunning

Things that could be improved: - the heated smaller pool outside was a strange yellow colour and had many floating dead insects so it would be great if this could be cleaned regularly as we didn’t feel comfortable going in - the set dinner menu each night could be improved by offering a healthy option (e.g. salads or food with more vegetable options)

The stay was amazing, room spotless, food delicious. View breathtaking, staff friendly and helpful. Our guide Hannes was awesome, he was enthusiastic and excited to share his knowledge about every animal. A day after our stay we went to another park for a walk... And the love and enthusiasm for sharing information about the animals aren't the same! Hannes is a champ We regret not staying longer

After spending the night. We realised our room suppose to have a bath

Amazing place where you can rest, see animals in their natural habitat and eat great food. From the moment you pass through the gate everything is organised for you. The staff are so welcoming and attentive. The game drivers are so knowledgeable and engaging. We should have stayed more than two night’s! Our son , who is 9 years of age happily got up at 6 AM to go on a game drive . We all loved it. One of the most memorable experiences we had as a family!