Search Cottages in Balule Game Reserve

"Wow wow wow what an incredible experience!! Everything at River Lodge was just amazing, all of the staff are so friendly and the food is delicious, you get to pick from a set menu for each meal which changes each day and all drinks are included. The absolute highlight though is the safari itself, you get 2x 3 hour drives a day which go so quickly. Our guide Phillip and his tracker Kulani were absolutely incredible, they made sure we saw all the animals and got us really close to them. Phillip was so knowledgable and we loved having him as our guide, we got to see the big 5 several times and even a leopard cub! We had the best experience ever at River Lodge and highly recommend to anyone. We stayed 3 nights which was enough to see everything but we definitely didn’t want to leave!! "

"Absolutely amazing. We stayed at Pondoro in January in the beautiful Tree Suite with the most incredible views of the river. Every member of the staff was so friendly and hospitable. Our daily game drives exceeded all our expectations with the most experienced guides. The vegetation this time of year was so green and gorgeous. From sun up to sun down we were so well fed by the talented team of chefs. It was all such a dream. I hope we have the chance to return again. "

"If we could give 6 stars for our 3 day stay at Naledi we would! We were incredibly well taken care of by Marise, Matthew, Lilian, Decide and Chef Dudu throughout our stay. The food was delicious, our room in the Paperbark suite and the entire property is meticulously maintained, and they made incredible efforts to make our trip as enjoyable as possible. They succeeded! The game drives with Oupa and Excellent exceeded every expectation. They are true experts at guiding and tracking the majestic animals in the Balule reserve, and just incredibly lovely gentlemen to spend time with. We saw so much - yes, the Big 5, but also warthogs and hyenas and giraffes and hippos and zebras and impala herds and beautiful birds; sunset and sunrise and a rainbow one morning took our breath away. On our final sundowners, Oupa and Excellent took us by the Olifant River where we enjoyed the sunset and drinks surrounded by hippos and a grazing rhino. Each day felt like a treasure hunt - we gave very little input, allowing Oupa and Excellent to do their thing, and loved every minute. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip for my wife and I, as we were visiting South Africa from the US for a friend's wedding. I went back and forth between the more well-known reserves (Sabi Sands, Timbavati) and was unsure what we'd be able to see in the summer season (our visit was in late January) - I'm so glad we chose Naledi and if there's ever an opportunity to visit South Africa again, we will be back!"

"Great place to stay if you're visiting Hoedspruit. Safe location, lovely outdoor shower and close to town."

"Good quality hotel with lovely view. "

"My daughter and I had the absolute privilege of staying at Ezulwini in August 2024. I first want to acknowledge the amazing and knowledgeable staff who absolutely made our stay. Ange and Craig make quite the team! Glory was accommodating, caring, and personable. While in the Bush, Craig and Shads combined their seemingly unlimited knowledge to answer all our non-stop questions. Even when the animals were feeling shy, Craig was able to teach us about something else within the ecosystem, and usually by the end of the lesson, Shads was able to use his eagle-eyes to track another animal. What really made this lodge stand out was the fact that their approach was respectful to the land on which they live, never exploitative. Each night before an absolutely delicious dinner, we were able to sit down with Ange and Craig who crafted a lesson about local history, the law of the reserves, or about the country of South Africa. The meaningful conversations absolutely made us feel like welcomed friends, rather than simple guests. Of course, it should go without saying, that the accommodations of the resort itself were stunning. The resort’s small number of guest rooms makes the experience feel personal and uniquely tailored to each guest, and the property, which often welcomes many four-legged guests, feels more like an extension of the bush rather than a separate space. I simply cannot recommend this lodge, this team, and this trip enough!"

"Not value for money. Dinner was tasteless. Disturbing was to catch a worker at 07:30 the next morning hiding under our tent while we were bathing. The wooden floor has clear gaps to look through. When confronted he said he was there to fix a problem. Complained to the manager and she only replied "Sorry for that". No investigation or request to identify the worker. Internet is non-existent and lights are inadequate in the tent. "

"Amazing stay - have stayed in the Wildlife estates several times and this was the best viewing of wildlife I have seen. Amazing to drink coffee and watch the Kudu, Nyala and warthogs. Rooms are great, love the outdoor shower and the hosts are so friendly and kind. "

"This was one of the most best travel expeirences i ever had. The Kapama Southern lodge is superb . The staff was amazing. the accommodations were perfect. The food options were plentiful. I recommend this property to everyone, and of of course the safari tours were better than expected with informal guides. "