Reviews of Elandela Private Game Reserve and Luxury Lodges Pty Ltd 4 stars
Elandela Private Game Reserve, Eastgate Airport Road, 1380 Hoedspruit, South Africa
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Reviewed: 31 August 2025 · Stayed in August 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 18 August 2025 · Stayed in August 2025
Verified reviewStaff was friendly and attentive. The location is excellent and the wildlife incredible (BIG 5!!). The guide taking you on the game drives are super experienced, knowledgeable and entertaining.
I wished there was a big camp fire in the evenings!!
Thank you for pointing out that you fantastic sightings of Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant. Yes, many guests come to Elandela to view the elusive leopard and we have had so many once in a lifetime sightings of leopard interaction that it is almost getting common place! The Elandela Lodge guides are truly super experienced and know he reserve and its animals intimately - they appreciate your compliments. This is after all the reason why you came on Safari!
Thank you for pointing out that you fantastic sightings of Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant. Yes, many guests come to Elandela to view the elusive leopard and we have had so many once in a lifetime sightings of leopard interaction… Show more
Reviewed: 17 August 2025 · Stayed in August 2025
Verified reviewBeautiful rooms Comfy bed
Nothing
Beautiful accommodation and Fabulous Staff! The Elandela Lodge team thank you for the all encompassing compliment which are the decision making aspects of deciding where to book for your dream South African photo safari! We are also certain that you understand that the majority of a guest's payment is utilised in conservation of our Beautiful Wildlife!
Beautiful accommodation and Fabulous Staff! The Elandela Lodge team thank you for the all encompassing compliment which are the decision making aspects of deciding where to book for your dream South African photo safari! We are also certain… Show more
Reviewed: 14 August 2025 · Stayed in July 2025
Verified reviewExcellent staff, very comfy room. It was my birthday, the whole staff came to sing Happy Birthday to me at dinner and it was very nice!
Catering not so good. We didn’t get breakfast the day we decided to go to the Kruger, which we were already aware, but the local shop only sold coffee and tea and not proper breakfast food. There were only dried fruits and crackers. We had woken up at 5am and next proper meal was at noon. For the price we’ve paid they could easily had packed breakfast for us. Also, it was said that during the game drives inside the hotel they serve coffee and biscuits but it just didn’t happen because you’d had to stop the jeep to drink and eat amidst the lions. So again we were fasting from 5am until after 9am. They have to come up with a more practical way to serve breakfast. Dinner was very unimpressive and repetitive. Nothing local or typical was served, just fish with smashed potatoes or a pizza that doesn’t deserve to be named that way.
Thank you for compliments regarding your comfy room and excellent staff. We remind you that every room is stocked with coffee and tea and a biscuit for each person for you to prepare for yourself in the room before game drives. Yes you are correct that we do not offer any meals on the Kruger Park tour and nowhere do we promise take-away to our guests. Upon our inspection we found more food stuffs to purchase at the first stop in Orpen than dried fruit and crackers. The cheapest tour to Kruger Park is our tour which covers entrance fees but no food or drinks. It does happen that guests request to skip the coffee and biscuits that go on every morning game drive because they take coffee in their rooms before the game drive, but you were welcome to request a stop for coffee and tea instead of spending the time game viewing - all you had to do was ask. Breakfast is from 9h00 to 10h00. I do not understand how we can offer breakfast on the 6h00 to 9h00 game drive. We accept that you did not enjoy dinner but like all hotels and restaurants we work on majority opinions and for that I refer you to the reviews before yours, where guests went out of their way to make a point that the food was excellent.
Thank you for compliments regarding your comfy room and excellent staff. We remind you that every room is stocked with coffee and tea and a biscuit for each person for you to prepare for yourself in the room before game drives. Yes you are … Show more
Reviewed: 11 August 2025 · Stayed in August 2025
Verified reviewThe complete experience was amazing. We never experienced such hospitality, quality and amazing people. The food, apartment, game drives… everything exceeded our expectations. This is truly next level. Fransisco and his team are extremely professional, dedicated and friendly. Service with a smile! We will never forget our visit to Elandela!!
We appreciate your absolutely superb rating and fantastic compliments to the staff regarding food, game drive, and accommodation! This is a fantastic and descriptive review describing in detail what every family want to experience on their dream South African safari - an experience better than their dreams! Surely, nobody reading this review could possibly book their dream safari to any other destination than Elandela Lodge!
We appreciate your absolutely superb rating and fantastic compliments to the staff regarding food, game drive, and accommodation! This is a fantastic and descriptive review describing in detail what every family want to experience on their … Show more
Reviewed: 9 August 2025 · Stayed in August 2025
Verified reviewAmazing and warm stay Great meals
Thank you for a fantastic review, and we appreciate that you have singled out the meals in your praise. The staff in the kitchen and the chefs put many long hours into preparation, cooking, and presentation of the meals. As you have seen, we receive guests from all over the world, and we appreciate your compliments on the quality of the food as our menus are intended to be to the taste of all our different guests!
Thank you for a fantastic review, and we appreciate that you have singled out the meals in your praise. The staff in the kitchen and the chefs put many long hours into preparation, cooking, and presentation of the meals. As you have seen, w… Show more
Reviewed: 6 August 2025 · Stayed in July 2025
Verified reviewUitstekend, comfortable, very friendly, great game drives
All was good
Thank you for this excellent ten out of ten review! The biggest compliment is when a guest returns - we are looking forward to welcome you back soon. We strive to provide comfort and care in the African Bush!
Reviewed: 20 July 2025 · Stayed in July 2025
Verified reviewWe had a very nice stay at Elandela. The staff were all great and very nice. The Gamedrives twice a day were amazing, saw lots of animals, including the amazing white lions, rhinos, hyenas, and tons of giraffs. Loved it. Would love to come back some time.
Thank you for the ultimate compliment in wanting to return. Your ten out of ten rating and positive remarks regarding the game drives will be a strong recommendation for any future guest reading your review to choose Elandela Private Game Reserve and Luxury Lodges as their photo safari destination in South Africa!
Thank you for the ultimate compliment in wanting to return. Your ten out of ten rating and positive remarks regarding the game drives will be a strong recommendation for any future guest reading your review to choose Elandela Private Game R… Show more
Reviewed: 10 June 2025 · Stayed in May 2025
Verified reviewI liked the personal very informative , and the gamedrive was realy good.
Onething , if you could book like 3 days and you could skip the morning or a afternoon tour.
You are always welcome back here at Elandela and that is the highest recommendation. Thank you for advising guests to book 3 or 4 nights to achieve the maximum immersion into our wilderness. It takes a day or so to unwind de-stress and get into the rhythm of the African bush. Each game drive will unfold some new aspect of the wonderful nature around us. It is not an experience to be hurried through. Most of our guests have a once in a lifetime experience and the truth is that 2 nights are too few to truly appreciate the grandeur of the South African bushveld.
You are always welcome back here at Elandela and that is the highest recommendation. Thank you for advising guests to book 3 or 4 nights to achieve the maximum immersion into our wilderness. It takes a day or so to unwind de-stress and get … Show more
Reviewed: 6 June 2025 · Stayed in May 2025
Verified reviewThe view was amazing, lots of animals up close to watch while having breakfast etc. The pride of white lions was a great bonus to see. All staff were friendly and genuine. Game drives were very informative and trackers were interesting to listen to.
Nothing, all good.
It is the wish of the Elandela Lodge team that the great memories of your stay at Elandela remain cherished for the rest of your life. Thank you for a great review and perfect recommendation!
Reviewed: 13 May 2025 · Stayed in May 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 29 April 2025 · Stayed in April 2025
Verified reviewIsolated in safari and bush, far away from modern life
Nothing every thing was good
Thank you for describing your safari experience to Elandela River View Lodge as being the true wildlife experience every traveler to South Africa expects. in this way we are glad to read your visit was a huge success.
Reviewed: 27 March 2025 · Stayed in March 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 24 March 2025 · Stayed in March 2025
Verified reviewBreakfast was excellent
I didnt but I recomend a game drive in the Kruger
Thank you for specifically stating that breakfast was excellent. The staff are grateful for your compliments and all of us are happy to read that your stay at Elandela Lodge met with your expectations of a peaceful quiet and relaxing stay.
Reviewed: 9 March 2025 · Stayed in March 2025
Verified reviewvery nice lodge with a personal touch. the staff is lovely, the food fantastic and the safaris were great. we saw a lot of different animals and the guides told us a lot about them. it was very interessting. it is one of our favourit places! thanks to the crew!
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Thanks Lea, very nice lodge, personal touch, lovely staff, fantastic food, great safaris - thank you for the perfect summary of why readers of your review must book their dream photo safari at Elandela Lodge! We are so happy to read we are now one of your favourite places!
Thanks Lea, very nice lodge, personal touch, lovely staff, fantastic food, great safaris - thank you for the perfect summary of why readers of your review must book their dream photo safari at Elandela Lodge! We are so happy to read we are … Show more
Reviewed: 2 March 2025 · Stayed in March 2025
Verified reviewThis is an amazing place with an even more amazing staff. It is just magical place to stay and we feel lucky to have stayed here. The food is excellent and the people are so friendly. There is a lot of wild life in and around the lodge.
🤷🏼♂️
Thank you Danny for your praise and recommendation regarding the service and facilities of Elandela Lodge. Food is a very important part of a holiday trip and the chefs are delighted to see that you have experienced our meals to be excellent! We work hard to make sure every guest enjoys his visit and it is great to read that we met your expectations!
Thank you Danny for your praise and recommendation regarding the service and facilities of Elandela Lodge. Food is a very important part of a holiday trip and the chefs are delighted to see that you have experienced our meals to be excelle… Show more
Reviewed: 21 January 2025 · Stayed in January 2025
Verified reviewStayed 4 nights. Exellent resort. We saw big 5. Pvt game reserve has big 4. But No elephants as not suited to the reserve. We saw elephants in kruger. Very happy with Rudolph the tour guide on site. Excellent food. Vegetarian meals available.
No elephants. Bug kruger has it. So all ok.
Thank you for complementing the food. It is extremely important to us that our vegetarian or pescatarian guests enjoy their meals and receive quality balanced and well presented meals. As you have learnt we protect trees and have beautiful old giant trees which the elephants have destroyed in Kruger Park. To make sure that our guests see elephants and the famous Park, Elandela is one of the view luxury lodges that offer guests an extra day trip to see elephants, the big 5 and the famous Kruger Park! Thank you for your ten out of ten rating for staff, cleanliness, location, comfort and especially value for money!
Thank you for complementing the food. It is extremely important to us that our vegetarian or pescatarian guests enjoy their meals and receive quality balanced and well presented meals. As you have learnt we protect trees and have beautiful … Show more
Reviewed: 26 December 2024 · Stayed in December 2024
Verified reviewIt was the entire immersive private reserve safari experience, every turn one would have encounters with giraffes, water buffalo, rhinos, white lions, impala, zebras, baboons, and the list goes on. The safari leader, Leonardo ,was truly impressive with his knowledge about flora, fauna, and the animals. Staff were quite pleasant and responsive and love the conversations about Africa with Francisco. It’s centrally located with the airport minutes away and the town also conveniently close.
I could have done away with the bugs but I guess one can’t have everything lol.
A truly beautiful description of your Elandela Experience - thank you very much for a summary from the point of view of a content guest whose expectations were met! The Elandela team appreciates your high rating and honest evaluation as it portrays the view of all the hundreds of guests who are content that Elandela Lodge and Private Game Reserve delivered the dream they wanted to live in our part of Africa!
A truly beautiful description of your Elandela Experience - thank you very much for a summary from the point of view of a content guest whose expectations were met! The Elandela team appreciates your high rating and honest evaluation as it … Show more
Reviewed: 23 December 2024 · Stayed in December 2024
Verified reviewOur stay in Elandela was great - we were welcomed by Francisco, the Hotel Manager, and he was extremely kind and welcoming. The rooms are very comfortable and the Interleading suite is beautifully decorated and well cleaned. The food was tasty and nicely displayed by the chef. The rangers Leonardo and Rudolph are Knowledgeable and explained everything about the reserve and the animals there. Your day is filled with activities!
I loved it all, I would just recommend a bit more of variety of the food to please everyone. But overall, amazing!
Wow what a fantastic description of your experience at Elandela Lodge! Your compliments of the food and game viewing proves that Elandela is your photo safari destination of choice with all needs covered!
Reviewed: 8 November 2024 · Stayed in November 2024
Verified reviewThe beautiful lodge with so much nature and animals all around! Knowledgeable game drive guides but most of all Francisco the manager and Christopher the waiter:) Always sweet and smiley and caring! During our stay we were in a huge trouble because we got a flat tire while driving in the Kruger park. Our engine won’t start either because we had hit when the tire got punctured. Needless to say we were stuck in the wilderness and it had started to get dark. We called Francisco and he organised a rescue mission for us and got us safe and sound out of there! He didn’t have to but he went above and beyond the call of duty and was kind and helpful! We will never forget all his help! There are many many private game reserves in and around Kruger park but in the end it comes down to not just seeing the magnificent animals but how you are pampered after the game drive and we can say without a doubt that we found the best people in Elandela private game reserve:) The white lions of course were gorgeous and we saw buffalo’s, giraffes and countless others and we think it was a great value for money! We highly recommend this lodge for a great stay!
The only thing that was a small concern may because we are not used to it was the Crocodile down in the pond. It had killed various animals while we were there so naturally we were both intrigued as well as a bit scared:)
The entire team thanks you for a very clear and well reasoned explanation why Elandela Lodge is the best destination to book at for your dream safari in South Africa! You really said it all..
Reviewed: 11 October 2024 · Stayed in September 2024
Verified reviewConvenient for Hoedspruit airport. Staff very friendly and accommodating.
No Elephants I think that should have been made clear. I understand why. The dining room was lit up like a Chinese restaurant. Bright lights no ambience whatsoever until we asked the staff to turn them off. No snacks served with drinks on evening game drives. Having stayed at some 30 different lodges in SA and elsewhere in Africa this was the first time I ever experienced no snacks whatsoever! The food was bland but well presented and a very limited menu.
Thank you for recognizing the excellent staff who are serving Elandela's guests! We have not re-introduced communal snack bowls at the sundowner stop - as those you are referring to - since Covid because of the reasons it was prohibited during Covid. Lunch ends 15h30 and dinner starts a mere 3 and a half hours later and the majority of our guests have requested longer time on the actual drive and less time eating because they have just gotten up from the dining room table before the game drive. By far the majority of our guests are not from South Africa and through experience we have learnt the vast majority of guests specify that they do not want spicy or salty food. We also have visited more than 30 different lodges and each one is viewed by us as beautiful and contributing to nature conservation in their unique way. We try to find out how each lodge views the important conservation aspect and which part of it they present to their guests. Looking at all the other excellent ratings - as well as your category scores' average which is 7 - I believe most of our guests find what we present as a memorable and exciting experience. In line with this explanation we value conservation of the old and immense trees on our reserve more than being able to show you elephants. For instance we pride ourselves on having the 2 largest Marula trees in Limpopo Province on our reserve. We are one of the few lodges who offers extra day excursions to Kruger National Park to see elephants and for that reason all our booking information clearly states this fact.
Thank you for recognizing the excellent staff who are serving Elandela's guests! We have not re-introduced communal snack bowls at the sundowner stop - as those you are referring to - since Covid because of the reasons it was prohibited… Show more
Reviewed: 22 August 2024 · Stayed in August 2024
Verified reviewReviewed: 4 August 2024 · Stayed in August 2024
Verified reviewTours and the kindness of people. Restaurant was excellent. Different animals running free in the facility.
Rooms were beautiful but with small windows.
Thank you for stating the 3 most important aspects of an African safari namely the food, the service and the game viewing, was excellent. It is a fantastic recommendation!
Reviewed: 1 May 2024 · Stayed in April 2024
Verified reviewIt felt just like home, very nice and hospitable people, we really didn’t want to leave.
You were all fantastic guests and the entire Elandela Lodge team thank you for this very special review. Yes, you are Elandela Family and we hope to welcome you back soon. We appreciate your kind words - thanks so much!