Reviews of Nyati Safari Lodge

This is a private safari lodge where 2 game drives a day is included as well as full board. The staffs were friendly and the place is clean. The chef prepared food according to your dietary needs.

This was our second visit to Nyati Safari Lodge. As always, the grounds were spotless, accommodation was very spacious and neat, and the food was delicious, even for us vegetarians. The Olifants river flows right past your accommodation, so visitors like elephants are common, even in the rainy season when they come for the fresh grass. Game viewing was poor the first cold and rainy day, but we still saw 12 rare grey mammals in an evening drive. Our last morning drive was sunny, with the Big Five before breakfast, including 3 different lion sightings and a huge male leopard wandering in the road next to us. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Overall an excellent experience, especially if you can include a Sunday night dinner up on top of the hill overlooking a beautiful waterhole and the eastern Drakensberg mountains from The Lion King viewpoint!

From the moment we were met at the airport by Nyati staff we felt safe and well cared for. The arrival at the lodge was seamless and we were greeted by the manager who went over the details of our stay. Our villa was amazing and we experienced two elephants near our pool on the first day. Each day the safari was fun and exciting and the guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. The number of animals we saw each day was incredible. The food was excellent and each night the chef presented the dinner and the manager presented the South African wine. We could not have asked for a better experience for our first trip to Africa.

I spent 4 nights at Nyati Safari lodge to celebrate my birthday with my sister and had the most incredible stay at the lodge. The location is 10 out of 10. We stayed in the Olifants suite and the location overlooking the Olifants river was out of this world, and the private pool was superbly set overlooking the river while you swim and listen to the Hippos. The rooms were large and extremely comfortable and clean, the food was excellent as was the service from the Nyati staff. The game drives and guides were amazing, and we saw the Big 5 in the first 2 days. I highly recommend Nyati Safari lodge and look forward to returning for another safari.

The hotel was amazing! The staff was very kind and helpful at all times! The room was very comfortable and spacious! We were able to see a family of elephants very close to our balcony! It's also possible to see hippos, crocodiles across the river! The game drives were so great! We were able to see many beautiful animals! All the meals were amazing! Chef Phillip was great and made us delicious vegetarian options for our meals! It was really worth it!

20 hours in a vehicle dedicated to finding wildlife within a self-proclaimed Big 5 nature reserve yielded the following results: no lions, no leopards, only 1 rhinoceros, only 1 buffalo, some elephants, giraffes, kudus, and impalas. It's quite disappointing for someone who crossed the ocean for a safari. There's no animal density here. There's a lot of heterogeneity among the rangers; some drive at 30 mph without any ability to find the animals. Only one of them really made an effort. Honestly, I don't recommend this lodge for safaris. Food was okay, drinks were okay, and the staff were dedicated. But it didn't work for what I needed. We will certainly return to Africa in other countries to actually see the animals.

The good: Location. Perched right on the Olifants River with stunning views — genuinely one of the best settings you could ask for. Chef Sipho and his team. The food was a consistent highlight throughout our stay. The rangers. Brandon, Frans, Peter, and Lennard were all knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely engaging — a real asset to the lodge. Areas of Concern: Guest experience felt tiered. As South Africans, we could not help but notice that foreign guests — particularly European and American visitors — appeared to receive noticeably more attention and care. A premium lodge should treat all guests equally, regardless of nationality. Front-desk service. One receptionist in particular was dismissive when we raised concerns, brushing them aside rather than addressing them. This is not the level of service one expects from a lodge of this calibre. Game drive logistics were poorly managed. Guides are assigned to specific guests, meaning a group of five may be split across vehicles — often without any effort from staff to accommodate family groups. We ended up rearranging seats ourselves. To make matters worse, despite being asked before every drive how many guests would attend, vehicles consistently arrived with insufficient snacks and drinks. Collecting that information and doing nothing with it undermines the whole point. Maintenance requests were ignored. We reported a lighting issue in our lodge and it was never resolved during our stay. If you are looking for a classic European or American safari experience, Nyati may suit you well. For South African guests expecting genuine hospitality across the board, you may find yourself disappointed. We hope the management takes this feedback constructively — the foundations are there, but the service consistency needs significant attention.

We had an incredible stay at Nyati! From before the stay they communicate clearly with you and arrange everything so you don't have to worry about anything. Upon arrival someone will wait for you at the airport and take you to the lodge, where you'll be received with a welcome drink and warm welcome from the lodge manager. Our Rhino Luxury tent was overlooking the river where we could see elephants and hippos. The camp is really well organized, the game drives are unforgettable. Special kudos to the guide Niquel who is very knowledgeable, funny, and got us to see all the big 5 in one game drive! Food is good at the restaurant, services like massage, laundry or golf driving range are very enjoyable. I highly recommend!!

We spent 2 nights at Nyati Safari Lodge for our very first safari experience, and it exceeded all expectations. The view over the Olifants River right below the lodge is absolutely breathtaking, especially at sunrise. The river is home to hippos and crocodiles, and it’s very common to see elephants, impalas, and other animals coming to drink — making the lodge itself feel like a “safari within the safari”. The entire property is beautifully maintained in every detail, from the rooms to the common areas. Everything feels elegant, authentic, and impeccably cared for. A special mention to the chef and restaurant team: the food was always abundant and excellent, and during our first dinner they remembered it was our honeymoon and surprised us with a thoughtful gesture that made the experience even more magical. The sunset barbecue between game drives was also exceptional. The staff is extremely professional, friendly, and always available. From the very beginning they clearly explained the detailed program for our stay while remaining flexible to changes. The true highlight, however, are the rangers: their passion and enthusiasm are incredible, and they genuinely do everything possible to create unique game drives with amazing sightings and explanations. Every safari felt completely different from the previous one, which had been our biggest concern before arriving. The only thing worth mentioning is that this particular area of the Kruger is not especially dense in big cats, so there is a real possibility of not seeing lions or leopards. However, that is part of the authenticity of a real safari experience — this is nature, not a zoo. Highly recommended.

It is difficult to find adequate words to describe our experience at Nyati Safari Lodge. The staff feels like family, always friendly, always ready to lend a helpful hand. From the moment you enter at the gate, to reception, to your accommodation, to your game viewer and ranger to management, you know that you are in good hands. The Lodge is operating like a well oiled machine; everybody knows what is expected and all is playing there part in making your stay as memorable as possible. The food is excellent, the accommodation outstanding, the guides very knowledgeable, the game viewing unforgettable, the staff competent and professional and the setting out of a story book. the only negative aspect about Nyati Safari Lodge is the fact that you have to say good buy and leave at some point. So, come on, what are you waiting for, book your stay without delay!! You will not regret it!!

Amazing stay! Friendly staff and the game drives were fantastic! The rangers went above and beyond to make us see the big 5. Excellent food! Comfortable and warm bed! Such a nice view from my chalet. Giraffes, elephants and hippos come to the hotel, it’s very nice. I left the place with tears in my eyes! Was my birthday and they celebrate with me, was really special

What an amazing experience at an amazing lodge - we had incredible wild life sightings led by a very professional and knowledgable ranger. the management and staff were absolutely incredible and nothing asked was impossible! we opted to stay in one of the tents which was very comfortable and had an awesome view over the Crocodile river. our entire stay was just an incredible experience - we will definitely visit soon again - this was home away from home. We can highly recommend Nyati Lodge as a first choice option - you will never regret it ! Thank you Nyati and all Staff for an amazing experience!!

We were due to return for the 3rd time to Nyati Safari Lodge and had booked nearly a year before in March 25 for an Oliphants Villa for our family of 4. On the evening prior to our arrival we received a whatsapp message to say that our reservation had been cancelled on the system and they had not noticed and they had no more accommodation available. This completely spoilt our evening and obviously we were really concerned about the rest of our holiday as we had booked there for 5 nights. They offered us a tent and accommodation at a sister lodge but these were not suitable alternatives and we did eventually come to an agreement on a different lodge but they could only accommodate us for 4 nights so we had to stay and pay for where we were for the following night, which was not ideal. They were apologetic and eventually got us in somewhere else for 4 nights but it was a very upsetting and disappointing situation when we were returning international customers and had booked so long in advance. We like Nyati a lot but could we book to return with confidence after this disaster, where we had booked and paid and yet that did not count for anything. So unprofessional and quite frankly I still cannot believe it happened.

I had an unforgettable stay at Nyati Safari Lodge! From the moment we arrived, the reception team made us feel so welcome with their excellent service. The tents are spotless, comfortable, and perfectly situated to enjoy the most breathtaking views — waking up to the sight of hippos in the river is an experience I’ll never forget. The game drives were incredible; the rangers are highly experienced and knowledgeable, making every moment exciting and educational. One activity you shouldn’t miss is the squid bike ride — such a fun and unique way to explore. The farewell dance was also a wonderful cultural touch that made the experience even more special. But if I had to choose the highlight of my stay, it would absolutely be the food. The chef is truly amazing, and every meal was five-star quality. Each dish was a delight — fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Everything at Nyati Safari Lodge exceeded my expectations, but the food alone is worth the trip. I truly enjoyed every part of my stay and can’t wait to return!