Reviews of Phelwana Game Lodge

This was honestly the best place we’ve ever stayed, exceeded all expectations. From the airport transfers with Sly to the exceptionally good food served by Geoffrey at breakfast, lunch and dinner we couldn’t believe the standard of service all round and would highly recommend

A beautiful bush retreat with lovely tented rooms right on the riverbank where you can watch the hippos from the privacy of your splash pool. Friendly and helpful staff. We absolutely loved the food, it was really good! The bush walk was interesting and the guides were super knowledgable. We were lucky to see a leopard on the property during our stay which was incredible! The game drives offered by external companies were disappointing and quite overpriced in our experience - some other, more affordable and professional alternatives would be preferable.

First trip to Kruger with the family of 5, outstanding experience with the Phelwana Game Lodge facilities and team. Airport transfers and Kruger game drive expertly coordinated, the family loved the onsite activities particularly the bush walks, sundowner drives and catch & release fishing. The food was excellent, the staff were competent, accommodating and a pleasure to deal with.

We all had the most amazing time at Phelwana Game Lodge, from the experienced and dedicated staff, to waking up to the wildlife on our doorstep. A truly memorable trip which we will surly do again.

We spent a wonderful Christmas holiday at Phelwana. We have been warmly welcomed by Kathie, Jo Ann and Gale. All staff in general are very kind and the service is really outstanding. The rooms are big and perfectly decorated. We enjoyed the game drive in the near reserve and the sporr fishing. We will be definetely come back! Alberto & Cristina

A great private lodge, luxurious tents and cozy restaurant. We were the only guests, so very private.

I had a truly amazing safari experience! The staff took great care of me and helped me navigate some personal challenges I was facing. The food was fantastic and added to the overall enjoyment of the trip. The service was exceptional throughout my stay. The reception staff were welcoming and went above and beyond to ensure I felt comfortable. The bushwalk activity was a highlight; it allowed me to connect with nature in a unique way and provided an opportunity to learn about the local flora and fauna from knowledgeable guides. The location of the safari was breathtaking, surrounded by stunning landscapes that made for a truly immersive experience. While the one-day trip was incredible, I do think there is room for improvement in terms of coordination, as some activities were not on time. This made it a bit difficult to plan my day and fully relax. On the downside, the internet connection was quite problematic. I wouldn't recommend this safari if you have important work to do, as reliable Wi-Fi and phone signals are not guaranteed due to power outages in the area. However, the staff were very attentive and genuinely cared about my well-being. If you're looking for a fantastic safari experience with great service, attentive staff, and beautiful surroundings, this is a great option!

We stayed here and had some big problems. Had difficulty leading up to the trip with booking activities and then had a hectic time while we were there (lodge hadn’t communicated well with activity providers and we were out on REALLy rough and uncomfortable Safari vehicle - Phelwana does not do Kruger Safari). There was a power outage (which we understand is out of their control), but they treated us more like hassle than guests. We were the only guests there and we had to wait 25 minutes at the gate in heat, it took asking 3 people and 1.5 hours to get someone to clean out pool - they had put lawn furniture and lots of leaves/branches got it in is from the night before)- and it was super hot and air on didn’t work, we couldn’t find anyone to ask for a drink/details about dinner/etc, and things were left everywhere or were unstocked(cleaning supplies). The wi-fi didn’t work even before the storm- which isn’t a big deal except this is how you communicate with staff because you can’t walk around freely. Also, this caused a big issue with flight check ins. The silver lining was Jeffrey, their waiter, and Joe, their onsite game driver (which they should use as their Kruger driver) were amazing. We understand there are things outside of owner’s control, but even a little accountability or effort to do what they can on their part would’ve made a big difference. They seemed like they do a good job most of the time, you better just hope nothing goes wrong…and book your own activities. This was a pretty big spoiler to the end of our trip.

Awesome experience! Exceptionally well received from the moment we set foot in the lodge. The food was really good and our tent next to the waterside was exactly what we expected. we had a grys duiker and the family of giraffes visiting us in camp. Lots of trees and beautiful birdlife. At one stage there were hippos, buffalo, Nyala, and giraffe visiting the waterside where we could watch them from our luxurious tents. Joe, our guide, who took us on the game drives, has got an unimaginable wealth of knowledge regarding nature. He is a real asset to the lodge! We really loved being spoiled like this !

Great place to unwind lovely staff to guide and assist peaceful location away from hustle and bustle of city life

Excellent food, very friendly staff, tented accommodation was luxurious and very well designed and equipped. Relaxing game drives on the property, not chasing around looking for big 5. Would be birders treat in spring and summer months.

During 5 daysI stayed in Phelwana Game Lodge. I loved it. Everything taken care of down to the last detail. Excellent cuisine. Recommended for both families and singles.

The stay in the lodge was amazing! The place is very beatiful, the village we stayed was great and confortable for 4, the food was delicious and the staff was really Kind and available, and it made our experience even better. Don’t miss the skydeck experience! It is unforgetable! And enjoy the games! I still miss the animals around thr room and surpring us with their beauty.

Beautiful location, gorgeous tent(looked like a movie set), lovely food, wonderful included activities. Great for seeing tame antelope and giraffe up close. Monkeys and baboons not as aggressive as in the Kruger camps. Really good value for money. Kyle our guide explained lots of interesting things. Will be back!