Phelwana Game Lodge Reviews

Our stay at Phelwana was excellent. We stayed in one of the tents which was fabulous, our plunge pool on the terrace gave us great views and we really enjoyed watching the hippos. One evening we were walking up the path to the restaurant and encountered a giraffe walking towards us, he very slowly turned and walked the other way. The monkeys playing around our tent gave us endless amusement. Our guide Joe was excellent, his walks in the morning and drives in the evening were so interesting, the evening drives were perfectly finished off with sundowners and snacks at hippo dam. The food was superb, from a wonderful array at breakfast to imaginative and delicious evening meals. We highly recommend a stay at Phelwana, we can't wait to return.

We spent 4 nights at Phelwana G.L. We had two great safari with two expert guides that taught us to follow animals footprint. We made also Quad trail in BuffaloLand, very recommended. We also recommend to see Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre. Very cheap, but it touched our hearts. In the lodge area there are free hippos, giraffes, zebras, nyalas, monkeys, impala, buffalos. We suggest also the morning bush walk. We stayed in a luxury tent with private pools directly on the lake. Fantastic. Also restaurant and team are very fantastic. HIGLY RECOMMENDED!

After a week on safari in Sabi Sands we looked for somewhere to relax and recover from the 5.00AM wake-calls! We searched online for somewhere close to our route back towards Hoedspruit/Eastgate Airport, and found Phelwana. Our only regret was that we did not stay longer. Our stay could be described as total relaxation. We chose a luxury tent on the edge of Phelwana’s lake, which was inhabited by a hippo, who periodically appeared during the day. On the opposite side of the lake was a giraffe who also appeared from time to time. Being outside Sabi Sands we did not expect to see the big five, but did understand that there were two leopards that did appear in and around the lodge from time to time. Unlike Sabi where the animals are conditioned to human presence, the Phelwana leopards are not, therefore resulting in the lodge providing transport from/to the main building during the hours of darkness. We did however see some of the smaller game such as impala and nyala, and waterbuck. We selected the all-inclusive package, which has a somewhat restricted number of alcoholic beverage options. Anything beyond these appeared to be reasonably priced. The meals that we took were all very good. The staff were all very courteous and attentive. Our special thanks to Kayla who efficiently handled our booking, and subsequent pre-arrival requests. Having found Phelwana we hope to return, for a longer stay, after our next safari.

The property has lot to offer for its guests. To start with is the staff, they go out all the way to make sure the stay is comfortable. As a family we had dietary requirements which was met to our satisfaction. The chefs are always ready to prepare something that is not in the menu to meet the guest's requirements. The property also offers in-house game rides and bush walks, our guide Ms. Flora was very knowledgeable and friendly, she made sure our children (ages 14 and 11) were well engaged in the activities. The front office staff Ms. Nikita, Karla and Mr. Jordan were very helpful in arranging all our external activities including the safaris to Kruger National Park and the Panorama Route to Blyde Canyon. The restaurant staff Mr. Jeffery and Ms. Gale made sure all our requests were promptly met and went the extra mile to keep us comfortable. Overall an awesome experience as a family. It's a pity that Trip Advisor gives only five stars but this property needs more.

American family of five adults stayed in a three bedroom villa for a week in June 2023. Everything exceeded our expectations. The staff was very warm, and very helpful in communicating with us before and during our stay. The villa was very comfortable, the food was excellent, and the wildlife was abundant on grounds, with Kruger and private reserves not far. Town of Hoedspruit offers good amenities (doctor, grocery etc.) for those who need it. The level of comfort and quality are very reasonably priced (compared with often very high daily prices of some private reserve lodges). We would return in a heartbeat.

Beautiful location, wonderful food. We were in a "tent" overlooking a waterhole. A giraffe walked within 10 feet overnight. The staff were great and there were no problems with dinner when we arrived late. The morning guided Bush walk was amazing and educational, seeing hippos and giraffe while learning about the plant life and animal tracks. Unfortunately we only stayed one night, I would happily have stayed longer. A little piece of paradise

This was our family’s first trip to South Africa. The staff and facilities at Phelwana were outstanding and consistently went over and beyond in helping us plan side trips to Kruger National Park and the Panorama. The food was first rate and the chef was very helpful and interactive in accommodating a family member’s food allergy. The rooms/villas were spacious, clean and well maintained. We would not hesitate to recommend the Phelwana and will stay there on our next visit.

We were recently blessed to stay at the wonderful Phelwana Game Lodge. We had the most wonderful, relaxing, rejuvenating 3 day break in the bush. Bliss. The wildlife, the staff, the setting, the hospitality, the beautiful rooms and plunge pools, the delicious food. All amazing! We will be back

The staff was welcoming and amazing, just consider a curtain on the sliding door to the outside shower. The facility itself is out of this world and very beautiful, I would stay there again the next time I'm in Hoedspruit.

We were already for the second time at Phelwhana Game Lodge - and our stay was just PERFECT! Best service, delicious food and such friendly people. The included Big5 and Gamedrive makes it even better - we come again.

The luxury tents are very comfortable and the private pool at you unit is a great touch. It was so lovely to be amongst the animals even whilst at your deck or eating meals and watching the dam. The staff were very friendly and went to every effort to make sure we were well taken care of! Would highly recommend booking the Big 5 Safari!

Everything was absolutely beautiful. From the staff, the food, the service, the amenities. We even got to make some friends. I would definitely go back and recommend to friends and family. We actually wished we could've stayed much longer.

Intimate small game lodge, friendly and attentive staff, with high level of attention to details, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay, and will highly recommend anyone who wishes to visit for a weekend getaway in the bushes

I spent a week at Phelwana. What happiness. The tent was very comfortable, well equipped, located in front of a body of water. The staff is super nice, caring. Very well eaten (even too much 😊). It is a very peaceful place with giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, wildebeests, warthogs, gazelles, hippos. No big 5 apart from the buffaloes and a leopard which sometimes invites itself. But the Krueger is 40 minutes away by car. In short, a little corner of paradise. Thanks to the Phelwana team 👍🙏