Barefoot Addo Elephant Lodge

This is a wonderful place to stay that cannot be praised highly enough. We had an awe-inspiring visit. The lodges are beautiful, and the view from the veranda was incredible with wild animals and birds everywhere. The restaurant is also beautiful with open fires and very comfortable sofas to relax and enjoy a cocktail. The food was also delicious and our dietary needs were catered for very well. We also did a two hour game drive around the property which was fantastic! To top it off, the staff were wonderful without exception and we were attended to very well throughout our stay.

Incredible experience walking with the rescued elephants that roam freely in the reserve as well as seeing other wildlife in the reserve. The luxury accommodation is tranquil and comfortable, the food and drinks spectacular and the staff extremely friendly and helpful. Highly recommended

We can't thank the Barefoot team enough for creating the most magical experience for us. The bush braai was the icing on the cake and the team went to extraordinary lengths to make it special and personal. We highly recommend this 5 star experience - thank you to the Barefoot team! From Hannah & Matt

A brilliant place to stay. Much quieter than Addo National Park itself (which we visited for a half day game drive, organised by the Lodge). We stayed for a couple of nights and had a great time, particularly the elephant walk, lounging by the pool, and watching giraffes from the outdoor shower. Food was fantastic, and the staff were all really helpful and friendly.

I booked a stay at Barefoot Addo Elephant Lodge for February 2022 but had to cancel due to ill health and a hasty return to the UK. Their listing on *********** explicitly says that the 50% deposit will be returned if the booking is cancelled with a month's notice. They also confirmed this on the booking messaging service. I gave them 6 weeks' notice of cancellation but they refused to return my deposit. I asked again and explained the situation; again they refused. I had to ask *********** to intervene on my behalf, which they did. I finally got my money back but not without a fight - no explanation for their behaviour and no apology. Perhaps they are suffering from poor cash flow due to the fall in tourists in recent months, but that is no reason to withhold my money. I wondered if they were close to going bust and needed my cash to stay afloat, in which case I would have lost it all. Consider yourself warned.

The road is very bad. Visitors should be told to allow more travel time as not everyone has a 4 x 4 vehicle. It made us really stressed and we arrived late due to only being able to drive really slowly. The bathroom facility was not unlocked and we felt very rushed and we felt awkward asking for it to be unlocked. Guides really tried there best.

when you leave the tar road and travel on this gravel road, this is when your holiday starts. The road forces you to drive slowly and then allows you to take in this beautiful landscape. The rooms at the lodge are clean and has the best view you can ask for. the staff, service and food is excellent. The elephant encounter can only be described as remarkable and amazing with well trained guides. We will visit barefoot Addo Lodge regularly.

This lodge is secluded and quiet, ideal for a break from the city. It offers game drives and elephant encounters, on request. Lovely food and friendly staff. The road to the lodge is quite rustic and I would suggest a 4x4 type vehicle for the last 25km of gravel road. Althought according to the promo videos on the website that shows the elephants come to roam close to the restaurant, they don't. That was a bit disappointing. We stayed in a room with an amazing view, but that came with a somewhat uncomfortable walk. Not advised for anyone with walking difficulty.

A bit of a treacherous gravel road drive which took us a good 40min to do the last approximate 20km stretch - be aware of this when booking. We chose this spot because of the outdoor hot spa tub. But be sure to ask the staff to clean it and put it on before you arrive if you intend on using it as it takes an hour or so to heat up properly (keep the cover on while its heating up, to retain heat and when not in use, we know this from past experiences - the staff dont mention these tips.) On arrival we were super excited to use the tub only to find it empty and a little dirty. Luckily they were quick to sort it out upon request. Our room (unit: Valley View) was nice with a pretty view over a small waterhole. It was closest to the main restaurant too for an easy walk to and from dinner and breakfast. There was also a fireplace infront of the bed which was lovely and heated electric blankets which ensures you will not get cold. We slept warm and very comfortably. There is an indoor and outdoor shower and separate enclosed toilet. Always nice for the ladies to know. The sun sets at the back of this unit but its ideal for the perfect sunrise over the mountains from the deck which was beautiful. The best staff member in our opinion was Dumisani who told us all about the elephants. His knowledge about them was amazing and his empathetic character and love for animals was very inspiring. By far barefoot Addos greatest employee whom we got to meet. Our ranger (Godwin aka Pumba) who drove us was also great! Dinner was soup, steak and apple cake. It was nice, homemade and we enjoyed it. Nothing extra special that we couldnt make ourselves at home but it was nice. The carrot soup was different and we did really enjoy that. The wine menu unfortunately in my opinion was overpriced. We stayed at multiple 5 star establishments on our trip and R300 for an average bottle of wine was in our opinion a bit ridiculous. Sadly the fireplace in the drop lounge which looked so stunning in the photos was not (and never has been) functional due to fitting fault. That was a disappointment as its a great feature but stands unlit in the evenings. There was a complimentary bottle of JC le Roux in our room as we were celebrating our honeymoon which was kind. In each glass was a ferrero rocher chocolate. It was a nice touch. We enjoyed this after dinner in the outdoor hot tub while staring at the stars. Breakfast was straight forward. I must admit I dislike the syrup juice offered - but the coffee was fantastic. Its a pity the outdoor furniture wasnt set up with cushions not allowing the option for guests to take a seat there with a cup of coffee before breakfast. Suggestions I would like to make; always ensure all your patio furniture is set up with cushions and finishes - you never know where photos will appear on social media of even the most random shot on an album. The spaces you have created where guests can relax are stunning so maximize them at all times (and f