No game drives are included in the price. Game drives also don’t give you access to all animals. If you want to see an elephant, you need to pay extra to go on an extra elephant safari. If you want to see lions, you won’t see them on the game drive and you need to pay extra to view them. If you want to see cheetahs, you won’t see them on the game drive, you need to pay to go on a different tour. You pay for a game drive, but won’t see any elephants, lions or cheetahs. If you want to see them you need to book 3 additional tours.

The staff were incredible, especially the dinner staff. Xavier is an excellent manager and the waiters are friendly and kind. They are very far and few between though, So service takes time. The food was also incredible, but be prepared to wait over an hour for your food to arrive.

Stayed in May 2022

Very clean tents with all the creature comforts.

Stayed in April 2022

Very good for for a safari in the Cape but doesn’t compare to the Kruger etc

Stunning location Luxurious Excellent food enjoyed the meerkat experience

Stayed in April 2022

No

Tent fabulous, facilities fabulous. Food great. Game drive superb. Our driver Katherine was very knowledgeable and an asset to your team

Stayed in April 2022

the accommodation

Stayed in March 2022

Nothing. Deffinatly going back next year.

Friendly staff who did everything possible to make our stay memorable, the atmospheric tents, the amazing food & dining area looking out over the lake with the hippos. I could go on....

Stayed in March 2022

nothing

This Game Lodge is exceptional! We got a free upgrade to the water tent and it was breathtaking! The tents are very luxurious, it has everything you need and more. The outdoor shower was amazing. The staff were all very nice and helped us with everything. They offer various attractions (Game drive, Elephant feeding...) which are a great experience. The food was amazing! It was a great stay!

Stayed in February 2022

Our Safari ended 2 hours earlier, verry commercialised place, breakfast was ok but nothing special

You get what you expect when you book a 4 star Safari

Stayed in March 2022

we had a tent directly next to the pool along the dam. in the morning after waking up and opening the tent towards the water, you could see the hippos passing by. the safaris and especially the guid Jo where top of the notch! food and staff was perfect and the hippo entertainment in front of the restaurant was always on time for breakfast and dinner.

Stayed in February 2022

The Girl with Lions-tour! Very lovely!

Stayed in December 2021

Steps without rail at the tent for elderly but staff helpful and we made a plan

Relaxed and fantastic nature ! Calm and reconnected with nature

Stayed in January 2022

When it rained the transport from parking to tent did not have covers so our luggage was wet when we arrived at our tent.

The lodge has very friendly staff that go out of their way to help. The tents are clean and luxurious. The bath looks out over the dam, so dont be surprised if you hear hippo noises while bathing and all of a sudden a large creature swimming in the dam. It was the perfect last stop on our honeymoon.

Stayed in December 2021

The price is to high for what you het

sleep in a tent was a lovely experience. everything was in the room, even airco. Good game drive with a friendly ranger.

Stayed in December 2021

Breakfast - I did not enjoy the bacon (too thick).

Amazing accommodation + very friendly staff. We loved all the activities that we could do (elephant exp / safari drive / leopard exp / swimming pool etc). Christmas supper was amazing!

Stayed in December 2021

Nothing.

After registering at the gate, you are met in the car park with the golf buggy and luggage trailer and driven to reception for check in, then taken along to the luxury tent where the guides help you take the luggage in. Brilliant service. The luxury tents are large with everything you need including a fridge, safe, outdoor seating (where the nyala come and join you for afternoon drinks) and a view to the dam. We were one tent row back and it was fine for one night - still a nice view and the tents are all staggered up a hill so very private whilst still maintaining some views. But the waterfront tent would be better if staying more than one night. We also took the 6pm game drive and it is recommended! Great to see the animals and also the flora in the reserve.

Stayed in December 2021

Nothing

Everything

Stayed in December 2021

Would prefer seeing elephants in their natural habitat instead of posing with them foir pictures. Feels quite like visiting a circus.

Breakfast and Dinner with Stimmung view and hippos im the waterhole. We did an Game Drive (Safari) and saw a lot of different animals. Very friendly staff, delicous meals and nice treatment in the Spa.

Stayed in November 2021

very comfortable accommodation. excellent food. very friendly and helpful staff.

Stayed in November 2021

Noisy Egyptian Geese

Friendly service & good food. All game tours good.

Stayed in November 2021

Tours and food was great

Stayed in October 2021

I have nothing but I wish I should have stayed longer to even experience the afternoon game drive

The neatness of the tent, friendliness of the staff, the bathtab with a view, outdoor shower experience, the comfiness of the bed, and a special gift from the manager complete the honeymoon tour's experience. To top it all, it was lovely to sit outside the tent's patio and enjoy wild animals passing by and listen to the birds at time. The dinner experience in the chapel with the sounds of hippos at times and outer birds in the dam completes the entire experience. Thank you very!

Stayed in September 2021

The welcoming , no one there to help or welcome us pathetic Being told that we did not book a game drive, after a unpleasant discussion then they wanted to accommodate us I booked my own game drive at xtra cost , the ranger was good but the experience left a bad taste NOt the welcoming to art of hospitality As Tiaan Oliver promised

Location , setting , restuarant welcoming at security entrance , game ranger

Stayed in April 2024

We booked 3 nights at Buffelsdrift as a bit of luxury in the middle of our 20 night tour of South Africa. The 3 nights dinner bed and breakfast cost almost as much as the other 17 nights accommodation. So we were expecting something special. It definitely wasn’t worth the money and we were disappointed. When you advertise luxury and charge luxury rates you expect something special and everything to be perfect. However, there were enough issues that just made it average. • When we arrived we had to wait 45mins for a gold cart to take us to the tent and had to remind reception 3 times • The safe in the tent was locked so we had to call reception to get them to open it with the master key • The tap in the sink was broken – we reported this but nothing happened • Residents are not given priority over non-residents at dinner – tables are first come first served and it is not possible to reserve a table • The complementary water in the fridge was never replaced when we used it • The turn down service was random – not all electric blankets were turned on each night • Breakfast was pretty basic – we had better in B&Bs costing a quarter of the price of Buffelsdrift • Our 10 year old was told that she could only order from the children’s menu. Our 12 year old was told she couldn’t have a starter as this wasn’t included • One of the luxury features is a big roll top bath in each tent. But there is only enough hot water for a shallow bath. Not ideal for a family of 4 • One night it felt like there was a backup chef – all our steaks were cooked way beyond what we ordered

The family safari tents are very spacious and well laid out for a family of 4. The beds are comfortable. It was great having Kudu and lots of different birds outside the tent.

Stayed in April 2024

We had a pipe burst outside at the back of the tent at 5am with water spraying all over the tent. We tried to call reception as we were told on arrival to do that if there were any problems. There was no answer so we went down to reception and by chance found a tour guide who was about to do the Meercat tour. She said that reception is not manned at night but she would leave a message for the manager. She also said nobody would be on site until 7am. We came back to the tent but couldn’t sleep as it was making so much noise. Eventually someone came to fix it . When I told the lady at reception that we had tried to call someone at 5am she said there is no night cover and when I queried what one would do in a medical emergency she was quite brusque with me. Not what I expect from this type of establishment and at these prices. She said we should have looked through the folder in the tent for the out of hours number. But we weren’t to know this and in fact I wasn’t even aware there was a folder in the room. The management need to ensure that guests are clear what to do in an emergency especially with the location being fairly remote. We also had another incident with a booked Elephant Experience. I had booked one for my daughter as the rest of us had all done it before. When we got there we said only one of us was going to do it and my husband, son and I would wait at the meeting point until she had finished. The staff member was really nice and invited us to come and watch her do it so we could take photos . So we did this but when I went to settle the bill the lady at reception insisted that we should pay for all of us even though three of us only took photos and didn’t feed or touch the elephants. I refused to pay £30 per head just for taking photos of my own daughter feeding an elephant. This lovely place was let down by the attitude of some of the staff.

The lodge is in a beautiful setting with animals wandering around. The tents are very comfortable and stylish. Dinner was very good.

Stayed in February 2024

Lack of catering facilities

The staff of very willing, but the catering facilities did not warrant the four starS

Stayed in February 2024