It was extremely hot here in late March. So it must be steaming in mid summer. There was no air conditioning.

Fantastic, friendly staff, all of them. Great Hospitality and Excellent Food. Excellent game viewing , with unique experiences, with Elephant visitors at the lodge, cheetah and cubs, pride of lion, a variety of buck species. The game was plentiful!! Our guide was Eben was great!

Stayed in March 2024

Just wow! Words can’t describe how wonderful our experience was at Hillsnek. The staff were so friendly and helpful. Accommodating our every need and making sure we were having the most wonderful time. The safari was just incredible with only a small number of people in each vehicle it felt so much more personal. Our guide had such brilliant knowledge of all of the animals and was such a nice guy! The facilities are just brilliant. The most comfortable beds and beautiful bathroom with a roll top bath and outdoor (and indoor) shower to really embrace the surroundings. Each room was private and felt like you could be in the middle of nowhere on your own yet you had access to all the facilities in the main lodge just a 30 second walk along the boardwalks with the most attentive staff. And finally the food… just wow!!!!

Stayed in March 2024

Everything was perfect: location, atmosphere, food, service, ...

Stayed in March 2024

Nothing - apart from the exceptional heat while we were there. Around 40 degrees in the day. Even the cold shower water was warm but there was a cold pool to dip in.

The privacy of each tent. The friendly mix of staff and guests especially at meal times. The drives were exceptional. Ebin was our ranger for the whole stay and made sure we found 4 of the big 5.

Stayed in January 2024

Not applicable.

Accommodation, Staff, food and the safari were all exceptional. Would highly recommend

Stayed in January 2024

Nothing - entire stay was absolutely faultless

Where to start - from the moment you arrive at HillsNek you are greeted and treated like royalty. The staff are incredibly warm and friendly and bend over backwards to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. The tents themselves are private and intimate, making you feel like you are the only people in the world as you take in the breathtaking surroundings. The beds are huge and incredibly comfortable, indoor and outdoor showers are perfect after a long morning of exploration and mini-fridge is always stocked for a relaxing drink on your own balcony before heading down for dinner. Every meal was fresh and authentic, clearly cooked with love by the incredible chefs. The hospitality extends to the rangers conducting the game drives, who are passionate and friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the vast array of animals and plants across the reserve. They even took us on a walking safari at our request to let us get up close and personal to some of the finer details that you would miss on the back of a Land Cruiser.

Stayed in January 2024

I cannot find anything we did not like

We loved out time here. Our guide, Jesse, was knowledgeable and ensured we saw all the Big 5. He even managed to insert us into the middle of the elephant herd...they were within touching distance. The Reserve is in magnificent countryside...Africa stretching to the horizon. We loved the little touches - the early morning tea, the coffee and drinks breaks during the game drives, the cold towels to refresh us when we arrived back from our drives - all were wonderful. The elephants coming to drink at the pool at the lodge was the high point of our stay....they stayed for over an hour and Jesse was able to explain to hierarchy of the families under the protection of the Bull elephant....fascinating. The food was fabulous - great variety and all presented in gourmet style. The staff were superb. Renzo and his team work tirelessly to ensure everything is perfect.

Stayed in November 2023

Exceptional camp with really super friendly hosts, staff and guide. The food is sensational with large portions. The tent is simply awesome, the top furnishings and the exceptional view. But the game drives are more than exceptional, they are simply phenomenal. Our guide Jesse has a lot of knowledge and can explain it very clearly. He found all the Big Five and many more in the huge reserve and we were able to get very close to the animals. Many, many thanks to Jesse, Nadine, Jaison, Murray and all the staff for an unforgettable experience.

Stayed in October 2023

It was all very good. It was the highlight of our vacation. Maybe the tents can get hot because there is no airco.

The food was great, healthy and made with care. The gamedrives were nice. Our ranger Jesse was really enthousiatic and took good care of us. The tents where beautifull and comfortabel. And Renzo gave the very best service we could wish for.

Stayed in November 2023

Nothing . The entire experience was fantastic

Location and breakfast out of this world. Fantasyic

Stayed in September 2023

There was possibly a little too much food at every meal. Asking for a small portion still produced exactly the same amount as the portion that was a challenge to eat. Raising this with the manager, he explained that they have sometimes provided small portions in the past, but then the guest sometimes found them too small, and it made things awkward for others at the table as they had to wait for a larger portion to be prepared. So I understand the decision, just a bit sad to see some waste

Food was excellent, very high quality, well presented and very carefully prepared. Staff were extremely friendly and very helpful, always doing as much all they could to make all guests very happy. Bed very comfortable, and the bathroom amazing for a "tent" A small camp with only 4 tents, it was very enjoyable to have everyone around the one table for 8 adults. A family would be sat at their own table, to make it more comfortable for all.

Stayed in September 2023

Leaving.

Everything was excellent. The staff were exceptional. I have been on a number of safaris and the staff at Hillsnek really went above and beyond. Special mention for Jesse the ranger, Renzo and Jaison at the lodge. Got to be the best option in the E Cape.

Stayed in August 2023

Nothing really all good

Private and lovely location

Stayed in August 2023

nothing

wonderful experience with lovely experienced staff and fantastic food.

Stayed in January 2023

They are remodeling the swimming pool which will be terrific because it’s not appealing now. But this will soon not be a problem.

Food was excellent. Staff super friendly and helpful. The lodge and rooms far exceeded my expectations.

Stayed in April 2023

Unique location in the middle of the african bush. Luxurious tents, relatively spacious, comfortable beds! Can definitely recommend this place!

Stayed in April 2023

Our stay couldn’t be covered by words or any pictures. It was outrageous and so unique. HillsNek is a very special place, you are in the middle of the Reserve, where you park your car at the beginning and get picked up by the ranger who is going to take care of you the next couple of days during the game drives (safaris). Arriving at the lodge was so nice, being welcomed by the staff with a warm towel and friendly atmosphere. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and the drinks are included as well (unless you want a special wine or something). The food did not only had a great and fresh quality, the team was also very flexibel in terms of dishes (I am a pescatarian and they also cooked only boiled vegetables and couscous for me as I asked once, but my boyfriend always picked one from the day-menu and especially the meat was very good!). The breakfast was lovely as well, they had delicious self-baked bread and cheese, and in addiction to that we were able to choose from a bunch of other things (Joghurt with granola and fruits, all kinds of eggs,…. they even made warm porridge when I asked) - everything very delicious!! Spending time at the lodge was very quiet and relaxing as well. You can lay on the daybeds or sit by the fireplace. The rooms also have a beautiful balcony, an outside shower + bathtub (from where I watched the stars one night - I have never seen so many stars so clearly in my life), and they even provide a yoga mattress. However we focused on the game drives - two a day (one 6 am and one 4 pm) which were incredible. We had the ranger Dex, who has such a knowledge about the animals (he could really read their expressions) and the area and his driving skills where amazing. You also stop for a nice sundowner drink + snacks (the Chardonnay is delicious!!) and enjoy the landscape. We got to see soo many animals so close: lions, cheetahs, zebras, buffalos, special birds, elephants, giraffes ….

Stayed in March 2023

The pool was not usable after the elephants came to drink - but who will complain about that after experiencing this?!

Unreal experience! HillsNek will make you feel in the heart of nature while offering you the best service and luxurious feeling. Having only 4 lodges, the whole experience felt very personal and private while at the same time enjoying the feeling of community with the other guests during game drives and meals. Our ranger Tim did his best to show us everything we wanted to see and more while making us feel safe and sharing great stories. Renzo and the staff made sure to be ahead of every of our needs. We even had the elephants coming to drink in the pool twice during our stay - it's not just great marketing ;)

Stayed in March 2023

Nothing except that we got back to the lodge after a herd of elephants were drinking at plunge pool and blocked our return for an hour and a half so supper in our last night was very late.We were warned they were in their way but unfortunately got back too late to avoid the elephants getting there before us and it was unsafe to get out at the lodge This needs to be circumvented for future guests, so we don't have to sit in an open jeep in the dark waiting for the elephants to finally move off. It could have been raining and that would have made it more uncomfortable as we all had a long wait, 4 of us were leaving the next day with an early game drive first, and it made an extremely late night as supper had to be postponed indefinitely until all the elephants had gone.

Delicious food for all meals and included a surprise birthday cake and champagne

Stayed in February 2023

Nothing

The safaris. Food was excellent. Very exclusive. The location. The ranger - Andrew.

Stayed in February 2023

The location of Hillsnek is breathtakingly beautiful! The camp is small & intimate and the staff are very warm and friendly - nothing was too much to ask! Our ranger, Brogan was incredibly knowledgeable and accomodating - we left having seen 4 of the Big 5. Brogan ensured our morning coffees and sundowners were set against incredible scenery! We loved this! Meals were tasty and varied and the Wednesday evening Braai was awesome! Loved the feel of the boma and the food was lovely! Our tents were just AMAZING! All the tents are set well apart giving a lovely feel of privacy. Each tent is thoughtfully laid out and beautifully presented - lovely sense of luxury. Highly recommend Hillsnek and the wonderful team that work there! Thank you for an amazing couple of days!

Stayed in January 2023

The internet was patchy and unreliable in places but this www partly because of the load shedding. When it rained the cabin got a little wet from the tent not being completely closed so a bigger radiator/options to dry clothes and shoes in between safari but it wasn’t a big problem.

It felt authentically South African but with luxury touches and incredibly friendly service. The rangers and staff were incredibly knowledgeable and always happy to help. As there are only 8-10 guests max, it’s a really intimate experience and gives you a proper chance to get to know other guests as well as the staff in a short space of time.

Stayed in December 2022

Amazing overall experience, luxury accommodation in the middle of nature, staff is alway very supportive & friendly, the stay was adjusted to individual needs, and every request was fulfilled. The lodge is nice situated in the middle of the game reserve with amazing views. Elephants visited us in the pool area. Lots of animals observable during the game drives, and the rangers are very competent.

Stayed in December 2022

Never said that about an accommodation, but for us it was simply perfect

Simply amazing, unique experience in the South African wildlife, extraordinary service and staff, what an unforgettable stay

Stayed in November 2022